Exploring Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) of Non-Tri cyclic Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors by MLR and PC-ANN

Quantitative structure–activity relationship study using principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) methodology was conducted to predict the inhibitory activities expressed as pIC50 of 73 non-tri cyclic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The results obtained by MLR shows that the best two models are close to each other with regression coefficient of 0.85. These optimal models were further analyzed by PC-ANN and the best model obtained was with regression coefficient of 0.823 for the test set. The lowest prediction sum of squares (PRESS) value obtained for the prediction set is 4.727 which accounts for predictability of the model. Artificial neural networks provide improved models for heterogeneous data sets without splitting them into families. Both the external and cross-validation methods are used to validate the performances of the resulting models. Randomization test is employed to check the suitability of the models

Exploring Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) of Non-Tri cyclic Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors by MLR and PC-ANN

Quantitative structure–activity relationship study using principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) methodology was conducted to predict the inhibitory activities expressed as pIC50 of 73 non-tri cyclic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The results obtained by MLR shows that the best two models are close to each other with regression coefficient of 0.85.  These optimal models were further analyzed by PC-ANN and the best model obtained was with regression coefficient of 0.823 for the test set. The lowest prediction sum of squares   (PRESS) value obtained for the prediction set is 4.727 which accounts for predictability of the model. Artificial neural networks provide improved models for heterogeneous data sets without splitting them into families. Both the external and cross-validation methods are used to validate the performances of the resulting models. Randomization test is employed to check the suitability of the models

Evaluation of Biological Control Potential for Different Trichoderma Strains Against Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne Javanica

Twenty strains of four Trichoderma species (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma asperellum) were evaluated for its potential to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Culture filtrates from Trichoderma strains were tested in 24-well tissue culture plates for effects on Meloidogyne javanica. Chitwood egg hatch and mobility of hatched second-stage juveniles (J2) were evaluated, all the twenty Trichoderma strains showed the ability to colonize M. javanica separated eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) in sterile in vitro assays. T. asperellum possess the strongest egg-parasitic ability and very effective against 2nd stage larvae of M. javanica. In this investigation, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers was used to estimate the genetic variations between four strains of Trichoderma asperellum (KC898190, KC898191, KC898192 and KC898193) which were previously isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants growing in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt as a new strain of T. asperellum in Egypt. RAPD assay using 6 random primers identified T. asperellum strains with 5 specific unique markers

Using Molecular Marker Technology for Improvement in Sow Reproductive Longevity

The longevity or productive life of sows is one of the important components that contribute to the economic bottom line of swine production. Involuntary sow culling rates caused by locomotion failure, reproductive failure or death have been growing in recent years causing many females to be culled before they reach their most productive parities and before the investment costs of those females have been recovered. In addition to factors such as management, sow condition, health, nutrition, and facilities, there are likely to be genetic components controlling sow longevity that have yet to be fully identified. Research ongoing at Iowa State University, in conjunction with Sygen and PIC, has focused on identifying the genes associated with variation in sow longevity

Pooled Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Video Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices

© 2019 Rabih Tabet et al. Background. To date, video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is still contraindicated by the FDA and the main manufacturers of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIED) in patients with CIED, given a theoretical electromagnetic interference and possible device malfunction. Objectives. The objective of this study was to assess the safety profile and efficacy of VCE in patients with implantable cardiac devices through analyzing the risk of mutual interference. Methods. A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted. Peer-reviewed original articles, published in the English language and containing capsule endoscopy AND pacemaker , defibrillator OR left ventricular assist device as keywords, were selected. Studies performed in vitro, isolated case reports, and abstracts/posters were excluded. Results. A total of 735 VCE procedures were performed in patients with cardiac devices in various clinical settings. Cardiac events were not seen in any case. Interference on capsule images transmission was noted in 5 cases (left ventricular assist device (LVAD)) where few images were lost when the capsule was closest to the device. Finally, interference between capsule and telemetry leads was noted in 6 cases (4 Permanent Pacemakers (PPM), 2 Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)) leading to image artifacts. Discussion. Adverse cardiac events were not seen in any study. Loss of images occurred when the VCE was in proximity to the device (only with LVAD) or after telemetry leads installation without affecting the completion rate and diagnostic yield of VCE. Conclusion. VCE is safe and remains efficient in patients with cardiac devices. If cardiac monitoring is required, wired systems are preferable

Anticholinergic Toxicity Secondary to Overuse of Topricin Cream, a Homeopathic Medication.

Adverse reactions from over-the-counter medications present a challenge to physicians. Homeopathic medicine is an alternative practice, originating in Germany and gaining popularity in the United States. It utilizes dilute preparations of substances in order to treat and cure disease. Patients may potentially suffer serious effects from the use of these products as the contents and concentrations are often unclear. Here, we describe a case of suspected atropine toxicity due to the overuse of a topical homeopathic cream, Topricin, which contains belladonna, a plant containing atropine

Responding to Climate Change: The Economy and Economics - Part of the Problem and Solution

The Climate Change Starter’s Guide provides an introduction and overview for education planners and practitioners on the wide range of issues relating to climate change and climate change education, including causes, impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as some broad political and economic principles. The aim of this guide is to serve as a starting point for mainstreaming climate change education into school curricula. It has been created to enable education planners and practitioners to understand the issues at hand, to review and analyse their relevance to particular national and local contexts, and to facilitate the development of education policies, curricula, programmes and lesson plans. The guide covers four major thematic areas: 1. the science of climate change, which explains the causes and observed changes; 2. the social and human aspects of climate change including gender, health, migration, poverty and ethics; 3. policy responses to climate change including measures for mitigation and adaptation; and 4. education approaches including education for sustainable development, disaster reduction and sustainable lifestyles. A selection of key resources in the form of publication titles or websites for further reading is provided after each of the thematic sections

Level of kidney function as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular outcomes in the community

AbstractObjectivesThe goal of this study was to determine whether the level of kidney function is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) outcomes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a prospective cohort study of subjects aged 45 to 64 years.BackgroundThe level of kidney function is now recognized as a risk factor for ASCVD outcomes in patients at high risk for ASCVD, but it remains unknown whether the level of kidney function is a risk factor for ASCVD outcomes in the community.MethodsCox proportional-hazards regression was used to evaluate the association of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with ASCVD after adjustment for the major ASCVD risk factors in 15,350 subjects. We searched for nonlinear relationships between GFR and ASCVD.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up time of 6.2 years, 965 (6.3%) of subjects had ASCVD events. Subjects with GFR of 15 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m2(n = 444, hazard ratio 1.38 [1.02, 1.87]) and 60 to 89 ml/min/1.73 m2(n = 7,665, hazard ratio 1.16 [1.00, 1.34]) had an increased adjusted risk of ASCVD compared with subjects with GFR of 90 to 150 ml/min/1.73 m2. Each 10 ml/min/1.73 m2lower GFR was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.05 (1.02, 1.09), 1.07 (1.01, 1.12), and 1.06 (0.99, 1.13) for ASCVD, de novo ASCVD, and recurrent ASCVD, respectively. A nonlinear model did not fit the data better than a linear model.ConclusionsThe level of GFR is an independent risk factor for ASCVD and de novo ASCVD in the ARIC study