Breastfeeding and growth of healthy infants followed from birth to 18 months

Optimal nutrition and regular growth assessment are essential components of healthcare for all children in order to detect early  problems related to their nutritional status before they are seriously compromised. The objective of our study was to describe the feeding and growth of healthy breastfeeding infants (0-18 months) in North East of Algeria. A prospective and descriptive study of the observational type was conducted, in the service of maternal and child protection at the public health establishment of Skikda (Algeria).The population constituted mothers and their infants (1-3 months) who presented for the first or second immunization visit and were followed up to 18 months. Data were collected by interviewing mothers using an adapted WHO (2004) questionnaire according to visits of the Algerian vaccination calendar (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 18th months). Children were monitored for breastfeeding,  complementary feeding and growth. Monitoring growth from birth (1, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 18 months) was done by taking anthropometric measurements (weight, height and head circumference), the evaluation of motor development and the calculation of anthropometric growth indices according to WHO standards (2006, 2007): weight/age (W/A), height/age (H/A), weight/height (W/H), body mass index/age (BMI/A) and head circumference/age (HC/A). A total of 159 infants were enrolled, including 83 (52.2%) girls, giving a sex ratio of 0.92. From 1 to 5 months, exclusive and predominant breastfeeding did not differ by sex (p>0.05). Exclusive breastfeeding was observed in 15.7% of infants at the first month versus 7.5% at 5 months. Predominant breastfeeding increased from 84.3% in the first month to 92.5% at 5 months, while complementary feeding started from four months. All mothers continued partial breastfeeding for up to one year. All children had normal motor development. Weight status (4-18 months) did not differ by sex (p>0.05). At the end ofthe study, 5.8% of the infants showed body wasting, lean (4.8%), stunted (2.7%) while 83.8% were within the normal weight range. To improve the nutritional status of Algerian infants, the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and management of their diet is necessary by provision of a diversified complementary diet, which includes all macro and micronutrients, meets all energy and nutritional needs and teaches them good eating habits and behaviors. Key words: Infants, breastfeeding, weight, height, BMI, monitoring, growth, complementary feeding, Algeri

2-{[5-(Adamantan-1-yl)-4-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]sulfan­yl}-N,N-dimethyl­ethanamine

In the title compound, C17H28N4S, the 1,2,4-triazole ring is nearly planar [maximum deviation = 0.005 (2) Å]. There are no significant hydrogen bonds observed in the crystal structure. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin, the refined ratio of twin components being 0.281 (3):0.719 (3)

Camel Milk Triggers Apoptotic Signaling Pathways in Human Hepatoma HepG2 and Breast Cancer MCF7 Cell Lines through Transcriptional Mechanism

Few published studies have reported the use of crude camel milk in the treatment of stomach infections, tuberculosis and cancer. Yet, little research was conducted on the effect of camel milk on the apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human cancer. The present study investigated the effect and the underlying mechanisms of camel milk on the proliferation of human cancer cells using an in vitro model of human hepatoma (HepG2) and human breast (MCF7) cancer cells. Our results showed that camel milk, but not bovine milk, significantly inhibited HepG2 and MCF7 cells proliferation through the activation of caspase-3 mRNA and activity levels, and the induction of death receptors in both cell lines. In addition, Camel milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in both cells. Mechanistically, the increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by camel milk was completely blocked by the transcriptional inhibitor, actinomycin D; implying that camel milk increased de novo RNA synthesis. Furthermore, Inhibition of the mitogen activated protein kinases differentially modulated the camel milk-induced caspase-3 mRNA levels. Taken together, camel milk inhibited HepG2 and MCF7 cells survival and proliferation through the activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways

NUMERICAL INVESTAGATION OF GAS-SOLID SUSPENSION FLOW IN 180 o CURVED DUCT

ABSTRACT In this paper, a two-way coupling EulerianLagrangian approach is presented for the simulation of gassolid two-phase flow in 180 o curved duct. In the present study, Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) and two turbulence models namely; standard k-ε model and RNG (Renormalization Group) based k-ε model are adopted. The effects of particle rotation and lift forces are included in the particle tracking model while the effect of inter-particle collisions is neglected. The present predictions are compared with published experimental data for single-phase flow and published particles trajectories. The comparisons show that the RNG based k-ε model predicts the flow behaviour better than the standard k-ε model. Furthermore, the particles trajectories are compared very well with published data. The effects of inlet gas velocity, bend geometry, loading ratio and solid properties on the flow behaviour are also discussed. The results show that the flow behaviour is greatly affected by the above parameters

DOX-Vit D, a Novel Doxorubicin Delivery Approach, Inhibits Human Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation by Inducing Apoptosis While Inhibiting Akt and mTOR Signaling Pathways

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Doxorubicin (DOX) is a very potent and effective anticancer agent. However, the effectiveness of DOX in osteosarcoma is usually limited by the acquired drug resistance. Recently, Vitamin D (Vit-D) was shown to suppress the growth of many human cancer cells. Taken together, we synthesized DOX-Vit D by conjugating Vit-D to DOX in order to increase the delivery of DOX into cancer cells and mitigate the chemoresistance associated with DOX. For this purpose, MG63 cells were treated with 10 µM DOX or DOX-Vit D for 24 h. Thereafter, MTT, real-time PCR and western blot analysis were used to determine cell proliferation, genes and proteins expression, respectively. Our results showed that DOX-Vit D, but not DOX, significantly elicited an apoptotic signal in MG63 cells as evidenced by induction of death receptor, Caspase-3 and BCLxs genes. Mechanistically, the DOX-Vit D-induced apoptogens were credited to the activation of p-JNK and p-p38 signaling pathway and the inhibition of proliferative proteins, p-Akt and p-mTOR. Our findings propose that DOX-Vit D suppressed the growth of MG63 cells by inducing apoptosis while inhibiting cell survival and proliferative signaling pathways. DOX-Vit D may serve as a novel drug delivery approach to potentiate the delivery of DOX into cancer cells.Canadian Institutes of Health Research [Grant 106665]U.S. National Cancer Institute [Grant R01CA173292

Pharmaceutical Characterization of MyoNovin, a Novel Skeletal Muscle Regenerator: in silico, in vitro and in vivo Studies.

MyoNovin is a novel skeletal muscle-regenerating compound developed through synthesis of two nitro groups onto a guaifenesin backbone to deliver nitric oxide to skeletal muscle with a potential to treat muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to utilize in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches to characterize MyoNovin and examine its safety, biodistribution, and feasibility for drug delivery. In silico software packages were used to predict the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of MyoNovin. In vitro cardiotoxicity was assessed using human cardiomyocytes (RL-14) while effects on CYP3A4 metabolic enzyme and antioxidant activity were examined using commercial kits. A novel HPLC assay was developed to measure MyoNovin concentration in serum, and delineate initial pharmacokinetic and acute toxicity after intravenous administration (20 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. MyoNovin showed relatively high lipophilicity with a LogP value of 3.49, a 20-fold higher skin permeability (19.89 cm/s*107) compared to guaifenesin (0.66 cm/s*107), and ~10-fold higher effective jejunal permeability (2.24 cm/s*104) compared to guaifenesin (0.26 cm/s*104). In vitro, MyoNovinwas not cytotoxic to cardiomyocytes at concentrations below 8 μM and did not inhibit CYP3A4 or show antioxidant activity. In vivo, MyoNovin had a short half-life (t1/2) of 0.16 h, and a volume of distribution Vss of 0.62 L/kg. Biomarkers of MyoNovincardiac and renal toxicity did not differ significantly from baseline control levels. The predicted high lipophilicity and skin permeability of MyoNovin render it a potential candidate for transdermal administration while its favourable intestinal permeation suggests it may be suitable for oral administration. Pharmacokinetics following IV administration of MyoNovin were delineated for the first time in a rat model. Preliminary single 20 mg/kg dose assessment of MyoNovin suggest no influenceon cardiac troponin or β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page

Egyptian historical parks, authenticity vs. change in Cairo's cultural landscapes

As a historically intense country, Egypt's built environment has always been the focus of plentiful urban research. However, the natural component in the urban fabric of Egyptian cities has been undermined and understudied in between all the numerous ideas and data. In a historical city like Cairo, layers of history are illustrated in its parks and gardens. Left unearthed and neglected, these vital spaces are subject to negative change and decay under the pressure of land use demands, among various other challenges. Many of Cairo's parks and gardens date back to the 19th and 20th century, containing endless gestures from the cultural essence of this time era in their design. This paper discusses ten public parks and gardens in Cairo founded in the 19th and 20th centuries, and survive to our present day (whether completely or partially). Viewing the initial design and development of these parks in comparison with their current state is rather intriguing to investigate. These historical parks and gardens are worthy of identification for preservation. With resourceful and directed management, these spaces can dramatically change the view of Cairo as a suffocating dense urban tissue, to a more perforated and engaging urban experience for its community

Efficacy and safety of the anti-IL-12/23 p40 monoclonal antibody, ustekinumab, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis despite conventional non-biological and biological anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy: 6-month and 1-year results of the phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised PSUMMIT 2 trial

Objective: Assess ustekinumab efficacy (week 24/week 52) and safety (week 16/week 24/week 60) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) despite treatment with conventional and/or biological anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Methods: In this phase 3, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial, 312 adults with active PsA were randomised (stratified by site, weight (≤100 kg/>100 kg), methotrexate use) to ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at week 0, week 4, q12 weeks or placebo at week 0, week 4, week 16 and crossover to ustekinumab 45 mg at week 24, week 28 and week 40. At week 16, patients with <5% improvement in tender/swollen joint counts entered blinded early escape (placebo→45 mg, 45 mg→90 mg, 90 mg→90 mg). The primary endpoint was ≥20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) criteria at week 24. Secondary endpoints included week 24 Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) improvement, ACR50, ACR70 and ≥75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75). Efficacy was assessed in all patients, anti-TNF-naïve (n=132) patients and anti-TNF-experienced (n=180) patients. Results: More ustekinumab-treated (43.8% combined) than placebo-treated (20.2%) patients achieved ACR20 at week 24 (p<0.001). Significant treatment differences were observed for week 24 HAQ-DI improvement (p<0.001), ACR50 (p≤0.05) and PASI75 (p<0.001); all benefits were sustained through week 52. Among patients previously treated with ≥1 TNF inhibitor, sustained ustekinumab efficacy was also observed (week 24 combined vs placebo: ACR20 35.6% vs 14.5%, PASI75 47.1% vs 2.0%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13 vs 0.0; week 52 ustekinumab-treated: ACR20 38.9%, PASI75 43.4%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13). No unexpected adverse events were observed through week 60. Conclusions: The interleukin-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab (45/90 mg q12 weeks) yielded significant and sustained improvements in PsA signs/symptoms in a diverse population of patients with active PsA, including anti-TNF-experienced PsA patients

Surface plasmon resonance imaging of cells and surface-associated fibronectin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A critical challenge in cell biology is quantifying the interactions of cells with their extracellular matrix (ECM) environment and the active remodeling by cells of their ECM. Fluorescence microscopy is a commonly employed technique for examining cell-matrix interactions. A label-free imaging method would provide an alternative that would eliminate the requirement of transfected cells and modified biological molecules, and if collected nondestructively, would allow long term observation and analysis of live cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI), the deposition of protein by vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) cultured on fibronectin was quantified as a function of cell density and distance from the cell periphery. We observed that as much as 120 ng/cm²of protein was deposited by cells in 24 h.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SPRI is a real-time, low-light-level, label-free imaging technique that allows the simultaneous observation and quantification of protein layers and cellular features. This technique is compatible with live cells such that it is possible to monitor cellular modifications to the extracellular matrix in real-time.</p