Comment on "Position-dependent effective mass Dirac equations with PT- symmetric and non - PT- symmetric potentials" [J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 39 (2006) 11877--11887]

Jia and Dutra (J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 39 (2006) 11877) have considered the one-dimensional non-Hermitian complexified potentials with real spectra in the context of position-dependent mass in Dirac equation. In their second example, a smooth step shape mass distribution is considered and a non-Hermitian non - PT- symmetric Lorentz vector potential is obtained. They have mapped this problem into an exactly solvable Rosen-Morse Schrodinger model and claimed that the energy spectrum is real. The energy spectrum they have reported is pure imaginary or at best forms an empty set. Their claim on the reality of the energy spectrum is fragile, therefore.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. To appear in J. Phys.

Endostatin concentration in plasma of healthy human volunteers

Background: Angiogenesis is involved in many cardiovascular and cancerous diseases, including atherosclerosis and is controlled by a fine balance between angiogenic and angiostatic mediators. Endostatin is one of the main angiostatic mediators, and inhibits angiogenesis and prevents progression of atherosclerosis. The available literature shows a broad range of concentrations in relatively small samples of healthy controls and is calculated by using different techniques. This study was aimed to determine the basal endostatin concentration in plasma of healthy volunteers, to fully understand its physiological role. Methods: Fifty healthy adult volunteers were recruited to the study. Participants were advised not to participate in any physical activity on the day before the blood sampling. The volunteers’ physical activity, height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. The samples were analysed for plasma endostatin concentration, using ELISA. The participants were divided by gender and ethnic groups to calculate any difference. Results: Endostatin and other variables were normally distributed. Most of the participants had a moderate level of physical activity with no gender related difference (p=0.370). The mean value for plasma endostatin in all samples was 105±12 ng/ml with range of 81–132 ng/ml. For males, it was 107±13 ng/ml, while for females; 102±12 ng/ml. There were no significant gender or ethnicity related differences in endostatin concentration. Moreover, endostatin was not significantly related with any anthropometric and physical variable. Conclusion: This study gives endostatin levels in normal healthy people and show no gender and ethnicity related differences in endostatin levels. Endostatin was not related with any anthropometric and physical variable

Gender issues in local government accountability reports: insights from Islamic regions in Indonesia

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to examine how the implementation of gender-friendly policies for women is reflected in local government accountability reports regarding the coherence of government policies-programs-reporting to the public, especially in Islamic areas, in the context of a democratic country like Indonesia.Method - The provincial governments of Aceh and West Sumatra were the main settings for this study, as they are the two main Islamic regions in Indonesia. This study used a qualitative content analysis approach to analyze the research data based on Accountability Reports in the span of 2017-2021, which was the primary data source for this research.Result - The results showed that the disclosure of gender issues in the accountability reports of the two provincial governments was still low, below 50% of the 18 indicator items used in this study. In addition, there is no standardized format for submitting government performance indicators and explanations.Implication - This research emphasizes that there is still a need for public encouragement for specific issues to receive an optimal policy share at the local government level.Originality - This is the first study known to examine Islamic values and gender disclosures in local government settings

Prospective Randomized Study Comparing the Intra-Operative and Postoperative Outcomes of Bipolar Enucleation of the Prostate Versus Thulium Laser Enucleation

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-dependent patho-physiological condition. Bipolar enucleation of prostate (BipolEP) is now considered a rather effective method for the management of BPH patients. Aim and objectives: to assess the functional outcome of patients post plasma-kinetic enucleation in patients with large size prostate glands more than 80 cc as measured by Trans-rectal ultrasound. Patient and method: Our study involved 40 patients with symptomatic BPH who underwent endoscopic enucleation of the prostate using bipolar energy. Result: As regard the intraoperative complications our study showed that there were two patients (6.7%) complicated by small bladder perforation during morcellation and four patients (13.3%) had intra-operative bleeding necessitating blood transfusion and in the early postoperative period (the first 48 hours); one patient (3.33%) developed postoperative hematuria. After one month follow up we found that: 12 patients (30%) developed urge incontinence, 7 patients (17.5%) developed stress urinary incontinence and 5 patients (12.5%) developed mixed incontinence one with predominant urge and the other with predominant stress Conclusion: Bipolar enucleation (BipoLEP) is very effective for managing patients with symptomatic or complicated BPH with large gland size above 80 cc, having a high safety profile and low complications rate. Bipolar enucleation proved to be a very effective technique of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate and can stand out as a strong alternative to laser enucleation whenever laser facilities are not available with comparable results

Anti-Contraction Effects of Euscaphic Acid Isolated from Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L on Rat’s Aortic Smooth Muscle

The current study represents the first attempt to investigate the effect of the Euscaphic acid (EA) on Rats isolated  thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells. Isolated aorta was used to test the anti-contraction effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the EA (1*10-7 M) and (3*10-7 M) isolated from Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L. Euscaphic acid showed high anti-contraction effects on norepinephrin (NE), (1*10-9-10-4 M) induced contraction in aortic smooth muscle cells in endothelium-intact, endothelium-denuded, and aortic rings pre-incubated with potassium (K+)-channels blocker (tetraethylammonium, TEA), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) inhibitor (indomethacin) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) inhibitor ( methylene blue). On the other hand, other K+ channels subtype blockers glibenclamide (GLIB); barium chloride (BaCl2) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate sensitive K+ (KATP), inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) and voltage-dependent K+ (KV) channels played no role in anti-contraction induced by EA. Furthermore, the role of L-types calcium (Ca++) channels in EA anti-contractile effects on aortic smooth muscle cells was proved, by using the Ca++-channel blocker verapamil, as indicated by the production of a potent anti-contraction effect . The results of the current study indicate that the anti-contraction effects of EA may be due to the activation of calcium dependent, K+ (KCa) channels and blocking of L-type Ca++ channels. Thus, from these results it can be concluded that both K+ and Ca++ channels play an important role in anti-contraction effects of EA, which are mediated possibly through opening of KCa channels and blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels, which may justify the use of medicinal plant C. azarolus in cardiovascular disease. Keywords: Crataegus azarolus var. aronia, Euscaphic acid, smooth muscle cells, K+-channels blockers, Ca++-channels blocker