Spektrofluorimetrijsko određivanje ciklopiroks olamina prevođenjem u ternarni kompleks s Tb(III) i EDTA

A highly sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of ciclopirox olamine in raw material and in dosage forms. The proposed method is based on the formation of a ternary complex with Tb(III) in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It was found that this complex manifests intense fluorescence at λem 489 and 545 nm with excitation at 295 nm. Different experimental parameters affecting the fluorescence intensity of the complex were carefully studied and incorporated into the procedure. Under the described conditions, the method is applicable over the concentration range of 30150 and 1070 ng mL-1 with minimum detectability of 6.7 and 0.9 ng mL-1 at λem 489 and 545 nm, respectively. The mean percentage recovery at λem 489 and λem 545 nm ranged between 98.7 and 100.2 for the pure substance, solution, and cream. Relative error of 0.10.4% and RSD up to 0.9% were estimated at λem 489 and 545 nm. A proposal of the reaction pathway is given.Razvijena je vrlo osjetljiva i selektivna spektrofluorimetrijska metoda za određivanje antimikotika ciklopiroks olamina, kao čiste supstancije i u ljekovitim oblicima. Metoda se temelji na stvaranju kompleksa s Tb(III) u prisutnosti etilendiamintetraoctene kiseline. Nakon ekscitacije pri 295 nm taj kompleks intenzivno fluorescira pri λem 489 i 545 nm. Proučavani su različiti eksperimentalni parametri koji utječu na intenzitet fluorescencije kompleksa. Za opisane uvjete metoda se može primijeniti u koncentracijskom području 30150 i 10 70 ng mL-1. Minimalna koncentracija koja se može odrediti je 6,7, odnosno 0,9 ng mL-1 na λem 489, odnosno 545 nm. Analitički povrat pri λem 489 i λem 545 nm iznosio je 98,7100,2% za čistu supstanciju, otopinu i kremu. Relativna pogreška metode je 0,10,4%, a relativna standardna devijacija 0,9%. Predložena je jednažba kemijske reakcije

Evaluation of health-related quality of life and muscular strength in children with beta thalassemia major

Background: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that requires repeated blood transfusions and chelation regimes. This may lead to restrictions in physical activities, social participation as well as decreased muscle strength.Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), muscular strength and pain in children with β-thalassemia major.Patients and method: One hundred and twenty children (60 with β-thalassemia major and 60 age-matched healthy) were participated in a cross-sectional study from both sexes (57 girls and 63 boys) with ages ranging from two to twelve years. HRQoL (physical, emotional, social and school functioning), muscular strength and pain were evaluated for all children by using the pediatric quality of life inventoryTM (PedsQLTM) 4.0 generic core scale, hand-held dynamometer and visual analogue scale (VAS) respectively.Results: Children with β-thalassemia major showed a significant decrease in all domains of health-related quality of life and handgrip strength with a significant increase in VAS score (p ≤ 0.0001).Conclusions: The study concluded that thalassemia as a chronic disease has a negative impact on HRQoL and muscle strength of children in different age group.Keywords: Beta thalassemia, Quality of life, Handgrip strength, childre

Influence of individual or mixed cellulase and xylanase mixture on in vitro rumen gas production kinetics of total mixed rations with different maize silage and concentrate ratios

Cellulase, xylanase, and β-D glucanase enzymes are specific for the breaking of internal β-1,4 linkages of cellulose, hemicellulose (xylan), and glucans to release soluble sugars and facilitate the growth of microbes, thereby increasing the in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility (8). Morgavi et al. (7) demonstrated the synergism between exogenous and endogenous rumen enzymes such that the net combined hydrolytic effect in the rumen was much higher than that estimated from individual enzyme activities. Exogenous enzymes may be applied during ensiling or directly fed to animals during feeding (1). Enzyme application during ensiling gives an economical benefit to farmers by increasing the feed intake (i.e. palatability) and digestion rate (1,9). Direct addition of enzymes to animal feeds just before feeding is much easier and more applicable in terms of agronomic practices.This study assessed the effects of cellulase, xylanase, and their mixture (1:1, v/v) on in vitro rumen fermentation of five mixed rations with different maize silage (F) to concentrate (C) ratios (0F:100C, 25F:75C, 50F:50C, 75F:25C, 100F:0C). Samples were incubated using rumen inoculum from Brown Swiss cows fed ad libitum a total mixed ration of concentrate and alfalfa hay (1:1). Gas production (GP) was recorded after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h of incubation. Interaction effects (P < 0.0001) were observed between type of ration and enzyme for discrete lag time prior to GP. Ration type affected asymptotic GP (linear and quadratic, P < 0.0001) and in vitro GP at 24 h onward. Moreover, rations affected pH (linear and quadratic, P < 0.0001), dry matter degradability (quadratic, P = 0.05), metabolizable energy (linear, P = 0.038), short-chain fatty acids (linear, P = 0.0005), gas yield from truly digested dry matter at 24 h (linear, P = 0.0026), and microbial crude protein yield (linear, P = 0.0264). The most effective rations for in vitro GP during different times differed between different measured parameters. Enzyme administration was more effective when the ratio of maize silage was increased

Parents’ Acceptance to Alveolar and Nasoalveolar Molding Appliances during Early Cleft Lip and Palate Care: A Call for High-Quality Research

AIM: Acceptance and compliance of the parents are an essential pillar in the success of pre-surgical infant orthopedic (PSIO) treatment. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the burden of care associated with the alveolar molding (AM) and nasoalveolar molding (NAM) appliances as experienced by the parents with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) infants. METHODS: An electronic search was carried on by two reviewers in eight search engines, as well as a manual search till July 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing AM/NAM appliances to controls in infants with UCLP were selected. Risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool for RCTs. RESULTS: One RCT was included in the qualitative analysis. Non-significant differences were found in the amount of mothers’ satisfaction between the intervention and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient low-quality evidence is available regarding the effects of AM and NAM on parents’ satisfaction and burden of care. No conclusions can be withdrawn from the existing studies. High-quality research is needed to elucidate the degree of parents’ acceptance to the molding appliances. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016043174

Transverse Skeletal Effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion in Pre and Post Pubertal Subjects: A Systematic Review: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the transverse skeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in pre and post-pubertal subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five databases were searched till May 2018; Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, Lilacs and Web of science in addition to the manual search of other sources. There were no language restrictions. Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies MINORS was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the trials included. RESULTS: Six studies were finally included in the qualitative analysis. A meta-analysis wasn’t performed due to the heterogeneity of methodologies and outcomes. All of the included studies showed drawbacks in their structure yielding weak evidence. On the short term, RME caused an increase in the maxillary and lateral-nasal widths in pre-pubertal subjects by 3.4 mm and 3.3 mm, and by 2.8 and 2.2 mm respectively in post-pubertal subjects. Although statistically insignificant, the maxillary width increase was more than that of the post-pubertal subjects by 0.6 mm. Over the long term, expansion produced permanent increases in the transverse dimensions of both the dento-alveolar and skeletal components of the maxilla and circum-maxillary structures in pre-pubertal subjects. The post-pubertal subjects presented with a statistically significant increase only in the later-nasal width by 1.3 mm than the untreated controls with no permanent increase in the skeletal maxillary width. CONCLUSION: The literature is very deficient regarding the use of skeletal age as a reference in the treatment of skeletal crossbites using RME. Only weak evidence exists supporting the increased maxillary and lateral-nasal widths after tooth-tissue borne RME in pre-pubertal subjects, with these effects being less in the post-pubertal ones

Exploring the micromorphological diversity of palynomorphic flora from lesser Himalaya biodiversity hotspot

Palynology, a prominent field in plant systematics and biodiversity studies, plays a vital role in identifying and determining the plant species present in a specific region. The current study was performed to evaluate the micromorphological traits of pollen from flora of Lesser Himalaya. Pollen microstructural variations aid in the identification of species belonging to specific botanical families and various geographic habitats. Flowers of 24 selected species categorized into 16 families were collected, preserved and then acetolysis protocol followed. Pollen was examined under a light and scanning microscopy (LM and SEM) for palynomorph description. The palynomorphs characteristics such as size, shape, exine surface, and aperture orientation, were examined. Status of these plants show that herbs are being dominant (11 species), while shrubs (7 species), climbers (3 species), bulbous plants (2 species), small tree, sedge, weed (1 species each).  Pollen shape determined in equatorial view were; spheroidal, sub-prolate, oblate-spheroidal, prolate, spherical and sub-oblate. The variations were seen among pollen types; tricolpate, tricolporate and polyporate in most of the species. Exine stratification was observed mostly scabrate while echinate, cristate-reticulate, granulate, punctate, rugulate-perforate, striate-rugulate, verrucate, cristate-foveolate was visualized in each different species. Palynomorph apertural patterns were observed sunken, furrowed, slightly bulged, scabrate, granulate, slit like, and perforate. The largest polar diameter was measured in Hymenocallis littoralis (138.6 µm) whereas smallest in Parthenium hysterophorus (14.70 µm). Equatorial distance was calculated maximum for Cascabela thevetia (110.1 µm) and minimum for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (1.7 µm). P/E ratio was calculated largest in Hymenocallis littoralis (1.8) and lowest in Duranta erecta (0.89). The palynomorphs taxonomic characters investigated can be helpful in species level identification and provide a baseline to conduct more systematic research with respect to specific plant families and genera

The Important Role of Optometrist and Qualified Nursing in Primary Healthcare for Eye Care

The use of evidence-based practice is essential for delivering high-quality care, ensuring patient satisfaction, and making efficient use of limited healthcare resources. Nevertheless, there have been reports of inconsistency in the administration of evidence-based eye care. To enhance our comprehension of the obstacles and enablers to delivering optometric care, it is necessary to recognize the significant role that optometrists play in providing primary eye care. This narrative study sought to identify the provision of eye care services by optometrists and measures that could enhance the delivery of eye care in primary care settings, alongside certified nursing. In the field of optometry, similar to other healthcare professions like nursing, there has been a broadening of the optometrist\u27s responsibilities in primary eye care. This includes taking on tasks such as prescription medication, which was previously done by general practitioners. Within the field of optometry, this expanded responsibility entails overseeing eye diseases that do not necessitate treatment or monitoring in secondary healthcare settings, which were historically referred to. Nevertheless, any expanded responsibility necessitates educational assistance

Glycomic and Glycoproteomic Techniques in Neurodegenerative Disorders and Neurotrauma: Towards Personalized Markers

The proteome represents all the proteins expressed by a genome, a cell, a tissue, or an organism at any given time under defined physiological or pathological circumstances. Proteomic analysis has provided unparalleled opportunities for the discovery of expression patterns of proteins in a biological system, yielding precise and inclusive data about the system. Advances in the proteomics field opened the door to wider knowledge of the mechanisms underlying various post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, including glycosylation. As of yet, the role of most of these PTMs remains unidentified. In this state-of-the-art review, we present a synopsis of glycosylation processes and the pathophysiological conditions that might ensue secondary to glycosylation shortcomings. The dynamics of protein glycosylation, a crucial mechanism that allows gene and pathway regulation, is described. We also explain how-at a biomolecular level-mutations in glycosylation-related genes may lead to neuropsychiatric manifestations and neurodegenerative disorders. We then analyze the shortcomings of glycoproteomic studies, putting into perspective their downfalls and the different advanced enrichment techniques that emanated to overcome some of these challenges. Furthermore, we summarize studies tackling the association between glycosylation and neuropsychiatric disorders and explore glycoproteomic changes in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We finally conclude with the role of glycomics in the area of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and provide perspectives on the clinical application of glycoproteomics as potential diagnostic tools and their application in personalized medicine