Absorbed Dose Calculation In Irregular Blocked Radiation Fields: Evaluation of Clarkson’s Sector Integration Method for Radiation Fields Commonly Used in Conventional Radiotherapy

Introduction: Irregular/blocked fields are routinely used in radiotherapy. The doses of these fields are usually calculated by means of equivalent square method that is inherently prone to uncertainty. On the other hand, Clarkson’s sector integration method is a dose calculation method which offers far better accuracy in dose calculation of irregular fields. The Scatter Air Ratio (SAR) of an individual sector, in which whole field has been divided, is calculated and averaged over all sectors to find total SAR for the whole field. Percentage depth dose (PDD) and tissue-maximum ratio (TMR) for irregularly shaped beams can be calculated by the SAR values using the standard relationships of these measurement quantities. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on 40 actual patient treatment fields. The PDD values for depths up to 15 cm were calculated using both Clarkson’s sector integration method and conventional methods, and their results were compared with the measured PDDs for all patients. Results: Maximum deviation for Clarkson’s calculation was under 2.7% for any field size, shape, and depth. However for conventional methods, this value exceeded ±5.5% for some field shapes, specifically at larger depths. Conclusion: Better results of sector integration are more prominent for field shapes with a large field size and a shielded area of regular shape. For the treatment fields with a very large degree of approximation for assessing reduced field size, Clarkson’s method is the most accurate technique for the calculation of absorbed dose

The assessment and validation of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) among frontline doctors in Pakistan during fifth wave of COVID-19

ObjectiveThe study aims to document sociodemographic features, address the symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among frontline doctors in Pakistan, and validate the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21) on the context of Pakistan.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted throughout the regions of Pakistan on frontline doctors to document their sociodemographic patterns and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress while dealing with the fifth wave (Omicron-variant) of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Pakistan (December 2021–April 2022). Respondents (N = 319) were recruited through a snowball sampling process.ResultsThough previous literature reported declines in psychological symptoms after earlier waves of COVID-19, these DASS-21 findings show that as the pandemic has worn on, frontline doctors in Pakistan are having considerable personal symptoms of depression (72.7%), anxiety (70.2%), and stress (58.3%). Though specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they rated only moderate levels of depression and stress, however they reported severe levels of anxiety. The results also revealed a positive correlation between depression and anxiety (r = 0.696, p < 0.001), depression and stress (r = 0.761, p < 0.001), and anxiety and stress (r = 0.720, p < 0.001).ConclusionThrough the application of all required statistical procedures, DASS-21 is validated in the cultural context of Pakistan among this group of frontline doctors. The findings of this study can provide new directions for the policy makers (government and hospitals' administration) of Pakistan to focus on the mental wellbeing of the doctors under similar enduring public health crises and to protect them from short- or long-term disorders

SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN MAINTAINING DAIRY AND BEEF ANIMALS’ HEALTH

Oxidation and reduction reactions occurring inside the cell must be maintained in the state of equilibrium so that the integrity of cells can be maintained and production of the animals remains at optimum. If there is imbalance between redox reaction, health of the animals gets affected in terms of onset of various reproductive disorders and diseases like mastitis. A number of antioxidants are produced naturally inside the body but under stressful endogenous and exogenous environment, their production is hampered. Thus, supplementation of animals with antioxidants like vitamin C and Vitamin E in feed or parenteral administration is essential to keep the animal healthy to get maximum possible production

Study of erythrocytes as a novel drug carrier for the delivery of artemether

Resealed erythrocytes have been explored in various dimensions of drug delivery, owing to their high biocompatibility and inability to initiate immune response. The present research was designed to evaluate the drug delivery potential of erythrocytes by loading a hydrophobic anti-malarial drug, Artemether. Three different loading techniques were applied to achieve maximum optimized drug loading. A HPLC method was validated for drug quantification in erythrocytes. The relatively high loading was achieved using hypotonic treatment was 31.39% as compared to other two methods. These, drug loaded erythrocytes were characterized for membrane integrity via ESR showing higher ESR values for drug loaded cells as compared to normal cells. Moreover, microscopic evaluation was done to observe morphological changes in erythrocytes after successful loading which showed swollen cells with slight rough surface as compared to smooth surface of normal cells. Drug release was studied for 8 h which showed more than 80% release within 3-7 h from erythrocytes treated with different hypotonic methods. Overall, the study revealed a potential application of erythrocytes in delivery of hydrophobic drugs using hypotonic treatment as compared to other methods

Effects of water extracts of apple and pomegranate peel on the quality of orange squash

<p><em>Punica granatum</em> (pomegranate) and Malus domestica (apple) are rich source of bioactive compounds i.e. phenolics components, anthocyanins and tannins that can be potential preservative agents. The aim of the present research plan was to evaluate the quality characteristics of orange squash after addition of aqueous extracts of apple and pomegranate peels. For this purpose aqueous extracts of pomegranate and apple peels were added in orange squash and then the final product was examined for physiochemical and sensory attributes during storage. Results of current study demonstrated that physico-chemical parameters of orange squash significantly changed with the storage period in all the treatments in such a way that total soluble solids (°Brix) were gradually decreased but the acidity increased. Sensory examination result of orange squash revealed that color, flavor and taste were decreased with the passage of time in all the treatments but preservative and 100% apple peel extract were upto acceptable level. Whereas 50% preservative and 50% pomegranate extract and 100% pomegranate extract were highly rejected.</p

Cutaneous Candidiasis

Cutaneous candidiasis is a multipicture infection of the skin, generally caused by yeast like fungus c.albicans or other species of genus candida such as candida parapsilosis, candida tropicalis, candida glabrata but these species are unusual, secondary to skin diseases. Candida is flora of gut microbiota, rather than skin, although it is present on skin at some instances. Certain factor of candida species such as ability to evade host defense by biofilm formation, filamentous form and presence of tissue damaging enzyme phospholipase are attributed to pathogenicity. Cutaneous candida infection may occur in patient HIV/AIDS, cancer receiving chemotherapy, antibiotics, steroids therapy and in organ transplantation. Vesicles, pustules, maceration and fissuring are common symptoms on perineum, axilla and interriginous areas. Systemic and topical therapies are common treatment with different drugs. Single drug therapy as combination of anti-fungal, antibacterial and topical corticosteroid has marvelous results. Nystatin, Clotrimaziole and miconazole are efficiently reviewed topical drugs with 73–100% cure

Post-Treatment of Synthetic Polyphenolic 1,3,4 Oxadiazole Compound A3, Attenuated Ischemic Stroke-Induced Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration

Ischemic stroke is categorized by either permanent or transient blood flow obstruction, impeding the distribution of oxygen and essential nutrients to the brain. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of compound A3, a synthetic polyphenolic drug product, against ischemic brain injury by employing an animal model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (p-MCAO). Ischemic stroke induced significant elevation in the levels of reactive oxygen species and, ultimately, provoked inflammatory cascade. Here, we demonstrated that A3 upregulated the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione s-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), and reversed the ischemic-stroke-induced nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) elevation in the peri-infarct cortical and striatal tissue, through the activation of endogenous antioxidant nuclear factor E2-related factor or nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2). In addition, A3 attenuated neuroinflammatory markers such as ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), toll-like receptors (TLR4), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by down-regulating p-JNK as evidenced by immunohistochemical results. Moreover, treatment with A3 reduced the infarction area and neurobehavioral deficits. We employed ATRA to antagonize Nrf2, which abrogated the neuroprotective effects of A3 to further assess the possible involvement of the Nrf2 pathway, as demonstrated by increased infarction and hyperexpression of inflammatory markers. Together, our findings suggested that A3 could activate Nrf2, which in turn regulates the downstream antioxidants, eventually mitigating MCAO-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration

Hepatoprotective role of vitexin against cadmium-induced liver damage in male rats: A biochemical, inflammatory, apoptotic and histopathological investigation

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGCadmium (Cd) is one of the potent occupational and environmental toxicants, which induces oxidative stress to the multiple organs of the body, including liver. The present investigation was planned to evaluate the protective role of vitexin against Cd-prompted hepatotoxicity in rats. 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups viz. control, Cd-induced group (5 mg/kg), Cd + vitexin-treated group (2 mg/kg + 30 mg/kg), and vitexin-treated group (30 mg/kg). After 30 days of treatment, it was indicated that Cd escalated the level of liver function enzymes namely alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as total bilirubin. Whereas the levels of albumin and total proteins were decreased in the rats. Additionally, it reduced the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), in addition to glutathione (GSH) content, whereas levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were escalated. Furthermore, level of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were increased. Besides, the level of Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were elevated, while the Bcl-2 level was reduced following the Cd intoxication. Histopathological observation revealed significant hepatic tissue damage in Cd-administered rats. However, treatment of rats with vitexin significantly (p < 0.05) improved the Cd-induced disruptions in biochemical parameters as well as histological damages. Therefore, it is concluded that vitexin could be used as a therapeutic agent to counter the Cd-generated hepatic toxicity in rats owing to its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory potential