Deep learning-based change detection in remote sensing images:a review

Images gathered from different satellites are vastly available these days due to the fast development of remote sensing (RS) technology. These images significantly enhance the data sources of change detection (CD). CD is a technique of recognizing the dissimilarities in the images acquired at distinct intervals and are used for numerous applications, such as urban area development, disaster management, land cover object identification, etc. In recent years, deep learning (DL) techniques have been used tremendously in change detection processes, where it has achieved great success because of their practical applications. Some researchers have even claimed that DL approaches outperform traditional approaches and enhance change detection accuracy. Therefore, this review focuses on deep learning techniques, such as supervised, unsupervised, and semi-supervised for different change detection datasets, such as SAR, multispectral, hyperspectral, VHR, and heterogeneous images, and their advantages and disadvantages will be highlighted. In the end, some significant challenges are discussed to understand the context of improvements in change detection datasets and deep learning models. Overall, this review will be beneficial for the future development of CD methods

2-(3,4-Dimethyl-5,5-dioxo-2H,4H-pyrazolo­[4,3-c][1,2]benzothia­zin-2-yl)acetic acid

In the title mol­ecule, C13H13N3O4S, the heterocyclic thia­zine ring adopts a half-chair conformation in which the S and an adjacent C atom are displaced by 0.919 (3) and 0.300 (4) Å, respectively, on the same side of the mean plane formed by the remaining ring atoms. The mean planes of the benzene and pyrazole rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 18.32 (12)° with respect to each other. The acetate group is oriented at 80.75 (8)° with respect to the pyrazole ring. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, resulting in fused eight- and seven-membered rings with R 2 2(8) and R 2 2(7) graph-set motifs, respectively

Lipid Lowering Efficacy of Pennisetum glaucum Bran in Hyperlipidemic Albino Rats

The objective of the study was to determine lipid lowering efficacy of Pennisetum (P) glaucum (Pearl millet, locally known as bajra), bran in hyperlipidemia albino rats. Simvastatin, (Tablet survive®), was used as cholesterol lowering synthetic drug. The period of 0-15 days was considered as a lead-in period to induce hyperlipidemia with atherogenic diet in albino rats. P. glaucum bran at dose rate of 2, 4 and 6 g/kg BW showed lipid lowering efficacy in hyperlipidemic rats at post-treatment days 30, 45 and 60. At the level of 6 g/kg, P. glaucum bran was able to produce a significant (P<0.05) increase in HDL- cholesterol (47%) and fall in other lipid profile parameters i.e. total lipids (41%), triglycerides(48%), total cholesterol (39%) and LDL- cholesterol (55%). P. glaucum 6 g/kg also reduced total cholesterol in liver tissue and increased fecal bile acid secretion. The results of present study suggest that 6 g/kg P. glaucum bran and 0.6 mg/kg Simvastatin were equally effective in treating hyperlipidemia in albino rats. Moreover, the potency of P. glaucum for stimulating fecal bile acid secretion in albino rats may safely be conceived, at least, as a part of mechanisms for its antihyperlipidemic efficacy

Understanding of final year medical-, pharmacy- and nursing students in Pakistan towards antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship : findings and implications

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a leading public health threat, which is exacerbated by high and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate knowledge regarding antibiotic use, AMR and their readiness to implement antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) among final year medical, pharmacy and nursing students in Pakistan. This reflects high and increasing rates of AMR in the country, and students being the future healthcare professionals (HCPs). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1251 final year students from 23 public and private educational institutions in Punjab. The majority of the surveyed participants possessed good knowledge of antibiotic use, AMR and the potential causes of AMR. The most common sources of the information on antibiotics were physicians (69.9%), peers (35.9%) and medical journals (30.6%). However, most surveyed participants were not fully prepared to participate in ASPs. They knew though how to reduce AMR by educating HCPs about appropriate prescribing, implementing ASPs and improving laboratory facilities. There was a significant association between antibiotic knowledge and causes of AMR with sex, family income, and student type (p < 0.05). Being a student at a public sector university (OR= 4.809; CI= 3.261- 7.094; p<0.001), and age (OR=0.524, CI=0.327-0.842; p<0.008) were among key factors impacting students training on ASPs. Educational curricula must be improved to include more information about appropriate antibiotic use and ASPs along with sufficient training, workshops and clinical rotations in the final year to fully equip students on graduation

ROLE OF SONOELASTOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF THYROID NODULES

Thyroid nodular disease is one of the most common endocrine disorder. B mode ultrasound provides useful characteristic information about thyroid nodules but it has noticeably low accuracy to differentiate benign from malignant. Fine needle aspiration is widely been used in differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules but it is an invasive procedure. Sonoelastography is a newly developed non- invasive technique which uses ultrasound and gives information about the stiffness of tissue. It estimates the hardness of thyroid lesions in association with adjacent tissues and assists in the differentiation of benign from malignant nodules.Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the role sonoelastography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Methods:This study was conducted on 72 Patients of age between 18-80 years of either gender at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Pakistan, from 25 March 2019 to 23 August 2019 for duration of five months. Elastography was performed using Toshiba Aplio 500.  Patient having one or more solid nodules in thyroid on conventional ultrasound examination were included in the study and the sonoelastography of nodules was confirmed with histopathological findings of nodules. Results: A total 72 participants were included in our study. The mean age of participants was 42.11 years. Gender distribution shows that 51.4% (n=37) were male and 48.6% (n=35) were female. Sonoelastographic strain ratio of 55.6% nodules (n=40) was more than 2.1(malignant feature) and 44.4% nodules (n=32) have less than 2.1 (benign). Histopathology showed 56.9% of participants (n=41) have malignant nodules and 43.1% (n=31) have benign nodules. The comparison of sonoelastography and histopathology in reference with nodules shows that the results of histopathology and sonoelastography were same and support each other. Conclusion: Sonoelastography is non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technique to diagnose thyroid nodules either benign or malignant. Keywords: Ultrasound Elastography, Thyroid Nodules, Benign, Malignant, Fine Needle Aspiration. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/66-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

Antihyperlipidaemic Efficacy of Trachyspermum ammi in Albino Rabbits

The objective of the present study was to investigate the antihyperlipidaemic efficacy of Trachyspermum ammi (L) Sprague, seed (Ajowan) powder in albino rabbits. Hyperlipidaemia was induced with butter ad libitum and oral intubation of cholesterol 400 mg/kg body weight. Simvastatin, (Tablet survive®) was used as a synthetic cholesterol lowering drug. The results suggest that 2 g/kg T. ammi seed powder produced hypolipidaemic activity, rendering 49%, 53%, 71% and 63% reduction in total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, respectively. However, at this dosage level 62% increase in the value of HDL-cholesterol was induced by T. ammi seed powder. Nonetheless, 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg T. ammi seed powder did not show antihyperlipidaemic activity. T. ammi seed powder at the rate of 2 g/kg and simvastatin (0.6 mg/kg body weight) were equally effective in treating hyperlipidaemia in albino rabbits. Moreover, this dosage level also significantly reduced the cholesterol content of liver tissue. It can be anticipated that the lipid lowering mechanism may involve enhanced removal or catabolism of lipoproteins, inhibition of HMG COA reductase, and/or inhibition of lysosomal lipid hydrolytic enzymes secreted by the liver

Prevalence and characteristics of resistant hypertensive patients in an Asian population

Background: Resistant hypertension is a well-recognized clinical challenge yet there are no reported data on its prevalence in Pakistan. These patients are subjected to a higher risk of developing hypertensive complications. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of resistant hypertension in an Asian cohort of hypertensive patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among hypertensive patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from September-December 2015. Patient data and characteristics were recorded using a pre-coded questionnaire. Morisky and Berlin questionnaires were used to assess compliance to medications and determine the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. Pearson\u27s chi-square test was used to analyze statistical differences between hypertensive patients and related factors.Results: A total of 515 patients were included in the study. Overall, 12% of the total patients (n=62) were resistant hypertensives and 25% (n=129) had pseudo-resistant hypertension. Resistant patients were more often females, older and had a higher body mass index (all P\u3c0.001). Use of painkillers and noncompliance to dietary recommendations were found to be significant determinants of resistant hypertension. Prevalence of comorbid conditions, including diabetes (p=0.33), hyperlipidemia (p=0.46), and chronic kidney disease (p=0.23), was not significantly higher in patients with resistant hypertension.Conclusion: Nearly one in ten hypertensive patients had true resistant hypertension, and twenty-five percent of patients had pseudo-resistance. Resistance hypertensions is significantly associated with female gender, older age, obesity, dietary noncompliance and increased use of NSAIDs

Disposition Kinetics and Optimal Dosage of Ciprofloxacin in Healthy Domestic Ruminant Species

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the disposition kinetics and optimal dosages of ciprofloxacin in healthy domestic ruminant species including adult female buffalo, cow, sheep and goat. The drug was given as a single intramuscular dose of 5 mg/kg. The plasma concentrations of the drug were determined with HPLC and pharmacokinetic variables were determined. The biological half-life (t1/2 β was longer in cows (3.25 ± 0.46 h) followed by intermediate values in buffaloes (3.05 ± 0.20 h) and sheep (2.93 ± 0.45 h) and shorter in goats (2.62 ± 0.39 h). The volume of distribution (Vd) in buffaloes was 1.09 ± 0.06 l/kg, cows 1.24 ± 0.16 l/kg, sheep 2.89 ± 0.30 l/kg and goats 3.76 ± 0.92 l/kg. Total body clearance (ClB) expressed in l/h/kg was minimum in buffaloes 0.25 ± 0.02 followed by values in cows 0.31 ± 0.02 and sheep 0.75 ± 0.04 and maximum in goats 1.09 ± 0.11. An optimal dosage regimen for 12-h interval consisted of 5.17, 5.62, 6.54 and 6.10 mg/kg body weight as priming and 4.84, 5.37, 6.26 and 5.91 mg/kg body weight as maintenance intramuscular dose in buffalo, cow, sheep and goat, respectively. The manufacturers of ciprofloxacin have claimed 5 mg/kg dose to be repeated after 24 h. However, the investigated dosage regimen may be repeated after 12 h to maintain MIC at the end of the dosage interval. Therefore, it is imperative that an optimal dosage regimen be based on the disposition kinetics data determined in the species and environment in which a drug is to be employed clinically

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049