Clobazam monotherapy in drug naı̈ve adult patients with epilepsy

AbstractPurpose: Evaluation of the efficacy and side effects profile of Clobazam in a 24-week open-labelled trial involving 26 cases of drug naı̈ve adult patients with epilepsy.Methods: The study was an open labelled unicentre trial in which only drug naı̈ve cases with epilepsy were included. A total of 26 cases were recruited. One case was dropped because he did not complete the desired follow up. Seizure type and frequency were recorded and follow up was done at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after initiation of therapy. The change in seizure severity, the dose of Clobazam required and development of side effects were recorded.Results: The seizure types included GTCS (n=16), complex partial seizures (n=4), focal motor seizures with secondary generalisation (n=3) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n=2). Out of 25 patients, 16 (64%) became seizure free, while five (20%) had >50% reduction in their seizure frequency. Thus, these 21 patients (84%) were considered to be well controlled. The commonest side effect seen was sedation, which was noted in 4 of the 25 patients (16%). However, in none of these four patients sedation was significant enough to warrant stoppage of therapy. Weight gain, gait ataxia, loss of short-term memory and breakthrough seizures were noted in one patient each.Conclusions: The efficacy of Clobazam coupled with the lack of significant side effects noted in our study makes it merit consideration as monotherapy in adult patients with epilepsy

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe

Genetic-neural optimization approach for gas metal arc welding of dissimilar aluminium alloys of AA5083-O/AA6061-T6

Distinct alloys have different chemical and thermal characteristics, making it difficult to weld together. For the purpose of maximizing tensile strength and weld hardness of the joint, the gas metal arc (GMA) welding process for the dissimilar aluminium alloys AA5083-O and AA6061-T6 was modelled and optimized in the current study. A genetic-neural approach was attempted, in which optimal artificial neural network (ANN) was applied to model the process and genetic algorithm (GA) approach was extended to optimize the parameters. The proposed genetic-neural (GA-ANN) approach was also compared to the traditional response surface methodology (RSM). In predicting the reactions of a GMA welded joint made of two different alloys, AA5083-O and AA6061-T6, the suggested optimum ANN model was shown to be more accurate (error 6%). The genetic-neural optimization technique has less inaccuracy (approximately 5% error) than the RSM optimization approach, however the more computational time was required to select GA-ANN parameters

Amino acids differentially regulate insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and phosphatidyl inositol-3-OH-kinase activities in human monocytes exposed to high glucose concentration

Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics42113-18IJBB

Pyopericardium due to group D streptococcus

Beta-hemolytic Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from the pericardial fluid obtained from a patient with pyopericardium. The patient was immunocompetent and had mild pleural effusion. He was treated with parenteral co-amoxiclav and amikacin, had undewent pericardiectomy with repeated pericardial aspiration, and recovered completely. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pyopericardium due to E. faecalis