Design and preparation of controlled floating gastroretentive delivery systems for enhanced fexofenadine hydrochloride oral bioavailability

Purpose: To design and prepare effervescent floating gastroretentive tablets for controlledfexofenadine hydrochloride (HCl) release and enhanced oral bioavailability.Method: Various tablet formulations of the drug were prepared by direct compression. A systematic approach in the design of the formulations was adopted, where, first, formulations consisting of single polymers with a high polymer : sodium bicarbonate ratio were investigated for its physicochemical properties (in-vitro floating behaviour, drug release profile, etc). Next, improvement of tablets’ properties was achieved by decreasing polymer : sodium bicarbonate ratio. Subsequently, a final optimization step involved blending polymers at different polymer : polymer ratios. The formulations were evaluated in vitro and in vivo in albino rabbitsResults: The formulation consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K15M/hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose K100LV at 1 : 2 ratio (F8) showed good floating properties (14 s floating lag time) with nearly zero order controlled drug release for 24 h (R2 = 0.9876). In-vivo bioavailability studies of F8 in albino rabbits showed a significant increase in area under the curve (AUC, 134 %, p < 0.05) and hence an improvement in its oral bioavailability, compared to a commercial conventional product.Conclusion: The good quality of the effervescent floating gastroretentive tablets of fexofenadine HCl developed is an indication that the approach used is suitable for the formulation of the drug for controlled drug release and enhanced oral bioavailabiliy.Keywords: Effervescent, Floating, Gastroretentive, Fexofenadine, Bioavailabilit

Combining Spreader Grafts with Suture Suspension for Management of Narrow Internal Nasal Valve Angles

Objective:The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term results of combining spreader grafts with lateral suspension techniques for management of narrow internal nasal valves.Methods: This prospective study included 79 patients who underwent surgical interference for dysfunctional nasal valve. The surgical intervention was a combination of two commonly used techniques for management of internal nasal valve dysfunction: spreader graft insertion and lateral suspension of the upper lateral cartilages. The patients were assessed using the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) tool, computed tomography (CT) scans, and endoscopic examinations.Results: All patients reported initial improvement and satisfaction in nasal breathing. Seventy-two patients (91%) reported sustained relief of nasal breathing for at least 3 years postoperatively. The mean NOSE scores decreased from 69.8 to 20.65 postoperatively. The internal nasal valve angle, as measured endoscopically, increased from 7.23° to 13.05° on the right side and from 6.75° to 11.98° on the left side; the increase was statistically significant. The angle, as measured on axial CT scans, increased from 8.11° to 14.15° on the right side and from 6.98° to 12.13° on the left side’ this increase, too, was statistically significant.Conclusion: Combining spreader grafts with lateral suspension sutures provide good, stable, and sustained repair of dysfunctional narrowed internal nasal valves

Comparing in vitro maturation rates in buffalo and cattle oocytes and evaluating the effect of cAMP modulators on maturation and subsequent developmental competence

Objective: The purpose of this research was to compare the kinetics and meiotic advancement of cattle and buffalo oocytes, as well as to see how cAMP modulators affected the meiotic progression status of cattle and buffalo oocytes during the oocyte collection process.Design: comparing maturation stages times in buffalo and cattle oocytes. Cattle and buffalo oocytes were collected, separated into two groups (standard IVM and extended IVM), and cultivated for five hours in 5% CO2 at 39°C. The sample times for extended IVM are 8, 15, 18, 22, 24, and 30 hours. The nuclear status of each oocyte was assessed to determine how far it had matured at each time sample. Then after, study the effect of cAMP modulators on maturation rates of cattle and buffalo oocytes.Procedures: Standard IVM samples were taken at different maturation times, commencing at 8 h and ending at 24 h, while extended IVM samples were taken at 30 h. COCs were placed in a 15-mL sterile centrifuge tube with a warmed 3 percent sodium citrate solution and vortexed at maximum speed for 4 to 8 minutes as needed to remove all cumulus cells before being placed in a warm water bath at 39°C for 5 minutes. After that, the oocytes were mounted on a slide and placed in Coplin jars with a 3:1 methanol/acetic acid solution.Results: At any stage of sampling, the percentage of oocytes arrested at the GV stage did not differ significantly between cattle and buffalo oocytes. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between cattle and buffalo oocytes in terms of the percentage of oocytes that reached the MI stage. Moreover, the percentage of oocytes arrested at the GV stage did not differ substantially between cattle and buffalo oocytes when maturation was extended using cAMP modulators at all stages of sampling. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Modulating cAMP during oocyte maturation can change oocyte kinetics and increase developmental competence by boosting fertilization, cleavage, and morula rates. Furthermore, there is no significant differences in maturation rates between buffalo and cattle oocytes

Machine Learning-Based Diabetes Prediction: Feature Analysis and Model Assessment

This study employs machine learning to predict diabetes using a Kaggle dataset with 13 features. Our three-layer model achieves an accuracy of 98.73% and an average error of 0.01%. Feature analysis identifies Age, Gender, Polyuria, Polydipsia, Visual blurring, sudden weight loss, partial paresis, delayed healing, irritability, Muscle stiffness, Alopecia, Genital thrush, Weakness, and Obesity as influential predictors. These findings have clinical significance for early diabetes risk assessment. While our research addresses gaps in the field, further work is needed to enhance model generalizability

Retrospective Study of Vitreous Tap Technique Using Needle Aspiration for Management of Shallow Anterior Chamber during Phacoemulsification

Purpose. To evaluate the technique of vitreous tap using needle aspiration for management of anterior chamber shallowness during phacoemulsification. Methods. A retrospective study included 26 eyes of 17 patients who underwent phacoemulsification in which vitreous tap was performed using a 27-gauge needle attached to a 5 ml syringe, inserted 3.5 mm from the limbus to aspirate 0.2 ml of liquefied vitreous if a cohesive (OVD) failed to sufficiently deepen the anterior chamber. Results. Preoperative anterior chamber depth was 2.31 ± 0.26 mm, axial length was 21.7 ± 0.67 mm, lens thickness was 4.5 ± .19 mm, and cataract grade was 3.77 ± 1.4. Preoperative CDVA in LogMAR units was 0.98 ± 0.75. Coexisting angle closure glaucoma was present in 7 patients (26.92%) preoperatively. Vitreous needle tap was successful in vitreous removal on the first attempt in 26 eyes (100%). Postoperative follow-up period was 22.88 ± 10.24 (4–39) months. The final postoperative CDVA in LogMAR units was 0.07 ± 0.1, while the final postoperative IOP was 16.54 ± 1.45 mmHg. No complications related to vitreous tap were noted. Conclusion. Vitreous needle tap is a simple, cost-effective, and safe technique for management of shallow anterior chamber in phacoemulsification

Local topology of connectome stabilizes critical points in mean field model

The interplay between structural connectivity (SC) and neural dynamics is still not yet fully understood. Applying topological analysis, the connectome approach links this anatomical network to brain function. Here we adopt a computational approach to find topology features related to the stability on global neural dynamics. A previous study of a mean field model based on the human cortex network, shows at least 2 global neural states, with either a low or high firing rate pattern. These 2 possible states, or bistability, emerge in the model within a range of the global coupling parameter G, limited by critical values G- and G +.Instituto de Investigaciones en Electrónica, Control y Procesamiento de Señale

The Impact of Different Estrus Synchronization Programs on Postpartum Holstein Dairy Cow Reproductive Performance

Objective: The purpose of this study was to see how the Ovsynch, modified Ovsynch, presynch, and modified presynch protocols affected postpartum reproductive performance in dairy cows. Design: Randomized controlled experimental study Animals: The current research involved 412 dairy cows. Procedures: The cows were split into four groups: GnRH was given on day 0, PGF2∝ on day 7, and GnRH on day 9. Group 1: (Ovsynch protocol, n= 117) received GnRH on day 0 and PGF2∝ on day 7. Group 2 (modified Ovsynch, n=113): PMSG on day 0, PGF2 on day 7, and PMSG on day 9. Group 3 (presynch protocol, n=98) got two doses of PGF2 14 days apart, which allowed for a 12-day delay in the start of Ovsynch. Group 4 (modified presynch protocol, n=84) got two PGF2∝ doses 14 days apart, which was 12 days before the start of modified Ovsynch. All of the animals were artificially inseminated 16 hours following their last GnRH or PMSG dose. The ovarian rebound, number of services per conception, days open, and calving interval were the measures for determining reproductive performance for the dairy cows. Results: The main effect of the synchronisation program showed no significance for ovarian rebound (P >0.05). The S/C, days open and calving intervals were decreased significantly (P＜0.05) in the 3rd and 4th groups when compared with the cows that received either GPG or PMSG treatment only. All four groups had a conception rate of 35.04 (41/117), 40.7 (46/113), 44.8 (44/98), and 57.14 (48/84) %, respectively (P＜0.05). Conclusion and clinical relevance: It was investigated that giving two PGF2 injections before Ovsynch, either utilizing GnRH or PMSG methods, improved the reproductive performance of dairy cows. Furthermore, cows given PMSG had a greater conception rate than cows given GnRH

Vermicompost Supply Modifies Chemical Composition and Improves Nutritive and Medicinal Properties of Date Palm Fruits From Saudi Arabia

To meet the increased demand for phytochemicals, plant cultivation in soil amended with biofertilizers has been developed. Here, we aimed to use vermicompost as an environmentally safe biofertilizer to enhance the nutritive and medicinal value of five common cultivars of Saudi date palm; namely Phoenix dactylifera L. var. Ajwa, Hulwa, Ruthana, Sefri, and Luban. To determine changes in the fruit nutritive composition, primary metabolites, antioxidants, phenolic compounds and mineral profiles were analyzed in the fruits from non-fertilized and vermicompost-fertilized date palms. We also tested how changes in the fruit chemical compositions due to vermicompost fertilization affected their medicinal potentials. Applying vermicomposts generally increased primary metabolites, vitamins, and mineral content as well as the medicinal potential of the date palm fruits. This positive effect is possibly explained by the role of vermicomposts in improving soil health and fertility. Furthermore, clustering analyses and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated cultivar-specific responses. PCA analysis also revealed that the bioactivities of the date palm fruit extracts and their antioxidants tended to display correlated output values. One of the highly accumulated phenolic compounds, β-D-glucogallin, was extracted and purified from P. dactylifera L. var. Ajwa fruits and showed significant antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antimutagenic, and antiprotozoal activities. Overall, applying vermicompost is an innovative approach to increase the nutritive quality and medicinal potential of date palm fruits

Protective and ameliorative effects of Curcumin and/or Quercetin against gentamicin induced testicular damage in rats

The aminoglycoside Gentamicin is a commonly used antibiotic counteracting the Gram-ve microorganisms. Rats administered with Gentamicin showing a reduced testicular weight and inhibited spermatogenesis, as gentamicin generates ROS, decreasing the antioxidant reserve and accelerate mitochondrial dysfunction which then leads to apoptosis and testicular tissue destruction. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of curcumin and/or quercetin on the gentamicin induced testicular damage or toxicity in sexually mature adult rats. Pre-treatment with curcumin and/or quercetin, markedly inhibited and ameliorated the reduction in sperm count, viability, motility and sperm production in gentamicin treated rats. Moreover, curcumin and/or quercetin, significantly reduce teratospermia including head or tail abnormalities that observed in the gentamicin treated rats. These abnormalities were effectively normalized by curcumin and/or quercetin pretreatment improving the testicular tissue via counteracting of ROS, improvement of spermatogenesis and ameliorate the sperms quality and quantity. In conclusion supplementation of curcumin and/or quercetin improving the sperm count and morphology via testicular cell repair, counteracting the undesirable effect of gentamicin

The Reality of Spreading the Culture of Entrepreneurship and Proposals for Activating It (An Applied Study on the University of Al-Azhar in Gaza)

The study aimed to investigate the reality of spreading the culture of entrepreneurship at Al-Azhar University from the point of view of students of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and diagnose the most important obstacles that limit its activation. The researchers used the descriptive approach (survey) to achieve the objectives of the study, and relied on the questionnaire as a tool for applied study. The study concluded that: The reality of spreading the culture of entrepreneurship at Al-Azhar University from the point of view of the students participating in the study came with an average degree of approval, while the most important obstacles and possible proposals for activating it came with a high degree of approval, which indicates the existence of strengths of Al-Azhar University in spreading the culture of entrepreneurship among students. Deficiencies must be corrected through proposals. In light of the results of the study, it was possible to develop a number of recommendations that can contribute to activating the culture of entrepreneurship at Al-Azhar University. Including the establishment of a specialized center for entrepreneurship within the university, develop a declared strategic plan to spread and develop the culture of entrepreneurship, allocate a sufficient budget to sponsor and support entrepreneurial ideas and projects for students and provide specialized cadres and certified trainers in the field of entrepreneurship