Short Term Comparison Between Safety and Efficacy of Rosuvastatin 40 mg and Atorvastatin 80 mg in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background. Dyslipidemia is one of the most serious modifiable risk factors for acute coronary  syndrome which is the most leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Aim. To assess the short-term safety and efficacy of full dose rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary  syndrome.Material and methods. Single center, prospective, randomized study included 100 patients who were randomized from first 24-hour of admission to either atorvastatin 80  mg  daily (group 1) or rosuvastatin 40  mg  daily (group 2). Primary outcomes included levels of inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], high-sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and total leukocyte count [TLC]) after 4 weeks of treatment and lipid profile after 3 months. Secondary  outcomes included recurrent myocardial infarction, recurrent angina, stroke and side effects.Results. At admission, both groups  were comparable in age, without statistically significant difference regarding risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking and obesity), echocardiography (end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and ejection fraction), laboratory parameters of inflammation and lipid profile. After 1 month, there was insignificant difference between rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in the reduction of ESR, Hs-CRP or TLC. After 3 months rosuvastatin showed statistically significant reduction in the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (p<0.001) and significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001) when compared to atorvastatin and at the same time the rosuvastatin group  was safer regarding liver enzymes elevation, p<0.001 for alanine and p<0.01 for aspartate aminotransferases, respectively.Conclusions. Our findings demonstrated that  rosuvastatin 40  mg/day is safer and more effective than  the atorvastatin 80  mg/day in the terms  of lipid parameters and inflammatory biomarkers

Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Cu2SnSe3 for Solar Cell Application

Cu2SnSe3 (CTSe) powders were prepared by solvothermal (SR) and solid state reactions (SSR) using low cost starting materials. The crystal structure, morphology, UV-Vis absorbance, electrochemical and solar energy properties were investigated using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and solar energy applications using I-V characteristics measurements. A single cubic Cu2SnSe3 was obtained for the two methods of preparations. The calculated crystallite size (L) values for CTSe prepared by SR and SSR are 24.1 and 30.3 nm, respectively. UV-Vis. spectra for SR and SSR preparations showed maximum absorbencies at 240 nm with band gap (Eg) values of 0.9 and 1.4 eV, respectively. The charge transfer resistances (Rct) were equal to 3.5 and 24 for photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) and the calculated conductivities were equal to 3x10-2 and 2x10-2 S.cm for samples that prepared by SR and SSR methods, respectively. A good photoelectrochemical cell (PCE) has accomplished power conversion efficiency per unit area of about 0.84 and 0.64 % for cells prepared by SR and SSR, respectively

In Vivo Investigation of the Ameliorating Effect of Copper Albumin Complex on chondroitin sulfate in Monosodium iodoacetate -Induced Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that manifests as cartilage deterioration and subchondral bone sclerosis in the joint tissues. The weight-bearing joint is most severely impacted by OA. According to some research, consuming foods high in copper albumin complex (cu-albumin complex) can help with OA-related joint degeneration and pain relief. The current study's objective to determine how oral administration of the cu-albumin complex as an anti-inflammatory medication affected the development of rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Fifty adult albino rats were divided into three groups: negative control untreated (n= 10, no KOA induction); positive untreated control (n= 20, KOA induction); and treated group (n= 20, KOA induction with administration of cu-albumin complex). According to the severity of the clinical symptoms, treated and untreated arthritic groups were equally divided into mild and severe groups (n=10). Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was used as intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis induction. Rats were euthanized after a month of the beginning of the experiment, and the joints were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. It was indicated that the treatment was effective in reducing KOA severity and in improvement of chondroitin sulfate of the affected cartilages. In conclusion, the structure of the chondroitin sulphate in the knee joint cartilages of KOA-affected rats was modified by the cu-albumin complex

Validation of the ALS Assay in Adult Patients with Culture Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: We have earlier shown that Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine-specific IgG Antibodies in Lymphocyte Supernatant (ALS) can be used for diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) in adults and children. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The ALS method was validated in a larger cohort (n = 212) of patients with suspicion of pulmonary TB using multiple antigens (BCG, LAM, TB15.3, TB51A, CFP10-ESAT6-A, CFP, CW) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the ALS assay was calculated using non-TB patients as controls. The sensitivity and the specificity were highest with BCG vaccine (90% and 88% respectively) followed by LAM (89% and 87% respectively). Simultaneous assessment of multiple antigen-specific antibodies increased sensitivity (91%) and specificity (88%). Using higher lymphocyte count in smaller volume of culture media increased detection and reduced the assay duration to ∼30 hrs. Twenty one patients with clinical findings strongly suggestive of TB finally diagnosed as non-TB patients were positive by the ALS assay, of which 9 (43%) were positive for 7 antigens and 19 (90%) for at least 3 antigens. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings show that simultaneous detection of antigens improves the diagnostic potential of the ALS assay; the modified method increases sensitivity and can provide results in <48 hours, and enable detection of some cases of pulmonary TB that are not detectable by standard methods

Expression Analysis of the Ligands for the Natural Killer Cell Receptors NKp30 and NKp44

BACKGROUND: The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCR) are important to stimulate the activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells against transformed cells. Identification of NCR ligands and their level of expression on normal and neoplastic cells has important implications for the rational design of immunotherapy strategies for cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we analyze the expression of NKp30 ligand and NKp44 ligand on 30 transformed or non-transformed cell lines of different origin. We find intracellular and surface expression of these two ligands on almost all cell lines tested. Expression of NKp30 and NKp44 ligands was variable and did not correlate with the origin of the cell line. Expression of NKp30 and NKp44 ligand correlated with NKp30 and NKp44-mediated NK cell lysis of tumor cells, respectively. The surface expression of NKp30 ligand and NKp44 ligand was sensitive to trypsin treatment and was reduced in cells arrested in G(2)/M phase. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These data demonstrate the ubiquitous expression of the ligands for NKp30 and NKp44 and give an important insight into the regulation of these ligands

Encouraging female entrepreneurship in Jordan: environmental factors, obstacles and challenges

The number of female entrepreneurs and their contribution to the economy is steadily rising. Yet research suggests that female entrepreneurs face more challenges and barriers than their male counterparts. This is expected to be even more prevalent in Islamic contexts, which are characterised by conservative and patriarchal societies. In this research, 254 female business students from a private and a public university responded to a questionnaire that gauges their perceptions about potential barriers to entrepreneurship in Jordan and whether the business education they are receiving helps to prepare them for future entrepreneurial activity. Our results help to form a basis on which a deeper understanding of the phenomena can be achieved through more in depth future research. Among the main environmental factors that worry potential female entrepreneurs are the weakness of Jordanian economy, lack of finance, fear of risk, gender inequality and inability to maintain a work and private life balance. Our results also show that students are really not aware of the opportunities available to them and are unable to make a proper assessment. We call on both universities and the Jordanian government to put more emphasis on practical entrepreneurial education and encouraging women to play a much more active role within the workforce

The fifth developing plan of Iranian Fisheries Research Institute

Accurate scientific and practical plan for achieving the goals of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of Vision development 1404, is the infrastructure achieving sustainable development of the country. Order to achieve the above mentioned objectives and in order to the comprehensive development plans in the country, Iranian fisheries research organization adjust the fifth developing plan for support of executive related departments in country with mobilization a large number researchers consists of several working groups of ifro affiliated research centers. The fifth developing plan consist of three chapters for report of the forth developing plan and intrudction of research, construction plans and financial support (budjet) for period of 2011-2014 A.C

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe