In Vitro

Arnebia benthamii is a major ingredient of the commercial drug available under the name Gaozaban, which has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. In the present study, in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of different extracts of Arnebia benthamii were investigated. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was evaluated by means of total phenolics, DPPH, reducing power, microsomal lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The highest phenolic content (TPC) of 780 mg GAE/g was observed in ethyl acetate, while the lowest TPC of 462 mg GAE/g was achieved in aqueous extract. At concentration of 700 µg/mL, DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be highest in ethyl acetate extract (87.99%) and lowest in aqueous extract (73%). The reducing power of extracts increased in a concentration dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, Arnebia benthamii extracts exhibited antioxidant effects on Calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Cytotoxicity of the extracts (10–100 µg/mL) was tested on five human cancer cell lines (lung, prostate, leukemia, colon, and pancreatic cell lines) using the Sulphorhodamine B assay

Long-term full-scale intelligent quotient outcomes following pediatric and childhood epilepsy surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive measures are an important primary outcome of pediatric, adolescents, and childhood epilepsy surgery. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess whether there are long-term alterations (≥ 5 years) in the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) of pediatric patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. METHODS: Electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus) were searched for English articles from inception to October 2022 that examined intelligence outcomes in pediatric epilepsy surgery patients. Inclusion criteria were defined as the patient sample size of ≥ 5, average follow- up of ≥5 years, and surgeries performed on individuals ≤ 18 years old at the time of surgery. Exclusion criteria consisted of palliative surgery, animal studies, and studies not reporting surgical or FSIQ outcomes. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) toolset was used for quality appraisal of the selected articles. A random-effects network meta-analysis was performed to compare FSIQ between surgical patients at baseline and follow-up and Mean Difference (MD) was used to calculate the effect size of each study. Point estimates for effects and 95% confidence intervals for moderation analysis were performed on variables putatively associated with the effect size. RESULTS: 21,408 studies were screened for abstract and title. Of these, 797 fit our inclusion and exclusion criteria and proceeded to full-text screening. Overall, seven studies met our requirements and were selected. Quantitative analysis was performed on these studies (N = 330). The mean long-term difference between pre- and post- operative FSIQ scores across all studies was noted at 3.36 [95% CI: (0.14, 6.57), p = 0.04, I2 = 0%] and heterogeneity was low. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to measure the long-term impacts of FSIQ in pediatric and adolescent epilepsy patients. Our overall results in this meta-analysis indicate that while most studies do not show long-term FSIQ deterioration in pediatric patients who underwent epilepsy surgery, there was an increase of 3.36 FSIQ points, however, the observed changes were not clinically significant. Moreover, at the individual patient level analysis, while most children did not show long-term FSIQ deterioration, few had significant decline. These findings indicate the importance of surgery as a viable option for pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Pathogenicity of nosema bombycis naegeli to silkworm, bombyx mori linnaeus and its management

Pebrine, a chronic disease of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. caused by a highly virulent parasitic microsporidian, Nosema bombycis Naeg. was observed as a serious menace and an important production constriant of silk in the Kashmir Valley. The incidence of the disease at varying levels was observed on all the silkworm races in all the six districts of the valley. The prevailing silkworm rearing practices in the valley has a great influence upon the incidence of the disease. The common ways of infection were found as per oral and transovarial. The characteristic symptoms of the disease are poor appetite, poor growth, unequal body size, irregular moulting, change in colour (off-white, faint yellow, rustic brow), appearance of dark brown to black spots on the integument and whitish tumour like pustules along the length of distended silk glands. Infected pupae flabby and swollen, with blackish abdomen and infected moths are crippled, with deformed wings, distorted antenae and loose body scales. The pebrinised eggs are small in size and lighter in weight. First mortality was recorded on the 9th day of post inoculation. The larval weight was reduced by half and the total larval duration was prolonged by 9-11 days in case of infected batches of silkworm. The spore multiplication rate was found to increase with the advancing stage of infection and the developmental stage of B. mori. The sporulation rate varied among the individuals. The highest sporulation rate was recorded in CA2 x SF19 both at the pupal and moth stages. All the six chemicals, Bavistin, Topsin-M, Codrinal, Crodoxin-FM’ Malariaquine and Metrogyl proved efficacy against the disease. However, Malariaquine was more effective and showed the highest survival folowed by Bavistin, Codrinal, Topsin-M, Metrogyl and Croydoxin-F M’. The chemicals showed a significant increase in the weight of larvae, yield of cocoons and exhibited a positive influence upon all the economic trials and fecundity. The fast spreading nature of the disease through secondary contamination was observed by introducing pebrinised silkworms in healthy population. The extent of infection was in proportion to the number of infected larvae introduced. In the moth stage, the infection was found in the range of 30.00-73.33 per cent in the batches where 1 to 10 infected larvae were introduced. The larval duration was prolonged by 8-9 hours after mixing of larvae soon after the 3rd moult

Obesity and urologic complications after renal transplantation

Although obesity has been associated with improved survival on dialysis, its short-and long-term effects on renal transplantation outcomes remain unclear. Herein, we evaluate the short-term and intermediate long-term effects of obesity on first-time renal transplant patients. A retrospective analysis was performed on 180 consecutive renal transplant recipients from living unrelated donors during 2006-2008 in a major transplantation center in Tehran, Iran. Among these, 34 (18%) patients were found to be obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m 2 ). Obese patients were more likely to develop post-transplant renal artery stenosis (RAS) (17.6% vs. 2.8%, P <0.001), hematoma (47.9% vs. 17.6, P = 0.009), surgical wound complications (64.7% vs. 9.6%, P <0.001) and renal vein thrombosis (2% vs. 0%, P <0.001). However, the incidence of delayed graft function, lymphocele, urologic complications of ureterovesical junction stenosis or urinary leakage, surgical complications of excessive bleeding or renal artery thrombosis and duration of hospitalization were similar between the two groups. The two-year patient and graft survival were also statistically not different. Renal transplantation in obese recipients is associated with a higher incidence of post-transplant RAS, hematoma, surgical wound complications and renal vein thrombosis, but similar two-year patient and graft survival

Identification of microorganisms in irreversible pulpitis and primary endodontic infections with respect to clinical and radiographic findings

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of microbiota of irreversible pulpitis and primary endodontic infections with respect to clinical and radiographic findings by performing cultures and 16s rDNA sequencing in Iranian patients. Material and methods In this prospective cross-sectional study, samples were collected from 41 root canals for 4 main groups of patients. Bacterial identification was performed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 16s rDNA sequencing of aerobic and anaerobic cultivable colonies taken from patients’ culture plates. Additionally, the presence of 13 bacterial species and 3 nonbacterial species was also explored using PCR and species-specific primers. Results Sixteen microbial species, 1 fungus (Candida albicans), and 1 virus (Herpes simplex virus) were discovered and isolated. Species with the highest prevalence were Dialister invisus(68.3%), Porphyromonas gingivalis(58.8%), Streptococcus salivarius (58.5%), and Treponema denticola (56.1%). Lysinibacillus fusiformis (19.1%) was detected in the root canals for the first time. Candida albicans was seen in 11 cases (26.8%). Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was seen in 4 patients (9.8%). Conclusions Our results suggest that Gram-negative anaerobic oral bacteria are the majority of the microbes in primary endodontic infections. Various combinations of bacterial species were related to different clinical and radiographic conditions. Lysinibacillus fusiformis was detected for the first time in primary endodontic infections. Clinical relevance The results of this investigation might help clinicians choose to identify suspected endodontic pathogens in the etiology of each form of pulpal and periradicular diseases to determine the best therapeutic measure

Evaluation of a sulfanilic acid based surfactant in crude oil demulsification: an experimental study

International audienceIn this study, 2-Amino-5-Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (ADBSA) surfactant has been prepared and tested as crude oil emulsions demulsifier. Electrical conductivity method was used to obtain the critical micelle concentration of surfactant. A critical micelle concentration value of 0.225 wt.%. Bottle testing measurements were conducted to investigate the effect of several parameters including temperature, water content, salinity, demulsifier dosage and type of crude oil (composition) on the demulsification efficiency in presence of new synthetic demulsifier. A reduction of emulsion stability was observed with increasing water content or demulsifier dosage decrease. A water separation index of 98% was recorded at 60 °C

Evaluation of a sulfanilic acid based surfactant in crude oil demulsification: an experimental study

In this study, 2-Amino-5-Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (ADBSA) surfactant has been prepared and tested as crude oil emulsions demulsifier. Electrical conductivity method was used to obtain the critical micelle concentration of surfactant. A critical micelle concentration value of 0.225 wt.%. Bottle testing measurements were conducted to investigate the effect of several parameters including temperature, water content, salinity, demulsifier dosage and type of crude oil (composition) on the demulsification efficiency in presence of new synthetic demulsifier. A reduction of emulsion stability was observed with increasing water content or demulsifier dosage decrease. A water separation index of 98% was recorded at 60 °C

Effect of six-month use of oral contraceptive pills on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 & factor VIII among women with polycystic ovary syndrome: An observational pilot study

Background & objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathy warranting lifelong individualized management by lifestyle and pharmacological agents mainly oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). This study was aimed to report the impact of six-month OCP use on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and factor VIII (FVIII) in women with PCOS. Methods: PCOS women diagnosed on the basis of Rotterdam 2003 criteria, either treated with OCPs (ethinyl estradiol-0.03 mg, levonorgestrel-0.15 mg) for a period of six months (n=40) or drug-naïve (n=42), were enrolled in this study. Blood was drawn to estimate glucose, insulin levels and lipid profile. Chemiluminescence immunoassays were used to measure hormones (LH, FSH, PRL, T4). Plasma levels of PAI-I and FVIII were measured by commercially available kits. Results: Menstrual regularity, Ferriman-Gallwey score and serum total testosterone significantly improved in the OCP group compared to drug-naïve group (P<0.01). No significant difference was observed in PAI-1 levels of the two groups; however, significant decrease in FVIII levels was observed in OCP group as compared to drug-naïve group. PAI-1 levels of OCP group correlated positively with blood glucose two hours, triglycerides and insulin two hours, while FVIII levels of OCP group correlated negatively with fasting insulin and homoeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance. Interpretation & conclusions: OCPs use has differential effect on pro-coagulant markers among women with PCOS. Well-designed, long-term, prospective, large-scale studies are prerequisite to elucidate the efficacy and safety of OCP in the treatment of PCOS