Exploring Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) of Non-Tri cyclic Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors by MLR and PC-ANN

Quantitative structure–activity relationship study using principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) methodology was conducted to predict the inhibitory activities expressed as pIC50 of 73 non-tri cyclic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The results obtained by MLR shows that the best two models are close to each other with regression coefficient of 0.85.  These optimal models were further analyzed by PC-ANN and the best model obtained was with regression coefficient of 0.823 for the test set. The lowest prediction sum of squares   (PRESS) value obtained for the prediction set is 4.727 which accounts for predictability of the model. Artificial neural networks provide improved models for heterogeneous data sets without splitting them into families. Both the external and cross-validation methods are used to validate the performances of the resulting models. Randomization test is employed to check the suitability of the models

Exploring Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) of Non-Tri cyclic Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors by MLR and PC-ANN

Quantitative structure–activity relationship study using principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) methodology was conducted to predict the inhibitory activities expressed as pIC50 of 73 non-tri cyclic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The results obtained by MLR shows that the best two models are close to each other with regression coefficient of 0.85. These optimal models were further analyzed by PC-ANN and the best model obtained was with regression coefficient of 0.823 for the test set. The lowest prediction sum of squares (PRESS) value obtained for the prediction set is 4.727 which accounts for predictability of the model. Artificial neural networks provide improved models for heterogeneous data sets without splitting them into families. Both the external and cross-validation methods are used to validate the performances of the resulting models. Randomization test is employed to check the suitability of the models

Barriers to the delivery of diabetes care in the Middle East and South Africa: a survey of 1,082 practising physicians in five countries

SUMMARY Aims: Developing countries face a high and growing burden of type 2 diabetes. We surveyed physicians in a diverse range of countries in the Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Lebanon) with regard to their perceptions of barriers to type 2 diabetes care identified as potentially important in the literature and by the authors. Methods: One thousand and eighty-two physicians completed a questionnaire developed by the authors. Results: Most physicians enroled in the study employed guideline-driven care; 80–100% of physicians prescribed metformin (with lifestyle intervention, where there are no contraindications) for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, with lifestyle intervention alone used where metformin was not prescribed. Sulfonylureas were prescribed widely, consistent with the poor economic status of many patients. About one quarter of physicians were not undertaking any form of continuing medical education, and relatively low proportions of practices had their own diabetes educators, dieticians or diabetic foot specialists. Physicians identified the deficiencies of their patients (unhealthy lifestyles, lack of education and poor diet) as the most important barriers to optimal diabetes care. Low-treatment compliance was not ranked highly. Access to physicians did not appear to be a problem, as most patients were seen multiple times per year. Conclusions: Physicians in the Middle East and South Africa identified limitations relating to their patients as the main barrier to delivering care for diabetes, without giving high priority to issues relating to processes of care delivery. Further study would be needed to ascertain whether these findings reflect an unduly physician-centred view of their practice. More effective provision of services relating to the prevention of complications and improved lifestyles may be needed. What's known It is known that the success of care for diabetes depends critically on the delivery of optimised care for diabetic patients. Many barriers to the delivery of such care have been identified. Relatively little is known regarding how these barriers influence the delivery of diabetes care in the Middle East and South Africa. What's new Physicians generally followed management guidelines in type 2 diabetes care. Perceived barriers to optimal diabetes care mainly focussed on attributes of patients, rather than process issues in care or aspects of the physicians' practice

Efeito da utilização de farelo de girassol na dieta sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte Effect of different levels of sunflower meal in diets on the performance of broiler chickens

Foi realizado um experimento para avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de farelo de girassol em rações para frangos de corte sobre o desempenho, o rendimento de carcaça e dos cortes e a viabilidade econômica. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com cinco níveis de farelo de girassol (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20% da dieta basal), oito repetições e 20 aves por unidade experimental. As aves e as rações foram pesadas no início e ao final de cada fase do período experimental (1 a 21 dias e 22 a 42 dias) para obtenção do consumo de ração, do ganho de peso e da conversão alimentar. Duas aves de cada repetição foram abatidas aos 42 dias de idade para avaliação da carcaça. Com a inclusão do farelo de girassol, o consumo diminuiu linearmente na fase inicial (y = 1185,1 - 2,1x; R² = 0,97), enquanto a conversão alimentar melhorou de forma linear no período total (y = 1,6404 - 0,0018x; R² = 0,62) e de forma quadrática na fase inicial (y = 1,3943 - 0,0069x + 0,0002x²; R² = 0,96). Não foi encontrada diferença significativa no rendimento de carcaça e dos cortes. Os melhores desempenhos econômicos foram obtidos quando as aves foram alimentadas com rações contendo 5% de farelo de girassol na fase inicial e 0% na fase de crescimento e no período total. A adição de 20% de farelo de girassol em rações para frangos de corte até os 42 dias de idade não prejudica o desempenho produtivo das aves.<br>A trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of sunflower meal inclusion in the broiler diets on the performance, carcass yield and cuts and the economics viability. A randomized block experimental design was used, with five treatments and eight replications of 20 birds per experimental unit. Treatments consisted of including 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% sunflower meal in a basal diet. Birds and diets were weighed at the beginning and at the end of each experimental phase (1 to 21 days and 22 to 42 days) to determine feed intake, weight gain, and the feed:gain ratio. Two birds per replication were slaughtered at 42 days of age for carcass evaluation. Feed intake was linearly reduced in the starter phase (y = 1185.1 - 2.1x; R² = 0.97), with sunflower meal inclusion in the basal diet, and the feed:gain ratio linearly improved in the total period (y = 1.6404 - 0.0018x; R² = 0.62), whereas a quadratic effect on the feed:gain ratio was observed in the starter phase (y = 1.3943 - 0.0069x + 0.0002x²; R² = 0.96). No significant differences were observed for carcass yield and cuts. The best economic performances were achieved when the birds were fed diets containing 5% sunflower meal in the starter phase, and 0% in the grower phase and total period. The inclusion of 20% sunflower meal in the diet of broilers up to 42 days of age did not show harmful effects on performance

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)