OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the multiphase pulsatile blood flow in the left coronary artery tree with stenosis.
METHODS: The 3D left coronary artery model was reconstructed using 2D computerized tomography (CT) scan images. The Red Blood Cell (RBC) and varying hemodynamic parameters for single and multiphase blood flow conditions were analyzed.
RESULTS: Results asserted that the multiphase blood flow modeling has a maximum velocity of 1.017 m/s and1.339 m/s at the stenosed region during the systolic and diastolic phases respectively. The increase in Wall Shear Stress (WSS) observed at the stenosed region during the diastole phase as compared during the systolic phase. It was also observed that the highest Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) regions are found in the downstream area of stenosis and across the bifurcations. The increase in RBCs velocity from 0.45 m/s to 0.6 m/s across the stenosis was also noticed.
CONCLUSION: The computational multiphase blood flow analysis improves the understanding and accuracy of the complex flow conditions of blood elements (RBC and Plasma) and provides the progression of the disease development in the coronary arteries. This study helps to enhance the diagnosis of the blocked (stenosed) arteries more precisely compared to the single-phase blood flow modeling.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze xerostomia, ageusia and the oral health impact in coronavirus disease-19 patients utilizing the Xerostomia Inventory scale-(XI) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey-based study, data was collected from 301 patients who suffered and recovered from COVID-19. Using Google Forms, a questionnaire was developed and circulated amongst those who were infected and recovered from coronavirus infection. The Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 were used to assess the degree and quality of life. A paired T-test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the effect on xerostomia inventory scale-(XI) and OHIP-14 scale scores. A p-value of 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS: Among 301 participants, 54.8% were females. The prevalence of xerostomia in participants with active COVID-19 disease was 39.53% and after recovery 34.88%. The total OHIP-14 scores for patients in the active phase of infection was 12.09, while 12.68 in recovered patients. A significant difference was found between the mean scores of the xerostomia inventory scale-11 and OHIP-14 in active and recovered COVID patients.
CONCLUSION: A higher prevalence of xerostomia was found in COVID-19 infected patients (39.53%) compared to recovered patients (34.88%). In addition, more than 70% reported aguesia. COVID-19 had a significantly higher compromising impact on oral function of active infected patients compared to recovered patients.
SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of this research was to successfully incorporate slightly water soluble and potent anticancer drug (cisplatin) into cubosomes, which provide slow and sustained release of drug for longer period of time.
METHODS: The delivery system was developed through top-down approach by melting GMO and poloxamer 407 (P407) at 70 °C and then drop-wise addition of warm deionized water (70 °C) containing cisplatin. The formulation then exposed to probe sonicator for about 2 min. A randomized regular two level full factorial design with help of Design Expert was used for optimization of blank cubosomal formulations. Cisplatin loaded cubosomes were then subjected to physico-chemical characterization.
RESULTS: The characterization of the formulation revealed that it had a sufficient surface charge of -9.56 ± 1.33 mV, 168.25 ± 5.73 nm particle size, and 60.64 ± 0.11% encapsulation efficiency. The in vitro release of cisplatin from the cubosomes at pH 7.4 was observed to be sustained, with 94.5% of the drug being released in 30 h. In contrast, 99% of cisplatin was released from the drug solution in just 1.5 h. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was conducted on the human lung carcinoma NCI-H226 cell line, the cytotoxicity of cisplatin-loaded cubosomes was relative to that of pure cisplatin solution, while blank (without cisplatin) cubosomes were nontoxic.
CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results demonstrated the successful development of cubosomes for sustained delivery of cisplatin.
METHODS: The extracts were prepared and initially assessed for their phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity. Then, AgNPs were synthesized from these extracts at room temperature, and various analytical techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), ATIR-FTIR, zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), were used to characterize the NPs. After confirmation of prepared NPs, they were subjected to their antibacterial activity.
RESULTS: HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of eight phytoconstituents in organic ginger extracts. The absorption spectra of the silver suspension exhibited surface plasmon resonance peaks with maxima between 420 and 448 nm. Functional groups like C-H, N-H, OH, C-O-C, C=O, and C-O were identified in both the organic and aqueous extracts of Z. officinale, playing a key role in the formation of AgNPs, as characterized by ATR-FTIR analysis. Both ginger organic and aqueous extract synthesized AgNPs crystalline structure was shown in XRD analysis and the particle size distribution showed average diameter of 200.5 nm of AgNPs from aqueous extracts. Scanning Electron Microscopy displayed spherical structure and EDA results showed the percentage of elements in synthesized AgNPs using plant extracts. Most promising antibacterial activity was obtained against Escherichia coli ie 20.83±0.53 for 100 µg/mL.
CONCLUSION: The results of the current study showed that AgNPs synthesized from different ginger extracts have promising antibacterial properties and can be potential candidates for alternative treatment options for bacterial infections.
METHODS: The optimal concentration of MEPB to activate NK cells was determined using healthy blood samples, assessing the expression of IL-12, IL-18, IL-10, IL-8, IFN-γ, perforin, and granzyme B via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NK cell purity from healthy donors and breast cancer patients was determined using specific antibodies, and the number of NK cells was assessed using flow cytometry and a hemocytometer. A co-culture experiment, ELISA, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate NK-mediated cytotoxicity pathways.
RESULTS: ELISA data indicated that MEPB at 7.5 µg/ml significantly increased the expression of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-18, perforin, and granzyme B while decreasing IL-8 and IL-10 expression after 20 hrs of incubation. The average NK cell purity was 87.09 ± 0.043%. Breast cancer patients exhibited lower NK cell counts than healthy donors. Co-culture experiments demonstrated that NK cells induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in the presence of MEPB by increasing perforin, granzyme B, and IFN-γ expression in both healthy donors and breast cancer patients-experimental groups. P. bleo enhances NK cell activation, promoting the apoptosis of triple-negative human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), suggesting the potential use of MEPB leaves as an anti-cancer immunostimulant.
AIM: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess what best-practice and evidence-based recommendations are available to achieve competency in Neurological Point-of-care ultrasound (NeuroPOCUS).
METHODS: We undertook a structured systematic review of publications and studies on the training of NeuroPOCUS for intensive care.
RESULTS: Our search strategy yielded a total of 4965 publications, reduced to 3551 following de-duplication. Despite this, only 28 publications were relevant following review of title and abstract and only 12 of these on full-text review. We identified three prospective studies, four consensus statements and five publications as posters and published abstracts. Structured analysis of these revealed minimal evidence-based teaching recommendations, and significant variability in teaching method.
CONCLUSION: Compared to other modalities of POCUS (e.g. Cardiac and Lung), NeuroPOCUS lags behind with regards to utilisation and training in the general intensive care setting. Further work is needed to establish how this technique can be effectively taught and assessed for clinical application.