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A wearable microstrip UWB antenna employing jeans textile material as a substrate is proposed and analyzed. Two variants of conducting material comprising copper tape and copper wire of thickness of 0.1mm are utilized as patch and ground. The overall antenna volume is 50 × 50 × 1 mm3 with an impedance bandwidth of 24.13 GHz (0.87 to 25 GHz) and a peak gain of 10.93 dB at 14.80 GHz. The design comprising an annular ring structure with connecting feed at the optimized location has been analyzed and optimized using FEM based ANSYS High-Frequency Structural Simulator. The low values of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) 1.23W/kg, 1.26W/kg, and 0.64W/kg averaged over 1-g of tissue for arm, leg, and head respectively at 2.45 GHz validate the antenna design for wearable telemetry applications. The proposed design is also analyzed under different bent radii for wearable applications. Measured results for both prototypes agree well with the simulated results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel approach for enhancing gain in a wideband circularly polarized 2 × 2 antenna array by employing a sequential rotation technique. A meandered square patch with truncated corners is used as a single element in a 4-element array. The measured reflection coefficient |S11|< −10 dB covers a wideband from 1.8 to 18 GHz with a resonance of −28.49 dB at 2.4 GHz. 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 45.16% (2.4–3.8 GHz) and a maximum gain of 22.67 dB at 3.8 GHz is obtained. The antenna covers the ISM Band for biomedical applications, the mid-band 5G spectrum suitable for high-speed communications, and the Ku band for satellite applications. The overall dimension of the antenna is 66 × 66 × 1.6 mm3 ( 0.528 λ 0 × 0.528 λ 0 × 0.0128 λ 0 ) where λ 0 corresponds to the resonant frequency at 2.4 GHz. The effectiveness of the proposed design is demonstrated by its high gain and axial ratio bandwidth below 3 dB. Measured results in free space as well as on-body are in good agreement with the simulated results. The truncated ground with four curved slots is used to obtain improved impedance matching and circular polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the CPW fed monopole antenna operating at multiple frequencies covering Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands, suitable for biomedical applications. The planar antenna structure comprises an open loop and a dual folded monopole of optimized length. The antenna exhibits ultra-wideband frequency of operation ranges from 740 MHz to 4.02 GHz covering the frequency bands suitable for head imaging and heart failure detection. The proposed antenna has a compact size of 0.098λ × 0.079λ × 0.019λ where λ indicates wavelength corresponding to the lowest operating frequency. The antenna is further simulated on the human head model to corroborate applications for brain stroke detection. The specific absorption rate (SAR) value of the proposed antenna is compliant with SAR requirements set by IEEE standards. To experimentally verify the parameters of the proposed antenna design, the antenna is tested on the brain tissue model prepared by materials having dielectric properties like human brain tissue. The peak gain of the antenna, when tested on the human phantom, is 6.8 dBi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to understand the effects of zinc supplementation on antioxidant defense systems, hematological indices, and erythrocyte morphology in conditions of chronic arsenic toxicity. Male Wistar rats were segregated into four groups: control, arsenic treated, zinc supplemented, and arsenic + zinc treated. The animals in the arsenic-treated group were given arsenic orally in drinking water in the form of sodium arsenite at a dose level of 100 mg L−1, and zinc was administered to zinc-treated animals in the form of zinc sulfate orally in drinking water at a dose level of 227 mg L−1. The animals were subjected to different treatments for a period of 12 weeks, and various investigations were undertaken that included serum zinc content, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and hematological indices. Further, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies were performed to assess morphological changes in erythrocytes. Arsenic treatment significantly reduced serum zinc concentrations, which, however, were restored to near-normal levels upon zinc supplementation. The activities of enzymes involved in antioxidant defense systems were altered in the erythrocyte lysates of arsenic-treated rats, which interestingly revealed a significant improvement upon simultaneous zinc supplementation. A significant reduction in the counts of total leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes was observed following arsenic intoxication, which came back to near control levels following zinc supplementation. Also, protective effects of zinc were evident from SEM that revealed maintenance of topographical appearances of erythrocytes in conditions of arsenic toxicity. Thus, this study clearly shows the protection afforded by zinc on erythrocytes during arsenic-induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific and medical publications are the pulse of the clinical world and play a key role in disseminating data to healthcare providers, scientists, and researchers. However, the process of publishing is hampered by the lack of harmonisation in structure, format, and style of manuscripts across journals. The authors/writers are challenged by this variability, which dilutes their ability to focus on science and medicine. The key challenges of structure, format, and style, including word count, referencing, and citation, are discussed here. We also provide a framework for a possible solution. We urge key stakeholders to come together and harmonise the for matting and technical requirements of scientific and medical publications with consensus from pharmaceutical industry, academics, publishers, and relevant organisations with expertise in medical writing and publication planning. It would take considerable effort from all stakeholders, but the end result of harmonised specifications represents a "blue sky" that is worth striving toward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data transparency has been an important aspect of medical research as it helps in enabling evidence-based decisions in medicine which leads to foster trust among the patients and research community alike. Currently, it is one of the key talking points owing to a number of initiatives taken by the pharmaceutical organizations, regulatory bodies, and the other decision enablers of the industry. Thanks to this, there are a number of ways by which a single piece of datum is available through multiple access points, namely, clinical trial disclosures (CTDs), clinical study reports (CSRs), plain language summaries, and scientific publications including abstracts, posters, and manuscripts, to name a few. This may pose a burden of documentation on the pharmaceutical organizations, demanding downsizing of medical writing documents. Since CTDs, CSRs, and other regulatory document are more or less template driven; there may not be much scope to interfere with their structure and submission timings. Scientific publications, on the other hand, provide the flexibility of presenting the clinical data that is typically not dependent on a particular format and timelines. The present paper discusses how the upcoming data transparency initiatives could affect the publication practices across the pharmaceutical industry and what could pharmaceutical companies do to get the maximum benefit out of the data transparency initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lean Six Sigma methodology for process improvements and driving efficiency is old, but lean writing was adopted late by the pharmaceutical world in terms of size of the documents. The documents were lean earlier, and then became voluminous, and now we are about to complete a full circle in this regard, i.e., coming back to the lean documents again using e-formats and hyperlinking. Furthermore, writing has become more and more precise over time. The need for this lean and mean medical and scientific writing arose from voluminous research globally, both industry and academia which are abuzz with skyrocketing regulatory and scientific submission volumes. The quantum of literature is so much that reviewers or information seekers firmly believe that going through even selected and relevant literature has become highly challenging. Considering this, there has been much insistence on downsizing the medical writing documents, which could be tempting enough to be leveraged for scientific publications as well. Here, we present the need for lean and mean medical writing, discuss this concept in relation to the pharmaceutical industry, and how to apply this to key documents. Furthermore, presented is the proposed algorithm for lean and mean clinical study reports and manuscripts. These thoughts are aligned to the recently established concept of data transparency, and can be easily achieved by web links between the protocols and clinical trial results disclosed publicly, and the corresponding manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine oxidant stress and antioxidant capacity in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of our earlier study on 127 (male = 86) patients with CP, grouped as those with diabetes (case; n = 23) and those without diabetes (control). Markers of antioxidant status included vitamins A and E, total antioxidant capacity (TAC; measured as ferric-reducing ability of plasma [FRAP]), and total glutathione (T-GSH). Markers for oxidative stress included lipid peroxidation, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and serum superoxide dismutase (s-SOD). Results: Patients with diabetes were older (mean [SD] age 36.4 [9.7] vs. 29.3 [10.0] years; p = 0.032), had longer duration of CP [4 (0.3-21) vs. 3 (0.3-24) years; p = 0.07), and had a lower TAC (269.8 [92.4] vs. 355.5 [128.6] μmoles Fe liberated; p = 0.003) compared to those without diabetes. In multiple logistic regression analysis taking all exploratory variables, FRAP (<270 μmoles Fe liberated) was associated with diabetes independent of duration of CP, age of patients, and TBARS levels. However, oxidative stress levels were not different between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Conclusions: Diabetes was found to be associated with longer duration of CP and with low antioxidant capacity. Further studies will be needed to evaluate a causal association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by a rapid and massive destruction of hepatocytes. The role of oxidative stress in perpetuating the injury is undefined and may be a potential therapeutic target. Our aim was to study serial variation in oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients with ALF. The study involved a prospective case–control study set in a tertiary care referral center. Thirty-two consecutive patients admitted with ALF were included with 23 healthy controls for comparison. Level of systemic oxidative stress as defined by superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid reactive derivatives [TBARS]), and the total antioxidant capacity as the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) was measured at baseline on days 3 and 7. The patients were aged 24 years (range 13–60 years) and included 20 females. Thirteen (40.6%) patients died. Patients with ALF had significantly increased systemic oxidative stress at presentation, as reflected by higher levels of SOD ( P < 0.001) and TBARS ( P < 0.001) than controls. Both TBARS levels and FRAP decreased progressively from admission to the end of first week among the survivors ( P = 0.004 and 0.015, respectively). The antioxidant status reflected by FRAP ( P = 0.001) was significantly lower in ALF patients than controls. No relation was found between the level of oxidative stress and the mortality or complications. A high level of systemic oxidative stress exists in ALF, with depletion of antioxidant reserves. Further studies are needed to define the clinical correlation of the large pro-oxidant burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered redox status has been implicated in pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) as well as in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study was planned to find the relative role of redox status in these two diseases. A total of 44 patients with ALD and 32 patients with NAFLD and 25 apparently healthy controls were included in the study. Redox status was estimated by measuring oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation products as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) and antioxidant status (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and vitamin C). TBARS level was raised significantly in both ALD (3.5 ( 2.3–9.4) vs. 1.8 ( 0.5–4.1) nmol/ml; P = 0.0001) and NAFLD (5.1 ( 1–10.2) vs. 1.82 ( 0.51–4.1) nmol/ml; P = 0.0001) as compared with controls, but was not different between ALD and NAFLD. SOD was significantly higher in ALD as compared to NAFLD (2.4 ( 1.3–7.8) vs. 0.68 ( 0.05–19.1) U/ml; P = 0.0001) and controls (1.12 ( 0.01–3.5) U/ml; P = 0.001). FRAP was lower in ALD as compared with NAFLD (345.4 ( 56–615.9) vs. 434.1 ( 197.6–733.3) μmol of Fe+2 liberated; P = 0.001) but similar to that of controls (340.9 ( 141.5–697.5) μmol of Fe+2 liberated). ALD patients have a higher degree of redox imbalance as compared with NAFLD patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]