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Background & Aims: The coronavirus pandemic has caused a rapid surge in patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The mainstay of treatment is supplemental oxygen therapy by an oxygen mask, nonrebreathing mask, high flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNOT), non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation. HFNOT is a relatively newer, easy-to-use technique with better patient compliance. This study aimed to assess the outcome of HFNOT in Corona Virus disease (COVID) patients in ICU. Methods: This record based; retrospective study included 43 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) confirmed COVID patients whose respiratory support was initiated on HFNOT as per the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome of this study was to assess the number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (HFNOT failure). The secondary outcome was to assess the association of HFNOT failure with age, co-morbidity index, and severity of illness. Results: Out of forty-three patients, twenty-five patients (58%) required conversion to mechanical ventilation. Eighteen patients (42%) were managed with HFNOT alone. HFNOT failure was more with increasing age and higher comorbidity score (p value<0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that HFNOT can be successfully used in COVID patients in ICU without the need for mechanical ventilation. However, it should be used cautiously in patients with higher 4C mortality scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and heterogeneous cancer subtypes. High rates of metastasis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance are the major problems associated with TNBC. The current chemotherapeutics eliminate only the bulk tumor cells (non-BCSCs) and do not affect breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). The BCSCs which are left behind after chemotherapy is reported to promote recurrence and metastasis of TNBC. Death receptor-5 (DR-5) is exclusively expressed in TNBCs and mediates the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. DR-5, therefore, can be exploited for targeted drug delivery and to induce apoptosis. Gamma-secretase mediated Notch signaling in BCSCs regulates its proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. The endogenous ligand, Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), is reported to activate this Notch signaling in TNBC. Blocking this signaling pathway using both gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) and DLL4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) may produce synergistic benefits. Further, the GSIs (DAPT, LY-411575, RO4929097, MK0752, etc.) suffer from poor bioavailability and off-target side effects such as diarrhea, suppression of lymphopoiesis, headache, hypertension, fatigue, and ventricular dysfunctions. In this hypothesis, we discuss Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) based drug delivery systems containing GSIs and surface modified with DR-5 and DLL4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to effectivity target and treat TNBC. The delivery system is designed to deliver the drug cargo precisely to TNBCs through its DR-5 receptors and hence expected to reduce the off-target side effects of GSIs. Further, DLL4 mAb and GSIs are expected to act synergistically to block the Notch signal mediated BCSCs proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical and anti-oxidative properties of cow, buffalo and goat urine samples in two different successive seasons (summer and winter). For the physicochemical study, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) was measured and for the antioxidant properties, FRAP, DPPH and ABTS level was evaluated by standard methods. The data set were executed through the independent ‘t’ test by using IBM SPSS software version 22.0. The results showed that the EC level in all the (except cow) was significantly (p<0.5) lower in the winter season than in the summer season. TDS level in buffalo was significantly (p<0.5) lower in the winter season than the summer season but significantly higher in the winter season of the goat urine sample. In the case of antioxidant markers, FRAP and DPPH levels were significantly (p<0.5) higher in the summer season in all the animals, but there were no significant changes in the case of ABTS in all the animal’s urine samples. From these results, it is concluded that in the study area, the stress in the summer season as heat stress prevails in dairy cows, buffalo and goats. From the overall findings, it may be concluded that urine could be a good biomarker to evaluate the status of livestock health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and test theory-driven hypothesis on trade costs' effect of logistics performance (LP) and bureaucratic efficiency, primarily from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) perspective. Design/methodology/approach: The paper develops hypothesis based on the review of the literature and theory linking LP, trade costs and institutions. The authors test the hypothesis using secondary data sources: World Bank-UNESCAP trade costs database, World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and Political Risk Service's Political Risk Rating. Fixed-effect approach is used to test the hypothesis. Findings: The influential role of bureaucratic quality on relationship between LPI and South Asian trade costs (inter-SAARC and intra-SAARC) is evident. The results also point out that bureaucratic quality also conditions the effect of different dimensions of LPI on South Asian trade costs. Further, it is found that bureaucratic inefficiency mitigates the effects of LPI on South Asia's trade costs with its proximate trading partners APEC (Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations). Research limitations/implications: The analysis is conducted using short span of data. With the availability of long span of data, the understanding of the relationship studies in this paper will improve. Practical implications: The results suggests policymakers to improve bureaucratic efficiency for utilizing the full potential effect of LPI in deceasing trade costs. The study inspires businesses to act and advocate in favor of reforms in governance system. Originality/value: This paper is among the first, which investigates the possibility that the relationship between LPI and trade costs depends on the bureaucratic efficiency. It provides a more detailed description of the LPI-trade costs relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eyes are generally the first feature to be noted on one's face. The loss of an eye can be socially, emotionally, and psychologically a very traumatic experience for the patient. Ocular prosthesis plays an important role in restoring the self-esteem and confidence of the patient. Enucleation results in the entire removal of orbital contents whereas, uniocular phthisis bulbi is a condition, in which the eye is shrunken and cornified. This presents a challenging condition for rehabilitation because of a lack of space for the prosthesis. This article aims to explain the challenges while making a customized scleral shell prosthesis over an existing eyeball to obtain optimum cosmetic and functional results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous Withania somnifera root (WSR) extract in broiler chicks experimentally infected with Escherichia coli O78 @ 107 CFU/0.5 ml intraperitoneally. Clinical signs and mortality due to colibacillosis observed in infected chicks were mild and lasted for short duration in WSR extract supplemented group as compared with the nonsupplemented group. A significant increase in serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase activities and a decrease in total protein and albumin concentrations were observed in the infected groups, though these changes were of lower magnitude in WSR extract supplemented group. A significantly higher activity of oxidative blood parameters such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase enzymes were noticed in WSR extract supplemented group. The WSR extract supplemented group revealed significantly higher E. coli–specific antibody titer and enhanced lymphocyte proliferation response as compared with the nonsupplemented group. The gross and histopathological lesions of colibacillosis were mild in the WSR extract–supplemented infected group as compared with the nonsupplemented infected group. Withania somnifera root extract supplementation produced 31.48 and 34.38% protection in the gross and histopathological lesions in E. coli infected chicks, respectively. It is concluded that supplementation of 20% WSR extract @ 20 ml/L of water caused a reduction in the severity, mortality, and recovery period of E. coli infection and enhanced the humoral and cellular immune responses suggesting its protective effect on limiting the pathology of E. coli infection in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral drug delivery of drugs is by far the most preferable route of the delivery due to the ease of administration, patient compliance, and flexibility in the formulations but besides they also have the drawbacks of non-site specific and short gastric residence time. To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional oral drug delivery systems, several technical advancements have led to the development of Gastroretentive drug delivery system (GRDDS) that could revolutionize the method of medication and provide many therapeutic benefits. Thus, Gastroretentive drug delivery systems are a good example as they enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs with a narrow absorption window in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and/or to promote local activity in stomach and duodenum. Several approaches are used to increase the gastric retention time. The review highlights the various pharmaceutical approaches for gastro retention such as floating drug delivery systems, muco/bio adhesive, high-density systems, expandable systems, super porous hydrogels systems, magnetic systems, ion-exchange resin systems and recent patents filed or granted for these approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]