Search

We have shown that a high fat diet (HFD) induces the activation of retinal NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP3)-inflammasome that is associated with enhanced expression and interaction with thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). Here, the specific contribution of TXNIP and the impact of HFD on retinal leukostasis, barrier dysfunction and microvascular degeneration were investigated. Wild-type (WT) and TXNIP knockout (TKO) mice were fed with normal diet or 60% HFD for 8–18 weeks. TXNIP was overexpressed or silenced in human retinal endothelial cells (REC). At 8 weeks, HFD significantly induced retinal leukostasis and breakdown of the blood–retina barrier in WT mice, but not in TKO mice. In parallel, HFD also induced retinal expression of adhesion molecules and cleaved IL-1β in WT mice, which were also abrogated in TKO mice. In culture, TXNIP overexpression induced NLRP3, IL-1β, and adhesion molecules expression, while TXNIP silencing inhibited them. Blocking the IL-1β receptor significantly suppressed TXNIP-induced expression of NLRP3-inflammasome and adhesion molecules in HREC. Ex-vivo assay showed that leukocytes isolated from WT-HFD, but not from TKO-HFD, induced leukostasis and cell death. At 18 weeks, HFD triggered development of degenerated (acellular) capillaries and decreased branching density in WT but not in TKO mice. Together, HFD-induced obesity triggered early retinal leukostasis and microvascular dysfunction at least in part via TXNIP-NLRP3-inflammasome activation.

Mohammad Tajul Islam,1 Nazrul Islam,2 Yukie Yoshimura,1 Monjura Khatun Nisha,3 Nawzia Yasmin4 1Safe Motherhood Promotion Project, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dhaka, Bangladesh; 2School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 3International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b); 4Department of Public Health, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Background: Neonatal mortality is high in Bangladesh. Most of the neonatal deaths are preventable through simple and cost-effective essential newborn care interventions. Studies to document the determinants of unhealthy newborn care practices are scarce. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the pattern of neonatal care practices and their determinants in rural Bangladesh. Methodology: This study is based on baseline data of a community-based intervention to assess impact of limited postnatal care services on maternal and neonatal health-seeking behavior. Data from 510 women, who had a live birth at home 1 year prior to survey, of six randomly selected unions of an Upazila (subdistrict) were analyzed. Results: Majority of the respondents were at an age group of 20–34 years. Only 6% had delivery by skilled providers. Immediate drying and wrapping, and giving colostrums to newborns were almost universal. Unhealthy practices, like unclean cord care (42%), delayed initiation of breastfeeding (60%), use of prelacteals (36%), and early bathing (71%) were very common. Muslims were more likely to give early bath (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–3.59; P=0.018) and delay in initiating breastfeeding (adjusted OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.18–1.78; P

Tariq Saeed,1 Muhammad Nasrullah,2 Adnan Ghafoor,3 Riaz Shahid,4 Nadeem Islam,5 Mohammad Usman Khattak,6 Neeta Maheshwary,7 Ahson Siddiqi,7 Muhammad Athar Khan81Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd, Karachi, Pakistan; 2Cavalary Hospital, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan; 4Dr Riaz Shahid Clinic, Peshawar Cantt, Peshawar, Pakistan; 5Punjab Employs Social Security Institution, Islamabad, Pakistan; 6Medical B Unit, Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan; 7Novartis Pharma Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan; 8Department of Medical Education, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaObjective: Anticonvulsants are increasingly being used in the symptomatic management of several neuropathic pain disorders. The present observational study was designed to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and quality of life (QoL) of carbamazepine use for 12 weeks in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, in Pakistan.Methods: This was a 12-week, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled trial in adult type 2 diabetic patients (aged 18–65 years) suffering from clinically confirmed neuropathic pain (Douleur Neuropathique en 4 [DN4] score ≥4). Change in neuropathic pain at week 12 compared with baseline was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory Scale–Short Form (pain severity score and pain interference score). QoL was determined by the American Chronic Pain Association QoL scale. Safety was assessed based on patient reported adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs.Results: Of the total 500 screened patients, 452 enrolled and completed the study. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) pain interference score decreased from 4.5±2.0 at baseline to 3.1±1.9 at week 12 (P

To support the global restart of elective surgery, data from an international prospective cohort study of 8492 patients (69 countries) was analysed using artificial intelligence (machine learning techniques) to develop a predictive score for mortality in surgical patients with SARS-CoV-2. We found that patient rather than operation factors were the best predictors and used these to create the COVIDsurg Mortality Score (https://covidsurgrisk.app). Our data demonstrates that it is safe to restart a wide range of surgical services for selected patients.

In this study, the effect of using waste granodiorite powder (WGP) as a cement replacement material in percentages ranging from 1 to 9% on various physical and mechanical properties of ordinary concrete was investigated. The resistance of produced concretes with WGP to the high temperature effects on the 28 days compressive strength were studied as well. Granodiorite is one of the well-known igneous rocks that have been used in previous research as a replacement for coarse or fine aggregates due to the hardness of its grains. However, rare studies have investigated its powder as a partial cement replacement material. Results showed the ability of investigated WGP with high surface area to act as a supplementary cementitious material that contributed to enhance the results of mechanical and physical properties of concrete. At traditional room temperature, the optimal replacement percentage was 7%, where the 28 days compressive and tensile strengths were improved by 28.3% and 17.3%, respectively. The optimal replacement ratio varied between 7 and 9% in the case of high temperatures, according to exposure time and temperature degree. Statistical and sensitivity analysis was conducted on 66 available compressive strength value represents all variables before and after elevated temperature exposure. While the regression equation showed good R2 value of 85.3%, sensitivity analysis indicated that compressive strength value is most sensitive to temperature, followed by WGP ratio and exposure time, with importance values of 56, 26, and 18 %, respectively. Results showed also that the setting times and consistency was decreased with increasing the replacement ratio with WGP, while the workability was slightly improved up to 5% replacement ratio. Furthermore, microstructure analysis showed that WGP can help to densify the concrete matrix due to its small size and ability to fill the interstitial voids in the concrete matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the individual and combined effects of micro and nano lead monoxide (PbO) and granodiorite (GD) on concrete's mechanical and radiation shielding properties. Both materials were partially substituted for cement at varying ratios. Additionally, mixtures with optimal radiation shielding performance were prepared to explore the synergy of combining them. The mentioned materials are used for the first time in an extensive study at the nano scale to investigate their impact on concrete's mechanical properties, microstructure, and gamma radiation attenuation. Two gamma ray sources of uranium (U238) and cesium (Cs137) were used measure the radiation attenuation coefficients for all designed concrete mixes. A simple methodology was followed to assess the concrete shields efficiency via utilizing portable handheld gamma‐ray spectrometer that offers two reading modes. Results indicated that increasing the ratio of PbO is directly proportional to the concrete ability to attenuate radiation, where the optimal individual replacement ratios were recorded at 5% for micro and nano particle sizes. At this ratio, the linear attenuation coefficient (μ) values were improved by 39.57% and 24.78% for the nano and micro PbO, respectively. Additionally, the optimal ratio for improving mechanical properties was at 3% and 2% for nano and micro PbO, while the higher ratios showed a decline in mechanical properties especially at 5% micro PbO with 7.02% reduction in the compressive strength value. Regarding GD powder, the optimal replacement ratios for improving concrete radiation shielding were consistent with those enhancing its mechanical properties at 4% and 7% in both nano and micro scales, respectively. The combined mixes further enhanced the overall concrete performance, especially its radiation shielding ability. Compared to the control mix, the compressive strength, tensile strength, and μ were increased by 25.7%, 16.2%, and 44.7% at the optimal mixture of 5% nano PbO + 4% nano GD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first Swift /XRT long-term monitoring of 2S 0114+650, a wind-fed supergiant X-ray binary for which both orbital and superorbital periods are known (P orb ∼ 11.6 d and P sup ∼ 30.8 d). Our campaign, summing up to ∼79 ks, is the most intense and complete sampling of the X-ray light curve of this source with a sensitive pointed X-ray instrument, and covers 17 orbital, and 6 superorbital cycles. The combination of flexibility, sensitivity, and soft X-ray coverage of the X-ray telescope (XRT) allowed us to confirm previously reported spectral changes along the orbital cycle of the source and unveil the variability in its spectral parameters as a function of the superorbital phase. For completeness, we also report on a similar analysis carried out by exploiting XRT archival data on three additional wind-fed supergiant X-ray binaries IGR J16418−4532, IGR J16479−4514, and IGR J16493−4348. For these sources, the archival data provided coverage along several superorbital cycles but our analysis could not reveal any significant spectral variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue has become a major public health problem in Bangladesh with gradually increasing infectivity and severity. Most vulnerable population are children especially children below 5 years of age. However, data regarding dengue among this age group is limited. The objectives of this study were to see the clinical and laboratory profile of dengue fever (DF) in children below 5 years of age and their outcome. Methods: This cross - sectional observational study was carried out in the department of Paediatrics, BIRDEM General Hospital from May 2023 to September 2023. One hundred eighty nine confirmed dengue cases were enrolled in the study. Their clinical profile and laboratory findings including haemoglobin (Hb%), haematocrit (Hct), total count of white blood cells (TC), platelet count (PC), serum alanine aminotransferase (S. ALT), serum aspartate aminotransaminase (S. AST), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), serum calcium and serum sodium level were documented and analyzed. Results: Among 189 children 57(30.1%) were infants and 132(69.8%) patients were aged 1 to 5 years. Depending upon the severity of dengue 98(51.8%) were classical dengue fever, 65(34.3%) and 14(7.4%) presented with dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and dengue heamorrhagic fever (DHF) respectively. Fever was present in all children, other common features were vomiting (34.9%), cough (25.9%), dehydration (26.9%), pleural effusion (34.3%), ascites (23.2%) and skin rash (18.5%). Shock were present in 41.1% cases. Warning signs like restlessness, lethargy, altered level of consciousness, convulsion was present in 16.4%, 9.5%, 2.6% and 11.6% respectively. All the children were improved and discharged. Conclusion: In this study dengue presented classically in most of the children. Dengue shock syndrome and dengue haemorrhagic fever were below 10%. The outcome was excellent with no modality. Early reporting to hospital appeared important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]