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While bacterial superbugs have garnered much attention, the rise of antifungal resistance poses a growing threat. This study explores the potential of newly synthesized 2,5-Bis(3,4 Dialkoxy Phenyl) Thiazolo[5,4-d] Thiazoles (DATTn compounds) as antifungal agents. Notably, DATTn compounds demonstrated significant fungicidal activity against Candida albicans, a major fungal pathogen, whereas remaining largely ineffective against common bacterial strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In silico docking simulations using Schrödinger suites unveiled the molecular basis for this selectivity, revealing strong interactions between DATTn molecules and a crucial fungal protein (Portion Data Bank ID: 8JZN) in C. albicans. These findings highlight the potential of DATTn compounds as promising leads for the development of novel antifungal therapies, particularly in light of escalating drug resistance concerns.

Khista Rahman,1 Gowhar Ali,1,2 Rasool Khan,3 Imad Khan,3 Izaz Ali,1 Osama F Mosa,4,5 Alshebli Ahmed,4,6 Muhammad Ayaz,7 Asif Nawaz,7 HC Ananda Murthy8 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 2The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; 3Institute of Chemistry Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 4Public Health Department,Health Sciences College at Lieth, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Biochemistry Department Bukhara State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sino, Bukhara, Uzbekistan; 6University of Khartoum, Faculty of Public and environmental Health, Khartoum, Sudan; 7Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Chakdara, 18000, Dir (L), KP, Pakistan; 8Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Applied Natural Science, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gowhar Ali; HC Ananda Murthy, Email gowhar_ali@uop.edu.pk; anandkps350@gmail.comPurpose: Gastric ulcer induced by NSAIDs is the major medical concern and researchers are utilizing several approaches to combat this medical issue. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of thiadiazinethione derivative (2,2’(2-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinane-3,5-diyl) diacetic acid, as new less ulcerogenic compound.Methods: 2,2’(2-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinane-3,5-diyl) diacetic acid was evaluated using standard animal models including hot plate, writhing test and formalin induced nociceptive models. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed via carrageenan-induced paw oedema model. Involvement of opioidergic nociceptive mechanism was confirmed via naloxone administration in hot plat assay. The gastro-ulcerogenic potential of test and standard compounds were evaluated via NSAID-induced pyloric ligation model followed by standard histopathological and biochemical analysis.Results: In acetic acid-induced writhing test, our compound significantly reduced abdominal constrictions at the tested doses of 15 (p < 0.05), 30 (p < 0.01) and 45 mg kg− 1 (p < 0.001) as compared to control (p < 0.001). In hot plate test, after 30 min of administration, our test compound showed significant anti-nociceptive potential (p < 0.05 at 15 and 30 mg kg− 1 and p < 0.01 at 45 mg kg− 1) and tramadol (p ˂ 0.001) at 30 mg kg− 1 dose. After 60 min tramadol (30 kg− 1) and test sample (30, 45 mg kg− 1) exhibited significant anti-nociceptive activity p < 0.001. In Formalin-induced nociceptive response, a significant decline (p ˂ 0.001) was observed for aspirin and test compound during acute and chronic phases. Decline in the anti-nociceptive potential of tramadol and test sample via administration of naloxone indicate the involvement of opioidergic mechanism. Our compound exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in second phase of carrageenan induced paw oedema model. Histological and biochemical parameters exhibited less ulcerogenic potential as compared to aspirin.Conclusion: Our findings suggests that our test compound has desirable anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials with less propensity to cause gastric ulcer.Keywords: NSAIDs, nociception, inflammation, gastric ulcer, hot plate

Khaista Rahman,1,* Shahid Ullah Khan,2,* Shah Fahad,2,3 Ming Xian Chang,4,5 Aqleem Abbas,6 Wasim Ullah Khan,7 Lutfur Rahman,8 Zaheer Ul Haq,9 Ghulam Nabi,4,5 Dilfaraz Khan10 1College of Animal Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2College of Plant Sciences and Technology/National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 3Department of Agriculture, The University of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anbar, Pakistan; 4State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; 5University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China; 6Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, China; 7School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; 8Molecular Systematics & Applied Ethno Botany Lab (MoSEL), Department of Biotechnology, Quaid I Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 9School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China; 10Institute of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Malaria, the exterminator of ~1.5 to 2.7 million human lives yearly, is a notorious disease known throughout the world. The eradication of this disease is difficult and a challenge to scientists. Vector elimination and effective chemotherapy for the patients are key tactics to be used in the fight against malaria. However, drug resistance and environmental and social concerns are the main hurdles in this fight against malaria. Overcoming these limitations is the major challenge for the 21st-century malarial researchers. Adapting the principles of nano-biotechnology to both vector control and patient therapy is the only solution to the problem. Several compounds such as lipids, proteins, nucleic acid and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully used for the control of this lethal malaria disease. Other useful natural reagents such as microbes and their products, carbohydrates, vitamins, plant extracts and biodegradable polymers, are also used to control this disease. Among these particles, the plant-based particles such as leaf, root, stem, latex, and seed give the best antagonistic response against malaria. In the present review, we describe certain efforts related to the control, prevention and treatment of malaria. We hope that this review will open new doors for malarial research. Keywords: malaria, vectors, chemotherapy, drug resistance, nano-biotechnology

Henry M Smilowitz,1 Alexandria Meyers,1 Khalil Rahman,1 Nathaniel A Dyment,2 Dan Sasso,1 Crystal Xue,3 Douglas L Oliver,4 Alexander Lichtler,5 Xiaomeng Deng,6 Sharif M Ridwan,1 Lauren J Tarmu,7,8 Qian Wu,9 Andrew L Salner,10 Ketan R Bulsara,11 Daniel N Slatkin,12 James F Hainfeld12 1Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 3George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, 4Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, 5Department of Reconstructive Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, 6David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Student Affairs Office, Los Angeles, CA, 7Department of Human Behavior, College of Southern Nevada, 8Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 9Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, 10The Gray Cancer Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, 11Division of Neurosurgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 12Nanoprobes, Inc, Yaphank, NY, USA Background: Intravenously (IV)-injected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) powerfully enhance the efficacy of X-ray therapy of tumors including advanced gliomas. However, pharmacokinetic issues, such as slow tissue clearance and skin discoloration, may impede clinical translation. The direct infusion of AuNPs into the tumor might be an alternative mode of delivery. Materials and methods: Using the advanced, invasive, and difficult-to-treat F98 rat glioma model, we have studied the biodistribution of the AuNPs in the tumor and surrounding brain after either IV injection or direct intratumoral infusion by convection-enhanced delivery using light microscopy immunofluorescence and direct gold visualization. Results: IV-injected AuNPs localize more specifically to intracerebral tumor cells, both in the main tumor mass and in the migrated tumor cells as well as the tumor edema, than do the directly infused AuNPs. Although some of the directly infused AuNPs do access the main tumor region, such access is largely restricted. Conclusion: These data suggest that IV-injected AuNPs are likely to have a greater therapeutic benefit when combined with radiation therapy than after the direct infusion of AuNPs. Keywords: gold nanoparticles, glioma, edema, IV injection, convection-enhanced delivery, fluorescence microscopy, gold enhance

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the longitudinal association of perceived stress, ikigai, and having someone one can count on in middle age with the advanced-level functional competency in older age, which is crucial for the maintenance of independent life among older adults. The issue is especially relevant in super-aged countries like contemporary Japan, where more and more older people live in a household consisting only of older people. METHODS: Data were collected in 2019 from a total of 1692 retirees of the Aichi Workers Cohort Study participants in which baseline survey including psychological factors was conducted during their employment in 2002. Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC) was used to measure the advanced-level functional competency. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were obtained for having low JST-IC in later life by the degrees of psychological factors reported in the middle age adjusting for the presence of depressive mood in 2019. RESULTS: Those who were not sure about ikigai (OR: 2.02, 95 % CI: 1.33 to 3.08) and who have no one to count on (OR: 2.19, 95 % CI: 1.52 to 3.16) in the middle age were significantly associated with low JST-IC after retirement. Having much stress was significantly inversely associated with a low JST-IC (OR: 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.50 to 0.97). CONCLUSION: Having ikigai and someone reliable, and stress during middle age might play a role in preventing impaired advanced-level functional competency. Improved ikigai and increased social interaction and support might improve functional competency. Further research might explore avenues for improving ikigai.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an abnormal condition of brain development characterized by impaired cognitive ability, speech and human interactions, in addition to a set of repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviours. Although no cure for autism exists, early medical intervention can improve the associated symptoms and quality of life. Several manually executed screening tools help to identify the ASD-related behavioural traits in the children that assists the specialist in diagnosing the disease accurately. The quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (QCHAT) is one of the efficient screening tools used worldwide for ASD screening. ASD diagnosis requires many different manually administered procedures; hence long delay is encountered in getting final results. In recent years, deep neural network (DNN) popularity has been immensely increasing due to its supremacy in solving complex problems. The objective of this research is to apply algorithms, based on the deep neural network (DNN) to identify patients with ASD from the QCHAT datasets. We have used two datasets, the QCHAT and QCHAT-10, in our study. The results obtained show that related to contemporary techniques, the proposed method brings better performance.

Abstract Background Medical waste is infectious and hazardous. It poses serious threats to environmental health and requires specific treatment and management prior to its final disposal. The problem is growing with an ever-increasing number of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. However, research on this critical issue has been very limited, and there is a serious dearth of information for planning. This paper seeks to document the handling practice of waste (e.g. collection, storage, transportation and disposal) along with the types and amount of wastes generated by Health Care Establishments (HCE). A total of 60 out of the existing 68 HCE in the study areas provided us with relevant information. Methods The methodology for this paper includes empirical field observation and field-level data collection through inventory, questionnaire survey and formal and informal interviews. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect information addressing the generation of different medical wastes according to amount and sources from different HCE. A number of in-depth interviews were arranged to enhance our understanding of previous and existing management practice of medical wastes. A number of specific questions were asked of nurses, hospital managers, doctors, and cleaners to elicit their knowledge. The collected data with the questionnaire survey were analysed, mainly with simple descriptive statistics; while the qualitative mode of analysis is mainly in narrative form. Results The paper shows that the surveyed HCE generate a total of 5,562 kg/day of wastes, of which about 77.4 per cent are non-hazardous and about 22.6 per cent are hazardous. The average waste generation rate for the surveyed HCE is 1.9 kg/bed/day or 0.5 kg/patient/day. The study reveals that there is no proper, systematic management of medical waste except in a few private HCE that segregate their infectious wastes. Some cleaners were found to salvage used sharps, saline bags, blood bags and test tubes for resale or reuse. Conclusion The paper reveals that lack of awareness, appropriate policy and laws, and willingness are responsible for the improper management of medical waste in Dhaka City. The paper also shows that a newly designed medical waste management system currently serves a limited number of HCE. New facilities should be established for the complete management of medical waste in Dhaka City.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an abnormal condition of brain development characterized by impaired cognitive ability, speech and human interactions, in addition to a set of repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviours. Although no cure for autism exists, early medical intervention can improve the associated symptoms and quality of life. Several manually executed screening tools help to identify the ASD-related behavioural traits in the children that assists the specialist in diagnosing the disease accurately. The quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (QCHAT) is one of the efficient screening tools used worldwide for ASD screening. ASD diagnosis requires many different manually administered procedures; hence long delay is encountered in getting final results. In recent years, deep neural network (DNN) popularity has been immensely increasing due to its supremacy in solving complex problems. The objective of this research is to apply algorithms, based on the deep neural network (DNN) to identify patients with ASD from the QCHAT datasets. We have used two datasets, the QCHAT and QCHAT-10, in our study. The results obtained show that related to contemporary techniques, the proposed method brings better performance., Author(s): K. K. Mujeeb Rahman [sup.1] , M. Monica Subashini [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.444470.7, 0000 0000 8672 9927, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ajman University, , Ajman, United Arab Emirates [...]

The accuracy of hybrid two temperature model-molecular dynamics (TTM-MD) simulations in predicting the ultrafast laser ablation phenomena in metals is influenced by the functional definition of subsystem properties and electronic-lattice coupling. In this work, laser ablation of nickel is simulated using hybrid TTM-MD with empirical and density function theory (DFT) derived electronic and coupling parameter sets. The investigation revealed that the empirically derived temperature-dependent parameterisation of electronic specific heat, thermal conductivity, and coupling factor enhanced the fidelity of electron–phonon nonequilibrium dynamics when used in conjunction with simple optical absorption models, aligning closely with prior experimental observations for nickel specimens. The TTM-MD setup is then coupled utilising two widely used coupling techniques – the temperature difference scaled and Langevin thermostat. It is found that the former exhibits increased tensile stress due to artificial enhancement of the collision cascade owing to deterministic nature of the coupling force. While the probabilistic nature of the Langevin thermostat offers more accurate predictions of the ablation threshold/yield. Under these conditions, the TTM-MD scheme is tested for a range of absorbed laser fluence, with ablation threshold, and the onset of phase explosion is determined as 115 and 270 mJ/cm2, respectively for a 1 picosecond (ps-) laser pulse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Patients with rifampicin resistant-tuberculosis (RR-TB) may remain a source of infection longer than patients with rifampicin sensitive-tuberculosis (RS-TB). This study aimed to detect active cases of RS-TB and RR-TB through systematic screening among household contacts of RR-TB patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the 355 household contacts (HHCs) of 93 RR-TB primary cases identified from various centres in Dhaka, diagnosed between November 2020 and October 2021. For the identification of active cases of tuberculosis (TB), systematic screening among HHCs was done, where verbal screening was performed to check the presence of symptoms of TB. Those who had at least one symptoms of TB were considered as symptomatic contacts. Later GeneXpert analysis of sputum was done among the screened symptomatic contacts. Data was collected using a pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: An estimated 30.4 % of respondents were ≤ 15 years of age. TB-like symptoms were prevalent among 9.9 % of respondents. Loss of appetite (45.7 %), unexplained weight loss (40.0 %) and cough (37.1 %) were the most common symptoms. Among the contacts with TB-like symptoms, 6.7 % were diagnosed as a case of TB (3.35 % were RR-TB and 3.35 % were RS-TB). The number needed to be screened to find an active case of TB was established at 178 among the HHCs of RR-TB. Conclusions: About one in ten RR-TB HHCs showed TB-like symptoms. One in fifteen HHCs with TB-like symptoms was an active case of TB. Regular, effective screening of RR-TB contacts is needed to stop the transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]