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Frontiers in Pain Research (Lausanne,... 2024Anatomical location-dependent differences in transdermal opioid penetration are well described in human patients. Although this has been investigated in horses with...
BACKGROUND
Anatomical location-dependent differences in transdermal opioid penetration are well described in human patients. Although this has been investigated in horses with fentanyl, there is no literature available on location-dependent plasma buprenorphine concentrations when administered as a transdermal matrix-type patch.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to compare the plasma concentrations achieved from the matrix-type transdermal buprenorphine patches placed at different anatomical sites (metacarpus, gaskin, and ventral tail base) in healthy adult horses.
STUDY DESIGN
This is a randomized experimental study with a Latin square design.
METHODS
Six adult horses were given each of three treatments with a minimum 10-day washout period. For each treatment, two 20 μg h matrix-type buprenorphine patches were applied to the ventral aspect of the tail base (Tail), metacarpus region (Metacarpus), or gaskin region (Gaskin). Whole blood samples (for determination of buprenorphine concentration) and physiological variables were collected before (0 h) and at 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 56, 72, 96 and 120 h after patches were applied. The patches were removed 96 h following placement and were analyzed for residual buprenorphine content. Buprenorphine concentrations were measured in plasma by LC-MS/MS. A mixed-effects model was used to analyze the physiological variables.
RESULTS
Between the three treatment groups, there was no change in physiological variables across timepoints as compared to baseline and when compared to each other in a single horse and between horses ( > 0.3). When comparing all three locations, the buprenorphine uptake was observed to be more consistent with respect to measurable plasma concentrations >0.1 ng ml when applied to the ventral aspect of the tail base. In the Tail group, the mean plasma buprenorphine concentrations were >0.1 ng ml from 2 to 32 h. The highest group mean was 0.25 ng ml noted at 4 h.
CONCLUSIONS
The metacarpal and gaskin regions presented more erratic and inconsistent buprenorphine uptake and plasma concentrations as compared to the ventral aspect of the tail base. Further research must be directed at investigating the optimal dose, achievable duration of analgesia, change in measurable plasma concentrations, and behavioral and systemic effects.
PubMed: 38962712
DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1390322 -
Digital Journal of Ophthalmology : DJO 2024We present the case of a 65-year-old man with bilateral keratoconus and history of bilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) who developed gradual visual decline in the...
We present the case of a 65-year-old man with bilateral keratoconus and history of bilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) who developed gradual visual decline in the left eye due to cataract formation. Following successful left eye cataract surgery and monofocal, non-toric intraocular lens (IOL) in-the-bag implantation, the patient experienced persistently low uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) due to high residual refractive error and intolerance to contact lenses. A supplementary toric IOL was placed in the ciliary sulcus, but subsequent rotational instability of the lens required repeated realignment. Despite two attempts at IOL repositioning, the rotational instability persisted, necessitating the replacement of the original Sulcoflex IOL with a toric, implantable Collamer lens. Following the implantation of the toric ICL, the patient achieved excellent UDVA with no adverse events over a 4-year follow-up period. This case highlights the potential rotational instability associated with toric piggyback IOLs in keratoconic, post-PK, pseudophakic eyes and the special considerations on choosing the type of piggyback lens in these eyes.
Topics: Humans; Male; Aged; Pseudophakia; Lenses, Intraocular; Visual Acuity; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Prosthesis Design; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Keratoconus; Refraction, Ocular; Postoperative Complications; Reoperation; Rotation
PubMed: 38962666
DOI: 10.5693/djo.02.2024.02.002 -
Bioactive Materials Oct 2024Flow diverter devices are small stents used to divert blood flow away from aneurysms in the brain, stagnating flow and inducing intra-aneurysmal thrombosis which in time...
Flow diverter devices are small stents used to divert blood flow away from aneurysms in the brain, stagnating flow and inducing intra-aneurysmal thrombosis which in time will prevent aneurysm rupture. Current devices are formed from thin (∼25 μm) wires which will remain in place long after the aneurysm has been mitigated. As their continued presence could lead to secondary complications, an absorbable flow diverter which dissolves into the body after aneurysm occlusion is desirable. The absorbable metals investigated to date struggle to achieve the necessary combination of strength, elasticity, corrosion rate, fragmentation resistance, radiopacity, and biocompatibility. This work proposes and investigates a new composite wire concept combining absorbable iron alloy (FeMnN) shells with one or more pure molybdenum (Mo) cores. Various wire configurations are produced and drawn to 25-250 μm wires. Tensile testing revealed high and tunable mechanical properties on par with existing flow diverter materials. In vitro degradation testing of 100 μm wire in DMEM to 7 days indicated progressive corrosion and cracking of the FeMnN shell but not of the Mo, confirming the cathodic protection of the Mo by the FeMnN and thus mitigation of premature fragmentation risk. In vivo implantation and subsequent μCT of the same wires in mouse aortas to 6 months showed meaningful corrosion had begun in the FeMnN shell but not yet in the Mo filament cores. In total, these results indicate that these composites may offer an ideal combination of properties for absorbable flow diverters.
PubMed: 38962657
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.06.002 -
Scientifica 2024Globally, cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death. Numerous methods are used to diagnose cardiovascular pathologies; there is still a place for... (Review)
Review
Globally, cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death. Numerous methods are used to diagnose cardiovascular pathologies; there is still a place for straightforward and noninvasive techniques, such as electrocardiogram (ECG). Depolarization and repolarization parameters, including QT interval and its derivatives, are well studied. However, the Tpeak-Tend interval is a novel and promising ECG marker with growing evidence for its potential role in predicting malignant arrhythmias. In this review, we discuss the association between the Tpeak-Tend interval and several cardiovascular diseases, including long QT syndrome, cardiomyopathies, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and obesity, which constitutes one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
PubMed: 38962529
DOI: 10.1155/2024/4904508 -
African Health Sciences Mar 2024The impact of Tuberculosis (TB) places an immense burden on the health care system. Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a significant risk factor in the...
BACKGROUND
The impact of Tuberculosis (TB) places an immense burden on the health care system. Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a significant risk factor in the development and progression of TB disease. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Tumour Necrotic Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) may play a major role in the disease mechanism and understanding these mechanisms might prove to be a useful diagnostic tool in evaluating the immune regulation and progression of the disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the relationship between cytokine levels and gene variants of Interleukin-10 and Tumour Necrotic Factor Alpha in TB and HIV-infected participants.
METHODS
Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA, and SNPs were determined by MassArray®.
RESULTS
The levels of TNF-α were higher in the TB group than the HIV (p < 0.001) and TB-HIV (p = 0.011) groups, but similar to the TNF-α levels in the control group. In the HIV group, IL-10 levels were higher than those of the TB (p < 0.001) and control groups (p = 0.039), whereas there was no difference between the IL-10 levels in the HIV and the TB-HIV infection groups. The ratio was determined and there were no differences between the four infection groups. In this study, no associations were detected between the circulating plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-10 and their genotypes.
CONCLUSION
Our data showed that the gene variants were not associated with circulating plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in our study population. A pro-inflammatory environment was found in the TB and TB-HIV groups, which is suggesting of bacterial clearance, while an anti-inflammatory environment was found in the HIV group, which suggests the suppression of viral replication.
Topics: Humans; Interleukin-10; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; HIV Infections; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; South Africa; Male; Female; Adult; Tuberculosis; Middle Aged; Case-Control Studies; Genotype; Promoter Regions, Genetic
PubMed: 38962334
DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v24i1.2 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024The quest for effective epilepsy treatments has spotlighted natural alkaloids due to their broad neuropharmacological effects. This review provides a comprehensive... (Review)
Review
The quest for effective epilepsy treatments has spotlighted natural alkaloids due to their broad neuropharmacological effects. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the antiseizure properties of various natural compounds, with an emphasis on their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits. Our findings reveal that bioactive substances such as indole, quinoline, terpenoid, and pyridine alkaloids confer medicinal benefits by modulating synaptic interactions, restoring neuronal balance, and mitigating neuroinflammation-key factors in managing epileptic seizures. Notably, these compounds enhance GABAergic neurotransmission, diminish excitatory glutamatergic activities, particularly at NMDA receptors, and suppress proinflammatory pathways. A significant focus is placed on the strategic use of nanoparticle delivery systems to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of these alkaloids, which helps overcome the challenges associated with crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The review concludes with a prospective outlook on integrating these bioactive substances into epilepsy treatment regimes, advocating for extensive research to confirm their efficacy and safety. Advancing the bioavailability of alkaloids and rigorously assessing their toxicological profiles are essential to fully leverage the therapeutic potential of these compounds in clinical settings.
PubMed: 38962319
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1418555 -
Data in Brief Jun 2024Pomegranate fruit disease detection and classification based on computer vision remains challenging because of various diseases, building the task of collecting or...
Pomegranate fruit disease detection and classification based on computer vision remains challenging because of various diseases, building the task of collecting or creating datasets is extremely difficult. The usage of machine learning and deep learning in farming has increased significantly in recent years. For developing precise and consistent machine learning models and reducing misclassification in real-time situations, efficient and clean datasets are a key obligation. The current pomegranate fruit diseases classification standardized and publicly accessible datasets for agriculture are not adequate to train the models efficiently. To address this issue, our primary goal of the current study is to create an image dataset of pomegranate fruits of numerous diseases that is ready to use and publicly available. We have composed 5 types of pomegranate fruit healthy and diseases from different places like Ballari, Bengaluru, Bagalakote, Etc. These images were taken from July to October 2023. The dataset contains 5099 pomegranate fruit images which are labeled and classified into 5 types: Healthy, Bacterial blight, Anthracnose, Cercospora fruit spot, and Alternaria fruit spot. The dataset comprises 5 folders entitled with corresponding diseases. This dataset might be useful for locating pomegranate diseases in other nations as well as increasing the production of pomegranate yield. This dataset is extremely useful for researchers of machine learning or deep learning in the field of agriculture for emerging computer vision applications.
PubMed: 38962206
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110284 -
Jamba (Potchefstroom, South Africa) 2024The main reason cited for the low participation rate in indexed insurance in Africa is the lack of farmers' involvement in the initial conception. The main aim of this...
UNLABELLED
The main reason cited for the low participation rate in indexed insurance in Africa is the lack of farmers' involvement in the initial conception. The main aim of this article was, therefore, to design an improved participatory methodology that would help farmers in South Africa gather information on the value they place in new crop insurance initiatives based on weather indices. The main objective of this study was to determine their willingness to pay (WTP) crop insurance in the Eastern Cape. The study adopted a cross-sectional design, and the respondents were selected by using a probability sampling procedure. A sample of 150 respondents was selected. The results from descriptive statistics showed that 62% of the smallholder irrigation scheme farmers were between 52 and above years of age, male and female: 87% and 13%, respectively. The results from the probit model revealed that out of nine variables included in the model, only four namely, logAge square, gender, marital status and age were significantly influencing the WTP index-based crop insurance at 1%, 5% and 10%, respectively. However, age was found to reduce the chances of participating in crop-based insurance. A large proportion of those who were willing to pay insurance had not previously experienced losses because of natural hazards. Therefore, it recommended that the government should use existing extension officers to educate the farmers and promote the importance and benefits of insurance products.
CONTRIBUTION
The results are expected to contribute to the local government to improve disaster resilience through strengthening regional financial funding.
PubMed: 38962166
DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v16i1.1611 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... Jul 2024NovoSorb biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM) is a novel, bilayer, synthetic skin substitute made of biodegradable polyurethane foam covered with a sealing membrane....
BACKGROUND
NovoSorb biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM) is a novel, bilayer, synthetic skin substitute made of biodegradable polyurethane foam covered with a sealing membrane. BTM has demonstrated excellent outcomes in burn literature; however, few studies have been published for hand and extremity soft tissue reconstruction.
METHODS
All patients who underwent extremity reconstruction with BTM from 2018 to 2023 were reviewed. Demographics, presentations, and clinical outcomes were recorded.
RESULTS
A total of 86 cases from 54 patients (53.7% pediatric; age range: 0-81 years) were included. Common indications included trauma (36%), infection (18.6%), and malignancy (11.6%). BTM was placed over exposed tendon (38.4%), bone (19%), joints (12.8%), nerves (8.1%), and/or blood vessels (7%). BTM served as temporary wound coverage in 26 cases. Complications included hematoma (8.1%), infection (4.7%), and spontaneous delamination (4.7%). Wound closure was successfully obtained without flap use in 93.3%. Poor BTM take was associated with peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, immunosuppression, and BTM hematoma and infection (<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study contributes to the growing body of evidence favoring BTM use in challenging reconstructive cases. Although prospective comparative studies are forthcoming, BTM likely has broad applications in reconstructive surgery.
PubMed: 38962155
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005956 -
Nigerian Medical Journal : Journal of... 2023Utilization of delivery services is paramount to achieving a safe delivery outcome and preventing maternal mortality/morbidity among mothers. In semi-urban communities,...
BACKGROUND
Utilization of delivery services is paramount to achieving a safe delivery outcome and preventing maternal mortality/morbidity among mothers. In semi-urban communities, delivery services are provided by both health and non-health facilities and are influenced by either socio-demographic or economic factors. This study aims to evaluate the utilization of delivery services across various places that provide such care and to identify the factors that influence the utilization of delivery services in the Aluu community.
METHODOLOGY
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 out of 9 villages in the Aluu community. A total of 415 respondents were recruited for the study. The study was carried out between April 2021 and October 2021. A multistage sampling method was used, and data was collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. The Chi-square test was used for inferential analysis and a significant level was set at p≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS
Out of 415 respondents, 44.03% were delivered in a healthcare facility while 55.97% were delivered in a non-health care facility. Tribe, religion, educational status, occupation, and Obstetrics and gynecological factors were found to influence the utilization of delivery services.
CONCLUSION
More than half of women utilized delivery services provided by non-health facilities and there was a significant relationship between tribe, religion, educational status, occupation, and Obstetrics and gynecological factors and the utilization of delivery services in the Aluu community.
PubMed: 38962112
DOI: 10.60787/NMJ-64-5-345