bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of lambda-cyhalothrin oxidative stress and gonad histoarchitecture toxicity potency in Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Ezenwosu Samuel U. , Nnamonu Emmanuel I. , Odo Gregory Ejikeme , Ikele Bright C. , Ani Ogonna C. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Extensive and indiscriminate use of pesticides gradually destroys the environment (ecosystem), poses serious threats to human health, animal life (especially aquatic), plant forms, soil, water, and also lead to emergence of resilient species of life forms that are becoming resistant to pesticides. The present study focused on evaluating lambda-cyhalothrin oxidative stress and gonad histoarchitecture toxicity potency in Clarias gariepinus.

Results
A total of 120 C. gariepinus 16 to 40 cm SL and 200 to 250 g bodyweights (assigned into treatments 0.00 (control), 2.5 × 10−4 μg/L, 5.0 × 10−4 μg/L, and 6.25×10−4 μg/L (A-D) lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT), each treatment consisted of 30 fishes, replicated three times, 10 fishes per replicate) were used for this study. On day 7, catalase activity (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) significantly increased (p < 0.05) in all treatments compared with control. Day 14, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GPx significantly increased (p < 0.05). All parameters significantly increased (p < 0.05) on days 21 and 28 except SOD (day 21). All parameters increased significantly on day 28 across the row in all treatments. The significant increase (p < 0.05) in SOD, (malondialdehyde) MDA, GPx, and glutathione reductase (GR) levels returned to normal after 7 days of depuration but CAT level did not return to normal. The testes photomicrographs showed necrotic conditions in the spermatogenic cells with nuclear pyknosis and cytoplasmic swelling while that of the ovary displayed vacuolations, flabby oocytes, and degenerated ovaries changes.

Conclusion
Lambda-cyhalothrin is toxic to C. gariepinus. The inability of significant increase in CAT to return to normal after 7 days of depuration further confirms our report.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) leaves enhances disease resistance in Channa punctata from Vibrio harveyi infection
Authors: Verma Vipin Kumar , Prakash Om , Kumar R. Shiva Raj , Rani Kumari Vandana , Sehgal Neeta 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Channa punctata, Indian spotted snakehead, has a great economic value in south and south-east Asia being an important protein source for humans. Fish cultures are affected due to various bacterial and viral infections. Vibrio harveyi is a fish pathogenic bacteria which causes several outbreaks throughout the world and leads to huge mortalities. In this study, leaves of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) were used to investigate its immunostimulatory potential in Channa punctata.

Results
The immunostimulatory effects of water hyacinth leaves were studied in fish fed with 2.5% and 5% supplementary feed (experimental groups) in comparison to normal feed (control groups). Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of E. crassipes methanol extract showed presence of various components which have immunostimulatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. The antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential, and presence of phenol and flavonoids in methanol and ethanol extracts supported its use in fish feed. The healthy acclimatized fish were challenged with V. harveyi weekly. Liver function tests, alkaline phosphatase levels, and immunoglobulin content in the experimental groups were improved with respect to those in the positive control group. The spleen and head kidney were obtained at the final day of experiment, and macrophages were isolated; higher percentage of phagocytosis and phagocytic index indicated enhanced cell-mediated immune response in fish due to supplemented feed.

Conclusion
Plant-infused feed with leaves of E. crassipes can be recommended as a regular feed supplement to enhance fish immunity and disease resistance against the V. harveyi infection.
Troponin-I elevation predicts outcome after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Nageeb Rania S. , Omran Alaa A. , Mohamed Wafaa S. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Prognostic significance of troponin-I (T-I) elevation for poor short-term outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients remains uncertain.

Objectives
To evaluate its role as a predictive biomarker of short-term outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients.

Methods
This study included 72 acute ischemic stroke patients who were treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy. All patients were subjected to clinical assessment and measurement of serum T-I level on admission. Outcome was assessed 3 months after stroke onset using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale.

Results
Thirteen patients had elevated serum T-I level (group 1) and the remaining 59 were classified as group 2. Group 1 had a higher statistically significant older age, history of diabetes mellitus (DM), previous stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), and admission NIHSS score, with significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05). Regarding the outcome of both groups, good outcome was significantly less common among group 1. Also, death was significantly more common among group I. Poor outcome in group 1 were significantly associated with older age, DM, AF, elevated serum T-I level at admission, and higher admission NIHSS score (P = 0.03, 0.04, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.001 respectively). The predictors of poor outcome in group 1 were elevated serum T-I level at admission, higher admission NIHSS score, and DM (P = 0.001, 0.02, and 0.05 respectively).

Conclusion
Elevated serum T-I levels on admission is a reliable prognostic predictor of poor outcome in thrombolyzed ischemic stroke patients.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.govNCT03925298 (19 April 2019) “retrospectively registered,”
Natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in multiple sclerosis (MS): “a case report from Ireland with review of literature, clinical pitfalls and future direction”
Authors: Mansoor Salman , Mullane Gerard , Adenan Mohammad Hijaz , Kelly Siobhan , Water Aine , McPartland Grainne , Murphy Kevin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is one of the most serious treatment-related complications that is encountered in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). PML is a serious complication of MS treatment which is most commonly related to natalizumab.

Case presentation
We report clinical course of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in a 40-year-old man who was on treatment for highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with natalizumab (Nz). He was treated with steroids, cidofovir, and mirtazapine and went on to develop long-term disability. The case describes the evolution of PML from diagnosis up till 5 months with changes on sequential brain scans and clinical symptoms in our patient.

Conclusion
Patients who are on natalizumab should be aware and consented for the risk of PML. They should be periodically re-assessed for their relative PML risk. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests switching patients from natalizumab who have a higher risk of PML to other safer treatment options.
Towards sound use of statistics in nematology
Authors: Abd-Elgawad Mahfouz M. M. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Inclusion of the statistical approach in the planning stage of adequate experimental design is crucial for correctly achieving the required conclusions. Modern applied statistics has been used extensively in nematological research worldwide. Although hypothesis testing is still essential to relevant research topics, more emphasis is directed towards other significant issues.

Main body
Issues of estimating the magnitudes of differences among various treatments, conception of optimum sampling size, determining spatial and temporal distribution of nematode ecology, nematode-host suitability designation, prediction of crop yield loss caused by plant-parasitic nematodes and other effects were discussed. So, this study presents highlights of developments in nematological statistics. Moreover, modern statistics should address issues of other nematology-associated disciplines. For example, statistics applied to compare the reliability of molecularly examined samples showed that fairly low-cost metabarcoding had significantly better accuracy in quantifying and identifying the extracted entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) than that of quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Thus, statistics could contribute to a cost-effective, value-added approach to pest management programs. Moreover, an empirical method to improve application strategies of EPNs could be recently modified concerning index of nematode dispersion in terms of the thumb rule value for the nematode-random distribution.

Conclusion
Common misuses of statistics in both nematological research and reporting could be avoided but useful conclusions via sound and modern statistical analyses of the data should be drawn.
SOP: emergency workup in patients with suspected acute bacterial meningitis
Authors: Dyckhoff-Shen Susanne , Koedel Uwe , Pfister Hans-Walter , Klein Matthias 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Introduction
Despite antibiotic therapy, adjunctive treatment with dexamethasone, and care on modern intensive care units, bacterial meningitis remains a life-threatening disease with a high mortality and morbidity. One of most critical factors that influences outcome is a targeted quick but profound workup and early initiation of therapy in the Emergency Department. This standardized operating procedure was designed to guide physicians through the workup of patients with suspected acute bacterial meningitis.

First steps
In patients with suspected community-acquired bacterial meningitis, the first steps aim at establishing a diagnosis and at starting empiric therapy without delay. Therefore, physicians need to seek for an early lumbar puncture that can be done safely without prior imaging if clinical signs that point at contraindications of a lumbar puncture are absent. Immediately after lumbar puncture, empiric therapy with ceftriaxone, ampicillin and dexamethasone should be started. In regions with a critical resistance rate of pneumococci against third generation cephalosporines, vancomycin or rifampicin need to be added.

Comments
Clinical signs that are associated with intracranial conditions that are a contraindication for a lumbar puncture are severely decreased consciousness, new onset focal neurological signs, and epileptic seizures. If any of these clinical signs are present, cerebral imaging is recommended before lumbar puncture. Whenever lumbar puncture is delayed, empiric therapy needs to be begun before cerebrospinal fluid is obtained.

Conclusion
Suspected acute bacterial meningitis is an emergency and requires attention with high priority in the emergency department to ensure a quick workup and early start of therapy.
Temporal changes in the gut microbiota in farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) outweigh the response to diet supplementation with macroalgae
Authors: Keating C. , Bolton-Warberg M. , Hinchcliffe J. , Davies R. , Whelan S. , Wan A. H. L. , Fitzgerald R. D. , Davies S. J. , Ijaz U. Z. , Smith C. J. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Aquaculture successfully meets global food demands for many fish species. However, aquaculture production of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is just 2.5% of total market production. For cod farming to be a viable economic venture specific challenges on how to increase growth, health and farming productivity need to be addressed. Feed ingredients play a key role here. Macroalgae (seaweeds) have been suggested as a functional feed supplement with both health and economic benefits for terrestrial farmed animals and fish. The impact of such dietary supplements to cod gut integrity and microbiota, which contribute to overall fish robustness is unknown. The objective of this study was to supplement the diet of juvenile Atlantic cod with macroalgae and determine the impacts on fish condition and growth, gut morphology and hindgut microbiota composition (16S rRNA amplicon sequencing). Fish were fed one of three diets: control (no macroalgal inclusion), 10% inclusion of either egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) or sea lettuce (Ulva rigida) macroalgae in a 12-week trial.

Results
The results demonstrated there was no significant difference in fish condition, gut morphology or hindgut microbiota between the U. rigida supplemented fish group and the control group at any time-point. This trend was not observed with the A. nodosum treatment. Fish within this group were further categorised as either ‘Normal’ or ‘Lower Growth’. ‘Lower Growth’ individuals found the diet unpalatable resulting in reduced weight and condition factor combined with an altered gut morphology and microbiome relative to the other treatments. Excluding this group, our results show that the hindgut microbiota was largely driven by temporal pressures with the microbial communities becoming more similar over time irrespective of dietary treatment. The core microbiome at the final time-point consisted of the orders Vibrionales (Vibrio and Photobacterium), Bacteroidales (Bacteroidetes and Macellibacteroides) and Clostridiales (Lachnoclostridium).

Conclusions
Our study indicates that U. rigida macroalgae can be supplemented at 10% inclusion levels in the diet of juvenile farmed Atlantic cod without any impact on fish condition or hindgut microbial community structure. We also conclude that 10% dietary inclusion of A. nodosum is not a suitable feed supplement in a farmed cod diet.
A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method for compressible flows on moving curved grids
Authors: Wang Chuanjin , Luo Hong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA high-order accurate reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (rDG) method is developed for compressible inviscid and viscous flows in arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation on moving and deforming unstructured curved meshes. Taylor basis functions in the rDG method are defined on the time-dependent domain, where the integration and computations are performed. The Geometric Conservation Law (GCL) is satisfied by modifying the grid velocity terms on the right-hand side of the discretized equations at Gauss quadrature points. A radial basis function (RBF) interpolation method is used for propagating the mesh motion of the boundary nodes to the interior of the mesh. A third order Explicit first stage, Single Diagonal coefficient, diagonally Implicit Runge-Kutta scheme (ESDIRK3) is employed for the temporal integration. A number of benchmark test cases are conducted to assess the accuracy and robustness of the rDG-ALE method for moving and deforming boundary problems. The numerical experiments indicate that the developed rDG method can attain the designed spatial and temporal orders of accuracy, and the RBF method is effective and robust to avoid excessive distortion and invalid elements near moving boundaries.
Establishing a primary care audit and feedback implementation laboratory: a consensus study
Authors: Alderson Sarah L. , Bald Alexander , Carder Paul , Farrin Amanda , Foy Robbie 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
There is a significant variation among individual primary care providers in prescribing of potentially problematic, low-value medicines which cause avoidable patient harm. Audit and feedback is generally effective at improving prescribing. However, progress has been hindered by research waste, leading to unanswered questions about how to include audit and feedback for specific problems and circumstances. Trials of different ways of providing audit and feedback in implementation laboratories have been proposed as a way of improving population healthcare while generating robust evidence on feedback effects. However, there is limited experience in their design and delivery.

Aim
To explore priorities, feasibility, and ethical challenges of establishing a primary care prescribing audit and feedback implementation laboratory.

Design and setting
Two-stage Delphi consensus process involving primary care pharmacy leads, audit and feedback researchers, and patient and public.

Method
Participants initially scored statements relating to priorities, feasibility, and ethical considerations for an implementation laboratory. These covered current feedback practice, priority topics for feedback, usefulness of feedback in improving prescribing and different types of prescribing data, acceptability and desirability of different organization levels of randomization, options for trial consent, different methods of delivering feedback, and interest in finding out how effective different ways of presenting feedback would be. After receiving collated results, participants then scored the items again. The consensus was defined using the GRADE criteria. The results were analyzed by group and overall score.

Results
Fourteen participants reached consensus for 38 out of 55 statements. Addressing antibiotic and opioid prescribing emerged as the highest priorities for action. The panel supported statements around addressing high-priority prescribing issues, taking an “opt-out” approach to practice consent if waiving consent was not permitted, and randomizing at lower rather than higher organizational levels. Participants supported patient-level prescribing data and further research evaluating most of the different feedback methods we presented them with.

Conclusions
There is a good level of support for evaluating a wide range of potential enhancements to improve the effects of feedback on prescribing. The successful design and delivery of a primary care audit and feedback implementation laboratory depend on identifying shared priorities and addressing practical and ethical considerations.
Design, statistical optimization of Nizatidine floating tablets using natural polymer
Authors: Samala Madhavi Latha , Janga Ramesh Babu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
The present research was aimed in developing gastroretentive tablets of Nizatidine, in order to increase the bioavailability of the drug. Nizatidine belongs to BCS class 3 and thus formulating into gastroretentive tablets helps to achieve a better therapeutic effect. There were no reports available on the use of Mimosa gum in the design of gastroretentive drug delivery systems. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the formulation with suitable experimental design. The goal of the response surface methodology was to obtain a regression model and to find a suitable approximation for the true functional relationship between the response and the set of independent variables. Hence, the statistical approach like full factorial design was utilized to obtain optimized formulation with a smaller number of experiments.

Results
DSC study justified no interaction of the drug with excipients. The floating lag time was observed to be less than 20 s, total floating time was in the range of 8–24 h, hardness ranges from 4 to 5 kg/cm2, and friability was less than 1%. Dissolution data indicated that the higher viscosity of Mimosa (2%) delayed the drug release for extended period of time up to 23 h when compared to lower viscosity Mimosa (1%), which controlled the release of the drug up to 12 h only. The ‘n’ values of all the prepared formulations were found to be 0.59 to 0.81 indicating that the release mechanism followed anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion. The optimal values of independent test variables were obtained from the overlay plots. The optimized formulation of Mimosa gum (2%) (M2%opt) contained 170 mg of polymer and 25.5 mg (15%) of sodium bicarbonate. Similarly, the optimized formulation of Mimosa (1%) (M1%opt) contained 255 mg of polymer and 34 mg (10%) of sodium bicarbonate.

Conclusion
The results clearly indicated that the optimized formulations followed zero-order release kinetics with diffusion mechanism as per the predicted theoretical release rate confirming the suitability of the predicted theoretical release profile.
In vitro kinetic release study of ketoprofen enantiomers from alginate metal complexes
Authors: Alkhayer Ghaidaa , Khudr Hussein , Koudsi Yahia 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo explore the release behavior of ketoprofen enantiomers from alginate-metal-complexes. Five mathematical models of drug release kinetics were investigated.ResultsBeads of alginate-metal complexes, loaded with racemic ketoprofen, were prepared by the ionotropic method. Divalent (Ca, Ba, Zn) and trivalent (Fe, Al) metals were used in the preparation of single-metal and mixed-metal alginate complexes. In vitro release experiments were carried out in an aqueous phosphate buffer medium at pH = 7.4. The concentrations of ketoprofen released enantiomers were determined using chiral HPLC technique. The obtained data were used to simulate the release kinetic of ketoprofen enantiomers using various mathematical models. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model was the best fit for Ca, Al, and Fe beads. Moreover, alginate-iron beads tend to release the drug faster than all other cases. In contrast, the drug release for alginate-barium complex was the slowest. The presence of barium in alginate mixed-metal complexes reduced ketoprofen release in the case of Fe and Zn, while it increased the release in the case of Al complex.ConclusionIn all the studied cases, ketoprofen showed very slow release for both enantiomers over a period exceeded 5 h (10 days in some cases). The release rate modification is possible using different multivalent metals, and it is also feasible by using two different metals for congealing either consecutively or simultaneously.
Design and synthesis of new 3-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino)thiazolidin-4-one analogs as Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA gyrase inhibitors
Authors: Salve Preeti S. , Parchure Prajakta , Araujo Lisel , Kavalapure Rohini S. , Jalalpure Sunil S. , Sriram Dharmarajan , Krishna Vagolu Siva , Estharla Madhu Rekha , Alegaon Shankar G. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Tuberculosis is evidently a major health threat among human populations worldwide. The current study presents the synthesis of new 3-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino)thiazolidin-4-one analogs (4a–o) as potential Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA gyrase inhibitors. DNA gyrase regulates DNA topology in MTB and has been a target of choice for antibacterial therapy. With this in mind, the synthesized derivatives (4a–o) were subjected to in vitro antitubercular evaluation by the MABA method and were tested for MTB DNA gyrase inhibition by supercoiling assay.

Results
All the synthesized compounds displayed inhibition of MTB within the MIC range of 1.56–12.5 μM. Further, out of the selected compounds that underwent DNA gyrase inhibition, compound 4o proved to be a potent lead molecule by displaying 82% of enzyme inhibition at 1 μM. All the synthesized derivatives also underwent molecular docking studies to comprehend their hypothetical binding interactions with Mycobacterium smegmatis GyrB.

Conclusion
All the results suggested that most of the synthesized derivatives inhibited Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and some 3-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino)thiazolidin-4-one analogs could act as leads for the development of antitubercular agents.