Therapeutic Artemether-Lumefantrine Modulated Monosodium Glutamate-Related Adversity on Rats’ Kidney Histology and Antioxidant Response Bio-Indicators

Co-intake-related interactive-synergistic influence of artemether-lumefantrine, AL and monosodium glutamate, MSG that separately mediated oxidative stress could be significant on the kidney actively involved in xenobiotic detoxification and elimination. Thus, influence of AL on rats’ kidney histomorphology and antioxidant bio-indicators following MSG-challenge was assessed. For 7 days, thirty rats (n = 5) were respectively exposed to vehicle (distilled water), therapeutic AL (TAL), high AL (HAL), MSG, MSG plus TAL or MSG plus HAL. Significant (P<0.05) results comparison showed highest and least (P<0.05) albumin concentration (Mg/dl) in TAL-fed (3.76±0.33) and MSG-fed (1.88±0.70), rats. Total protein concentration (Mg/dl) in MSG-fed (4.04±2.04) and HAL-fed (4.76±1.92), rats lowered markedly. Highest glutathione peroxidase activity (IU/L) in TAL-fed (30.74±12.46) lowered in MSG plus HAL-fed (20.11±6.08) and MSG-fed (20.33±4.85), rats. Catalase activity (IU/L) in control was highest (4.89 ± 0.26) but least (2.58 ± 1.06) in MSG-fed rats. Zinc and Magnesium concentration (Mg/dl) was respectively highest (58.99±5.10) and least (3.48±0.31) in MSG plus HAL-fed but least (18.80±7.77) and highest (4.38±1.67) in MSG-fed, rats. Malondialdehyde concentration (µmol/ml) in MSG plus HAL-fed rats (4.04±0.67) was highest (P<0.05) and least (P<0.05) in HAL-fed rats (1.18±0.11). Differences in superoxide dismutase activity (IU/L) were, however, non-significant (P>0.05).Rats’ kidney photomicrographs (H&E × 400) revealed normal histo-architecture in control but varied degree of fibroplasias (TAL- ,HAL- and MSG plus TAL-fed) and necrosis with infiltrations (MSG plus HAL-and MSG-fed), rats. These demonstrated MSG-related adversity and significant modulation response of TAL, unlike HAL, on the rats’ kidney histology and studied antioxidant response bio-indicators.

Pulmonary Function Tests May Better Predict Dyspnea-Severity in Patients with Subglottic Stenosis Compared to Clinician-Reported Stenosis

Objective: Patients with subglottic stenosis (SGS) present with varied degree of breathing complaints. The dyspnea index (DI) is a 10-question patient-reported outcome measure designed to measure the severity of upper airway obstruction. We set out to determine whether pulmonary function tests or clinician-reported degree of stenosis best predicted DI scores. Methods: Thirty patients with SGS were retrospectively reviewed over a 6-year period. One visit from each patient was included. Data including peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), body-mass index (BMI), clinician-reported degree of stenosis, and DI scores were reviewed. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine how degree of stenosis and PEFR % predicted the variation in DI score. Results: PEFR % better predicted DI scores compared to degree of stenosis (partial correlation −0.32 vs 0.17). After stepwise elimination, PEFR % remained in the regression and was significantly associated with DI scores ( F[1, 29] = 9.38, P = .005). BMI did not demonstrate a linear relationship with DI scores and was not included in the regression ( r = −.02). The PEFR % unstandardized coefficient was −0.25 (95% CI: −0.42 to −0.08, P = .005). The model predicts that a 4% increase in the PEFR % results in a 1-point decrease in the DI score (95% CI: −1.68 to −0.32). Conclusion: This study suggests that pulmonary function tests may be a better in-office measure to substantiate the severity of symptoms in patients with SGS.

Individuals’ empathic perception and compassionate intention when given an opportunity to help

This paper implements the innovative theory that mental processes discriminate present from past social and physical environments for an example of charitable donation. The theory specifies designs for questionnaires that measure individuals’ mechanisms of perception, emotion and decision in particular circumstances. The example illustrated here was helpfulness in response to an appeal for donations towards a wheelchair. Eight vignettes of that scenario orthogonally varied degree of immobility, price of wheelchair, and availability or not of a charity’s grant towards the purchase. The cost of the wheelchair was generally the greatest influence on the decision to donate. The described disability and the (lack of) a subsidy had minor effects. These reasons for helping had a greater influence than emotional involvement. Experimental analysis of common helpful acts opens the practical prospect of cross-situational psychometrics of altruistic thoughts and feelings.

An Architecture of Opportunism

The irregular dynamics that emerged with the support of Croatian state structures may not have been either as planned or as efficient as their Serbian counterparts, but pro-Croat paramilitary groups enjoyed a similarly varied degree of patronage from their political and military authorities. Irregulars were responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed against non-Croats in Croatia and in Bosnia. The chapter explains that the majority of irregular perpetrators of the documented crimes fit into the Croat architecture of violence and were only rarely genuinely independent combatants. While the various paramilitary, militia and local defence units contributed numbers and ideology to the evolution of the Croatian military architecture, the military police force ran like a central artery through emergent armed commands in both Croatia and Bosnia. Ultimately, the Croatian strategy was characterised by the pragmatic pursuit of its political objectives through violent and diplomatic means.

The Effect of Norbactin on the Lipid Profile of the Cardiovascular System of Albino Rats

Antibiotics have been reported to produce varied degree of toxicity to different organs and systems. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of Norbactin on the lipid profile of the cardiovascular system of Albino rats. The research was performed on 20 adult male Albino rats, randomly placed in 5 groups (A,B,C,D,E) of 4 rats in each. Group A,B,C,D were administrated 5.72,11.43,17.15 and 22.86(mg/kg) respectively of Norbactin solution. Group E was the control. The administration was by oral intubation and lasted for 7 consecutive days. Physical activities, feed and water intake was found to decrease in the test groups while the control did not show significant (p>0.05) changes. Concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in the groups administered the drug was significantly (p>0.05) higher than the control. The level of high density lipoprotein recorded in group A,B,C and D was significantly (p<0.05) lower than in the control. This effect were found to be dose dependent. The findings of this study suggest that Norbactin may be toxic to the cardiovascular system. It may not be suitable for a patient with cardiovascular disorders.

Strategies for Engendering Health and Safety Culture in Construction Firms in Abuja, Nigeria

Many countries have put in place policies and legislation to reduce accidents and diseases on construction sites though having varied degree of comprehensiveness, the extent of implementation, will and capacity of enforcement. In spite of these efforts, it has been revealed that the increase in the rate of unsafe acts and rate of fatalities in the construction industry is significant due to poor safety culture. Hence, this study assessed the level of health and safety (H&S) culture in construction firms in Abuja by self-administering a total of 152 questionnaires on H&S issues to construction professionals. It included Builders, Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Civil Engineers, and Project Managers/supervisors who were involved in construction works. The data obtained were analysed using percentages and mean scores. It was discovered that despite the increasing growth in the construction firms in Nigeria, the H&S culture practice in construction firms is highly fragmented and poorly implemented. It is recommended among others that there should be high commitment from the top of organisations which will in turn produce higher level of motivation and commitment throughout the organisations.

A 5-step systematic therapy (FSST) for treating plugged ducts and mastitis in breastfeeding women

Introduction: Plugged ducts and mastitis are common conditions in lactating women. Milk excretion and relief of local symptoms are equally important for the treatment of plugged ducts and mastitis.This study aimed to describe clinical response to 5-step systematic therapy (FSST) in the management of plugged ducts and mastitis. FSST was a comprehensive milk stasis dredging treatment, which contained five steps to make the milk out of the plugged duct. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 922 breastfeeding women, 714 with plugged ducts and 208 with mastitis who received FSST at the breast nursing outpatient department from June to September 2017. The breast pain score, swelling degree and range of breast induration were recorded pre-FSST and post-FSST. Results: After a single FSST, pain score and degree of swelling were significantly improved (both, p < 0.001) in all cases. After receiving FSST, the mean breast pain relief score was 1.7±0.7, while the mean swelling fade-away degree was 1.6±0.6. In subgroup analysis, pain score and degree of swelling were significantly improved (both, p < 0.001) in the plugged ducts group and the mastitis group. The score of pain relief in the plugged ducts group was less than that in the mastitis group (1.6±0.7 vs. 1.9±0.7, t=-5.301, p=0.000), while improvement of swelling fade-away was greater in the plugged ducts group than the mastitis group (1.7±0.6 vs. 1.5±0.6, t=3.488, p=0.001). The composition ratio of the changes in induration range between the two groups was statistically different (Pearsonχ2=137.865, p = 0.000), of which more obvious improvement in the plugged ducts group than the mastitis group (χ2=25.653, p = 0.000). Conclusion: FSST can relieve pain, reduce breast swelling and range of induration, and for plugged ducts or mastitis varied degree differently.

People Participatory Approach: A Study Of Drought Management Programmes Through Mnrega In Mewat Region, Haryana

The paper examines the people participatory approach towards executive process of drought management programmes of Mewat region of Haryana. It is an empirical study, based on 93 respondents, taken from three villages, who have been engaged in varied drought management activities within these villages. The study has thrown an adequate light on various levels of benefits and varied degree of satisfaction, derived from the drought management projects, executed in these villages, characterized with different topographical attributes. On the basis of findings of the study, varied inferences have been drawn from the study. This participatory approach has also been testified with correlation technique which shows the results in accordance with responses, responded by the people; belonged to various strata of rural society in their respective villages of Mewat region.

A survey on routing problems and robotic systems

SUMMARYPlanning paths that are length or time optimized or both is an age-long problem for which numerous approaches have been proposed with varied degree of success depending on the imposed constraints. Among classical instances in the literature, the Traveling Salesman Problem and the Vehicle Routing Problem have been widely studied and frequently considered in the realm of mobile robotics. Understandably, the classical formulation for such problems do not take into account many different issues that arise in real-world scenarios, such as motion constraints and dynamic environments, commonly found in actual robotic systems, and consequently the solutions have been generalized in several ways. In this work, we present a broad and comprehensive review of the classical works and recent breakthroughs regarding the routing techniques ordinarily used in robotic systems and provide references to the most fundamental works in the literature.