Jatrorrhizine: A Review of Sources, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity

Jatrorrhizine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, is a bioactive metabolite in common medicinal plants, such as Berberis vernae Schneid., Tinospora sagittata (Oliv.) Gagnep. and Coptis chinensis Franch. These plants have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their wide-ranging pharmacological properties. This review emphasizes the latest and comprehensive information on the sources, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of jatrorrhizine. Studies on this alkaloid were collected from scientific internet databases, including the Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley Online Library and Europe PMC and CNKI, using a combination of keywords involving “jatrorrhizine”, “sources”, “pharmacology,” “pharmacokinetics,” and “toxicology”. Jatrorrhizine exhibits anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, anticancer, anti-obesity and hypolipidemic properties, along with central nervous system activities and other beneficial activity. Studies of jatrorrhizine have laid the foundation for its application to the treatment of various diseases, but some issues still exist. Further investigations might emphasize 1) specific curative mechanisms of jatrorrhizine and clinical utility, 2) application prospect in the treatment of metabolic disorders, 3) comprehensive investigations of the toxicity mechanisms and 4) interactions of jatrorrhizine with other pharmaceuticals and development of derivatives.

Inactivation of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in food; a review

The eradication of Sarcocystis-infected corpses costs the meat industry millions of dollars each year. Because this parasite is most commonly found in skeletal and cardiac muscles, preventative and control techniques such as inactivating or destroying the bradyzoites in infected meat are critical. The goal of this research was to look at the various methods for inactivating this parasite and to compare the results of these methods. Using internet databases from many fields and around the world, a systematic review of the literature was conducted. Heating, freezing, irradiation, and marination were all utilized to inactivate this parasite, and each had a distinct effect, according to the studies. Inactivation can be achieved by heating at 60°C for 20 min or freezing at -4ºC for 2 days. Also, 2 kGy of gamma rays and marination in 6% NaCl and 3% acetic acid for 48 h are enough.

Database searches for smell/taste disorders and coronavirus and their relation to COVID-19 cases in Finland 2020: A time series analysis of citizens’ and healthcare professionals’ Internet information seeking using log and register data in assessing model improvement (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has prevailed over a year, and log and register data on coronavirus have been tried to model from Internet sources to detect the pandemic. However, many sources comprise unreliable health information on COVID-19 and its symptoms, and platforms cannot characterize the users performing searches. Prior studies have assessed symptom searches from general search engines (Google/Google Trends). Little is known how modelling log data on smell/taste disorders and coronavirus from the dedicated Internet databases used by citizens and healthcare professionals could enhance disease surveillance. Our material and method provide a novel approach to analyze Internet information seeking to detect infectious disease outbreaks. OBJECTIVE Objective: The aim of this study was 1) to assess whether citizens’ and professionals’ searches for smell/taste disorders and coronavirus relate to epidemiological data on COVID-19 cases, and 2) to test negative binomial models whether the inclusion of the case count could improve the model. METHODS Methods: We collected weekly log data on searches related to COVID-19 (smell/taste disorders, coronavirus) during 30/12/2019–30/11/2020 (49 weeks). Two major medical Internet databases in Finland were used: Health Library (HL), a free portal aimed at citizens, and Physician’s Database (PD), widely used among healthcare professionals. Log data from databases were combined with register data on the numbers of COVID-19 cases reported in the Finnish National Infectious Diseases Register. We used negative binomial regression modelling to assess if the case numbers could explain some of the dynamics of searches when plotting Internet searches. RESULTS Results: We found that coronavirus searches drastically increased in HL (0 to 744,113) and in PD (4 to 5,375) prior to the first wave of COVID-19 cases during December 2019 and March 2020. Searches for smell disorders in HL doubled from end of December 2019 to end of March 2020 (2,148 to 4,195), and searches for taste disorders in HL increased from mid-May to end of November (0 to 1,980). Case numbers were significantly associated with smell disorders in HL (P < .001), and with coronavirus searches (P < .001) in PD. We could not identify any other associations between case numbers and searches in either database. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Modelling log data from Internet databases was seen to improve the model only occasionally. However, search behaviors among citizens and professionals could be used as a supplementary source of information for infectious disease surveillance. Further research is needed to apply statistical models to log data of the dedicated medical databases. CLINICALTRIAL None

Femoroacetabular Impingement of the Hip Joint – Literature Review

Introduction: In patients with painful hip joint, femoroacetabular impingement is a relatively frequently diagnosed condition. Study aim: The aim of the study was to present the anatomy, biomechanics and pathomechanism of femoroacetabular impingement, surgical diagnostics and treatment, as well as physiotherapeutic procedures, and to provide answers to the following questions: 1. What are the causes of femoroacetabular impingement development and what is its most common form? 2. What are the clinical and imaging diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement based on? 3. What are the goals of physiotherapeutic treatment in the treatment of patients with postoperative femoroacetabular impingement? Material and method: Current professional literature was analysed based on a review of Internet databases, including Pubmed and Google Scholar. Results: From the abovementioned Internet databases, 30 items from the current profession-al literature on the analysed variables were identified. Conclusions: The reasons for the development of femoroacetabular impingement are com-plex, including developmental disorders of the hip joint or its chronic overload. Its most common form is mixed type. The basic imaging test used is anterior-posterior X-ray, while clinical assessment is based on anterior-posterior impingement test. Physiotherapy should be individually tailored and focused on improving range of motion and muscle strength of the hip joint.

Proposal of the Annotation of Phosphorylated Amino Acids and Peptides Using Biological and Chemical Codes

Phosphorylation represents one of the most important modifications of amino acids, peptides, and proteins. By modifying the latter, it is useful in improving the functional properties of foods. Although all these substances are broadly annotated in internet databases, there is no unified code for their annotation. The present publication aims to describe a simple code for the annotation of phosphopeptide sequences. The proposed code describes the location of phosphate residues in amino acid side chains (including new rules of atom numbering in amino acids) and the diversity of phosphate residues (e.g., di- and triphosphate residues and phosphate amidation). This article also includes translating the proposed biological code into SMILES, being the most commonly used chemical code. Finally, it discusses possible errors associated with applying the proposed code and in the resulting SMILES representations of phosphopeptides. The proposed code can be extended to describe other modifications in the future.

Improvement of theoretical preparedness qualified athletes in weightlifting by using information search methods

Theoretical knowledge which obtained at different stages of long-term training belongs to the system of athletes’ values. Its form the prerequisites for successful formation and maintenance of the sportsmanship level and harmonious development of personality. The purpose of the study: to determine the effectiveness of information search methods use in improving the theoretical training of qualified athletes in weightlifting. Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization, documentary method, sociological methods (questionnaire), pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. The athletes at the stages of preparation for higher achievements and maximum realization of individual opportunities in weightlifting (13 athletes had the qualification Master of Sports of Ukraine and 6 – Candidate of Master of Sports of Ukraine) were involved in the formative pedagogical experiment. A feature of the proposed pedagogical experiment was the use of two experimental programs to improve the athletes’ theoretical preparedness. Common features for them were the use of information search methods and self-education. For the athletes of the first experimental group, the task was to conduct an information search with the involvement of the source base of the library LSUofPhC. Participants of the second experimental group had the opportunity to increase the level of preparedness by working at LSUofPhC computer class with access to databases on the Internet. Results. Intragroup increments of athletes’ theoretical preparedness (14.86−64.00%) on the main information blocks and topics indicated the effectiveness of methods of information search and self-education of theoretical training in weightlifting at the stages of preparation for higher achievements and maximum realization of individual opportunities. There were no differences (0.69−2.38% of correct problem solving at p> 0.05) between athletes who conducted an information search using the source database of the LSUofPhC library and those who used access to Internet databases.

Resources Concerning the History of Polish Jews in Castle Court Records of the 17th and 18th Centuries in the Central State Historical Archives in Kyiv and Lviv

The article presents types of sources which have thus far not been used, castle court books kept in the archives of the Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Kyiv. The author emphasizes the importance of these sources for research on the history and culture of Polish Jews in the 17th and 18th centuries. He also specifies the types of documents related to Jewish issues authenticated in these books (e.g. manifestations and lawsuits, declarations of the Radom Tribunal), as well as current source publications and internet databases containing selected documents from Ukrainian archives.

Physical activity learning by medical students: the current picture in Brazil

Introduction: Physical activity is essential for preventing and treating many diseases. Although physicians are the most influential health professionals in advising their patients on the benefits of physical activity, most medical degree programs in Brazil do not seem to include physical activity topics in their curricula. Objective: This study aimed to investigate physical activity topics on active medical curricula in Brazil. Method: The research was conducted separately in April 2015 and February 2019 using a governmental resource, the e-MEC system, and search in internet databases. Data were split into categories according to the type of enrollment (mandatory or optional) of the courses that have subjects or thematic modules with topics on physical activity, type of activities (theoretical, practical, or theoretical-practical), and emphasis on the content (health, performance, or health and performance). Results: Of the 223 medical curricula compiled in 2015 and 286 in 2019, respectively, only 24 (10.8%) and 19 (6.7%) had at least one subject or thematic module concerning physical activity with emphasis on health. Conclusion: In Brazil, the number of undergraduate medical curricula covering physical activity topics is still small and suffered a reduction between 2015 and 2019, which should warn medical education institutions about the need to include physical activity longitudinally distributed contents, with theoretical and - if possible - practical approaches, and emphasis on health promotion and treatment of diseases, in mandatory curricular units.

The ‘canine rescue’ phenomenon

While deaths caused by interactions with dogs in medico-legal situations most often involve trauma from attacks, in certain circumstances, deaths may occur from sharing environmental hazards that the animal has been exposed to during attempted rescues. Search of the Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), Australia, autopsy database over a 16-year period from 2004 to 2020 found three such cases, including two women aged 46 and 61 years who were both killed in separate incidents after being struck by vehicles when they attempted to rescue dogs that had strayed onto busy roads. The final case was a 53-year-old man who drowned in a river while trying to rescue his dog. A review of Internet databases and news sources revealed other cases where would-be dog rescuers had drowned in rivers and the sea or had succumbed to hypothermia in frozen lakes and waterways. Other hazardous situations involve house fires, falls from heights, electrocution and envenomation. The characteristic features of these cases are of a dog (often a pet) getting itself into, or being found in, a dangerous situation, with owners or bystanders then attempting rescue. The dangers of the situation are either ignored or underestimated by the rescuers who often also misjudge the capacity of dogs to survive/self-rescue. Cases may therefore be encountered in forensic investigations where death or serious injury has occurred during attempts to protect an animal from particular types of environmental dangers. Unlike the owners, it is not infrequently documented that the dogs have survived the danger unharmed.