The Characterization of the Th1/Th2 Ratio in Moderate-Severe Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Its Response to an Aloe Polymannose-Based Dietary Supplement.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading killer of Americans, imparting a tremendous societal toll. Relationships between immune function and inflammation with cognition are well-established in AD, but the Th1/Th2 ratio of immune function is unknown. Describing the Th1/Th2 ratio and its relationship with cognition may shed light on the disease's clinical context.

In Situ Spectroscopic Studies of NH Oxidation of Fe-Oxide/AlO.

Simple temperature-regulated chemical vapor deposition was used to disperse iron oxide nanoparticles on porous AlO to create an Fe-oxide/AlO structure for catalytic NH oxidation. The Fe-oxide/AlO achieved nearly 100% removal of NH, with N as a major reaction product at temperatures above 400 °C and negligible NO emissions at all experimental temperatures. The results of a combination of in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy and near-ambient pressure-near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy suggest a NH-mediated oxidation mechanism of NH to N via the Mars-van Krevelen pathway on the Fe-oxide/AlO surface.

Frequency Of Stone Clearance After Transurethral Fragmentation Of Large Urinary Bladder Calculi Using Pneumatic Swiss Lithoclast.

Background: Vesical calculi refer to stones in the urinary bladder. The causes of bladder stones include bladder outlet obstruction, neurogenic voiding dysfunction, infection, or foreign bodies. Very rarely, these vesical calculi may reach very large sizes and the largest dimension can sometimes reach 13 centimetres.

Entropy-based financial asset pricing: Evidence from Pakistan.

Entropy is an alternative measure to calculate the risk, simplify the portfolios and equity risk premium. It has higher explanatory power than capital asset price model (CAPM) beta. The comparison of Entropy and CAPM beta provide in depth analysis about the explanatory power of the model that in turn help investor to make right investment decisions that minimizes risk.

A homozygous missense variant in causes non-obstructive azoospermia in humans.

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe factor of male infertility; it affects approximately 1% of the global male population and accounts for 40% of male infertility cases. However, the majority of NOA cases remain idiopathic. This is the first study using whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify a novel missense mutation in the gene (c.

Mercaptobenzimidazole-Based 1,3-Thaizolidin-4-ones as Antidiabetic Agents: Synthesis, In Vitro α-Glucosidase Inhibition Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies.

In this research work, we have focused our efforts to synthesize a series of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-based 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones () following a multistep reaction strategy and characterization of the synthesized derivatives with the help of various spectroscopic techniques. To find the antidiabetic potentials of the synthesized compounds (), in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity was performed using acarbose (IC = 873 ± 1.2 μM) as the reference standard.

N-Acetylcysteine for Cardiac Protection During Coronary Artery Reperfusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Coronary artery reperfusion is essential for the management of symptoms in the patients with myocardial ischemia. However, the benefit of reperfusion often comes at an expense of paradoxical injury, which contributes to the adverse events, and sometimes heart failure. Reperfusion is known to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The effects of twenty-one nutrients and phytonutrients on cognitive function: A narrative review.

Background And Aim: Brain health is becoming more important to the average person as the number of people with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), is rising significantly. The current Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapeutics for dementia neither cure nor halt cognitive decline; they just delay the worsening cognitive impairment. This narrative review summarizes the effects of nutrients and phytonutrients on cognitive function.

Vitamin C for Cardiac Protection during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) secondary to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. This nonsurgical procedure is also used for selective patients with stable angina. Although the procedure is essential for restoring blood flow, reperfusion can increase oxidative stress as a side effect.

Co-culture submerged fermentation by lactobacillus and yeast more effectively improved the profiles and bioaccessibility of phenolics in extruded brown rice than single-culture fermentation.

This study aims to investigate the effects of fermentation on the phenolic components and their bioaccessibility in extruded brown rice (EBR). The saccharified solution of EBR (SS-EBR) depicted higher phenolics when fermented by single or co-culture of Lactobacillusplantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 24 h at 37 °C. The co-culture fermented SS-EBR more significantly enhanced free, conjugated and bound phenolics and flavonoids with total increment of 93.

Association of Depression with Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis: a Systematic Review.

To assess causal association of depression with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, we performed computer-based and manual search of literature for studies which had assessed relationship of depression disorder with coronary atherosclerosis. All studies had diagnosed depression with validated tools in patients without diagnosed coronary artery disease. The Bradford Hill criteria of cause-effect association was consistently fulfilled by those studies which achieved statistical significance and further showed incremental strength of association with one or more of the following attributes: (1) prospective cohort study, met cause-effect criteria of "temporality"; (2) relatively severe and/or longer period of depression, met cause-effect criteria of "dose-response"; (3) depression with predominantly somatic symptoms cluster, met cause-effect criteria of "scientific plausibility"; (4) multiethnic larger sample, met cause-effect criteria of "population equivalence"; and (5) multicenter study, met criteria of "environmental equivalence.

Phenolic profile, free amino acids composition and antioxidant potential of dried longan fermented by lactic acid bacteria.

In this study, dried longan pulp (DLP) was subjected to fermentation using selected strains of lactic acid bacteria ( subsp. and ). We then studied changes in the free and bound phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, free amino acid, and organic acid composition.

Mechanisms Underlying Anti-hyperalgesic Properties of Kaempferol-3,7- di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside Isolated from Dryopteris cycadina.

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-hyperalgesic effect of kaempferol-3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble part of Dryopteris cycadina. Pretreatment of the compound at the doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in abdominal constrictions in acetic acid-induced writhing test with maximum effect of 63.

E. coli Resistance to Ciprofloxacin and Common Associated Factors.

Objective: To determine the frequency of E. coli resistance to ciprofloxacin and common factors leading to it among patients presenting with urinary tract infection.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Response of vitamins A, E, hematological and serum biochemical markers in Crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) exposed to environmental Pb(2+) and Cd(2+).

Toxicity of Pb(2+) and Cd(2+) is a widespread issue in the world; however, few studies have been conducted to understand their effect at environmentally realistic concentration in a mixture. In the present study, Crucian carp was exposed to Pb(2+) (30 µg·l(-1)), Cd(2+) (100 µg·l(-1)) and their mixture (30+100 µg·l(-1)) for 96 h and 21 d period to assess changes in the liver and muscle vitamin A and E content, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters. The results indicated significant decline in the level of antioxidant vitamins A, E and alterations in the hematological and serum biochemical indices.

Left ventricular thrombus in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.

Background: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication of acute myocardial infarction and is associated with increased risk of systemic embolization. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of left ventricular thrombus in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in departments of Medicine and Cardiology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from 15th April to 15th October, 2011.

Parental perceptions surrounding polio and self-reported non-participation in polio supplementary immunization activities in Karachi, Pakistan: a mixed methods study.

Objective: To assess parent's knowledge and perceptions surrounding polio and polio vaccination, self-reported participation in polio supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) targeting children aged < 5 years, and reasons for non-participation.

Methods: The mixed methods study began with a cross-sectional survey in Karachi, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess parental knowledge of polio and participation in polio SIAs conducted in September and October 2011.