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The main focus of this study concentrates on evaluating the quality of groundwater in and around the zone of pattamadai where the production of the mat in this region is a landmark industry, which is using dyes in a larger volume. The primary work starts with the collection of water samples from 13 boreholes and 13 hand-dug wells in different time intervals in the month of March 2021, which is a dry season. As per standards the water quality parameters have been evaluated and observed to be within the range. All the physico-chemical parameters for the samples have been studied for boreholes and hand-dug wells as all the values are observed to be within the range and are highlighted in the results.

The last four decades have been particularly marked by devastating diseases. During this period, humanity hasexperienced plagues such as SARS, bird Flu, Ebola, Chikun-gunya, COVID-19 in addition to diseases that were already decimating populations.

Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world by population and has made considerable progress since the 1960s in terms of economic growth and structural transformation. But in recent years it has become apparent that the health of the nation is far from satisfactory. The purpose of this article is to review recent literature on health problems in Indonesia and to outline the policy challenges which face the government. Since 2001, the provision of primary health care has been decentralized to sub-provincial levels of government but they lack often lack the resources, and trained staff to provide adequate services to rural populations in particular. The literature suggests that while most health indicators have shown some improvement in recent years, there are still large variations by region and social class. The country is still far from achieving the goal of universal health coverage.

Disruption to contrast agent supply chains for radiology investigations has become an additional consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various recommendations, including dose reductions and choices of alternative agents, have been made to help account for this limited availability. This case demonstrated how two separate CT venograms with different contrast agents, undertaken on the same day for the same patient, yielded different results; venous thromboses were more prominent in the subsequent scan. Although there was some evidence of venous sinus thrombosis on the first scan, repeat imaging was required to further characterize the lesions identified. The case exemplifies the notion that diagnostic imaging should always be guided by a detailed history and examination. It also raises the discussion point of whether more strict or uniform protocols should be developed to facilitate contrast administration for radiology investigations. It is important that appropriate doses are always administered to maximize diagnostic yield.

Background: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) are the most common healthcare-associated complications, particularly in elderly patients. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of HAIs and associated risk factors in the IRCCS INRCA of Ancona.Methods: A cross-sectional study has been carried out. Data has been collected in accordance with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Point Prevalence Survey 2022-2023 (PPS3) protocol in the IRCCS INRCA of Ancona in November 2022.Results: Out of the 128 patients included in our study, 75.0% were over 78 years old and 9.1% presented an active HAI on the day of the survey. The prevalence of HAIs varied based on the length of the hospital stay (OR 1.1, CI 95% 1.05 - 1.17, p < 0.001) and hospitalization > 7 days (OR 5.9, CI 95% 1.2 - 28.7, p = 0.02).Conclusion: It is clear from our findings that HAIs are associated with advanced patient age, prolonged hospital stay, and use of medical devices, especially in those patients that, due to their clinical situation, are more vulnerable. Although some of these infections can easily be treated, it is important to develop effective infection control strategies thanks to antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Background: The clinical manifestations of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) varied from patient to patient with evidence of multi-organ involvement. Many patients continue to have a wide range of symptoms for variable periods of time. The long-term effects of COVID-19 infection (post-COVID-19 illness or syndrome) are not yet been fully explored.This study aims to highlight the clinical manifestations of the acute COVID-19 infection and the longer-term manifestations of the disease among the attendants to a private GP clinic in the Urban Amman Area, Jordan.Methods: A clinical case-series study was conducted on a sample of 300 COVID-19-positive cases among patients attending my private GP clinic in the Urban Amman Area, Jordan. We used the structured questionnaire based mainly on World Health Organization (WHO) Case Report Form (CRF) verified tool for post-COVID-19. All patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. Data collection was conducted through phone calls and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: The incidence of COVID-19 among patients attending the clinic during the period of this study was 25%. Females were 135 (45%) of the study population and males were 165 (55%). The mean (SD) of age was 34.2 (5.0) years. Most of the infected staff (90%) were symptomatic and developed acute COVID-19 symptoms. Fever, Cough, Fatigue, joint pain and loss of smell and taste were the most common symptoms. 72% of the study population had fully recovered from the infection, while 28% of them continued to suffer from many long symptoms. Fatigue (28%), shortness of breath on activity (18%), Social withdrawal (18%), anxiety (17%), forgetfulness (16%), trouble concentrating (15) and depressed mood (14%) were the most frequently reported long symptoms.Conclusion: The prevalence of Post COVID-19 illness was 28% with a high public health burden calling for the public health system to address the medical and psychological needs of affected persons. Mental health and psychosocial support are recommended elements for the management of patients.

Background: Detection of the deleterious effect of MR on LV is crucial in guiding the surgical decision. Aim of the study: Comprehensive assessment of LV with significant primary MR using (2D, 3D echo and CMR). Methods: 40 patients with significant MR have been recruited in a prospective study. Patients underwent 2D and 3D echo and CMR studies. LV volumes, function and GLS were calculated. Results: End diastolic and systolic volumes were significantly larger when measured by CMR (all p < 0.001). EDV measures were strongly correlated with CMR and 3D echocardiography. Conclusion: It’s important to identify early deleterious LV changes.

Hereditary spherocytosis is a common inherited type of hemolytic anemia that results from abnormal morphology of erythrocytes. It has a high occurrence in North Americans and northern Europeans with a prevalence of 1/2000. There is a wide range in age and symptoms at presentation with some individuals being asymptomatic and others having severe diseases requiring blood transfusions. Based on the severity of symptoms, management may vary from simple observation to frequent blood transfusions, cholecystectomy for gallstones, and splenectomy. Timely diagnosis may be critical to minimize complications. Diagnostic tests have been available with varying degrees of accuracy. However new diagnostic tests with greater specificity and sensitivity are now available for more accurate diagnosis of Hereditary Spherocytosis in individuals of all ages including newborns. Illustrative cases are presented that show the variability in presentation, symptoms, complications, and care. Information is presented updating diagnostic testing that allows earlier diagnosis of children with hereditary spherocytosis. Additionally, the hematologic findings suspicious and consistent for this diagnosis are presented, serving as a guide when testing should be initiated.

In the past, natural pigments derived from plant-biomass wastes had been widely used for coloring purposes (e.g. fabrics/batik), before finally getting pushed aside by the imported synthetic/inorganic pigments. Thorough attempts to revive the use of such natural pigments then deserve carrying out. Relevantly, conducting storage of liquid/wet or dry natural coloring pigments, extracted from wood wastes; and use of fixatives for batik fabrics intended to impart fabric-color variations. Wood wastes (i.e. leaves and barks) were obtained from nine plant species (Acacia mangium Willd, Avicenia marina L, Caesalpinia sappan L, Ceriop tagal Perr. CB. Rob, Pelthophorum ferruginum Benth, Rhyzophora mucronata Lamk, Tectona grandis Linn.f., Terminalia catappa L and Xylocarpus granatum KD Koenig.), prevalently growing on plain/lowland areas; and their wood portions commonly utilized by wood industries, which generate similar wastes enormously. The pigments in liquid/wet and then in dry forms were produced from those wastes. The production process of pigments adopted traditions by local batik crafters in Bogor. Variations occurring in fabric colors could be due to fixatives, i.e. lime (CaCO3), ferrous sulphate/tunjung (FeSO4); and various wastes. Six-month storage insignificantly changed the coloring qualities of natural coloring pigments applied to fabrics, compared to those of corresponding initially produced pigments. Leaf wastes always contained green-colored compounds, while bark wastes appeared aptly brownish in color. Color performances of bark extracts at fabrics with ferro-sulfat fixative brought about strong grey colors, and with lime fixative produced brown colors. Coloring of fabrics using leaf waste extracts with ferro-sulfat fixative aptly exhibited greenish grey; while with lime fixative became reddish brown. Testing results on the leaching resistance of pigment-colored and fixative-treated fabrics against rubbing and exposure to sunlight revealed a very good category (4-5), but against detergent, washing was very low (2-3).

Today, there are said to be some 590 million people of all ages around the world, who are suffering from a range of swallowing problems – probably about 4 million in the UK. Either living at home or as residents in some 20,000 Care Homes, with perhaps another 25,000 as patients in hospitals every day.Professor David Smithard, of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, has been leading a national campaign for some years to raise general awareness of Dysphagia and to improve the treatment of patients with varying conditions. He and his team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have now completed a detailed Review of the use of carbonated water (CW) in the treatment of Dysphagia, which has just been published and can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/8/1/6The Review concludes that further evidence-based research is essential before CW can be adopted as standard in clinical practice – but that although the amount of evidence is small, there is a suggestion that swallows are safer and that secretion management improves, and consequently until further studies are undertaken, Carbonated Water should be limited to individual patient use.My experience as a Dysphagia sufferer is that the use of CW has resulted in life-changing benefits, and this paper is devoted to describing how CW worked for me, and what the practical requirements are, so that many others may be able to benefit as I have done. The paper has three sections: My Personal Experience, Practical Considerations, and Conclusions.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. The disease is characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms such as depression and cognitive impairment. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are various treatments available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.This case study examines a 65-year-old retired accountant, Mr. John Smith, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago. Mr. Smith has been treated with a combination of medications, including levodopa and carbidopa and physical therapy to manage his symptoms. However, his symptoms have not significantly improved.This literature review explores the current research on Parkinson’s disease, including its pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to a depletion of dopamine and the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein, oxidative stress and inflammation. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, neurological examination and response to dopaminergic therapy. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, with medications and non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise and physical therapy. Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment option that has been shown to be effective in managing motor symptoms.While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, ongoing research into its pathophysiology and treatment holds promise for improving outcomes for patients. This case study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Hypertension is a risk factor for the development of heart failure and has a negative impact on the survival of these patients. Although patients with these two conditions usually take different antihypertensive medications, some patients do not achieve adequate blood pressure control and their hypertension becomes resistant or refractory. In this scenario, percutaneous renal denervation has emerged in recent years as an alternative to achieve blood pressure control goals. We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with a medical history of essential hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, unipolar depression, and diabetes, who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (33%). Despite the initiation of multiple antihypertensive medications and placement of a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker, the patient remained hypertensive with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40%. At that time, percutaneous renal denervation was performed without complications, and one year after the procedure, the patient had improved better blood pressure control and the left ventricular ejection fraction increased to 51%. This case illustrates one of the clinical scenarios in which it has been suggested that renal denervation may be more beneficial, as in the situation of patients with refractory hypertension and heart failure.

Recent clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies report that ALS is thought possibly due to a multi-stage process, arising from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, which alone or superimposed, perhaps on genetic polymorphism yet to be identified, may contribute to the incidence rate of sporadic ALS. In particular, a large amount of evidence suggests that mercury is toxic to motor neurons and may be a risk factor for ALS, playing a part in its pathogenesis. In fact, there have been case reports of ALS or ALS-like symptoms associated with mercury exposure, thus raising the possibility that mercury could be one of the non-genetic factors of the multistep process that is thought to underlie ALS. In order to give recent elucidations on the putative relationship between mercury exposure and ALS, we reviewed all the papers reported in the literature and published on Pubmed from 2006 to 2022. Despite a number of pathogenetic mechanisms that have been linked to mercury, evidence linking exposure to mercury to ALS is not consistent and discordant and, based on the evaluation of the articles, which emerged from our analysis that to date no convincing correlation between mercury and ALS has been established and no conclusive evidence has been enlightened suggesting increased mercury exposure is associated with ALS.

Prescriptions for psychoactive substances such as Pregabalin, Methamphetamine, Caffeine, Clonazepam and Mirtazapine (PM-CCM) are common in the treatment of a variety of disorders. Indeed, the PM-CCM has been used in different therapeutic areas, including insomnia, anxiety, seizure disorders, etc. Unfortunately, these psychoactive substances are present in the illegal street market, leading to a lot of drug abuse among some addicted users, road insecurity and suicide. Hence, it has become essential to validate and develop a rapid and effective method to analyze the PM-CCM, a modified illicit drug, for drug abuse in the forensic sciences. A simple, rapid, specific and sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS) method has been developed for the identification of Pregabalin, Methamphetamine, Caffeine, Clonazepam and Mirtazapine (PM-CCM) in forensic exhibits. At room temperature, the sample was ultrasonicated for 5 minutes before being extracted with methanol. A highly precise auto-injector is used to inject a very small quantity of samples for analysis. Helium is used as a carrier gas with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The separation of PM-CCM was performed on SH-RXi-5 MS, ID.25 mm, film thickness. 25 µm, length of 30 m column. The constituents of PM-CCM were identified by the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z ratio) of fragments of the parent compound by comparing them with the NIST-17 MS Library. Separation and identification of PM-CCM were achieved within a 15-minute run. The proposed method has been successfully used for the routine analysis of PM-CCM in complex illicit drug preparations and in forensic exhibits as well. The application of above discussed qualitative analysis method and screening of PM-CCM, modified illicit drug samples demonstrates the potential and applicability of the technique to the fast chemical profiling of illicit samples.  

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a potent antimicrobial agent that has recently gained attention as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics. HOCl is produced by the human immune system in response to infection and is known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and has been shown to be more effective than many conventional antibiotics. One of the key advantages of HOCl is its ability to kill bacteria without promoting the development of antibiotic resistance. Unlike conventional antibiotics, which target specific bacterial structures or processes, HOCl acts by disrupting multiple cellular components, making it much more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance. Another advantage of HOCl is its safety profile. Unlike many conventional antibiotics, HOCl is not toxic to human cells and does not cause side effects such as gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions. Overall, HOCl shows great promise as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. With further research, it may become an important tool in the fight against infectious diseases. Herein, we discuss the mechanisms of HOCl antimicrobial action, its potential clinical applications, and future directions for research. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antibiotic agent.

Vacuum therapy has become a new option in the treatment of wounds in surgery. More recently this therapy has also been used as a treatment for anastomotic leakages in association or not to emergency surgery. The management of these devices should be familiar to all the staff in a surgical ward.

mRNA drugs are synthesized using cell-free systems without complex and stringent manufacturing processes, which makes their preparation simple, efficient, and economical. Over the past few years, mRNAs encoding antibodies have been one of the research frontiers of antibody drug development. In cancer immunotherapy, mRNAs encoding immune checkpoint antibodies may be advantageous regarding antibody persistence and durability of the anti-tumor immune response of patients. In our previous study, a candidate antibody—AET2010—targeting the novel immune checkpoint TIGIT was reported. Its anti-tumor activity was also investigated using adoptive transfer of NK-92MI cells in a xenograft mouse model, but the limitations of the model did not facilitate precise evaluation. In the present study, we further investigated the therapeutic potential of AET2010 for cancer in TIGIT-humanized BALB/c mice. Next, we explored the design, synthesis, and optimization of mRNAs encoding AET2010 and ultimately obtained a candidate mRNA (mRNA-BU) with favorable in vitro and in vivo expression levels of active AET2010. Particularly, lipid-nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA-BU delivered to mice produced AET2010 with significantly higher peak concentration and expression duration than an equivalent dose of original AET2010. This study provides a sound basis for developing novel drugs targeting TIGIT.

Therapies using autologous serum and platelet lysate have shown promise among blood and biological products in the treatment of various diseases. The autologous serum has been shown to be a superior alternative to traditional eye drops in treating eye diseases in ophthalmology. Platelet lysate (PL) has recently been considered a more interesting alternative for the treatment of multiple tissues, as it does not have the unfavorable reactions seen with traditional platelet-rich plasma (PRP), making it a valuable blood derivative for use in ocular therapy. There is no definitive comparison in veterinary medicine between PL and autologous serum in terms of the content of Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF-1), which is known to have chemotactic, mitogenic, matrix formation, and angiogenesis effects on tissues, and beneficial proteins in ocular tissue. This study aimed to estimate the concentrations of TGF-1, total protein, and albumin, as well as autologous serum and platelet lysate, in horses over an 8-day storage period at temperatures of 4 °C and 37 °C.To produce autologous serum, 63 ml of blood was collected from each animal in seven 9 ml tubes without anticoagulant. For platelet lysate, 180 ml of blood was collected in 50 tubes of 3.6 ml with 3.2% sodium citrate. The most significant findings were the positive relationship between the baseline platelet count in the blood and the final platelet concentration in PRP. Specifically, we found a correlation (R = 0.9) with a p - value of 0.005 between the average baseline platelet level of seven animals and their corresponding PRP results, both on an individual level and as a group. Additionally, there was a correlation between growth factor concentration and PRP platelets, with the highest growth factor concentration in PL. The temperature storage group exhibited higher concentrations of total protein and serum albumin, as well as the maximum amount of growth factor for both products at a temperature of 37 °C.

Drug addiction remains a major health concern following its devastating consequences to the users and the economy. Current statistics show a rising trend in substance abuse around the globe with approximately 284 million people engaging in drug abuse. Various approaches are used to treat the victims of drug abuse. Cognitive behavior therapy, a form of nonpharmacological intervention, has also been shown to be an effective treatment option for drug addiction. The use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has grown since the 1970s to become one of the most important models of psychotherapy in this decade. Various empirical studies have shown the efficacy of CBT in well-controlled trials. A total of 19 randomized trials (cases) (with over 1400 patients treated) were selected and studied. In the various cases, results showed that patients were treated for drug and substance abuse disorders with the majority being those who abused cannabis, cocaine, alcohol and other opioids. In most cases, the CBT techniques that were used for drug addiction included cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention and contingency management. Components of CBT for drug addiction include skills and training, amplification of non-substance-related activities, approaches for managing urges, drug rejection and improvement of social aptitudes. Cognitive restructuring focuses on the identification of misconceptions and influencing the way people think about themselves by eliminating distorted thinking. Relapse prevention focuses on the identification and prevention of high-risk situations that may trigger the patient to engage in drug abuse. Contingency management reinforces positive behaviors and reduces negative behaviors through the use of rewards and incentives.

In 2005 we reported for the first time on a chemical route aiming to synthesize stable magnetic carbon/graphite. By using the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique we have verified that its magnetism is an intrinsic property of this synthesized material and not originated from ferromagnetic impurities of any kind. Through direct measurement of the local magnetic field using Carbon-13, we have concluded that its magnetism originated from defects in the structure. From its biocompatibility, we have been working on the use of magnetic carbon/graphite to deliver many compounds aiming to fight different diseases. Despite all the scientific and technological advances of the present day, cancer is a multifactorial and difficult-to-treat disease, killing hundreds of thousands of people a year worldwide. Therefore, the development of a new and efficient drug delivery system to fight cancer – among other diseases - is as important as the discovery of a novel active molecule. In this review of our own work, we show the drug delivery system named MAGUS® (an acronym for Magnetic Graphite Universal System) we have built based on nanostructured magnetic carbon/graphite. This is an innovative and promising system composed of a biocompatible nanostructured particle of magnetic carbon/graphite functionalized with different molecules and materials. MAGUS®, depending on what we link to its structure, is so versatile and can be used to detect a wide range of specimens, from tumors and cancers to chemical and biological agents used as non-conventional weapons. That is why we call it universal. In the present work, MAGUS® will be acting as a biosensor, where the magnetic carbon/graphite is functionalized with radioactive particles of Iodine-131 and antibodies of different types of cancer. Then, by focusing on both the antigen-antibody interaction and the spatial guiding through an external magnetic field we are providing our drug delivery system a double way to detect and reach just the target. Based on these strategies, the functionalized magnetic carbon/graphite will reach only the neoplasm and not the surrounding healthy cells around. In a general view, it means that we are giving specificity to the MAGUS® drug delivery system as a pioneering and effective way to detect and treat cancers. We are also working on this unprecedented and efficient drug delivery system using the principles of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) with Boron-10 instead of Iodine-131. BNCT technique uses neutrons as the external source and is frequently employed to treat specific tumors that are radio resistant or very difficult to kill using conventional radiation therapy. In summary, we show here for the first time that our Magnetic Graphite Universal System associated with nuclear techniques can be successfully used as a biosensor to detect and fight cancers and tumors with powerful features that conventional delivery drug systems and other treatments do not have at all.