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Background: Monotherapy for liver dysfunction in diabetes is less effective. This study investigated the effect of combined linagliptin and metformin therapy on liver function in diabetic rats. Methods and materials: Sixty-four mature male (200-300 g) Wistar rats were used. Streptozotocin (35 mg/kgb.wt) was repeatedly injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. The rats were grouped into eight groups (n = 8). Group I: control; Group II: control + 10 mg/kgb.wt linagliptin; Group III: control + 200 mg/kgb.wt metformin; Group IV; control + 10 mg/kgb.wt linagliptin + 200 mg/kgb.wt metformin; Group V: diabetic; Group VI: diabetic + 10 mg/kgb.wt linagliptin; Group VII: diabetic + 200 mg/kgb.wt metformin; Group VIII: diabetic + 10 mg/kgb.wt linagliptin + 200 mg/kgb.wt metformin. The animals were sacrificed on the last day of the experiment, blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical assay. Results: Insulin, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), liver function biomarkers, liver glucose metabolic enzymes, malondialdehyde and inflammatory markers increased (p < 0.05) significantly. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), liver antioxidant, glycogen, and glycogen synthase were reduced significantly in diabetic rats. Linagliptin and metformin administration single and combined reduced the insulin, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, liver function biomarkers, liver glucose metabolic enzymes, malondialdehyde, and inflammatory markers, and increased the HDL-cholesterol, liver antioxidant, glycogen and glycogen synthase in diabetic rats.Conclusion: Linagliptin monotherapy alone efficiently controls hyperglycemia and remarkably improves liver functions. Combining linagliptin and metformin could be used as safe and effective therapy for liver dysfunction progression in diabetes.

The vast majority of urological complications occur at the ureterovesical junction and usually occur early after transplantation. The aim of this study is to enhance the quality of medical care provided to patients who undergo kidney transplantation. Cystography was conducted on renal transplant recipients utilizing computed tomography. The utilization of changes in the patient’s position and reconstructed images of the bladder can serve as a diagnostic tool to assess the normal functioning of the urinary tract system subsequent to kidney transplantation. To ensure adequate filling of the bladder and ureter, it is necessary to introduce varying amounts of contrast medium through the urinary catheter into these structures. This diagnostic procedure aims to verify the existence of stenosis or leakage occurring at the vesicoureteral junction. The evaluation and diagnosis of urinary tract problems subsequent to kidney transplantation can be effectively conducted. Furthermore, it has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects and alleviate the strain on the renal system resulting from the administration of contrast agents in computed tomography urography. CT-guided cystography can enhance the medical quality and comfort of Kidney transplantation patients.

Introduction: High proportion of stroke survivors have impaired functional mobility and decrease in overall quality of life (QoL). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (non-invasive brain stimulation) and over-ground walking task (OGWT) (functional task-oriented training) have been suggested to improve functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Hence, this study determined the efficacy of tDCS (anodal and cathodal) with OGWT on functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Materials and methods: Seventy eight (78) stroke survivors were randomised into three groups: anodal group (anodal tDCS with OGWT); cathodal group (cathodal tDCS with OGWT) and control group (OGWT only). Participants had two sessions of intervention per week for six weeks. Functional mobility was assessed using 10 meter walk test (10MWT) measuring steps, time and velocity while QoL was measured using Stroke Specific QoL (SSQoL) scale. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Participants (46 males) were aged 56.78 ± 10.24 years. The groups were matched for functional mobility and QoL at baseline and only work/productivity domain of SSQoL showed statistically significant difference (p = 0.028). Each group showed statistically significant improvement between baseline and post-intervention scores of items in functional mobility (p ≤ 0.001) and total SSQoL (p ≤ 0.001). Anodal group showed better statistically significant improvement in step (p = 0.008), time (p = 0.024), velocity (p = 0.001) and total SSQoL (p = 0.016) among the groups when the mean differences were compared. Conclusion: tDCS with OGWT is efficacious in improving functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Specifically anodal tDCS with OGWT showed better clinical improvement in step, time, velocity and QoL in stroke survivors.

This case report presents in-vivo findings on the spatial and temporal relationship between focal Ab-amyloid deposition, cerebral micro-haemorrhages and superficial siderosis. A 65-year-old woman underwent 11C-PiB PET scans that revealed an atypical focal and asymmetrical pattern of Ab-amyloid deposition and MRI scans that revealed cerebral micro-haemorrhages and superficial siderosis. Almost all micro-haemorrhages were associated with focal Ab-amyloid deposition. Follow-up 11C-PiB PET and MRI scans showed progression of the disease. We speculate that Abamyloid deposition affects the structural integrity of arterioles, thereby predisposing them to micro haemorrhages. In support of this hypothesis, progression of MRI lesions was observed only in areas associated with Ab-amyloid deposition.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes cervical cancer (CC), a common malignancy among Kenyan women. New CC screening methods rely on oncogenic HPV (“high-risk”, or HR-HPV) detection, but most have not been evaluated in swabs from Kenyan women. Methods: HPV typing was performed on 155 cervical swabs from Kenyan women using the Roche Linear Array® (LA) and careHPV™ (careHPV) assays. Detection of 14 oncogenic HPV types in careHPV assay was compared to LA results. Results: Compared to LA, sensitivity and specificity of careHPV assay was 53.0% and 80.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of careHPV in swabs from women with cervical dysplasia was 74.1% and 65.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of careHPV in swabs from HIV-infected women was 55.9% and of 96.4%, respectively. Overall agreements of careHPV assay with LA was substantial. Conclusion: The results for careHPV assay are promising for oncogenic HPV detection in Kenyan women. The low sensitivity of careHPV for detection of HR-HPV could limit it’s benefit as a screening tool. Thus, a full clinical validation study is highly desirable before the careHPV assay can be accepted for cervical cancer screening.

Ephedra, an ancient herb, is applied to treat common cold and influenza for such a long time in China. Pseudoephedrine is a main active ingredient from Ephedra which is used for relieving nasal congestion clinically. We previously reported that pseudoephedrine showed a potent anti-inflammatory effect other than sympathomimetic effects. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether pseudoephedrine could protect mice from the H1N1 virus infection. The mice were infected with a 20% LD50 influenza A virus (IAV) suspension via intranasal administration to establish a virus infection model. Further, the mice were orally administered pseudoephedrine or oseltamivir for 4 days from one day after infection. Our results showed that pseudoephedrine improved lung pathological damage during the IVA infection period, and it dramatically increased the survival rate and attenuated loss of body weight compared with the virus-infected control group. In addition, pseudoephedrine inhibited the cytokine storms and mRNAs expression of the TLR7 signaling pathway. Surprisingly, pseudoephedrine showed an inhibitory effect on the replication of IAV. These results give clear evidence that pseudoephedrine is a potential anti-influenza drug by blunting cytokine storms and inhibition of replication of IAV, and following these results, we speculate that it should be tested in the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19, a severe epidemic in China currently) in which the cytokine storms play a key role to damage bronchi and lung in the early stage.

In the evolutionary journey of humanity, it is possible to verify an analysis of pandemics with high occurrences. This study aims to conduct a critical analysis of the role of Vitamin D as an endogenous vaccine in the main viruses present in humanity over the decades. To construct this text, we used the short review methodology through a critical analysis. This study demonstrated the importance of using Vitamin D as an endogenous vaccine when used frequently in both healthcare professionals and patients. Therefore, it is concluded that Vitamin acts protectively in the innate immune system.

Among all the countries, Yemen is free of corona virus, and no single case has been recorded till today. Yemen is characterized by its mother geographical location on the Red Sea and its population is approximately 30 million people and an area of ​​555,000 square kilometers.

Background: Spirituality has been strongly associated with good blood pressure control as it forms a strong coping mechanism in hypertensive patients. This hospital-based cross-sectional study was done to determine the relationship between spirituality and blood pressure control among adult hypertensive patients in rural Southwestern Nigeria to achieve good blood pressure control.Method: The selection was done by systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic and clinical information were obtained through semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. The level of spirituality was assessed using the Spiritual Perspective Scale. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 61.1 ± 11.1 years. More than half (52.6%) had a high level of spirituality and more than two-thirds (67.1%) of respondents had controlled blood pressure. Respondents with a high level of spirituality were 4.76 times more likely to have good blood pressure control {p < 0.001, 95% CI (1.05-14.99)} than those with a low level of spirituality. Conclusion: Proper understanding and effective utilization of this relationship will assist health professionals and researchers in the appropriate integration of this concept into patients’ holistic care with the aim of achieving better blood pressure control among hypertensive patients.