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Objectives: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence, attitudes and behaviours of medication storage and self-medication amongst female students at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and cluster random sampling technique was used for respondent selection. A pre-piloted questionnaire was administered to female respondents so as to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12 and analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis procedures. Results: Of the 481 participants (mean age; SD was 22.1; 3.3), 93.1% (n=448) students stated that they stored medicine in their rooms, while 70.7% (n=340) stated that they stopped taking a prescribed medicine without consulting a doctor. The prevalence of self-medication was 80.9% (n=389). The most common reasons for self-medication were related to their knowledge of their ailment and its treatment (58.0%), 14.4% thought it saved time and 8.5% mentioned that medication given by provider was not effective. The most common symptoms were otorhinolaryngology problems (22.5%), followed by respiratory disease (19.6%), Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) disease (18.1%) and headache/fever (16.8%). Commonly used medicines were analgesics & antipyretics (30.2%), ear, nose & throat drugs (10.8%), vitamins & minerals (10.8%), GIT drugs (8.5%), anti-infections (7.3%) and herbal medicines (3.5%). Prevalence of medicine storage and self-medication practice is high among educated female students in USM. Conclusions: There is a need to educate the students to ensure safe practice by increasing their awareness. Strict policies need to be implemented on the unrestricted availability of medicines so as to prevent the wastage of medicines.

This study described the subcapsular technique for primary closure castration in donkeys with special regard to its efficiency and welfare impacts. The study was conducted on twelve adult male donkeys, allocated randomly into two groups; subcapsular castration (SC) and open castration (OC) groups, whether the donkeys were subjected to surgical castration either by subcapsular or open castration techniques, respectively. Testosterone, cortisol, lactate, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured before and after castration. Pain-associated behavioral activities were recorded post-castration. The SC was successfully performed in donkeys through a single paramedian scrotal incision. The SC was efficient as OC in reducing testosterone levels. The pain score decreased in the SC compared to the OC over time. The SC was an efficient and reliable technique for primary closure castration in donkeys with minimal postoperative complications and care and good cosmetic, physiological, and behavioral outcomes. It can be an alternative to other castration techniques in equines.

Weight loss, weakness, coughing, nasal discharge, and neurological problems result from Parascaris equorum infection. However, severe infestations can cause intestinal impaction, colic, unthriftiness, peritonitis, and small intestine rupture, resulting in death. Parasite resistance to conventional drugs is mainly caused by decreased drug absorption and increased metabolism. Nanoparticle-based drugs can be viable alternatives. The study studied the pharmacological effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles( ZnO NPs) on P. equorum , infected rats’ lungs and spleens. Thirty-six male rats were separated into two groups of 18 rats each: infected and uninfected. The two groups were divided into three subgroups that received orally distilled water, 30 mg/kg ZnO NPs, or 60 mg/kg for 10 days. Depending on dosage, ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) drastically reduced larvae in the lung and spleen. ZnO nanoparticles reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and improved the antioxidant system in sick rats’ spleens and lungs. The infected lung and spleen showed fewer histological changes after ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) therapy. Compared to rats infected but untreated, ZnO NPs at 30 and 60 mg/kg reduced nuclear factor-kappa B levels in immunohistochemistry. ZnO NPs do not harm animal cells and are harmless to non-infected rats. They can treat P. equorum infection due to their anthelmintic, antioxidant, healing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The usage of nanocomposites in water treatment has risen, resulting in their leaking into the soil, which is a major environmental concern. Earthworm ( Allolobophora caliginosa ) is used as a bioindicator that can accumulate most pollutants, even if they are present in low concentrations. The present study aimed to use earthworms as biological indicator for chitosan–saponin–bentonite nanocomposite (CSB NCs) in the soil. Earthworms were exposed to CSB NCs (0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 mg/500 g soil) for 7 consecutive days. CSB NCs induced significant damage and instability of the lysosomal membranes in coelomocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The exposure to CSB NCs resulted in a notable change in earthworm biochemical levels. Light microscopy revealed histological damage in the body wall and intestine of earthworm exposed to CSB NC. In addition, scanning electron microscopy showed morphological alterations in the anterior, dorsal, and ventral parts of the earthworm as well as in the anal region because of exposure to CSB NC. The present study demonstrated that earthworms exposed to CSB NCs had a depletion in antioxidants and presented histological alterations especially in high doses of nanocomposite. Also, treated earthworms showed substantial alterations in the surface topography. Exposure to CSB NC caused physiological and histological alteration in earthworms. This study emphasizes the urgent need to evaluate the environmental safety of nanocomposites used in water treatment.

The synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing green techniques is becoming increasingly important due to its low cost, biocompatibility, high productivity, and eco-friendliness. Herein, the current work focused on the biosynthesis, characterization, and biological applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from Anabasis articulata, including antioxidant anticancer and larvicidal properties, as well as modifications to the phytochemical ingredients. Hence, the tannin, phenolic, and flavonoid concentrations of the produced nanoparticle samples were lower than those of the original aqueous extract. When compared to the results of ascorbic acid (12.78 mg/mL), the produced extract of A. articulata and its zinc nanoparticles showed remarkable efficacy as antioxidant agents with IC50 values of 27.48 and 69.53 mg/mL, respectively. A normal lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38) and three tumor cells were used to test the compounds’ anticancer properties. With an IC50 of 21.19 µg/mL, the ZnO-NPs of A. articulata showed the greatest cytotoxicity against HePG-2 cell lines. Additionally, A. articulata zinc nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and PC3 tumor cell lines, with IC50 values of 30.91 and 49.32 µg/mL. The biogenic ZnO-NPs had LC50 and LC90 values of 13.64 and 26.23 mg/L, respectively, and are very effective against Aedes aegypti larval instar (III). Additionally, the percentages of larval mortality increased from 28.61% at 5 ppm to 84.69% at 25 ppm after 24 h post-treatment. The overall results of this study point to the potential of A. articulata as a substitute biological agent for potential therapeutic/leutic uses in the medical domains and for preventing the proliferation of malarial vector insects.

Sepsis is an inevitable stage of bacterial invasion characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response resulting in a syndrome of multiorgan dysfunction. Most conventional antibiotics used to treat sepsis are efficacious, but they have undesirable side effects. The green synthesised Ag NPs were synthesized by 5 g of the earthworm extract dissolved in a volume of 500mL of distilled water and then added to 2,500 mL aqueous solution of 1mM silver nitrate at 40 °C. After 4 h, the mixture was then allowed to dry overnight at 60 °C. Later, Ag NPs were washed and collected. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Sepsis model as induced by feces-intraperitoneal injection method. Eighteen male mice were assigned into three main groups: the control group, the sepsis-model group, and the Ag NPs-treated group. The control group received a single oral dose of distilled water and, after two days, intraperitoneally injected with 30% glycerol in phosphate buffer saline. The Sepsis-model group received a single oral dose of distilled water. Ag NPs - The treated group received a single oral dose of 5.5 mg/kg of Ag NPs. After two days, the sepsis-model group and Ag NPs-treated group were intraperitoneally injected with 200 µL of faecal slurry. Ag NPs treatment in septic mice significantly decreased liver enzyme activities, total protein, and serum albumin. Moreover, Ag NPs significantly enhanced kidney function, as indicated by a significant decrease in the levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid. In addition, Ag NPs showed a powerful antioxidant effect via the considerable reduction of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels and the increase in antioxidant content. The histopathological investigation showed clear improvement in hepatic and kidney architecture. Our findings demonstrate the protective efficacy of biogenic Ag NPs against sepsis-induced liver and kidney damage.

Ranitidine is widely used to treat gastrointestinal conditions, but recent studies have revealed severe potential side effects, including a link to cancer. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new gastro-retentive formulation of ranitidine by utilizing the biocompatibility and biodegradability of Chitosan, along with the strength and hydrophilicity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). A chitosan/PVA/ranitidine hydrogel was created using the freeze-thaw method and evaluated for stability, ranitidine release behavior, and efficacy in treating ulcers in rats compared to a commercial formulation. The hydrogel demonstrates an average particle size of 69 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.344, and a zeta potential of + 38 mV. Transmission Electron Microscopy confirmed the spherical shape of the formulation, while X-ray diffraction verified its crystalline structure. Additionally, the study observed an impressive encapsulation efficiency of 98.66% ± 1.01 and a high drug content of 49.82% ± 1.29, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. The prepared hydrogel controls the release of ranitidine over 12 h, with an average release of 87.98% ± 4.01%. The hydrogel exhibits minimal degradation over 15 days, greater thermal stability than ranitidine, and adequate stability in acidic gastric conditions. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the hydrogel is biocompatible and promotes cell growth. The study discovered that the hydrogel formulation enhances the effects of ranitidine, particularly its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In vivo studies illustrated the hydrogel’s promising ulcer-healing properties, suggesting potential use in treating peptic ulcers. Hence, the chitosan/PVA hydrogel can be used as a possible drug delivery system for the sustained release of ranitidine.

Main conclusions Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle is a promising treatment modality against parasitic infection through its powerful anthelmintic, antioxidant, healing promotion, and anti-inflammation effects. Background Nanoparticles have many properties, depending on their size, shape, and morphology, allowing them to interact with microorganisms, plants, and animals. Objectives Investigation of the therapeutic effects of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Parascaris equorum infection in rats. Methods Thirty-six rats were divided into two divisions: the first division is noninfected groups were allocated into three groups. Group 1: Control, group 2: ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and group 3: ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg). The second division is infected groups were allocated into three groups. Group 1: vehicle, group 2: ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and group 3: ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg). Findings Ten days post-infection, two larvae per gram of liver tissue were present in the vehicle group compared to the control group. No larvae were recovered from ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and one larva/g.tissue from ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg)-treated groups compared to untreated infected animals. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs caused a significant decrease in liver functions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO). While it caused a significant increase in hemoglobin (HB), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in infected treated rats. The histological inflammation and fibroplasia scores showed a significant enhancement during the treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) compared to the infected untreated animals that scored the highest pathological destruction score. Immunohistochemical markers of NF-κB showed a significant decrease during the treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) compared to the infected untreated animals.

Background Carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is on the rise globally, triggering a significant health threat and a substantial concern for infection control management. We aimed to detect and characterize carbapenemases producing Enterobacterales (CPE) clinical isolates over a period of nearly one-year duration in Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, a tertiary care hospital in Egypt through molecular and phenotypic methods using carbapenemase detection combination inhibitor disk set (Enterobacterales) MASTDISCS ID (MDI) (MAST, UK), with the addition of temocillin disk. Results CRE represented 6.5% of Enterobacterales. Healthcare-associated infections were frequently high representing 87% of the CRE isolated from hospitalized patients. Most of the CRE isolates were Klebsiella pneumonia (68%) followed by Escherichia coli (22%), Enterobacter cloacae (4%), Serratia marcescens (4%) and Citrobacter freundii (2%). Phenotypic detection revealed metallo-β lactamases in 84% of isolates, followed by oxacillinase-48 {(OXA-48) 6%} and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase in 2% of the isolates. The most prevalent gene detected by conventional PCR was bla NDM (84%) followed by bla OXA-48 (6%) and bla KPC (2%). Excellent agreement was found between PCR and MDI for detection of carbapenemase production. Conclusions NDM carbapenemase is prevalent in our hospital. Carbapenemase detection combination inhibitor disk set (Enterobacterales) MASTDISCS ID is a useful tool for rapid and precise confirmation of the detection of CPE.