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Starting Dose Calculation for Medicinal Plants in Animal Studies; Recommendation of a Simple and Reliable Method
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International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)Background and purpose: Research studies indicate that almost 80% of the present day drugs are derived directly or indirectly from medicinal plants. The estimation of a safe starting dose is a concern when a new substance is to be investigated including medicinal plants, in clinical and laboratory studies. This study was intended to explore a simple and reliable method of calculating the starting dose for animal studies. Actually, the method helps to calculate the accurate animal dose based on Persian medicine. Methods: After the botanical names were identified, the dosages of the plants recommended in Persian medicine (PM) were converted to gram unit. Then the body surface area normalization method (BSA) was used for an allometric dose translation. Results: Ninety eight plants were identified and their effective parts and dosages were determined based on Persian medicine. Conclusions: Dosing calculations for drugs could be performed based both on BSA method and experiences of ancient Persian scholars.Funding for this study was provided by the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Community health worker programs to improve healthcare access and equity: are they only relevant to low- and middle-income countries?
Get PDFPublished by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) are proven to be highly effective in low- and middle-income countries with many examples of successful large-scale programs. There is growing interest in deploying CHW programs in high-income countries to address inequity in healthcare access and outcomes amongst population groups facing disadvantage. This study is the first that examines the scope and potential value of CHW programs in Australia and the challenges involved in integrating CHWs into the health system. The potential for CHWs to improve health equity is explored.
Methods: Academic and grey literature was searched to examine existing CHW roles in the Australian primary healthcare system. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 11 people including policy-makers, program managers and practitioners, to develop an understanding of policy and practice.
Results: Literature on CHWs in Australia is sparse, yet combined with interview data indicates CHWs conduct a broad range of roles, including education, advocacy and basic clinical services, and work with a variety of communities experiencing disadvantage. Many, and to some extent inconsistent, terms are used for CHWs, reflecting the various strategies employed by CHWs, the characteristics of the communities they serve, and the health issues they address. The role of aboriginal health workers (AHWs) is comparatively well recognised, understood and documented in Australia with evidence on their contribution to overcoming cultural barriers and improving access to health services. Ethnic health workers assist with language barriers and increase the cultural appropriateness of services. CHWs are widely seen to be well accepted and valuable, facilitating access to health services as a trusted ‘bridge’ to communities. They work best where ‘health’ is conceived to include action on social determinants and service models are less hierarchical. Short term funding models and the lack of professional qualifications and recognition are challenges CHWs encounter.
Conclusion: CHWs serve a range of functions in various contexts in Australian primary healthcare (PHC) with a common, valued purpose of facilitating access to services and information for marginalised communities. CHWs offer a promising opportunity to enhance equity of access to PHC for communities facing disadvantage, especially in the face of rising chronic disease.The Australian scoping study was funded by the Flinders
University Seeding Grant
Measuring the Density of States of the Inner and Outer Wall of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
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article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The combination of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and metastable helium induced
electron spectroscopy is used to determine the density of states of the inner and outer coaxial carbon
nanotubes. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy typically measures the density of states across the
entire carbon nanotube, while metastable helium induced electron spectroscopy measures the density
of states of the outermost layer alone. The use of double-walled carbon nanotubes in electronic
devices allows for the outer wall to be functionalised whilst the inner wall remains defect free and
the density of states is kept intact for electron transport. Separating the information of the inner and
outer walls enables development of double-walled carbon nanotubes to be independent, such that
the charge transport of the inner wall is maintained and confirmed whilst the outer wall is modified
for functional purposes.This research received no external funding
Wave-created mud suspensions: a theoretical study
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article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).We studied wave-created high-density mud suspensions (fluid mud) using a
one-dimensional water column (1DV) model that includes k-" turbulence closure at a high
vertical resolution with a vertical grid spacing of 1 mm. The k-" turbulence model includes
two sediment-related dissipation terms associated with vertical density stratification and viscous
drag of flows around sediment particles. To this end, the calibrated model reproduces the key
characteristics (maximum concentration and thickness) of fluid mud layers created in laboratory
experiments over a large range of wave velocities from 10 to 55 cm/s. The findings demonstrate
that the equilibrium near-bed mud concentration, Cb, is solely determined from the balance between
erosion and deposition fluxes, whereas the thickness of the fluid mud layer is mainly controlled by
sediment-induced density stratification, which dissipates turbulence and hence eliminates turbulent
sediment diffusivity at the top of the fluid mud layer, the lutocline. Our model stands in contrast to
those that suggest that upward sediment diffusion is close to zero at the interface between the fluid
mud layer and the overlying fluid. Instead, our model suggests that the upward diffusive flux of
fluid mud flows peak at the lutocline and is compensated for enhanced settling fluxes just above it.
Our model findings also support the existence of the gelling-ignition process, which is critical for the
development of fluid mud beds in modern sedimentary environments.Paul M. Myrow was supported by a grant (NSF EAR–1225879) from the National Science
Foundation
Biological and Psychosocial Processes in the Development of Children’s Appetitive Traits: Insights from Developmental Theory and Research
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article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).There has been increasing concern expressed about children’s food intakes and dietary
patterns. These are closely linked to children’s appetitive traits (such as disinhibited eating and
food fussiness/neophobia). Research has examined both biological and psychosocial correlates or
predictors of these traits. There has been less focus on possible processes or mechanisms associated
with children’s development of these traits and research that links biological and psychosocial factors.
There is an absence of research that links biological and psychosocial factors. In the present article,
we outline a model intended to facilitate theory and research on the development of appetitive
traits. It is based on scholarship from developmental theory and research and incorporates biological
factors such as genetic predispositions and temperament as well as psychosocial factors in terms of
parent cognitions, feeding styles and feeding practices. Particular attention is directed to aspects
such as emotional eating and feeding, self-regulation of energy intake, and non-shared family
environments. We highlight the opportunity for longitudinal research that examines bidirectional,
transactional and cascade processes and uses a developmental framework. The model provides a
basis for connecting the biological foundations of appetitive traits to system-level analysis in the
family. Knowledge generated through the application of the model should lead to more effective
prevention and intervention initiatives
The development of a screening tool to recognise social determinants of health in Australian clinical settings Questionnaire
No full textThis questionnaire is to accompany the published paper:
The development of a screening tool to recognise social determinants of health in Australian clinical settings (not yet published Sept 2018).
which has been published in final form at
https://doi.org/
This questionnaire:
https://doi.org/10.25957/5ba9793a8fcb5
© Flinders University.
This questionnaire is made available under the Creative Commons (CC-BY) 4.0 License:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Real-life treatment of rhinitis in Australia: a historical cohort study of prescription and overthe- counter therapies for patients with and without additional respiratory disease
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php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work
you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For
permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).Background: The aim of the study was to explore rhinitis therapy purchases in different Australian regions for patients with and without additional respiratory disease, using both doctor’s prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
Patients and methods: It was a historical cohort study of pharmacy-related claims that included prescription or OTC rhinitis therapy, with or without asthma/COPD therapy, from January 2013 to December 2014.
Results: Overall, 4,247,193 prescription and OTC rhinitis treatments were purchased from 909 pharmacies over a calendar year; the majority were single-therapy purchases for rhinitis only patients. More multiple-therapy was purchased for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (4.4%) than for rhinitis only patients (4.0%), with a greater proportion purchased in VIC, SA and TAS (4.7% of rhinitis only patients and 4.5% of rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients) than in other areas. Dual therapy of oral antihistamine (OAH) and intranasal corticosteroid (INS) were the most frequently purchased multiple-therapy, with higher purchasing rates for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (2.6%) than for rhinitis only patients (1.6%). The most frequently purchased single therapy was OAH (70.1% of rhinitis only patients and 57.3% of rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients). First-line INS therapy was more likely to be purchased for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (15.3% by prescription and 11.7% OTC) than for rhinitis only patients (5.0% by prescription and 9.2% OTC); however, geographical differences in the proportion of therapies purchased OTC were noted, with a lower proportion of OTC OAH and INS purchases in Queensland and the Northern Territory for patients with and without comorbid respiratory disease.
Conclusion: Purchases of first-line INS therapy are more likely for patients with comorbid respiratory disease if they have received prescriptions and information/advice from their general practitioner. The study results indicate a need for patient information/education at the point-of-sale of OTC OAHs to enable patients to assess their nasal symptoms and receive treatment support from pharmacists. Greater availability to INSs in pharmacies as well as guidance from current guidelines and instruction in correct intranasal technique may also lead to greater uptake of INSs.This study was
part funded by Meda, Australia
A mid-Cretaceous embryonic-to-neonate snake in amber from Myanmar
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under a Creative
Commons Attribution
NonCommercial
License 4.0 (CC BY-NC), (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.We present the first known fossilized snake embryo/neonate preserved in early Late Cretaceous (Early Cenomanian) amber from Myanmar, which at the time, was an island arc including terranes from Austral Gondwana. This unique and very tiny snake fossil is an articulated postcranial skeleton, which includes posterior precloacal, cloacal, and caudal vertebrae, and details of squamation and body shape; a second specimen preserves a fragment of shed skin interpreted as a snake. Important details of skeletal ontogeny, including the stage at which snake zygosphene-zygantral joints began to form along with the neural arch lamina, are preserved. The vertebrae show similarities to those of fossil Gondwanan snakes, suggesting a dispersal route of Gondwanan faunas to Laurasia. Finally, the new species is the first Mesozoic snake to be found in a forested environment, indicating greater ecological diversity among early snakes than previously thought.The authors thank the National Science Fund of China (41790455, 41772008, and
31672345), National Geographic Society, United States (EC0768-15), Fundamental Research
Funds for the Central Universities (2652017215), Chinese Academy of Science (YZ201211),
Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) for the beam time, 13W of SSRF for the analytical
assistance, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (DG #23458), and
the Australian Research Council (DP #160103005)
Network analysis of inflammatory responses to sepsis by neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells
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access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original
author and source are credited.Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome causing thousands of deaths yearly worldwide. Sepsis
is a result of infection and could lead to systemic inflammatory responses and organ failures.
Additionally, blood cells, as the main cells in the immune systems, could be also affected
by sepsis. Here, we have used different network analysis approaches, including Weighted
Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI), and
gene regulatory network, to dissect system-level response to sepsis by the main white blood
cells. Gene expression profiles of Neutrophils (NTs), Dendritic Cells (DCs), and Peripheral
Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) that were exposed to septic plasma were obtained and
analyzed using bioinformatics approaches. Individual gene expression matrices and the list
of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were prepared and used to construct several networks.
Consequently, key regulatory modules and hub genes were detected through network
analysis and annotated through ontology analysis extracted from DAVID database.
Our results showed that septic plasma affected the regulatory networks in NTs, PBMCs
more than the network in DCs. Gene ontology of DEGs revealed that signal transduction
and immune cells responses are the most important biological processes affected by sepsis.
On the other hand, network analysis detected modules and hub genes in each cell types. It
was found that pathways involved in immune cells, signal transduction, and apoptotic processes
are among the most affected pathways in the responses to sepsis. Altogether, we
have found several hub genes including ADORA3, CD83 CDKN1A, FFAR2, GNAQ, IL1B,
LTB, MAPK14, SAMD9L, SOCS1, and STAT1, which might specifically respond to sepsis
infection. In conclusion, our results uncovered the system-level responses of the main white
blood cells to sepsis and identified several hub genes with potential applications for therapeutic
and diagnostic purposes.The authors received no specific funding
for this work
Immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 pathway is down-regulated in synovium at various stages of rheumatoid arthritis disease progression
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access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original
author and source are credited.Immune checkpoint blockade with therapeutic anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4 (Ipilimumab) and anti-programmed death (PD)-1 (Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab) antibodies alone or in combination has shown remarkable efficacy in multiple cancer types, concomitant with immune-related adverse events, including arthralgia and inflammatory arthritis (IA) in some patients. Herein, using Nivolumab (anti-PD-1 antagonist)-responsive genes along with transcriptomics of synovial tissue from multiple stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease progression, we have interrogated the activity status of PD-1 pathway during RA development. We demonstrate that the expression of PD-1 was increased in early and established RA synovial tissue compared to normal and OA synovium, whereas that of its ligands, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2, was increased at all the stages of RA disease progression, namely arthralgia, IA/undifferentiated arthritis, early RA and established RA. Further, we show that RA patients expressed PD-1 on a majority of synovial tissue infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Moreover, enrichment of Nivolumab gene signature was observed in IA and RA, indicating that the PD-1 pathway was downregulated during RA disease progression. Furthermore, serum soluble (s) PD-1 levels were increased in autoantibody positive early RA patients. Interestingly, most of the early RA synovium tissue sections showed negative PD-L1 staining by immunohistochemistry. Therefore, downregulation in PD-1 inhibitory signaling in RA could be attributed to increased serum sPD-1 and decreased synovial tissue PD-L1 levels. Taken together, these data suggest that agonistic PD1 antibody-based therapeutics may show efficacy in RA treatment and interception.This study was supported by funding
from Johnson & Johnson. The funder provided
support in the form of funding for data generation
and salaries for authors [YG, AMW, SC, XY, BS,
ML, JRF, IA, LM, SN], but did not have any
additional role in the study design, decision to
publish, or preparation of the manuscript