Hasil untuk "Pharmacy and materia medica"

Christian J. Wiedermann, Katia Sangermano, Pasqualina Marino et al.

This study investigated regional variations in the use of sedative psychotropic medications, often prescribed for insomnia, by comparing Italy and the culturally distinct Autonomous Province of Bolzano, South Tyrol. Using daily defined dose (DDD) data per 1000 inhabitants per day, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, sedative antidepressants, and melatonin consumption from 2019 to 2023 were examined. The findings indicate a notably lower utilization of benzodiazepines in South Tyrol compared to the national Italian average, alongside a significant increase in sedative antidepressant use, particularly mirtazapine. These disparities likely stem from regional prescribing preferences influenced by cultural, linguistic, and healthcare system factors. While Z-drug consumption remained comparable across regions, melatonin use exhibited a gradual upward trend, albeit less pronounced in South Tyrol. These insights emphasize the necessity for region-specific strategies in optimizing insomnia treatment, balancing pharmacological approaches with non-pharmacological alternatives such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Understanding these prescribing trends can inform healthcare policies aimed at reducing long-term sedative use while enhancing patient-centered care in sleep medicine.

Damini D. Salunke, Ashwini A. Aher, Sunil N. Thitame

One of which is several endocrine abnormalities, which are associated with obesity due to changing the hypothalamic—pituitary hormone axis and include growth hormone insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and Cushing disease and hypogonadism. Apart from storing energy, adipose tissue is involved in numerous other critical functions that can be catalyzed by adipocytes secretion of hormones (i.e., adiponectin) and chemicals (i.e., leptin). In addition, polycystic ovarian syndrome is due to the hyperinsulinemia and contributes to Obesity, as hyperinsulinemia is the main cause of obesity, and the function of adipose tissue in hypothalamic pituitary endocrine axis. Diabetes, especially T2D can be consider as insulin resistance, compromised glucose homeostasis and beta cell dysfunction. New discoveries showing that inflammation, gut microbiota, and adipose tissue are involved in the formation of the insulin resistance (multifactorial character of insulin resistance) have been made. Furthermore, advances in the pharmaceutical therapies have shown promising results in terms of the management of obesity with bariatric surgery, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 receptor agonists in the enhancement of glycemic control. A possible approach towards more successful interventions is provided by the integration of personalized medicine, which targets certain biological pathways and genetic variants. The current developments in the molecular causes of obesity and diabetes, as well as the changing treatment landscape, are highlighted in this review. These developments eventually open the door to better patient outcomes and the possibility of more customized therapeutic approaches.

Lisa Gherardini, Giovanni Inzalaco, Sara Gargiulo et al.

Cell-based drug delivery has emerged as a powerful strategy to improve therapeutic targeting while reducing systemic toxicity. This approach is particularly valuable for anticancer agents, which are often limited by severe side effects arising from off-target activity and non-specific distribution. By using cells as carriers, drugs can evade immune clearance, achieve prolonged circulation, and improve pharmacokinetic profiles, ultimately enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review surveys the current landscape of cell-mediated drug delivery in oncology, emphasizing both fundamental principles and practical applications. We discuss the design and preparation of cellular carriers, examine the unique characteristics of commonly used cell types, and highlight recent technological innovations that are expanding their theranostic potential, focusing on strategies for delivery to challenging anatomical sites, with a dedicated focus on the brain. By consolidating recent advances and insights, this review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the promise and future directions of cell-based drug delivery for cancer therapy.

Budipratiwi Wisudyaningsih, Kuni Zu'aimah Barikah, Ilfi Nur Kamelia

Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exhibits significant antioxidant properties, making it a promising candidate for photoprotective applications. Concurrently, zinc oxide is a well-established physical blocker of ultraviolet A (UV-A) radiation. This study aimed to optimize the synergistic combination of quercetin (as an anti-UV-B agent) and zinc oxide (as an anti-UV-A agent) within a sunscreen lipstick formulation to enhance broad-spectrum photoprotection. A factorial design, implemented using Design Expert 13.0 software, was employed for the optimization. The independent variables were the concentrations of quercetin and zinc oxide, while the dependent responses included pH, Sun Protection Factor (SPF), percentage of Erythema Transmission (%TE), and percentage of Pigmentation Transmission (%TP). Statistical analysis evaluated the individual and interactive effects of the components on these responses. Both quercetin and zinc oxide individually demonstrated a positive influence on increasing the pH and SPF values of the formulations, while concurrently reducing both %TE and %TP values. Notably, a significant synergistic interaction between quercetin and zinc oxide was observed, further influencing the SPF, %TE, and %TP values. The optimized formula, derived from the overlay contour plot generated by the factorial design, comprised 2.5% quercetin and 15% zinc oxide. This optimal combination yielded a pH of 5.027, an SPF of 22.713, a %TE of 0.012, and a %TP of 0.004. The optimized combination of quercetin and zinc oxide in a sunscreen lipstick formulation effectively provided desirable pH values and substantial in vitro sunscreen efficacy. These findings suggest that this novel formulation holds significant potential as a broad-spectrum photoprotective cosmetic product.

Juan Felipe Huan Lew-Yee, Ion Mitxelena, Jorge M. del Campo et al.

In this work, we present the second version of the Donostia Natural Orbital Functional Software, an open-source program for natural orbital functional calculations. The new release incorporates improved optimization algorithms, capabilities for excited-state computations, support for ab initio molecular dynamics, and integration with the libcint library. DoNOF 2.0 also extends its property toolbox by enabling the evaluation of nonlinear optical responses, including static polarizabilities and higher-order hyperpolarizabilities via a finite-field Romberg-Richardson scheme. Program Summary [Title: DoNOF; Developer's repository link: http://github.com/DoNOF/; Program's Manual link: https://donof.readthedocs.io/; Licensing provisions: GPLv3; Programming language: Fortran; additional implementations available in Python (PyNOF) and Julia (DoNOF.jl); Multinode capability: Support for distributed execution through a hybrid OpenMPI and OpenMP implementation]

Yu Hao

This paper examines how regulation can push an oligopoly from one pricing regime to another. It uses rich data from Chilean pharmacy chains to study a ban on comparative price advertising. Before the ban, ads created demand spillovers across products, making aggressive loss-leader pricing profitable. Once these spillovers were removed, selling below cost became unattractive for any firm, and prices quickly shifted to a coordinated, higher level. A structural demand model shows that the ban reduced both price elasticity and cross-product spillovers, and counterfactuals indicate that the loss of spillovers, rather than just lower elasticity, mainly explains the move to the new coordinated pricing regime. The results show how well intentioned regulation can unintentionally promote price coordination by weakening the mechanisms that support competitive outcomes.

Shilpa A Warhekar, Gaurao M Pimpale, Ashish M Warhekar et al.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a cohort of 500 patients diagnosed with precancerous lesions and conditions at a tertiary care hospital in Central India. Methods: 500 patients with confirmed precancerous oral lesions and conditions were recruited for the study. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire, a validated instrument consisting of 14 items, was used to assess the OHRQoL of the participants. The OHIP-14 questionnaire scores were statistically analyzed using appropriate methods. Results: The majority of the participants were with a mean age of 48 years. The mean OHIP-14 score was calculated to be 45.1, indicating the overall impact of oral health on the quality of life of patients with precancerous lesions and conditions. The individual domains most affected were functional limitations and physical pain. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that promoting oral health awareness and regular screenings in the community is needed to prevent the progression of oral precancerous conditions and ultimately reduce the burden of oral cancer.

Kallyadan Soumya, Karickal Raman Haridas, Jesna James et al.

Background and purpose: DNA damage can lead to carcinogenesis if replication proceeds without proper repair. This study focused on the purification of a novel quercetin derivative present in Terminalia chebula fruit and studied its protective role in hepatoma cells due to H2O2-DNA damage. Experimental approach: The pure compound obtained from the silica gel column was subjected to structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques. MTT assay was employed to select a non-toxic concentration of the isolated compounds on HepG2 and Chang liver cells. The antigenotoxic property of the compound on HepG2 and Chang liver cells was carried out by alkaline comet assay. Analyses of expression levels of mRNA for two DNA repair enzymes, OGG1 and NEIL1, in HepG2 and Chang liver cells, were carried out using the RT-PCR method. Findings/Results: The pure compound obtained from the fraction-5 of diethyl ether extract was identified as a novel quercetin derivative and named 7-(but-2-en-1-yloxy)-2-(4(but-2-en-1-yloxy)-3-hydroxyphenyl)-3- (hexa-2,4-dien-1-yloxy)-6-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one. This compound recorded modest toxicity at the highest concentration tested (percentage cell viability at 100 μg/mL was 64.71 ± 0.38 for HepG2 and 45.32 ± 0.07 for Chang liver cells). The compound has demonstrated noteworthy protection against H2O2-induced DNA damage in both cell lines. Analyses of mRNA expression levels for enzymes OGGI and NEIL1 enzymes in HepG2 and Chang liver cells asserted the protective role of the isolated compound against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Conclusion and implication: The protective effect of a novel quercetin derivative isolated from T. chebula in the hepatoma cells is reported here for the first time.

Vitis Vini Fera Ratna Utami, Satibi Satibi, Susi Ari Kristina et al.

The implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) into higher education curricula is a significant method for creating professionals with the skills necessary for interprofessional collaboration (IPC), including those in the health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, and nutrition. Due to the changes in health services, which are becoming more integrated, it is vital to have the capacity for interprofessional collaboration. The readiness of the pupils for IPE must be assessed before to its implementation in order to identify the subjects that should be highlighted at that time. This research is a cross-sectional study using descriptive analysis method. The distribution of respondents was as all in 4th semester students, consist of department of Pharmacy (n=92), department of Nursing (n=88), department of Public Health (n=95), department of Nutrition (n=66) and department of Physical Education (n=42) in Faculty of Health Sciences. Questionnaire data collection was carried out online. The independent variable that is measured is the student's readiness for Interprofessional Education. The results findings there is a significant difference between the readiness of students in Nurse department and students of all department. The nurse department received the highest score (score = 68.47) and the Health Education received the lowest score (score = 65.59). But all department receive score > 80% of the total score. There is still room for improvement in the areas related to the value of learning together in practical situations

Prasanna Udupi Bidkar, Ankita Dey, Protiti Chatterjee et al.

Target-controlled infusion (TCI) is a novel drug delivery system wherein a microprocessor calculates the rate of drug to be infused based upon the target plasma or effect site concentration set by the operator. It has found its place in the operation theaters and intensive care units (ICUs) for safe administration of intravenous anesthesia and analgosedation using drugs like propofol, dexmedetomidine, opioids, and so on. Operating a TCI device requires the user to have a primitive understanding of drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and an awareness of the practical problems that can arise during its administration. Ongoing research supports their usage in other clinical settings and for various other drugs such as antibiotics, vasopressors, and so on. In this article, we review the underlying principles and commonly used drugs for TCI, the practical aspects of its implementation, and the scope of this technology in future. TCI technology is increasingly being used in the field of anesthesiology and critical care due to the myriad advantages it offers when compared to manual infusions. It is, therefore, essential for the reader to understand the relevant principles and practical aspects related to TCI technology, as well as to be aware of the commonly used TCI models.

Li-Fang Zhu, Fritz Koermann, Qing Chen et al.

Melting properties are critical for designing novel materials, especially for discovering high-performance, high-melting refractory materials. Experimental measurements of these properties are extremely challenging due to their high melting temperatures. Complementary theoretical predictions are, therefore, indispensable. The conventional free energy approach using density functional theory (DFT) has been a gold standard for such purposes because of its high accuracy. However,it generally involves expensive thermodynamic integration using ab initio molecular dynamic simulations. The high computational cost makes high-throughput calculations infeasible. Here, we propose a highly efficient DFT-based method aided by a specially designed machine learning potential. As the machine learning potential can closely reproduce the ab initio phase space, even for multi-component alloys, the costly thermodynamic integration can be fully substituted with more efficient free energy perturbation calculations. The method achieves overall savings of computational resources by 80% compared to current alternatives. We apply the method to the high-entropy alloy TaVCrW and calculate its melting properties, including melting temperature, entropy and enthalpy of fusion, and volume change at the melting point. Additionally, the heat capacities of solid and liquid TaVCrW are calculated. The results agree reasonably with the calphad extrapolated values.

Ben Simner, Alasdair Armstrong, Thomas Bauereiss et al.

To manage exceptions, software relies on a key architectural guarantee, precision: that exceptions appear to execute between instructions. However, this definition, dating back over 60 years, fundamentally assumes a sequential programmers model. Modern architectures such as Arm-A with programmer-observable relaxed behaviour make such a naive definition inadequate, and it is unclear exactly what guarantees programmers have on exception entry and exit. In this paper, we clarify the concepts needed to discuss exceptions in the relaxed-memory setting -- a key aspect of precisely specifying the architectural interface between hardware and software. We explore the basic relaxed behaviour across exception boundaries, and the semantics of external aborts, using Arm-A as a representative modern architecture. We identify an important problem, present yet unexplored for decades: pinning down what it means for exceptions to be precise in a relaxed setting. We describe key phenomena that any definition should account for. We develop an axiomatic model for Arm-A precise exceptions, tooling for axiomatic model execution, and a library of tests. Finally we explore the relaxed semantics of software-generated interrupts, as used in sophisticated programming patterns, and sketch how they too could be modelled.

ZiDong Wang, Zeyu Lu, Di Huang et al.

\textit{Nature is infinitely resolution-free}. In the context of this reality, existing diffusion models, such as Diffusion Transformers, often face challenges when processing image resolutions outside of their trained domain. To address this limitation, we conceptualize images as sequences of tokens with dynamic sizes, rather than traditional methods that perceive images as fixed-resolution grids. This perspective enables a flexible training strategy that seamlessly accommodates various aspect ratios during both training and inference, thus promoting resolution generalization and eliminating biases introduced by image cropping. On this basis, we present the \textbf{Flexible Vision Transformer} (FiT), a transformer architecture specifically designed for generating images with \textit{unrestricted resolutions and aspect ratios}. We further upgrade the FiT to FiTv2 with several innovative designs, includingthe Query-Key vector normalization, the AdaLN-LoRA module, a rectified flow scheduler, and a Logit-Normal sampler. Enhanced by a meticulously adjusted network structure, FiTv2 exhibits $2\times$ convergence speed of FiT. When incorporating advanced training-free extrapolation techniques, FiTv2 demonstrates remarkable adaptability in both resolution extrapolation and diverse resolution generation. Additionally, our exploration of the scalability of the FiTv2 model reveals that larger models exhibit better computational efficiency. Furthermore, we introduce an efficient post-training strategy to adapt a pre-trained model for the high-resolution generation. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate the exceptional performance of FiTv2 across a broad range of resolutions. We have released all the codes and models at \url{https://github.com/whlzy/FiT} to promote the exploration of diffusion transformer models for arbitrary-resolution image generation.

Lucas V. S. Oliveira, Daniel P. Marques, Luan C.A. Rocha et al.

Introdução: Ferramentas para determinação de causalidade de Reações Adversas a Medicamentos (RAM) são essenciais para o exercício da farmácia clínica; sobretudo considerando a complexidade terapêutica e vulnerabilidade do neonato sob terapia intensiva. O algoritmo de Naranjo é considerado padrão-ouro, contudo, ao contrário do algoritmo de Du, não foi desenvolvido para UTI neonatal (UTIN). Objetivo: Avaliar a correlação entre dois instrumentos de causalidade na avaliação de RAM suspeitas em NICU e sua reprodutibilidade intravaliadores. Métodos: Este estudo observacional e prospectivo foi desenvolvido em neonatos internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de uma maternidade referência para gestação de alto risco em Natal/Brasil entre janeiro de 2019 e dezembro de 2020. Os casos de RAM suspeitas foram disponibilizados por três farmacêuticas independentes e experientes que aplicaram os algoritmos de causalidade Naranjo et al. e Du et al. O desempenho dos instrumentos foi mensurado pelo Kappa de Cohen (k) aplicado entre os avaliadores e entre os instrumentos. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes sob nº 2.591.495/2018. Resultados: As farmacêuticas aplicaram os instrumentos em 79 casos de RAM que foram observadas em 57 neonatos do sexo feminino em sua maioria (30; 56,6%), com média de idade gestacional de 30±4 semanas e peso ao nascer de 1.446,0±1.179,3g. As reações mais comuns foram Taquicardia envolvendo Cafeína (14; 17,7%) e Dobutamina (5; 6,3%) e Hipertermia relacionada ao Alprostadil (5; 6,3%). Os métodos não apresentaram correlação significativa quanto a classificação da causalidade de RAM (k global = -0,031; IC95% -0,049 – 0,065). Contudo, o algoritmo de Naranjo apresentou melhor reprodutibilidade interavaliadores (k global = 0,402; IC95% 0,379 – 0,429. Correlação moderada) comparado a Du (k global = 0,108; IC95% 0,064 – 0,149. Correlação fraca). Conclusão: Não houve concordância entre os métodos testados, mas a determinação de causalidade de RAM em neonatos via Algoritmo de Naranjo apresentou melhor reprodutibilidade entre diferentes avaliadores.

Madhumita Srinivasan, Dhanavel Chakravarthy, Vidya Albert Yen et al.

Aim: To evaluate the biomechanical properties of maxillary second molars with three different cavity designs – Traditional, Conservative, and Extended – endodontic cavities using the finite element analysis method. Materials and Methods: Three finite element models of a maxillary second molar with three different types of endodontic cavities were designed and restored. Each model was subjected to three different force loads directed at the occlusal surface. The stress distribution patterns and the maximum von Mises (VM) stresses were calculated and compared. Results: Vertical force of multipoint load on the occlusal surface and lateral forces to the palatal cusp showed the maximum stress values in the extensive cavity design, followed by the traditional cavity design and then the conservative cavity design. Conclusion: The VM stress distribution in the conservative endodontic cavity was minimal when compared to other access cavity designs.

R. R. Ullah, P. Klavins, X. D. Zhu et al.

Two ferromagnetic phases, FM1 and FM2, were first proposed to exist in LaCrGe$_3$ based on a broad maximum in the temperature derivative of resistivity resembling that of the superconducting ferromagnet UGe$_2$ where FM1 and FM2 are well-established. While evidence for two FM phases can be found in certain additional probes, corresponding anomalies in magnetization have not been recognized until now. Our spatially-resolved images of the magnetic domains show a substantial change in the domain structure between the higher temperature FM1 phase and the lower temperature FM2 phase. Furthermore, our measurements of the coercive field and virgin magnetization curves reveal an unconventional magnetic domain pinning region in the FM1 phase, followed by a depinning region at lower temperatures where the system is reported to crossover into the FM2 phase. We incorporate this discovery into a simple domain magnetization model that demystifies the magnetization curve seen in all previous studies. Finally, we find that the unusual domain behavior can be explained by a change in the ferromagnetic exchange interaction and magnetic moment, both of which are consistent with the existence of two FM phases. This revelation may help explain a range of anomalous behaviors observed in LaCrGe$_3$ and rekindles the discussion about the prevalence of multiple FM phases in fragile FM systems.

Krzysztof Sobucki, Wojciech Śmigaj, Piotr Graczyk et al.

We numerically demonstrate the excitation of leaky spin waves (SWs) guided along a ferromagnetic stripe by an obliquely incident SW beam on the thin film edge placed below the stripe. During propagation, leaky waves emit energy back to the layer in the form of plane waves and several laterally shifted parallel SW beams. This resonance excitation, combined with interference effects of the reflected and re-emitted waves, results in the magnonic Woods anomaly and significant increase of the Goos-Hanchen shift magnitude. Hence, we provide a unique platform to control SW reflection and to transfer SWs from a 2D platform into the 1D guiding mode that can be used to form a transdimensional magnonic router.

Sihong Chen, Taisong Pan, Zhengcheng Mou et al.

The sensitivity to deformation plays a key role in determining the applicability of stretchable metamaterials (MMs) to be used for conformal integration or mechanical reconfiguration. Typically, different unit designs are required to achieve the desired sensitivity, but this article proposes a block definition design for stretchable MMs that enables regulation of the MMs' response to deformation by defining various block arrangements with the same precursor structure. The article demonstrates a stretchable MM that employs the block definition design to show the mechanical reconfigurability of resonant frequency. Different block definitions result in modulation ranges of resonant frequency ranging from 39\% to 85\% when applying a 20\% tensile strain. Additionally, the proposed design is also used to realize another MM with contradictory sensitivity to the deformation and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) MMs with configurable transmission bandwidth to the deformation, indicating its potential for broader applications.

Zhaowei Chang, Jianhua Zhang, Pan Tang et al.

Terahertz (THz) communication is envisioned as one of the possible technologies for the sixth-generation (6G) communication system due to its rich spectrum. To evaluate the performance of THz communication, it is essential to propose THz channel models within the common framework of the geometry-based stochastic model (GBSM) in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This paper focuses on THz channel modeling and simulation by a 3GPP-like GBSM, based on channel measurements. We first present channel measurements at 100 GHz in an indoor office scenario and 132 GHz in an urban microcellular scenario. Subsequently, channel characteristics such as path loss, delay spread, angle spread, K-factor, cluster characteristic, cross-correlations, and correlation distances are obtained and analyzed based on channel measurement. Additionally, the channel characteristics are modeled by the statistical distribution of 3GPP channel models, which can be used to reconstruct the channel impulse response (CIR). Furthermore, these obtained distributions are studied referring to the default models in the 3GPP, revealing the channel sparsity in the THz channel. For instance, in the case of line-of-sight links in the indoor office, the mean of the measured cluster number is 4 while the default value is 15. Finally, we propose the THz channel model and its simulation framework to reconstruct CIRs based on the obtained models, which aim at characterizing the sparser THz channels. The obvious channel sparsity is characterized in both scenarios, as the Gini factors obtained by the proposed model only have the maximum deviation of 0.04 for those of the measurement. Overall, these findings are helpful in understanding and modeling the THz channel, facilitating the application of THz communication techniques for 6G.

Abdulrahman Alabduljabbar, Runyu Ma, Ahmed Abusnaina et al.

Free content websites that provide free books, music, games, movies, etc., have existed on the Internet for many years. While it is a common belief that such websites might be different from premium websites providing the same content types, an analysis that supports this belief is lacking in the literature. In particular, it is unclear if those websites are as safe as their premium counterparts. In this paper, we set out to investigate, by analysis and quantification, the similarities and differences between free content and premium websites, including their risk profiles. To conduct this analysis, we assembled a list of 834 free content websites offering books, games, movies, music, and software, and 728 premium websites offering content of the same type. We then contribute domain-, content-, and risk-level analysis, examining and contrasting the websites' domain names, creation times, SSL certificates, HTTP requests, page size, average load time, and content type. For risk analysis, we consider and examine the maliciousness of these websites at the website- and component-level. Among other interesting findings, we show that free content websites tend to be vastly distributed across the TLDs and exhibit more dynamics with an upward trend for newly registered domains. Moreover, the free content websites are 4.5 times more likely to utilize an expired certificate, 19 times more likely to be malicious at the website level, and 2.64 times more likely to be malicious at the component level. Encouraged by the clear differences between the two types of websites, we explore the automation and generalization of the risk modeling of the free content risky websites, showing that a simple machine learning-based technique can produce 86.81\% accuracy in identifying them.