A Cross-Sectional Survey of Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests in A Typically Developing Turkish Child Population

This study examined compulsive-like behaviors (CLBs) which are higher-order types of Repetitive Behaviors And Restricted Interests (RBRIs) in typically developing children in Turkey. Caregivers of 1,204 children between 8 and 72 months were interviewed with Childhood Routines Inventory (CRI) by trained interviewers in a cross-sectional survey. Factor analysis of the CRI revealed two factor structures comprising “just right behaviors” and “repetitive/sensory sensitivity behaviors”. CLB frequency peaked at 2–4 years with declines after age four. In contrast to the previous CRI studies reporting no gender difference, CLBs were more common in males in 12–23 and 48–59 month age groups on both total CLB frequency and repetitive/sensory sensitivity behaviors. Also ages of onsets for CRI items were somewhat later than reported in other samples. Our findings supported the findings of the previous CRI studies while also revealing new perspectives in need of further investigation.     

Thymoquinone-entrapped chitosan-modified nanoparticles: formulation optimization to preclinical bioavailability assessments

The major limitation with the oral administration of most of the phytochemicals is their low aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Thymoquinone (THQ) is one of the most widely used phytochemicals used to treat a variety of diseases. However, strong lipophilic characteristics limit its clinical application. Therefore, this study was aimed to design novel chitosan (C) modified polycaprolactone (PL) nanoparticles (NPs) for improved oral bioavailability of THQ. THQ-CPLNPs was optimized 33-Box–Behnken design. After that, the optimized THQ-CPLNPs was characterized by different parameters. THQ-CPLNPs showed the size, PDI, and ZP of 182.32 ± 6.46 nm, 0.179 ± 0.012, and +21.36 ± 1.22 mV, respectively. The entrapment and loading capacity were found to be 79.86 ± 4.36%, and 13.45 ± 1.38%, respectively. THQ-CPLNPs exhibited burst release in initial 2 h followed by prolonged release up to 24 h in simulated intestinal fluids. THQ-CPLNPs showed excellent mucoadhesion properties which were further confirmed with the intestinal permeation study as well as confocal microscopy. The study revealed higher permeation of THQ-CPLNPs compared to neat THQ suspension (THQ-S). Moreover, in vivo gastric irritation study revealed good compatibility of THQ-CPLNPs with the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic results depicted ∼3.53-fold improved oral bioavailability of THQ from THQ-CPLNPs than THQ-S. Therefore, from the findings, it was concluded that the prepared polymeric NPs could be an effective delivery system for improved oral bioavailability of THQ.     

Ethnoveterinary Uses of Medicinal Plants Among Traditional Herbal Healers in Alaknanda Catchment of Uttarakhand, India

The people of far-flung rural areas still depend to a large extent upon plants and household remedies for curing veterinary ailments. The folk knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine and its significance has been identified by the traditional communities through a process of experience over hundreds of years. The paper deals with 34 ailments commonly found in nine different categories of livestock/animals (i e. buffalo, cow, oxen, sheep, goat, horse, mule, dog and cat) and their treatment with 73 medicinal plant species belonging to 70 genera and 45 families that occur in forests as well as close vicinity of the rural settlements. Out of the total population, majority of the people (more than 80%) was found dependent on traditional (herbal) system of treatments practiced by local herbal healers (Pashu Vaidyas), while rest of the people preferred modern (allopathic) system of treatments for curing veterinary ailments. In this study we observed that old aged people have more knowledge and experience particularly in remote areas for curing veterinary ailments. The traditional system of treatment is one of the most important prevailing systems in the area where modern veterinary health care facilities are rare or in very poor conditions.     

Lithium-induced membranous glomerulonephropathy in a pediatric patient

Lithium-induced glomerular toxicity is an infrequent occurrence in pediatric patients. We report a 13-year-old patient presenting with clinical and laboratory evidence of renal insufficiency after long-term lithium use. Biopsy revealed membranous glomerulonephropathy. Discontinuation of the lithium treatment resulted in resolution of the symptoms and laboratory abnormalities. Other alkali metals have been implicated as risk factors for membranous glomerulonephropathy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of lithium-induced glomerulonephropathy in a pediatric patient.     

The incidence of sperm antibodies in patients included in a program of assisted reproduction

The aim of the present investigation was to establish the sperm antibody incidence among patients included in a program for assisted reproduction by the means of the classical and new methods for sperm antibody detection; to analyze the correlation between the results demonstrated by the different techniques; to evaluate the obtained data in the context of the application of new assisted reproduction technologies (ART). In the Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Department of Biology, Medical University of Sofia, 73 sera from patients (35 couples and 3 men) with primary and secondary infertility, aged 23-46 years, grouped according to the diagnosis and included in the program for assisted reproduction "Technobioassistance" were tested. Our results demonstrated the highest incidence of sperm antibodies amongst patients with primary unexplained infertility. The percentage of positive reacting couples for at least one of the applied tests was 31%. The highest relative share of those reacting positively, was observed with ELISA and the tray agglutination test (TAT) of Friberg. For ELISA 31.48% of the sera reacted positively, while clinically relevant liters of sperm antibodies were found with TAT in 21.92% of the tested sera. We also found that 17.46% and 13.7% of the tested sera were positive, respectively in the sperm immobilization test (SIT) of Isojima and the gelatin agglutination test (GAT) of Kibrick. The high degree of correlation (P < 0.0001) between the tests of Kibrick and Friberg showed the appropriateness of their application for patients in an ART program. At the other hand, the lack of correlation between the other applied tests (the Isojima test and ELISA) confirmed the assumption that immunity against spermatozoa should be sought with at least two diagnostic tools. Five of the tested families with clinically relevant TAT titers were included in our ART program for "in vitro" fertilization and embryo transfer, after preliminary absorption of the seminal fluid with autologous semen, or underwent the ICSI technique. For these patients, one ICSI pregnancy finished with the successful birth of a healthy child and one "in vitro" pregnancy is developing at the moment.     

The Apgar score, acid-base equilibrium of the umbilical cord vessels and early postnatal adaptation in healthy term newborns

The aim of the study is to establish a correlation between Apgar score, acid-base status (ABS) and blood gases (bg) from cord blood and the early postnatal adaptation in healthy term newborns. The study is prospective and includes 52 babies at term born at the State University Hospital Ma?chin Dom, Sofia during a three month period--03-05, 1998 without evidence of asphyxia before and during delivery. All babies are monitored for Apgar score at minute 1 and 5, ABS and bg from umbilical artery (u.a.) and vein (u.v.) examined at birth, as well as capillary ABS and bg 1 hour after birth. Early postnatal adaptation is judged by a neonatologist in the course of two hours. RESULTS: A significant difference is found between all the examined points in the ABS and the blood gases in samples from umbilical artery and vein (p < 0.05), most significantly differ pH, pO2 and O2 Sat (p < 0.001). There is a correlation between 1 minute Apgar score and ABS and bg from umbilical vessels, babies with 1 minute Apgar score 7 having significantly lower pH from u.a. requiring wider range of resuscitation. Babies with 1 minute Apgar score 9/8 and 5 minute Apgar score 10 have definitely less early adaptational problems. CONCLUSION: The use of a combination of evaluation criteria for the condition of the newborn after birth (Apgar score, ABS and bg from cord blood and strict monitoring of early cardio-pulmonary adaptation) guarantees adequate resuscitation in term babies.