Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by a nematode parasite of the Trichinella (T.) genus. It poses significant public health issues due to limited effective and safe treatment options, especially for the muscle-encysted larval stage. Citrus paradisi (C. paradisi), with its high content of flavonoids and polyphenols, has been recorded to possess anti-parasitic properties and numerous therapeutic applications. The present work aimed to assess the efficacy of C. paradisi extract peel extract as a therapeutic agent, either alone or combined with albendazole (ABZ), against T. spiralis in experimentally infected mice. Sixty-six lab-bred Swiss albino mice were divided into control and treatment groups, then received either ABZ, C. paradisi extract, or a combination of both during the enteral, migratory, and encapsulation phases of infection. Parasitological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments. All treated groups displayed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) in larval counts compared to the positive control group, with the combination therapy group having the highest efficacy and the lowest mean count value during different treatment regimens. In addition, treated groups showed improved muscle integrity compared to the positive control group. Moreover, the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) showed the highest expression reduction in the combination therapy group. These findings highlight the potential of C. paradisi as a complementary therapy to albendazole for treating trichinellosis through muscle larva reduction and mitigation of inflammation.

Background: Status dystonicus (SD) is a life-threatening form of dystonia with limited treatments available. We sought to better understand the processes, outcomes, and complications of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for pediatric SD through a systematic review alongside an institutional case series. Methods: Data regarding treatment, stimulation parameters, dystonia severity and outcomes was collected for the case series (n=7) and systematic review (n=70, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines). This was analysed descriptively (rates, outcome measures). For the case series we created probabilistic voxel-wise maps for improvement in dystonia based on brain region stimulated. Results: All patients in our case series and > 95% of patients in the systematic review had resolution of SD with DBS, typically within 2-4 weeks. Most patients in the review (84%) and all patients in the case series had DBS implanted to the globus pallidus internus. In terms of dystonia severity scores, there was a mean improvement of 25% (case series) or 49% (systematic review). Reported mortality was 4% in the systematic review. Conclusions: DBS for pediatric SD is feasible and safe. It allows for increased survival as well as quality of life - however risks still exist. More work is needed to determine timing, eligibility, and stimulation parameters.

Despite the hot climate and high humidity in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia, which increases risk for dehydration, no previous studies have assessed awareness of dehydration and fluid intake practice among adults in this region. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine awareness of the dehydration state and fluid intake practices among 440 adults in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia. Out of the total, 51⋅8 % were male and 48⋅2 % were females. Good knowledge of dehydration definition and prevention and recommended minimum water intake was observed in 98, 95 and 75 % of the participants, respectively. Fifty-nine percent of the participants met the minimum daily requirement of 3 l or more per day. The age (95 % CI 1⋅003, 1⋅017, P value = 0⋅006), diabetes (95 % CI 1⋅028, 1⋅459, P value = 0⋅023) and prior hospitalisation due to dehydration (95 % CI 1⋅010, 1⋅378, P value = 0⋅037) were associated with higher water intake. Additional glasses of coffee (95 % CI 1⋅02, 1⋅115, P value = 0⋅004) and juice (95 % CI 1⋅039, 1⋅098, P value < 0⋅001) were associated with more water intake. The participants exhibited good knowledge of dehydration definition, symptoms and consequences. Intake of fluids such as ‘juice and coffee’ enhances more water intake. Although two-thirds of the participants met the recommended daily water intake, still one-third of them did not meet this level. Innovative approaches to enhance healthy drinking are warranted and may include partnering with patients to take an active role in hydration monitoring and increasing communication with the different healthcare providers.

Respiratory viral infections are a leading cause of disease worldwide. A variety of respiratory viruses produce infections in humans with effects ranging from asymptomatic to life-treathening. Standard surveillance systems typically only target severe infections (ED outpatients, hospitalisations, deaths) and fail to track asymptomatic or mild infections. Here we performed a large-scale community study across multiple age groups to assess the pathogenicity of 18 respiratory viruses. We enrolled 214 individuals at multiple New York City locations and tested weekly for respiratory viral pathogens, irrespective of symptom status, from fall 2016 to spring 2018. We combined these test results with participant-provided daily records of cold and flu symptoms and used this information to characterise symptom severity by virus and age category. Asymptomatic infection rates exceeded 70% for most viruses, excepting influenza and human metapneumovirus, which produced significantly more severe outcomes. Symptoms were negatively associated with infection frequency, with children displaying the lowest score among age groups. Upper respiratory manifestations were most common for all viruses, whereas systemic effects were less typical. These findings indicate a high burden of asymptomatic respiratory virus infection exists in the general population.

In Part I, equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was demonstrated as a novel, simple-shear deformation process for producing bulk forms of the low ductility Fe–Co–2V (Hiperco 50A®) soft ferromagnetic alloy with refined grain sizes. Microstructures and mechanical properties were discussed. In this Part II contribution, the crystallographic textures and quasi-static magnetic properties of ECAE-processed Hiperco were characterized. The textures were of a simple-shear character defined by partial {110} and 〈111〉 fibers inclined relative to the extrusion direction, in agreement with the expectations for simple-shear deformation textures of BCC metals. These textures were observed throughout all processing conditions and only slightly reduced in intensity by subsequent recrystallization heat treatments. Characterization of the magnetic properties revealed a lower coercivity and higher permeability for ECAE-processed Hiperco specimens relative to the conventionally processed and annealed Hiperco bar. The effects of the resultant microstructure and texture on the coercivity and permeability magnetic properties are discussed.

Trace elements are essential micronutrients for the human body. In this study, we evaluated the alterations in copper, chromium, manganese, selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron, arsenic, boron, and silicon levels in children with cyanotic and acyanotic CHD who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Participants were divided into the following three groups: patients acyanotic CHDs (n=34), patients with cyanotic CHDs (n=30), and healthy controls (n=30). Blood samples were collected before the surgery and 1 hour after the sternum was closed. Serum trace elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer-ICAP 6000. The baseline serum arsenic, manganese, and zinc levels of both patient groups were lower compared with controls, but there was no significant difference between baseline serum trace element levels of cyanotic and acyanotic patients. In both the patient groups, there was a significant decrease in postoperative serum arsenic, boron, copper, and zinc levels, and a significant increase in postoperative serum iron and magnesium levels. Silicon levels increased in cyanotic patients. Alterations in trace element levels were in the same direction in cyanotic and acyanotic patients. Copper, zinc, and manganase replacement may be needed after on-pump cardiac surgery.

We present a detailed theoretical study which demonstrates that electrokinetic effects can also play a role in the motion of metallic-insulator spherical Janus particles. Essential to our analysis is the identification of the fact that the reaction rates depend on Pt-coating thickness and that the thickness of coating varies from pole to equator of the coated hemisphere. We find that their motion is due to a combination of neutral and ionic-diffusiophoretic as well as electrophoretic effects whose interplay can be changed by varying the ionic properties of the fluid. This has great potential significance for optimizing performance of designed synthetic swimmers.

Metabolic syndrome is linked to the consumption of fructose-rich diets. Nutritional and pharmacological interventions perinatally can cause epigenetic changes that programme an individual to predispose or protect them from the development of metabolic diseases later. Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) reportedly has anti-obesity and hypocholesterolaemic properties in adults. We investigated the impact of neonatal intake of HS on the programming of metabolism by fructose. A total of 85 4-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups. The control group (n=27, 12 males, 15 females) received distilled water at 10 ml/kg body weight. The other groups received either 50 mg/kg (n=30, 13 males, 17 females) or 500 mg/kg (n=28, 11 males, 17 females) of an HS aqueous calyx extract orally till postnatal day (PND) 14. There was no intervention from PND 14 to PND 21 when the pups were weaned. The rats in each group were then divided into two groups; one continued on a normal diet and the other received fructose (20% w/v) in their drinking water for 30 days. The female rats that were administered with HS aqueous calyx extract as neonates were protected against fructose-induced hypertriglyceridaemia and increased liver lipid deposition. The early administration of HS resulted in a significant (P⩽0.05) increase in plasma cholesterol concentrations with or without a secondary fructose insult. In males, HS prevented the development of fructose-induced hypercholesterolaemia. The potential beneficial and detrimental effects of neonatal HS administration on the programming of metabolism in rats need to be considered in the long-term well-being of children.

The Middle and Upper Ordovician sequence of the Langkawi Islands, northwestern peninsular Malaysia, contains 20 species of conodonts belonging to 15 genera and four unidentified species, which are described and illustrated. The following four biostratigraphic zones are established for the study area: the Scolopodus striatus assemblage zone, the Periodon sp. A range zone, the Baltoniodus alobatus range zone, and the Hamarodus europaeus range zone, in ascending order. The Middle Ordovician fauna belongs to the low-latitude, warm-water Australian Province. Conodonts of the H. europaeus zone represent the HDS (Hamarodus europaeus-Dapsilodus mutatus-Scabbardella altipes) biofacies, which has been reported from the cool-water North Atlantic Faunal Region. The middle Arenigian limestones in the study area were deposited on a shallow-water shelf, whereas the late Arenigian to middle Darriwilian limestones formed in hemipelagic deeper-water conditions on an outer shelf or slope.

A design of low mutual coupling between two microstrip patch antennas for multi input multi output antenna is presented. The two antenna elements operate at 5.8 GHz for wireless applications. The reduction of mutual coupling between the antenna elements is achieved by using a defected ground structure (DGS). The DGS is inserted between the microstrip patch antenna elements to limit the surface waves between them. The separation between the edges of the two elements has been achieved to be only 0.058λ0. The analysis of the correlation coefficient, diversity gain and total active reflection coefficient is presented to validate the performance of the multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) antenna. The isolation of the proposed MIMO antenna is 28 dB at 5.8 GHz and the envelope correlation equals 0.003. Owing to these good performances each antenna can operate almost independently. A good agreement is achieved between the simulated and the measured results.