With the advent of the era of digitalization, a new door has opened for the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools/algorithms that can help analyse the huge amount of data uploaded ...onto the cloud. AI-based tools/algorithms have created a niche in the field of research. AI has enabled researchers and practitioners to access and evaluate an enormous number of scientific papers more effectively. This can link similar studies from the past and highlight research gaps, thus accelerating the literature review, evidence generation, and knowledge discovery process. Medical students can obtain help from various AI-based solutions for literature organization and citations. These tools/algorithms facilitate secure information exchange, collaborative research efforts, and communication among multiple research centres. However, AI-driven research requires the guidance and supervision of human experts for better accuracy, coherence, and credibility of the content entering scientific databases. The key objective of this review is to discuss and evaluate various AI-based tools/algorithms and their key features that can assist medical students in medical research.
Background: While long-term studies on the correlates of protection, vaccine effectiveness, and enhanced surveillance are awaited for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, studies on breakthrough infections help ...understand the nature and course of this illness among vaccinated individuals and guide in public health preparedness. This study aims to compare the differences in the hospitalization outcomes SARS-CoV-2 infection of fully vaccinated individuals with with those of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals. Materials and Methods: Single institution observational cohort study. This study compared the differences in clinical, biochemical parameters and the hospitalization outcomes of 53 fully vaccinated individuals with those of unvaccinated (1464) and partially vaccinated (231) individuals, among a cohort of 2,080 individuals hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Descriptive statistics and propensity-score weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for clinical and laboratory parameters were used to compare the differences and to identify factors associated with outcomes. Results: Completing the course of vaccination protected individuals from developing severe COVID-19 as evidenced by lower proportions of those with hypoxia, abnormal levels of inflammatory markers, requiring ventilatory support, and death compared to unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals. There were no differences in these outcomes among patients who received either vaccine type approved in India. Conclusions: Efforts should be made to improve the vaccination rates as a timely measure to prepare for the upcoming waves of this highly transmissible pandemic. Vaccination rates of the communities may also guide in the planning of the health needs and appropriate use of medical resources.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an attractive material for microscale and nanoscale devices. Its desirable semiconductor, piezoelectric and optical properties make it useful in applications ranging from ...microphones to missile warning systems to biometric sensors. This work introduces a demonstration of blending statistics and chemical etching of thin films to identify the dominant factors and interaction between factors, and develop statistically enhanced models on etch rate and selectivity of c-axis-oriented nanocrystalline ZnO thin films. Over other mineral acids, ammonium chloride (NH
Cl) solutions have commonly been used to wet etch microscale ZnO devices because of their controllable etch rate and near-linear behaviour. Etchant concentration and temperature were found to have a significant effect on etch rate. Moreover, this is the first demonstration that has identified multi-factor interactions between temperature and concentration, and between temperature and agitation. A linear model was developed relating etch rate and its variance against these significant factors and multi-factor interactions. An average selectivity of 73 : 1 was measured with none of the experimental factors having a significant effect on the selectivity. This statistical study captures the significant variance observed by other researchers. Furthermore, it enables statistically enhanced microfabrication processes for other materials.
To determine if a repeat intraarticular (IA) injection of a tin-117m colloid radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) agent can be safely given in the same joint 12 months after an initial injection for treatment ...of canine elbow osteoarthritis (OA), and to evaluate the pain reduction effect of the repeat injection.
Nine client owned dogs with grade 1 or 2 elbow OA were given an IA injection of tin-117m colloid in both elbows, one of which had been treated ≤12 months earlier with the same RSO device. Treatment safety was evaluated by joint fluid analysis at baseline (BL) and at 180 days after treatment, and by urinalysis, CBC, and serum chemistry analysis of diagnostic samples obtained at BL and 180 days. Radiographs, computed tomography, and MRI scans were obtained at BL and 180 days to determine if disease progression differed in elbows given one versus two injections. Clinical response to treatment was assessed subjectively by dog owner responses to the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) survey at BL, 90 and 180 days, and objectively by investigator-conducted force plate (FP) analysis of dogs at BL, 90, and 180 days.
All post-treatment urinalysis, CBC and clinical chemistry results were within normal ranges. Joint fluid analysis showed a significant (P=0.0411) reduction in the percentage of monocytes at 180 days, consistent with the tin-117m colloid mode of action of apoptosis of pro-inflammatory macrophages at the injection site. There was no significant difference in OA progression in elbows given one or two injections. The treatment success rate was 55.5% (5/9) on day 90 as determined either by CBPI responses or FP analysis, and 66.6% (6/9) on day 180 as determined by FP analysis.
The tin-117m colloid can be safely given as a repeat injection 12 months after an initial injection, and can potentially provide a durable therapeutic response in dogs with elbow OA.
Although high-volume bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an excellent research tool, its use in the evaluation of interstitial lung disease remains controversial, particularly in the age of lung biopsy ...in video-assisted thoracic surgery. Recently, a new practice guideline made several important recommendations for the performance of the procedure and the handling, processing, and analysis of samples. Here we describe this recommended technique, our experience performing BAL in 42 patients, and the usefulness of our differential cell count results. We demonstrate that BAL is straightforward and safe to perform and conclude that it may offer valuable data in evaluating interstitial lung disease, particularly in patients with an acute presentation or who are not fit for lung biopsy.
Aims and Objectives: Curing units in dental offices across Punjab are analyzed for a practical purpose. Materials and Methods: One thousand light-curing units regularly used by the dentists in dental ...offices across the state of Punjab were examined for their output intensity. Various factors include as follows: type, power of light-curing unit, material molecule formation on tip (YES/NO), diameter of guide tip, and frequency of bulb replacement. A radiometer, a magnifying glass, and a Vernier caliper were used. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: About 75.80% of dentists use light-emitting diode (LED) lights, while 24.20% utilize halogen lamps to cure dental composites. 36.60% of light-curing units of the state had light intensity below 300 mW/cm2, out of which 61.60% were quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) and 28.60% LED light-curing units. 17.40% of light-curing units recorded light intensity between 301 and 400 mW/cm2. 46% of light-curing units registered an output intensity of >400 mW/cm2. 79.60% of light units showed material particle buildup on light-curing tips. 62.40% of dentists never replaced the bulbs of their light-curing units. Two-third of dental the practitioners avoided infection control barriers on the tips of curing units. Conclusions: There is a deficit of knowledge among dental practitioners in Punjab regarding care of light-curing units. Dental light-curing units should be regularly checked and infection control remedies should be opted.
•Recent developments of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds as antidepressant have been discussed.•The antidepressant profile of the potent derivatives along with structural insights is ...presented.•The SAR studies of recently developed compounds are discussed in details for providing key structural features.•The lead compounds for further development are identified and discussed in the perspective part of this review.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common mental disorder and includes complex interaction between social and psychological behaviour affecting 264 million people worldwide. The review aims to highlight the role and importance of nitrogen-based heterocyclics in the development of antidepressant compounds. Many research groups have attempted to design drug candidates capable of binding within the receptors. The commonest drug design strategy includes the incorporation of different structural features widely recognized as an antidepressant in the synthesized derivatives to enhance their CNS antidepressant effects. In this review, we have shed light on nitrogenous heterocyclic moieties such as quinazoline, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrrolidine, imidazole, pyrazole, piperidine, oxadiazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, piperazine, triazine, purine, benzoxazole, and isoxazole as core nucleus and/or in combination as an antidepressant compound. These molecules with different structural features were noted to exert their antidepressant effects by multiple mechanisms viz., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors. The review focuses on the selection of these heterocyclic moieties for the further design and development of promising antidepressants by taking a clue from the earlier reported potent antidepressant compounds or from the marketed products. The results have been correlated with their structural activity relationship (SAR) to identify the substituents for the potency and selectivity within the receptors. This review might help the researchers working in the antidepressant field to develop more novel molecules that could fill the gap by improving potency and reducing toxicity.
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•Thiazole containing drugs in market and under clinical development.•Synthetic strategies for synthesis of thiazole derivatives.•Recently developed thiazole based pharmacologically active derivatives ...targeting various diseases and disorders.•Structure activity relationship.
Thiazole derivatives remains honored heterocycles in the field of medicinal chemistry. This scaffold has been proven as a universal motif that is present in numerous pharmacologically important drug molecules such as lurasidone, sulfathiazole, ritonavir, etc. It has been broadly recognized by the scientific community and reported to possess a wide spectrum of biological activities. To counter the increasing drug resistance among available drug candidates around the globe, thiazoles have been considered as a fascinating scaffold to generate new molecules with improved potency and lower toxicity along with the desired pharmacokinetic profile. This review aims to summarizes recent advancements in the medicinal chemistry of thiazole derivatives with the following objectives: (1) To represent inclusive data on thiazole based marketed drugs as well as therapeutic candidates undergoing preclinical and clinical developments; (2) To discuss various methods utilized in the synthesis of thiazole ring; (4) Summarization of the recent advances in the medicinal chemistry of thiazole derivatives with their numerous biological significances against wide range of diseases; (3) This article also summarizes structure-activity relationships (SAR) including synthetic strategies of potentially active molecules and their mechanistic studies. This review article is highly beneficial to the medicinal chemists and researchers working in the field of medicinal chemistry and can help in the design and development of novel thiazole based compounds with improved potency and desired therapeutic implications.
•Recent developments in synthetic α-glucosidase inhibitors.•Structure activity relationship.•Molecular modeling studies.•Future perspective for development of potent and safer α-glucosidase ...inhibitors discussed.
Diabetes mellitus is the prominent metabolic disorder affecting 422 million people around the globe and cause severe associated problems like kidney disorders, heart and nervous system diseases, leg amputation and retinopathy. Currently marketed antidiabetic drugs are failing in containment of this disorder that arise a need for novel and potent antidiabetic agents. α-Glucosidase provide a viable target to tackle this disorder and attracted significant attention of medicinal chemists globally. Recent literature reports revealed improved therapeutic potential of α-glucosidase inhibitors due to their synergistic potency, better safety and competitive type of inhibition. Medicinal chemists have gone to great extents for the design of novel α-glucosidase inhibitors by generating structural hybrids of different key molecules, heterocycles with improved binding affinities and potency towards the enzyme. This article summarized recently published α-glucosidase inhibitors as potential antidiabetic agents. Their pharmacological outputs, structural-activity relationships, mechanistic and in silico studies are well analyzed. This article will be highly useful for the researchers working in this filed to design and develop novel and potent α-glucosidase inhibitors as potential antidiabetic agents with improve potency and therapeutic efficacy.
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In the current scenario, treatment of killer disease cancer using conventional chemotherapeutical modalities, including surgery, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy has not been well established due to ...its number of limitations. Intolerable systemic adverse effects, damaging healthy tissue, structural deformities, drug resistance along with psychological problems associated with the mentioned conventional therapy withdraw the attention of many researchers to mitigate it. Hopefully, naturally occurring phytochemicals are immensely exploited for their pharmacotherapeutic use against devastating disease cancer. However poor pharmaceutical attributes including poor solubility, poor absorption, and hence low bioavailability, low stability, and bio-enzymatical degradability, stands as a major barrier against its clinical use. Nevertheless, Nanotechnological strategies having the capability to overcome the obstacles encountered during both conventional chemo and herbal therapy facilitate the steadily concentrate on the field of oncology. This review comprehensively focuses on the development of numerous nano-carriers for the targeted delivery of phytoconstituents against various cancers.
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