UNASSIGNED: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among attendants of the Out-patient Department (OPD) at Madina Polyclinic before seeking medical consultation and associated factors.
UNASSIGNED: Cross-sectional study.
UNASSIGNED: The study was conducted at Madina Polyclinic.
UNASSIGNED: The study involved 319 general OPD attendants aged 18 years and above accessing healthcare services at the Madina Polyclinic between May and June 2019.
UNASSIGNED: The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and the factors associated with this practice.
UNASSIGNED: From the study, 46.4% (95% CI 40.8%- 52.0%) had self-medicated with antibiotics before presenting for medical consultation at the hospital. Less than half of the respondents (44.5%) had adequate knowledge about the use of antibiotics. Having a tertiary level of education was significantly associated with self-medication (aOR= 8.09, 95% CI 2.31-28.4, p = 0.001), whilst adequate knowledge on the use of antibiotics reduced the odds of self-medication by 53% (aOR= 0.47, 95% CI 0.23- 0.66, p<0.001). The level of education modified the relationship between knowledge and self-medication with antibiotics.
UNASSIGNED: The practice of antibiotic self-medication is rife among OPD attendants. Therefore, adequate public education on the use of antibiotics and the effects of using them inappropriately must be done. The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) policy ought to be reinforced and made known to all, especially among the pharmacies that dispense antibiotics indiscriminately.
UNASSIGNED: None declared.

Management of plant disease in agro-ecosystems ideally relies on a combination of host genetic resistance, chemical control and cultural practices. Growers increasingly rely on chemical and genetic options but their relative benefits in disease control, yield and economic outcomes are rarely quantified. We explore this relationship for blackleg crown canker disease (caused by Leptosphaeria maculans), a major biotic constraint limiting canola production globally. Data from 20 field trials conducted from 2013 to 2015 in canola-growing regions of Australia were used to assess the effects of host resistance and fungicide treatment on blackleg severity, grain yield and gross margin. In the absence of fungicide, blackleg disease was 88% lower in the most resistant compared to the most susceptible blackleg resistance category. In the most susceptible resistance category, the most effective fungicide treatment significantly reduced blackleg severity (from 50% to 6%), and increased grain yield (478kg/ha, 41%) and gross margin (AU$120/ha, 17%). However, the mean benefits of fungicide tended to decrease with increasing levels of genetic resistance, to the point that yield, disease and gross margin benefits were close to zero in the most resistant cultivars. Overall, these findings suggest that fungicides can reduce blackleg severity, but the benefits of application strongly depend on associated levels of genetic resistance. Canola cultivars with higher genetic resistance reliably reduced blackleg disease and maintained grain yield without the associated cost of fungicide application. The intensification of canola production to meet increasing global demand will require strategies to sustainably manage and protect finite genetic resistance resources to control blackleg disease.

Protein kinases (PKs) including RAF, perform a principal role in regulating countless cellular events such as cell growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Overexpression and mutation of RAF kinases are significant contributors to the development and spread of cancer. Therefore, RAF kinase inhibitors show promising outcomes as anti-cancer small molecules by suppressing the expression of RAF protein, blocking RAS/RAF interaction, or inhibiting RAF enzymes. Currently, there are insufficient reports about approving drugs with minimal degree of toxicity. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop new RAF kinase inhibitors correlated with increased anticancer activity and lower cytotoxicity. This review outlines reported RAF kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment in patents and literature from 2019 to 2023. It highlights the available inhibitors by shedding light on their chemical structures, biochemical profiles, and current status. Additionally, we highlighted the hinge region-binding moiety of the reported compounds by showing the hydrogen bond patterns of representative inhibitors with the hinge region for each class. In recent years, RAF kinase inhibitors have gained considerable attention in cancer research and drug development due to their potential to be studied under clinical trials and their demonstration of various degrees of efficacy and safety profiles across different cancer types. However, addressing challenges related to drug resistance and safety represents a major avenue for the optimization and enhancement of RAF kinase inhibitors. Strategies to overcome such obstacles were discussed such as developing novel pan-RAF inhibitors, RAF dimer inhibitors, and combination treatments.

UNASSIGNED: Infectious disease treatment and prevention are threatened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally. The knowledge and attitudes of doctors regarding AMR and the responsible use of antibiotics are critical to improving prescribing behaviours and mitigating the danger that AMR poses. This study aims to assess the knowledge attitudes and practices of doctors in Nigeria regarding AMR.
UNASSIGNED: This was an online survey of doctors in Nigeria. A 31-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed via an online forum for doctors. The questionnaire consisted of knowledge, attitudes, and practices sections. Demographic and practice data were also collected from respondents. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS and were mainly descriptive. Bivariate correlation was used to determine the relationship between knowledge attitudes and practices.
UNASSIGNED: Two hundred and fifty -two doctors completed the survey. There were 105 (42%) resident doctors who participated in the study. Good knowledge and fair knowledge of AMR were shown by 95(41%) and 146(58%) doctors, respectively. There were few respondents with good attitudes and practices: 40 (16%) and 16 (6%), respectively. A large proportion of respondents had fair attitudes and practices -204(81%) and 185(73%) respectively. The relationship between practice, knowledge, and attitude was negligible. (r<1, p>0.05).
UNASSIGNED: Most doctors in this study showed fair to good knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AMR. Efforts to reduce the incidence of AMR should leverage the perceptions and behaviours of these healthcare workers.

Background Periodontal disease poses a significant oral health challenge, involving inflammatory conditions impacting tooth-supporting structures. Treponema denticola, a \"red complex\" organism, plays a crucial role in periodontal pathogenesis, forming biofilms in subgingival environments and contributing to dysbiosis. Antimicrobial therapy is pivotal in managing periodontal disease, requiring a nuanced understanding of susceptibility patterns exhibited by key pathogens like T. denticola. Aims and objectives This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance profiles of Treponema denticola, a prominent bacterium in periodontal disease, by examining its responses to various antimicrobial agents commonly used in periodontal therapy. Methodology Plaque samples were meticulously collected from individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease to ensure a diverse representation of the oral microbiome. All the samples were cultured, and red complex bacteria were isolated under anaerobic culture. Treponema denticola isolates were cultured from these samples under anaerobic conditions, and molecular techniques were employed for species identification. A comprehensive panel of antimicrobial agents was selected to assess the response of Treponema denticola. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted using the antimicrobial gradient method, employing a hybrid approach combining elements of disk-diffusion and dilution methods. Results Treponema denticola had exhibited resistance to metronidazole, a commonly used antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria, emphasizing limitations in its applicability. However, the bacterium displayed sensitivity to tetracycline, imipenem, cefoperazone, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and moxifloxacin, offering diverse therapeutic options. The antimicrobial gradient strip test provided detailed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, contributing to a nuanced understanding of susceptibility and resistance patterns. Conclusion This study significantly advances our understanding of Treponema denticola\'s antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance profiles in the context of periodontal disease. The findings underscore the importance of tailored treatment strategies and contribute to broader efforts in antimicrobial stewardship, aligning with global initiatives to combat antibiotic resistance. This research lays the foundation for more effective and personalized approaches to periodontal care, emphasizing the intricate microbial dynamics associated with periodontal health and disease.

UNASSIGNED: Metallic copper alloys have gained attention recently as a cutting-edge antibacterial weapon for areas where surface hygiene is crucial. The present study aimed to assess copper coupons (99% Cu) for their potential to decrease the viability of various Enterobacteriaceae strains from inanimate hospital surfaces.
UNASSIGNED: This in vitro-experimental study was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Earth and Universe Sciences, University of Guelma, and Khodja Ahmed Public Hospital Establishment, Algeria, for a period of six months from January to May 2022. A total of 85 samples were collected from patient room door handles and bed rails at the government hospital in Guelma State, from which 12 enterobacterial isolates were obtained. These isolates were evaluated for susceptibility to copper and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coupons using plate counts to determine bacterial viability after 72 hours of incubation at 37°C or room temperature (25°C). Antibiotic sensitivity testing was then carried out using a modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Copper coupons\' ability to either select for or create antibiotic resistance is also determined.
UNASSIGNED: Copper showed a bactericidal effect after three hours for Serratia odorifera and six hours for Escherichia coli. Whereas it was shown that within three days of selection, 83.33% of Enterobacteriaceae strains are capable of rapidly acquiring Cu resistance. Indeed, the increase in temperature reduced the effects of Cu (p<0.05; Student\'s t-test). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the copper-resistant bacteria were less sensitive than their predecessors. Citrobacter freundii strains showed the highest incidence of multidrug resistance. The most significant findings included widespread resistance to beta-lactams (100%-75%) and chloramphenicol (66.67%).
UNASSIGNED: These results suggest that prolonged copper usage may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, which could have significant ramifications.

The present study was carried out at the Plant Pathology Hafizabad Research Station, the University of Layyah, during the crop seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to evaluate the response of various wheat genotypes against leaf rust severity (%), environmental conditions favourable for disease development and grain yield. Except for minimum temperature and minimum relative humidity, which had a negative association with disease development, there was a significant correlation between leaf rust severity (%) and all environmental conditions such as maximum temperature, maximum relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed. All epidemiological variables such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, minimum relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed significantly affect the disease progression. The disease predictive model accounted for 48-69 % variability in leaf rust severity. The model performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.69) and RMSE, both demonstrated acceptable predictive results for leaf rust severity (%) management. Leaf rust severity (%) increased with an increase in maximum temperature (17.8-30 °C), maximum relative humidity (76.3-85 %), rainfall (2.2-10.85 mm) and wind speed 1.1-2.7 km/h and decreased with the increase of minimum temperature (7.91-16.71 °C) minimum relative humidity (47.15-56.45 %) during both rating seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. The single and two applications of fungicides at the Zadok\'s scale 3, ZS 4.3, and ZS 5.4 stages led to a significant reduction in grain yield losses caused by leaf rust severity (%) in both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 crop seasons. Single and two sprays of prothioconazole, were found to be the first choice among all treatments to reduce the disease severity and increase grain production and maximum gross revenue (513.1-777.8$/ha), as compared to followed by single and two sprays of propiconazole (Progress), tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin, tebuconazole, bixafen + tebuconazole, and propiconazole (Tilt), respectively. These findings recommend the involvement of genotype resistance and weather predictors in wheat leaf rust development, along with fungicide application studies, to improve the predictability of host resistance to disease, future models, and the sustainability of disease control methods.

OBJECTIVE: HER3, a member of the EGFR receptor family, plays a central role in driving oncogenic cell proliferation in breast cancer. Novel HER3 therapeutics are showing promising results while recently developed HER3 PET imaging modalities aid in predicting and assessing early treatment response. However, baseline HER3 expression, as well as changes in expression while on neoadjuvant therapy, have not been well-characterized. We conducted a prospective clinical study, pre- and post-neoadjuvant/systemic therapy, in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer to determine HER3 expression, and to identify possible resistance mechanisms maintained through the HER3 receptor.
METHODS: The study was conducted between May 25, 2018 and October 12, 2019. Thirty-four patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer of any subtype (ER ± , PR ± , HER2 ±) were enrolled in the study. Two core biopsy specimens were obtained from each patient at the time of diagnosis. Four patients underwent a second research biopsy following initiation of neoadjuvant/systemic therapy or systemic therapy which we define as neoadjuvant therapy. Molecular characterization of HER3 and downstream signaling nodes of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways pre- and post-initiation of therapy was performed. Transcriptional validation of finings was performed in an external dataset (GSE122630).
RESULTS: Variable baseline HER3 expression was found in newly diagnosed breast cancer and correlated positively with pAKT across subtypes (r = 0.45). In patients receiving neoadjuvant/systemic therapy, changes in HER3 expression were variable. In a hormone receptor-positive (ER +/PR +/HER2-) patient, there was a statistically significant increase in HER3 expression post neoadjuvant therapy, while there was no significant change in HER3 expression in a ER +/PR +/HER2+ patient. However, both of these patients showed increased downstream signaling in the PI3K/AKT pathway. One subject with ER +/PR -/HER2- breast cancer and another subject with ER +/PR +/HER2 + breast cancer showed decreased HER3 expression. Transcriptomic findings, revealed an immune suppressive environment in patients with decreased HER3 expression post therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates variable HER3 expression across breast cancer subtypes. HER3 expression can be assessed early, post-neoadjuvant therapy, providing valuable insight into cancer biology and potentially serving as a prognostic biomarker. Clinical translation of neoadjuvant therapy assessment can be achieved using HER3 PET imaging, offering real-time information on tumor biology and guiding personalized treatment for breast cancer patients.

Current industrial herbicides have a negative impact on the environment and have widespread resistance, so computational studies on their properties, elimination, and overcoming resistance can be helpful. On the other hand, developing new herbicides, especially bioherbicides, is slow and costly. Therefore, computational studies that guide the design and search for new herbicides that exist in various plant sources, can alleviate the pain associated with the many obstacles. This review summarizes for the first time the most recent studies on both aspects of herbicides over 10 years.

Wheat stem rust, which is caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), is a highly destructive disease that affects wheat crops on a global scale. In this study, the reactions of 150 bread wheat varieties were evaluated for natural Pgt infection at the adult-plant stage in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons, and they were analyzed using specific molecular markers to detect stem rust resistance genes (Sr22, Sr24, Sr25, Sr26, Sr31, Sr38, Sr50, and Sr57). Based on phenotypic data, the majority of the varieties (62%) were resistant or moderately resistant to natural Pgt infection. According to molecular results, it was identified that Sr57 was present in 103 varieties, Sr50 in nine varieties, Sr25 in six varieties, and Sr22, Sr31, and Sr38 in one variety each. Additionally, their combinations Sr25 + Sr50, Sr31 + Sr57, Sr38 + Sr50, and Sr38 + Sr57 were detected in these varieties. On the other hand, Sr24 and Sr26 were not identified. In addition, many varieties had low stem rust scores, including a large minority that lacked Sr57. These varieties must have useful resistance to stem rust and could be the basis for selecting greater, possibly durable resistance.