Clinical outcomes of second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma:a real-world study

Objective:Little progress has been made in recent years using first-line chemotherapy,including gemcitabine combined with nab-paclitaxel,FOLFIRINOX,and NALIRIFOX,for advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma(APC).In addition,the optimal second-line chemotherapy regimen has not been determined.This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of different types of second-line chemotherapy for APC.Methods:Patients with APC who received first-line treatment from January 2008 to January 2021 were considered eligible for this retrospective analysis.The primary and secondary endpoints were overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS),respectively.Results:Four hundred and thirty-seven and 617 patients were treated with 5-fluorouracil-and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment,respectively.Demographic and clinical features,except age and liver metastasis,were comparable between the two groups(P<0.05).The median OS was 8.8 and 7.8 months in patients who received a 5-fluorouracil-and gemcitabine-based combined regimen for first-line therapy,respectively(HR=1.244,95%CI=1.090–1.419;P<0.001).The median OS was 5.6 and 1.9 months in patients who received second-line chemotherapy and supportive care,respectively(HR=0.766,95%CI=0.677–0.867;P<0.001).The median PFS was not significantly differently between gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil monotherapy and combination therapy.Conclusions:A 5-fluorouracil-or gemcitabine-based combined regimen was shown to be as effective as a single 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine regimen as second-line therapy for patients with APC.

Exploring the Path of Shantytown Renewal Based on the Theory of Environment-behavior Studies: A Case Study of the Northwest Area of Saihantala in Baotou City

The application of environment-behavior studies plays an important role in studying the renewal of shantytowns.One of the most humane ways of renewal is designing and constructing the necessary urban spatial environment from the perspective of human daily behavior.Most of the shantytown renovation projects currently carried out in China are mainly focused on demolition and reconstruction,which not only incurs high costs but also damages the original social structure and economic model.During the process of shantytown renewal,it should improve the urban landscape,living environment,and life quality of residents,and ensure the daily life of shantytown residents without increasing their economic burden,and preserve the traces of urban development.In order to achieve this goal,it should explore the renewal strategies of shantytowns from the perspective of environment-behavior studies through behavior maps,on-site research,and literature review.Updating and design from a human perspective often achieve faster and better development;the renewal of shantytowns should be a bottom-up approach and start from a grassroots perspective,completing the renovation design through the composition of the population and behavioral patterns.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese military personnel:A cross-sectional,multicenter-based study

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is a prevalent disease encountered in military internal medicine and recognized as the main cause of dyspepsia,gastritis,and peptic ulcer,which are common diseases in military personnel.Current guidelines in China state all patients with evidence of active infection with H.pylori are offered treatment.However,the prevalence of H.pylori infection and its regional distribution in the military population remain unclear,which hinders effective prevention and treatment strategies.Understanding the prevalence of H.pylori infection in the military population will aid in the development of customized strategies to better manage this infectious disease.AIM To investigate the prevalence of H.pylori infection in the Chinese military population in different geographic areas.METHODS This multicenter,retrospective study included 22421 individuals from five tertiary hospitals located in north,east,southwest,and northwest cities of China.H.pylori infection was identified using the urea breath test,which had been performed between January 2020 and December 2021.RESULTS Of the 22421 military service members,7416(33.1%)were urea breath test-positive.The highest prevalence of H.pylori was in the 30-39 years age group for military personnel,with an infection rate of 34.9%.The majority of infected subjects were younger than 40-years-old,accounting for 70.4%of the infected population.The individuals serviced in Lanzhou and Chengdu showed a higher infection prevalence than those in Beijing,Nanjing,and Guangzhou,with prevalence rates of 44.3%,37.9%,29.0%,31.1%,and 32.3%,respectively.CONCLUSION H.pylori infection remains a common infectious disease among military personnel in China and has a relatively high prevalence rate in northwest China.

Cohort study on the treatment of BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer with integrated Chinese and western medicine

BACKGROUND Patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)have a low incidence rate,poor biological activity,suboptimal response to conventional treatments,and a poor prognosis.In the previous cohort study on mCRC conducted by our team,it was observed that integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment could significantly prolong the overall survival(OS)of patients with colorectal cancer.Therefore,we further explored the survival benefits in the population with BRAF V600E mutant mCRC.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.METHODS A cohort study was conducted on patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer admitted to Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2016 to December 2022.The patients were divided into two cohorts.RESULTS A total of 34 cases were included,with 23 in Chinese-Western medicine cohort(cohort A)and 11 in Western medicine cohort(cohort B).The median overall survival was 19.9 months in cohort A and 14.2 months in cohort B,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.038,hazard ratio=0.46).The 1-3-year survival rates were 95.65%(22/23),39.13%(9/23),and 26.09%(6/23)in cohort A,and 63.64%(7/11),18.18%(2/11),and 9.09%(1/11)in cohort B,respectively.Subgroup analysis showed statistically significant differences in median OS between the two cohorts in the right colon,liver metastasis,chemotherapy,and first-line treatment subgroups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Integrated Chinese and Western medicine can prolong the survival and reduce the risk of death in patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer,with more pronounced benefits observed in patients with right colon involvement,liver metastasis,combined chemotherapy,and first-line treatment.

Comparative Studies on Tourist Satisfaction of World Heritage Sites——A Case Study of Huangshan Mountain,Lushan Mountain and Wuyi Mountain

Through the questionnaire survey and comparative studies on tourist satisfaction of tourism services among three world heritage sites,i.e.Huangshan Mountain,Lushan Mountain and Wuyi Mountain,this study pointed out the problems in tourism services of three scenic areas and then put forward relevant countermeasures for the management of scenic areas.

Non-bismuth quadruple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication:A randomized study in Japan

AIM:To find the way to improve the eradication rate of first-line therapy in Japanese patients.METHODS:We prospectively compared the effectiveness of 7-d quadruple therapy to standard 7 d triple therapy in Japanese patients infected with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori).One hundred and nineteen patients were randomly assigned to receive 7-d non-bismuth quadruple therapy with lansoprazole,amoxicillin,clarithromycin and metronidazole(LACM7) or 7-d triple therapy with lansoprazole,amoxicillin and clarithromycin(LAC7).After three months,H.pylori status was analyzed by 13C-urea breath test.Incidence rates of adverse events were evaluated by use of questionnaires.RESULTS:By intention-to-treat(ITT) analysis,the eradication rate in the LACM7 group was 94.9%,which was significantly higher than the LAC7 group(68.3%,P < 0.001).Per protocol analysis also showed a significantly higher eradication rate in the LACM7 group(98.3%) than the LAC7 group(73.2%,P < 0.001).Nevertheless,the incidence of serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups(RR:1.10,95% CI:0.70-1.73,P = 0.67).CONCLUSION:Seven day non-bismuth quadruple therapy(LACM7) was superior to standard 7-d triple therapy(LAC7) for first-line eradication.

Pressure-flow studies in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia:a study comparing suprapubic and transurethral methods

Aim： To compare the use of the suprapubic puncture method versus the transurethral method in pressure-flow studies in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods： Twenty-three men with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent both suprapubic and transurethral pressure-flow studies during a single session. Standard pressure-flow variables were recorded in all patients with both methods, enabling calculation of obstruction using commonly used grading systems, such as the urethral resistance algorithm, the Abrams-Griffith （AG） number and the Schaefer linear nomogram. Results： There were statistically significant differences between the methods in the mean values of maximum flow rate （P 〈 0.05）, detrusor pressure at the maximum flow （P 〈 0.01）, urethral resistance algorithm （P 〈 0.01）, AG number （P 〈 0.01） and maximum cystic capacity （P 〈 0.01）. Of the men in the study, 10 （43.5%） remained in the same Schaefer class with both methods and 18 （78.3%） in the same AG number area. Using the transurethral method, 12 （52.2%） men increased their Schaefer class by one and 1 （4.3%） by two. There were also differences between the suprapubic and transurethral methods using the AG number： 4 （17.4%） men moved from a classification of equivocal to obstructed and 1 （4.3%） from unobstructed to equivocal. Conclusion： The differences between the techniques for measuring intravesical pressure alter the grading of obstruction determined by several of the commonly used classifications. An 8 F transurethral catheter significantly increases the likelihood of a diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction when compared with the suprapubic method.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors on Fatigue of First-line Nurses Combating with COVID-19 in China:A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Summary:Nurses'work-related fatigue has been recognized as a threat to nurse health and patient safety.The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of fatigue among first-line nurses combating with COVID-19 in Wuhan,China,and to analyze its influencing factors on fatigue.A multi-center,descriptive,cross-sectional design with a convenience sample was used.The statistical population consisted of the first-line nurses in 7 tertiary general hospitals from March 3,2020 to March 10,2020 in Wuhan of China.A total of 2667 samples from 2768 contacted participants completed the investgation,with a response rate of 96.35%.Social-demographic questionnaire,work-related questionnaire,Fatigue Scale-14,Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7,Patient Health Questionnaire-9,and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale were used to conduct online survey.The descriptive statistic of nurses'social-demographic characteristics was conducted,and the related variables of work,anxiety,depression,perceived stress and fatigue were analyzed by Z-tests,nonparametric test and Pearson's correlation analysis.The significant factors which resulted in nurses'fatigue were further analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis.The median score for the first-line nurses'fatigue in Wuhan was 4(2,8).The median score of physical and mental fatigue of them was 3(1,6)and 1(0,3)respectively.According to the scoring criteria,35.06%nurses(w=935)of all participants were in the fatigue status,their median score of fatigue was 10(8,11),and the median score of physical and mental fatigue of them was 7(5,8)and 3(2,4)respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis revealed the participants in the risk groups of anxiety,depression and perceived stress had higher scores on physical and mental fatigue and the statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the variables and nurses'fatigue,the frequency of exercise and nurses'fatigue had a statistically significant negative correlation,and average daily working hours had a significantly positive correlation with nurses'fatigue,and the frequency of weekly night shift had a low positive correlation with nurses'fatigue(P<0.01).There was a moderate level of fatigue among the first-line nurses fighting against COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan,China.Government and health authorities need to formulate and take effective intervention strategies according to the relevant risk factors,and undertake preventive measures aimed at reducing health hazards due to increased work-related fatigue among first-line nurses,and to enhance their health status and provide a safe occupational environment worldwide.Promoting both medical and nursing safety while combating with the pandemic currently is warranted.

Effectiveness of second-line anti-HER2 treatment in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with trastuzumab:A real-world study

Objective:Several studies have demonstrated different benefits for patients whose disease progressed despite previous trastuzumab treatment.Due to limited real-world data,we evaluate the effectiveness of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)therapy(lapatinib or trastuzumab)plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone in patients who were previously treated with trastuzumab-containing regimens and investigate factors associated with effectiveness.And we further show the effectiveness of the two anti-HER2 therapy groups.Methods:A total of 342 HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer(MBC)patients whose disease progressed during prior anti-HER2(trastuzumab)and standard chemotherapy therapy from Department of Breast Oncology,the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital,from August 2010 to December 2016 were included.Seventy-eight patients received standard chemotherapy only,148 patients continued to receive trastuzumab and switched to other chemotherapy drugs,and 116 patients received tyrosine-kinase inhibitors(TKIs;lapatinib)and chemotherapy.The main outcome measures were progression-free survival(PFS),overall response rate(ORR),and clinical benefit rate(CBR).Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify patient characteristics associated with the greatest clinical benefit.Results:After a median follow-up of 26.2(range,2.0-56.0)months,PFS significantly improved with anti-HER2 therapy compared with chemotherapy alone:median 6.0 months with lapatinib[95%confidence interval(95%CI),4.53-7.47],4.5 months with trastuzumab(95%CI,3.99-5.01)vs.3.0 months with chemotherapy alone(95%CI,2.42-3.58);stratified hazard ratio(HR)=0.70,95%CI,0.60-0.81;P<0.0001.The ORR values were 33.6%,25.0%and 12.8%,respectively,the CBR values were 60.3%,48.6%and 26.9%,respectively.The effectiveness of lapatinib group and trastuzumab group were further analyzed.In multivariate analysis,lapatinib group was associated with a longer PFS,after controlling other potential confounders(HR=0.68,95%CI,0.52-0.90;P=0.006).Conclusions:The combination of TKIs and chemotherapy was effective in this cohort previously treated with trastuzumab treatment.Therefore,TKIs combined with chemotherapy is an option for Chinese HER2-positive MBC patients previously treated with trastuzumab treatment.

Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asians:A meta-epidemiological study of population-based cohort studies

BACKGROUND Previous systematic reviews have consistently reported that coffee consumption has a preventive effect on the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).However,further evaluations between coffee consumption and the risk of T2DM in Asian populations are needed.AIM To conduct a meta-epidemiological study on systematic reviews evaluating the association between coffee consumption and the risk of T2DM in Asian people.METHODS The selection criterion was defined as a population-based prospective cohort study evaluating the association between coffee consumption and the risk of T2DM in Asian populations,reporting the adjusted relative risk(RR)and its 95%confidence interval(CI)for potential confounders.A fixed-effect model metaanalysis was applied to calculate the summary RR and its 95%CI in less than 50%of the I2 value indicating the level of heterogeneity.A two-stage fixed-effects doseresponse meta-analysis(DRMA)was performed to calculate the risk per unit dose(a cup per day).RESULTS A total of seven studies were selected in this meta-epidemiological study.The risk of T2DM in Asian populations was significantly reduced in the highest to the lowest dose group(summary RR=0.73,95%CI:0.66-0.82;I2 value=0.0%).The DRMA showed that drinking one cup of coffee per day reduced the risk of T2DM in Asian populations by 8%(RR=0.92,95%CI:0.90-0.95).CONCLUSION These findings support the conclusion that coffee consumption has a protective effect on the occurrence of T2DM in Asian men and women.

A Comparative Study of Of Studies and Wang Zuoliang's Translated Version

Of Studies is an important one in The Essays of Francis Bacon, of which words are concise and refining, reasoning is profound and logic. Wang Zuoliang's translated version is so efficient and smooth with classical Chinese style that it perfectly reveals the original text, turning out to be the best version among all the translation of Of Studies. This thesis compares Of Studies and Wang Zuoliang's translated version to analyze their linguistic feature in terms of diction, sentence and figures of speech.

Recent progresses in the development of tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells:Experimental and numerical study

Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)have attracted a great deal of interest because they have the highest efficiency without using any noble metal as catalysts among all the fuel cell technologies.However,traditional SOFCs suffer from having a higher volume,current leakage,complex connections,and difficulty in gas sealing.To solve these problems,Rolls-Royce has fabricated a simple design by stacking cells in series on an insulating porous support,resulting in the tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells(SIS-SOFCs),which achieved higher output voltage.This work systematically reviews recent advances in the structures,preparation methods,perform-ances,and stability of tubular SIS-SOFCs in experimental and numerical studies.Finally,the challenges and future development of tubular SIS-SOFCs are also discussed.The findings of this work can help guide the direction and inspire innovation of future development in this field.

Study design in evidence-based surgery:What is the role of case-control studies?

Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) are the gold standard in terms of study design, however, in the surgical setting conducting RCTs can often be unethical or logistically impossible. Case-control studies should become the major study design used in surgical research when RCTs are unable to be conducted and definitely replacing case series which offer little insight into surgical outcomes and disease processes.

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

STUDIES ON DOPAMINE RECEPTORS AND TETRAHYDROPROTOBERBERINES．Ⅲ．3D－QSAR STUDY ON TETRAHYDROPROTOBERBERINES USING COMFA APPROACH

Using comparative molecular field analysis approach, the interaction of 17 tetrahydroprotdederines to D1 reccptor and15 ones to D2 reccptor have ben studied by 3D-QsAR. respectively. The results indicated that the interactions of THPBs withdopamine receplors were primarily clectrostatic interactions. with more positive charge in lignnd and more negative in receptor.

Mental health and insomnia problems in healthcare workers after the COVID-19 pandemic:A multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Healthcare workers(HCWs)are at increased risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)as well as worsening mental health problems and insomnia.These problems can persist for a long period,even after the pandemic.However,less is known about this topic.AIM To analyze mental health,insomnia problems,and their influencing factors in HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS This multicenter cross-sectional,hospital-based study was conducted from June 1,2023 to June 30,2023,which was a half-year after the end of the COVID-19 emergency.Region-stratified population-based cluster sampling was applied at the provincial level for Chinese HCWs.Symptoms such as anxiety,depression,and insomnia were evaluated by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7,Patient Health Questionnaire-9,and Insomnia Severity Index.Factors influencing the symptoms were identified by multivariable logistic regression.RESULTS A total of 2000 participants were invited,for a response rate of 70.6%.A total of 1412 HCWs[618(43.8%)doctors,583(41.3%)nurses and 211(14.9%)nonfrontline],254(18.0%),231(16.4%),and 289(20.5%)had symptoms of anxiety,depression,and insomnia,respectively;severe symptoms were found in 58(4.1%),49(3.5%),and 111(7.9%)of the participants.Nurses,female sex,and hospitalization for COVID-19 were risk factors for anxiety,depression,and insomnia symptoms;moreover,death from family or friends was a risk factor for insomnia symptoms.During the COVID-19 outbreak,most[1086(76.9%)]of the participating HCWs received psychological interventions,while nearly all[994(70.4%)]of them had received public psychological education.Only 102(7.2%)of the HCWs received individual counseling from COVID-19.CONCLUSION Although the mental health and sleep problems of HCWs were relieved after the COVID-19 pandemic,they still faced challenges and greater risks than did the general population.Identifying risk factors would help in providing targeted interventions.In addition,although a major proportion of HCWs have received public psychological education,individual interventions are still insufficient.

The association of diet quality and physical activity with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 85,545 older Australians:A longitudinal study

Background:A quality diet and an active lifestyle are both important cornerstones of cardiovascular disease(CVD)prevention.However,despite their interlinked effects on metabolic health,the 2 behaviors are rarely considered jointly,particularly within the context of CVD prevention.We examined the independent,interactive,and joint associations of diet and physical activity with CVD hospitalization,CVD mortality,and all-cause mortality.Methods:CVD-free Australian participants aged 4574 years(n=85,545)reported physical activity,diet,sociodemographic,and lifestyle characteristics at baseline(20062009)and follow-up(20122015),and data were linked to hospitalization and death registries(03/31/2019 for CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality and 12/08/2017 for CVD mortality).Diet quality was categorized as low,medium,and high based on meeting dietary recommendations.Physical activity was operationalized as(a)total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA)as per guidelines,and(b)the composition of MVPA as the ratio of vigorous-intensity physical activity(VPA)to total MVPA.We used a left-truncated cause-specific Cox proportional hazards model using time-varying covariates.Results:During a median of 10.7 years of follow-up,6576 participants were admitted to the hospital for CVD and 6581 died from all causes(876 from CVD during 9.3 years).A high-quality diet was associated with a 17%lower risk of all-cause mortality than a low-quality diet,and the highest MVPA category(compared with the lowest)was associated with a 44%and 48%lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality,respectively.Multiplicative interactions between diet and physical activity were non-significant.For all outcomes,the lowest risk combinations involved a high-quality diet and the highest MVPA categories.Accounting for total MVPA,some VPA was associated with further risk reduction of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.Conclusion:For CVD prevention and longevity,one should adhere to both a healthy diet and an active lifestyle and incorporate some VPA when possible.

Follow-up Study of Retreatment TB Patients with Sputum Smear and/or Culture Positive Two Years after They were Declared Cured with First-line Anti-TB Drugs in Shandong Province

This study aimed to learn the recurrence rate in the retreatment TB patients with sputum smear and/or culture positive （ss＋ and/or c＋） two years after they were declared cured, and to explore causes of recurrence in order to improve long-time treatment outcome. 5 cities were selected as research locations. Recurrence of TB was judged by chest X-ray examination together with sputum smear and culture examination.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Dienogest in Healthy Bangladeshi Female Volunteers: An Open-Label, Single-Dose, Randomized, Two-Way Crossover Study

Background: Dienogest is a potential treatment for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis, a condition of significant concern in gynaecology. The current study was conducted as a crossover-randomized bioequivalence assessment of two oral Dienogest 2 mg formulations, aiming to provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and researchers in this field. Objective: The primary aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of Dienogest 2 mg tablets. Dinogest (Dienogest 2 mg) tablets, manufactured by Nuvista Pharma Limited in Bangladesh, and Visanne (Dienogest 2 mg) tablets, manufactured by Bayer Pharma in Germany, were the test and reference formulations, respectively. Materials and Method: The study was an open-label, balanced, randomized, two treatments, two sequences, two periods, two-way crossover, laboratory blind, single oral dose bioequivalence study conducted in healthy adult females under fasting conditions. The study was carried out on 13 healthy, non-pregnant female subjects, and all the subjects completed both study periods with a 15-day washout in between. Randomization was used to assign the test and reference formulations to the subjects. Following each oral administration, a series of blood samples were obtained at different time intervals from pre-dose to 72 hours post-dose and analyzed for Dienogest concentrations using a validated bio-analytical method. A standard non-compartmental model was used to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters. The primary pharmacokinetic parameters were peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time t (AUC0–t), and AUC from t = 0 to infinity (AUC0–∞). The other PK parameters included time to reach Cmax (Tmax), terminal elimination rate constant (Kel), and half-life (t1/2). Result: The ratios and 90% CI for the geometric mean test/reference were 95.53% (86.70% - 105.26%) for Cmax, 101.75% (95.42% - 108.49%) for AUC0−t, and 101.54% (95.59%% - 107.87%) for AUC0−∞. The formulations were bioequivalent since the 90% CIs for the geometric mean test/reference ratios were 80% to 125%, according to the predetermined range of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. Conclusion: This single-dose investigation shows that the Dienogest test and reference formulations exhibited a rate and degree of absorption that met the regulatory requirements for bioequivalence.

Geological Studies to Support the Tourism Site: A Case Study in the <i>Rafflesia</i>Trail, Near Kampung Jedip, Lojing Highlands, Kelantan, Malaysia

Some geological studies were performed in the Rafflesia Trail, near Kampung Jedip, in Lojing Highlands, Kelantan. This area is famous for its Rafflesia and has become one of the tourism attractions in Kelantan. However, the recent development of agricultural activities has significant effects on the area. The objective of these studies is to give substantial geological information including geomorphology, lithology, structural features, geohazard potentials, and water quality analysis in the study area. Desk study was conducted by reviewing some literatures related to the topic and the study area. Field work was organized during a scientific expedition in January 2014, to collect data, samples, and photographs. Geomorphologically, the study area is a mountainous area which mostly consists of mountain ridges and mountain valleys. Some fluvial features occur in the study area, such as waterfalls, cascades, rapids, runs, pools, potholes, lateral bars, and point bars. This area is composed of granitic rocks, mostly granite porphyry, and covered by superficial deposits of Quaternary age. The geological structure that is commonly found in the study area is joints, where they divide the rock body into large, roughly angular blocks, which is called as brecciation. The potential geohazard in the study area is landslides, where some of them are composed of soil only and others are mixtures of rock and soil. The water quality analysis has managed to identify that the stream water in this area generally has the quality of Class III (according to INWQS for Malaysia). These studies recommend that this area should be supported as a sustainable tourism site in Lojing Highlands.