Characterization of carbonaceous components and PAHs on ultrafine particles in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

This study investigated seasonal fluctuations in particulate matter (PM) concentrations, including carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) components, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, focusing on ultrafine particles (UFPs or ≤ 100 nm). UFP levels were notably higher during the dry season, averaging 23.73 ± 3.7 µg/m3 compared to 19.64 ± 3.4 µg/m3 in the wet season, attributed to increased emissions from vehicles and agricultural burning. In contrast, lower concentrations during the wet season were due to scavenging effect of rain. When compared to other Southeast Asian cities, UFP levels in Phnom Penh were significantly higher during the dry season, surpassing those in cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Seasonal variations in carbonaceous components showed higher elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) during the dry season, with EC/TC ratios suggesting substantial influence from vehicular emissions and biomass burning. PAH analysis revealed seasonal disparities, with higher concentrations of benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF) during the wet season, whereas fluoranthene (Flu) and pyrene (Pyr) were consistently present, indicating diverse PAH sources. The Flu/(Flu + Pyr) ratios, indicative of biomass burning, were higher in the dry season. Correlations between PAHs and carbon components confirmed combustion as a significant source of PAHs, aligning with global trends. This emphasizes the need to address distinct PM sources during various season in Phnom Penh.

Enhanced photodynamic therapy of curcumin using biodegradable PLGA coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Since the available treatments are not highly effective to combat cancer, therefore, the alternative strategies are unavoidable. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the emerging approaches which is target specific and minimally invasive. This study explores the successful development of Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and their augmented effects achieved by integrating curcumin (Cur) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the polymeric layer and silica's pores, respectively. The synthesized nanocarriers (Cur-PLGA-cMSNs) have shown preferential targeting to the cellular organelles facilitated by CTAB's and Cur's affinity to mitochondria. CTAB and Cur-based PDT induced oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in dysfunctional mitochondria and triggered apoptotic pathways. PLGA coating has produced multifunctional effects, including; gatekeeping effects at pore openings, providing an extra loading site, enhancing the hemocompatibility of MSNs, and masking the free cur-related prolonged coagulation time. Cur-PLGA-cMSNs, as a multifaceted and combative approach with synergistic effects demonstrate promising potential to enhance outcomes in cancer treatment.

Combination Therapy With Asciminib and Ponatinib as a Bridge to Brexucabtagene Autoleucel and Maintenance in a Patient With Relapsed Refractory Philadelphia Positive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have changed the prognosis of Philadelphia-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, relapsed and refractory disease after multiple TKIs continues to be a clinical challenge. Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is a novel FDA-approved therapy for relapsed and refractory ALL. Given the lengthy manufacturing time, bridging therapy is commonly employed prior to brexu-cel. Here we describe a case of a 75-year-old Hispanic male patient with relapsed/refractory Philadelphia-positive B-cell ALL with extramedullary disease involving abdominal lymph nodes and skin. He was initially treated with chemotherapy in combination with imatinib, and later received dasatinib and subsequently blinatumomab and nilotinib. As the patient progressed, he received ponatinib with low-dose salvage chemotherapy and did not show kinase domain mutation. In a final effort, a novel combination of ponatinib with asciminib was used as a bridge therapy before brexu-cel and later as maintenance therapy after brexu-cel. This novel combination was able to control disease prior to brexu-cel for 2 months and maintained remission for at least 10 months. This report shows that the novel combination of ponatinib and asciminib is tolerable and effective as a bridge and maintenance therapy after brexu-cel.

Environmental, technological, and economic analysis of supercritical coal-fired power system.

Developing countries primarily rely on fossil-based energy sources to meet their energy demands. The use of fossil fuels has several adverse environmental repercussions that damage the biosphere both directly and indirectly. Among fossil fuels, coal brings about the heaviest environmental externalities, yet its abundance makes its use widespread, particular in countries having significant power generation deficits, such as Pakistan. This study presents an environmental, technological, and economic analysis of a supercritical coal-based power unit located in Pakistan and used for electricity generation. For environmental assessment, the CML-1A baseline method in OpenLCA software was used, and eight midpoint impact indicators were selected. The functional unit chosen was 1 MWh of generated electricity. The results indicated that the category of ozone layer depletion has the least impact, whereas global warming potential has the highest impact score. Except for photochemical oxidation and human toxicity, the plant operational stage dominated most of the selected impact categories. The current paper also reveals that the removal efficiency of CO2 and other pollutants is higher in supercritical compared to subcritical plants. Moreover, the economic feasibility of supercritical plant is compared with chemical looping combustion (CLC)-based supercritical coal-fired power plant, and results shows that CLC-based coal-fired power plant is a more competitive and environmentally friendly option. The utilization of a scientific cleaner energy-management system in real-time, as exemplified in this study, may facilitate the development of a optimal policy framework that encourages for the adoption of cleaner coal power generation in developing countries, ultimately resulting in improved energy sustainability. Furthermore, this paper also presents some policy implications which could be helpful for policymakers, researchers, and industrialists to improve the sustainability of energy in emerging economies.

Issues and challenges of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts.

Depletion of oil and gas resources is a major concern for researchers and the global community. Researchers are trying to develop a way to overcome these issues using the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) process. The FTS reaction converts a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases into a liquid fuel. The reactions are performed in the reactor and in the presence of a catalyst. A series of catalysts, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, and ruthenium, have been used for the FTS process. In iron-based catalysts, the Fe5C phase is the active phase that produces C5+ hydrocarbons. At higher conversion rates, the presence of water in the products is a problem for cobalt catalysts because it can trigger catalyst deactivation mechanisms. Ni-based catalysts play key roles as base catalysts, promoters, and photothermal catalysts in FTS reactions to produce different useful hydrocarbons. Ruthenium catalysts offer not only high activity but also selectivity toward long-chain hydrocarbons. Moreover, depending on the Ru particle size and interaction with the oxide support, the catalyst properties can be tuned to enhance the catalytic activity during FTS. The detailed reaction pathways based on catalyst properties are explained in this article. This review article describes the issues and challenges associated with catalysts used for the FTS process.

Modeling health outcomes of air pollution in the Middle East by using support vector machines and neural networks.

This study investigates the impact of air pollution on health outcomes in Middle Eastern countries, a region facing severe environmental challenges. As such, these are important in an effort to add up to policy-level as well as interventional changes that can be put in practice in the area of public health. Numeration analysis and association with health parameters was carried out by using Analytical tools such as, AIR Data, ARIMA,ANN, SVM and Exponential smoothing. Amongst the models, Support Vector Machine came again on top, with high accuracy yielding Mean Absolute Percentage Error of approximately 1%. Mortality of Air pollution in Qat from the case of Mortality of Air Pollution in Qatar is 959 while Auto regressive Integrated Moving average is 11.096, Exponential Smoothing 9.892 and Artificial Neural Networks are the source of inspiration for the development of this paper 4.61. The above perceptions indicate that there is need to adapt modeling strategies depending on the context and establish that it is possible to implement ML models in public health planning basket. This paper publishes the methodological frameworks for the purpose of modeling and analysis of the EHDs and serves as policy prescription for the policy makers to intending to reduce the effects of air borne pollution on health.

Social media ostracism and creativity: moderating role of emotional intelligence.

The goal of this study is to learn more about social media ostracism, a stressor associated with online social networks, defined by feelings of rejection, exclusion, or ignoring. We investigate the connection between social media ostracism and worker creativity. We suggest that psychological safety and psychological rumination serve as intermediaries in this relationship. Furthermore, we investigate emotional intelligence as a relationship regulator. To verify our hypothesis, we gathered data with the help of the HR department from 244 workers of nine Chinese organizations. Our research shows that psychological rumination and social media exclusion are significantly correlated, but only in workers with low emotional intelligence. Furthermore, for individuals with strong emotional intelligence, we did not discover a statistically negative association between psychological safety and social media exclusion. Findings suggest that psychological safety and psychological rumination serve as mediating factors in the relationship between employee creativity and social media exclusion. This study illuminates the negative aspects of social media ostracism and reveals how it might hinder creativity. It also emphasizes how emotional intelligence functions as a moderator. Organizations may learn a lot from this study on how to lessen the negative impacts of social media exclusion on employee creativity.

In Vitro Photoselective Gene Transfection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells with Hypericin Lipopolyplexes.

The lipopolyplex, a multicomponent nonviral gene carrier, generally demonstrates superior colloidal stability, reduced cytotoxicity, and high transfection efficiency. In this study, a new concept, photochemical reaction-induced transfection, using photosensitizer (PS)-loaded lipopolyplexes was applied, which led to enhanced transfection and cytotoxic effects by photoexcitation of the photosensitizer. Hypericin, a hydrophobic photosensitizer, was encapsulated in the lipid bilayer of liposomes. The preformed nanosized hypericin liposomes enclosed the linear polyethylenimine (lPEI)/pDNA polyplexes, resulting in the formation of hypericin lipopolyplexes (Hy-LPP). The diameters of Hy-LPP containing 50 nM hypericin and 0.25 µg of pDNA were 185.6 ± 7.74 nm and 230.2 ± 4.60 nm, respectively, measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Gel electrophoresis confirmed the encapsulation of hypericin and pDNA in lipopolyplexes. Furthermore, in vitro irradiation of intracellular Hy-LPP at radiant exposures of 200, 600, and 1000 mJ/cm2 was evaluated. It demonstrated 60- to 75-fold higher in vitro luciferase expression than that in nonirradiated cells. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay supported that reduced transfection was a consequence of photocytotoxicity. The developed photosensitizer-loaded lipopolyplexes improved the transfection efficiency of an exogenous gene or induced photocytotoxicity; however, the frontier lies in the applied photochemical dose. The light-triggered photoexcitation of intracellular hypericin resulted in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to photoselective transfection in HepG2 cells. It was concluded that the two codelivered therapeutics resulted in enhanced transfection and a photodynamic effect by tuning the applied photochemical dose.

Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-10 as a Predictor of Mortality in Elderly with COVID-19.

CONTEXT: The age group at the most high risk for mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection was the elderly. AIMS: This study aims to analyze markers that can predict the severity and mortality of elderly COVID-19 patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study used a cohort retrospective design. We include adult and elderly COVID-19 patients at Universitas Airlangga Hospital from March to August 2021. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample used was 48 COVID-19 patients with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction swab results. We check the complete blood count and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during admission. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using t -test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Pearson, and Kendall Tau correlation. RESULTS: Leukocyte level (6.6 ± 2.5) was lowest in the severe-critical elderly group. Neutrophil level (75.3 ± 10.2) was highest in the mild-moderate elderly group. Lymphocyte level (18.8 ± 8.7) was highest in mild-moderate nonelderly group. Platelet level (279.0 ± 117.7) was highest in the mild-moderate elderly group. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio level (9.1 ± 9.4) was highest in the severe-critical nonelderly group, IL-6 level (98.6 ± 144.1) was highest in the severe-critical elderly group, IL-10 level (107.7 ± 47.7) was highest in the severe-critical elderly group and highest IL-6/IL-10 level (1.4 ± 1.7) was found in the mild-moderate elderly group no significant differences in biomarkers identification between the elderly and nonelderly groups. There was a substantial relationship between IL-10 levels and gender, IL-10 level, and hospital discharge condition. CONCLUSIONS: Female elderly patients and alive elderly patients were correlated with increased levels of IL-10.

Résumé Contexte:Les personnes âgées constituent le groupe d'âge le plus exposé au risque de mortalité lié à l'infection par le SRAS-CoV-2.Objectifs:Cette étude vise à d'analyser les marqueurs qui peuvent prédire la gravité et la mortalité des patients âgés atteints de COVID-19.Paramètres et conception:Cette étude a été réalisée sur la base d'une cohorte rétrospective de cohorte. Nous avons inclus des patients adultes et âgés atteints de COVID-19 à l'hôpital Universitas Airlangga de mars à août 2021.Sujets et méthodes:L'échantillon utilisé était de 48 patients COVID-19 avec des résultats positifs d'écouvillonnage de réaction en chaîne de la polymérase en temps réel. Nous avons vérifié l'hémogramme complet et les niveaux sériques d'interleukine-6 (IL-6) et d'IL-10 à l'aide d'un test immuno-enzymatique au cours de l'admission.Analyse statistique utilisée:Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du test t, du test de Mann-Whitney, du chi carré, de Pearson et de la corrélation de Kendall Tau.Résultats:Le taux de leucocytes (6,6 ± 2,5) était le plus bas dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état critique grave. Le taux de neutrophiles (75,3 ± 10,2) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état critique léger modéré. Le taux de lymphocytes (18,8 ± 8,7) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées non âgées en état léger-modéré. Le taux de plaquettes (279,0 ± 117,7) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées légèrement modérées. Le rapport neutrophiles/lymphocytes (9,1 ± 9,4) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées non âgées en état critique grave. Le taux d'IL-6 (98,6 ± 144,1) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état critique grave, le taux d'IL-10 (107,7 ± 47,7) était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état critique grave et le taux le plus élevé d'IL-6/IL-10 était le plus élevé dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état modéré grave. Le niveau le plus élevé d'IL-6/IL-10 (1,4 ± 1,7) a été trouvé dans le groupe des personnes âgées en état léger-modéré Aucune différence significative dans l'identification des biomarqueurs entre les personnes âgées et les personnes non âgées. Entre les groupes de personnes âgées et les groupes de personnes non âgées. Il existe une relation substantielle entre les niveaux d'IL-10 et le sexe, le niveau d'IL-10 et l'état à la sortie de l'hôpital. l'état à la sortie de l'hôpital.Conclusions:Les patients âgés de sexe féminin et les patients âgés vivants étaient corrélés à des niveaux plus élevés d'IL-10.

Prudent Use of Blood Cultures for Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis.

Background No reliable risk stratification method is available to guide the extent of infectious work-up among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, we aimed to create a risk stratification method for obtaining blood cultures from hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - National Readmission Database 2019. Adult patients who were not immunocompromised comprised the final cohort. The primary outcome was the incidence of bacteremia among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, inpatient mortality, and 30-day readmission rate among cirrhosis patients with and without bacteremia. After propensity score matching, the χ2 test was used to assess the primary outcome and inpatient mortality. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the length of hospital stay. Readmission rates were compared via survival analysis. Concomitant bacterial infection, cirrhosis causes, and complications were assessed as potential risk factors for bacteremia using binomial regression. Results The risk ratio (RR) of bacteremia was 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-1.78) among patients with cirrhosis compared to those without cirrhosis. A concomitant bacterial infection was found to have a strong association with bacteremia in patients with cirrhosis (RR: 3.3, 95% CI: 3.03-3.59). Among cirrhosis patients without concomitant bacterial infection, the incidence of bacteremia was 0.76% (<1%). Among the causes of cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis was found to have a strong association with bacteremia (RR: 3.88, 95% CI: 2.3-6.04, P < 0.001). Patients with cirrhosis who had bacteremia were hospitalized three days longer than those without bacteremia. There was no difference in inpatient mortality or 30-day readmission rates between cirrhotic patients with and without bacteremia. Conclusion This study suggests that, in the absence of another concomitant bacterial infection and primary sclerosing cholangitis, we can avoid unnecessary blood cultures among immunocompetent patients with cirrhosis. However, given some inherent limitations associated with the database (such as the unavailability of vitals or laboratory values), additional studies are needed to validate its findings.

Polymers Containing Phenothiazine, Either as a Dopant or as Part of Their Structure, for Dye-Sensitized and Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Potential photovoltaic technology includes the newly developed dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. Owing to their diverse qualities, polymers can be employed in third-generation photovoltaic cells to specifically alter their device elements and frameworks. Polymers containing phenothiazine, either as a part of their structure or as a dopant, are easy and economical to synthesize, are soluble in common organic solvents, and have the potential to acquire desired electrochemical and photophysical properties by mere tuning of their chemical structures. Such polymers have therefore been used either as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, where they have produced power conversion efficiency (PCE) values as high as 5.30%, or as donor or acceptor materials in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Furthermore, they have been employed to prepare liquid-free polymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized and bulk heterojunction solar cells, producing a PCE of 8.5% in the case of DSSCs. This paper reviews and analyzes almost all research works published to date on phenothiazine-based polymers and their uses in dye-sensitized and bulk heterojunction solar cells. The impacts of their structure and molecular weight and the amount when used as a dopant in other polymers on the absorption, photoluminescence, energy levels of frontier orbitals, and, finally, photovoltaic parameters are reviewed. The advantages of phenothiazine polymers for solar cells, the difficulties in their actual implementation and potential remedies are also evaluated.

Ocular Hornet Injury: A Case Report on Corneal Microperforation and Endophthalmitis.

The lesser-banded hornet (Vespa affinis indosinensis) is a prevalent species in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including Malaysia. Its stings can result in local reactions, severe anaphylactic shock, and even death. We report a rare case of corneal microperforation and endophthalmitis following an ocular hornet injury. A 76-year-old farmer was attacked by hornets and suffered multiple stings, including one to his right eye. He developed right eye pain, redness, and visual impairment. Ocular examination revealed right corneal haziness with a retained stinger. Attempts to remove the retained stinger were unsuccessful, as the stinger broke and stayed deep in the corneal tissue layer. Corneal microperforation occurred at the site of the retained stinger. Subsequently, he developed endophthalmitis despite extensive topical and systemic antibiotics. He also required a scleral patch procedure for sclerokeratouveitis. This report highlights the importance of quick and vigilant management to prevent severe complications and preserve vision after a hornet sting injury. Retained stingers pose unique challenges that require specialized interventions. There is a need for continuous research and awareness in the management of ocular hornet injuries, aiming to establish standardized treatment guidelines and improve patient outcomes.

Bridge the Gap: Addressing Rural End-of-Life Care Disparities and Access to Hospice Services.

Rural hospices face many obstacles in delivering palliative and end-of-life care in the United States. We aimed to identify these barriers and their potential solutions. Following a systematic approach, a comprehensive literature search using relevant keywords was conducted on online databases. Additionally, we conducted a manual search to include policy documents and white papers. Key challenges reported in the literature included limited geographic barriers and access issues, limited economic support, regulatory hindrances, and difficulty training and retaining palliative care staff. This contributes to inequitable access to hospice care in rural settings. We propose several potential solutions to overcome these hurdles and improve access. Advanced practice providers should be considered to serve as physician heads in rural hospices, which would expand resources in areas with physician shortages. A single per diem payment model should be implemented for rural hospices, regardless of the level of care provided, to help offset the higher cost of care. The Critical Access Hospital program and offering cost-based reimbursement for swing-bed stays could improve access to postacute care, including hospice services. Telehealth can improve the timeliness of care and reduce travel costs for patients and providers. Another solution to consider is simulation-based training to enhance the education of healthcare providers. In conclusion, there is a critical gap in end-of-life care access in rural communities. A multifaceted approach including policy changes, financial support, and technological innovations is essential to improve hospice care access in rural populations.

Standard medical ethnobotany of Kohistan, North Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: This study was exclusively focused on the documentation and cross-cultural evaluation of ethnomedicinal knowledge (EMK) within the diverse linguistic groups of Kohistan situated between the Himalayan and Hindukush Mountain ranges in the north Pakistan. METHODS: Data were gathered during the field survey (May 2022 to July 2023) through group conversations, semi-structured interviews, and on-site observation. Venn diagrams were employed to illustrate the comparative assessment of EMK, and different ethnobotanical indices were utilized to examine the data. RESULTS: A total of 96 wild medicinal plant species (MPs) belonging to 74 genera and 52 botanical families were documented. The most reported MPs belong to the family Polygonaceae (11 species), followed by Asteraceae (9 species) and Lamiaceae (8 species). The ethnomedicinal uses of Leontopodium himalayanum, Pedicularis oederi, Plocama brevifolia, Polypodium sibiricum, Pteridium esculentum, Sambucus wightiana, Solanum cinereum, Teucrium royleanum, Rhodiola integrifolia, Aconitum chasmanthum were reported for the first time in this region. Among the reported taxa herbaceous species were dominated (72%), followed by trees and shrubs (17% and 10%, respectively). Digestive problems (40 taxa and 114 use reports) and skin disorders (19 taxa and 549 use reports) were the most cited disease categories, whereas M. communis, M. longifolia, Ajuga integrifolia, Ziziphus jujuba, and Clematis grata exhibited the highest percentage fidelity levels. Out of 109 documented medicinal uses, a mere 12 were shared across all linguistic groups, and Bateri emerges as a notable outlier with the highest number of medicinal uses. In addition, a significant homogeneity was noted in the reported botanical taxa (61 species) among different linguistic groups. However, since the last decade biocultural heritage of Kohistan is facing multifaceted risks that need urgent attention. CONCLUSION: Our findings could be valuable addition to the existing stock of ethnomedicinal knowledge and may provide ethnopharmacological basis to novel drug discovery for preexisting and emerging diseases prioritizing detailed phytochemical profiling and the evaluation of bioactive potential.

Antibiotic usage patterns in COVID-19 patients in five tertiary hospitals from Bangladesh: A countrywide picture.

Objectives: Irrational and injudicious use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients could be detrimental in a tropical country with a weak antibiotic stewardship policy such as Bangladesh. This study aimed to focus on the antibiotic usage patterns in COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh. Methods: This prospective observational study was performed from July 2020 to June 2021 in five tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. Data on demographic profile, disease severity, and antibiotic usage were collected directly from the patients' hospital documents. Results: A total of 3486 (94.4%) patients were treated with at least one antibiotic; 3261 (93.6%) patients received a single antibiotic, and 225 (6.5%) received multiple antibiotics. The most used antibiotics were ceftriaxone (37.3%), co-amoxiclav (26.3%), azithromycin (10.6%), and meropenem (10.3%). According to the World Health Organization AWaRe categorization, most (2260; 69.6%) of the antibiotics prescribed in this study belonged to the "Watch" group. Culture and sensitivity reports were available in 111 cases from one center. Only 18.9% of the patients were found to be co-infected with multi-drug-resistant bacteria (52.4% yield from sputum, 28.6% from urine, and 14.3% from blood). Conclusions: Strict antibiotic prescribing policy and antibiotic stewardship should be implemented immediately to limit the future threat of antimicrobial resistance in countries such as Bangladesh.

Characterizing Chemical, Environmental, and Stimulated Subcellular Physical Characteristics of Size-Fractionated PMs Down to PM0.1.

Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM), is a significant environmental pollution worldwide. Studying the chemical, environmental, and life-related cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs is important because of their different degrees of harmful effects on human respiratory tracts and organ systems, causing severe diseases. This study evaluates the chemical components of size-fractionated PMs down to PM0.1 collected during a biomass-burning episode, including elemental/organic carbon and trace elements. Single particle sizes and distributions of PM0.1, PM0.5-0.1, PM1.0-0.5, and PM2.5-1.0 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Zeta sizer. Two commonly used cell lines, e.g., HeLa and Cos7 cells, and two respiratory-related cell lines including lung cancer/normal cells were utilized for cell cytotoxicity experiments, revealing the key effects of particle sizes and concentrations. A high-speed scanning ion conductance microscope explored particle-stimulated subcellular physical characteristics for all cell lines in dynamics, including surface roughness (SR) and elastic modulus (E). The statistical results of SR showed distinct features among different particle sizes and cell types while a E reduction was universally found. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the chemical, environmental, and cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs and sheds light on the necessity of controlling small-sized PM exposures.

Constituents from leaves of Macaranga hemsleyana.

Objective: To study constituents of the leaves of Macaranga hemsleyana, and evaluate their inhibitory effects against NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and antiproliferative activity. Methods: The constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on MCI gel CHP20P/P120, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC. The structures of compounds were determined by 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS data. The inhibitory effect of compounds on inflammasome activation was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) procedure. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using MTT assay. Results: The study led to the isolation of 23 compounds, including one new compound, identified as (2Z)-3-[4-(ß-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2'-hydroxy-5'-methoxyphenyl]-2-propenoic acid (1), together with 22 known compounds recognized as 1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-pyridinecarbonitrile (2), methyl 4-methoxynicotinate (3), 4-methoxynicotinonitrile (4), 1-(3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethanone (5), neoisoastilbin (6), isoastilbin (7), aromadendrin (8), neoastilbin (9), astilbin (10), quercitrin (11), neoschaftoside (12), apigenin 6,8-bis-C-α-L-arabinoside (13), vitexin (14), bergenin (15), scopoletin (16), glucopyranoside salicyl (17), koaburside (18), benzyl ß-D-glucoside (19), icariside B5 (20), roseoside (21), loliolide (22), and adenosine (23). The tested compounds did not show LDH inhibition nor antiproliferative activity. Conclusion: Compound 1 was a new glycoside. Compounds 2 and 3 were obtained for the first time from natural source. The 22 known compounds constituted of alkaloids (2-4, 23), phenolics (5, 15, 17, 18), flavonoids (6-14), coumarin (16), benzyl glycoside (19), and norsesquiterpenes (20-22). All the compounds, 1-23, were revealed from M. hemsleyana for the first time. This is the initial uncovering of molecules 1-10, 12, 13, 17-19, and 23 from the genus Macaranga. The isolated compounds, 11, 14-16, and 20-22 established taxonomic classification of M. hemsleyana in Euphorbiaceae family. Flavonoids were outstanding as chemosystematic markers of Macaranga genus.

Human gingival mesenchymal stem cells-lyosecretome attenuates adverse effect of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on osteoblast cells.

Objective: To determine total protein content, antioxidant activity, and protective ability of lyophilized human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs)-secretome in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative stress model. Methods: Human GMSCs were cultured to obtain a conditioned medium (secretome), then lyophilized to produce lyosecretome. Total protein was determined by bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA) and SDS-PAGE to improve protein measurements. Antioxidant concentration was measured by ABTS assay, while the protective ability of lyosecretome against oxidative stress was determined by the metabolic activity of osteoblast cells. The study group was divided into a control group (culture medium) and a lyosecretome treatment group (0.0; 0.157, 0.313, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL + H2O2). Results: Lyosecretome had a protein concentration of 2086.00 ± 0.20 µg/ml, with a molecular weight of 174, 74, 61, 55, and 26 kDa, which are thought to facilitate cell migration, as well as bind cytokines and growth factors. Lyosecretome also provided the highest antioxidant activity of 93.51% at a concentration of 4.8 mg/ml, with an IC50 value of 2.08 mg/ml. The highest cell metabolic activity (79.53 ± 2.41%) was shown in the 1.25 mg/ml lyosecretome treatment group. All concentrations of hGMSC-lyosecretome attenuate the adverse effect of H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Conclusion: Lyosecretome obtained from hGMSCs can maintain metabolic activity in osteoblast cells as protection against H2O2 oxidative stress.

Shifting the Paradigm: How Stress Hyperglycemia Alters the Landscape of Heart Failure Management.

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) significantly contributes to global morbidity. Stress hyperglycemia (SHGL), although commonly observed in non-diabetic ADHF patients, remains underexplored. This study investigates the predictive value of SHGL for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and its impact on coronary intervention outcomes. Methods In this prospective observational study at a tertiary care center, 650 non-diabetic ADHF patients admitted for coronary intervention between April 2021 and April 2022 were assessed. SHGL was defined by random blood sugar levels >140 mg/dl. We monitored the incidence of MACEs, including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and heart failure rehospitalization, alongside the success rates of coronary revascularizations over 12 months. Results SHGL was present in 54% of patients (n=352) and was significantly associated with increased MACEs (p<0.001), higher rehospitalization rates (p<0.01), and lower success in revascularization (p<0.05). Using logistic regression, SHGL, age >65, and prior heart failure hospitalization were identified as independent predictors of MACEs. Statistical analyses were performed using two-tailed Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance levels set at p<0.05 for noteworthy findings and p<0.01 or p<0.001 for highly significant findings. Conclusions SHGL significantly impacts coronary intervention outcomes and the future prognosis of heart failure in non-diabetic ADHF patients, identifying it as a critical, modifiable risk factor. These findings advocate integrating SHGL management into ADHF care, emphasizing the need for further research to develop standardized treatment protocols. Proper management of SHGL could potentially improve patient outcomes, highlighting the importance of metabolic control in heart failure management.

Enhancing performance in the presence of outliers with redescending M-estimators.

In real-life situations, we have to analyze the data that contains the atypical observations, and the presence of outliers has adverse effects on the performance of ordinary least square estimates. In this situation, redescedning M-estimators, proposed by Huber (1964), are used to tackle the effects of outliers to increase the efficiency of least square estimates. In this study, we introduce a redescending M-estimator designed to generate robust estimates by mitigating the influence of outlier observations, even when the tuning constant is set to low values. This innovative estimator exhibits enhanced linearity at its core and maintains continuity throughout its range. Our proposed estimator stands out for its novelty, simplicity, differentiability, and practical applicability across real-world scenarios. The results of the proposed redescedning M-estimators are compared with existing robust estimators using an extensive simulation study. Two examples based on real-life data are also added to validate the performance of the suggested function. The formulated redescedning M-estimator produced efficient results as compared to all the considered redescedning M-estimators.