Cardamom seed bioactives: A review of agronomic factors, preparation, extraction and formulation methods based on emerging technologies to maximize spice aroma economic value and applications.

Cardamom seed (Elettaria cardamomum (L.)) is a well-appreciated spice in food and pharmaceutical industries owing to its unique rich flavor dominated by oxygenated monoterpenoids, α-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole, to which most of the quality of cardamom essential oil (CEO) is attributed. CEO output is greatly influenced by different agronomic factors, processing, and EO extraction methods. In that context, the goal of this study is to provide an overarching review regarding emerged technologies along with their optimization parameters to achieve optimal oil yield with the best flavor quality. Furthermore, the recent approaches employed in CEO stabilization were highlighted alongside their pharmaceutical and food applications. Moreover, the different aspects of superlative CEO production including agricultural aspects, climatic requirements, and processing methods were also explained.

Spectral and conductivity measurements insights on loading mechanisms of DMSO/water-kaolin complexes.

Kaolin, a naturally occurring clay mineral renowned for its distinctive properties, holds significant importance across various industries. The integration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) into kaolin matrices, both in the presence and absence of water, has been extensively explored for its potential to enhance material characteristics. Addressing debates surrounding the proposed adsorption mechanism for the type I structure of DMSO, this study undertook a comprehensive physicochemical characterization of DMSO-kaolin complexes (DMSO-KCs) derived from untreated (UnK) and HCl-treated (HK) Egyptian ore, with a focus on elucidating the loading mechanism facilitated by water. Key insights gleaned from electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and Fine Testing Technology - Fourier-transform infrared (FTT-FTIR) measurements, shedding light on the bonding nature of DMSO-KCs. FTT-FTIR analysis revealed two stages of water departure at 180 °C, with the final stage coinciding with the release of pyrolysis gases, confirming the catalytic degradation of DMSO. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), two distinct bonding types of DMSO molecules with kaolinite were identified: amorphous adsorbed (type I) and lattice-oriented intercalated (type II). Electrical characteristic evaluations within the temperature range of room temperature (RT) to 260 °C and frequency range of 42 Hz-1 MHz revealed that DMSO intercalation enhances the electrical properties of kaolin. Hydrated DMSO-KCs exhibited higher values of σac and ɛ' compared to non-hydrated samples. The activation energy (Ea) values for HCl-treated samples were smaller than those of untreated ones. Alternating current (AC) conductivity analysis indicated predominantly ionic behavior with frequency and temperature dependency in both HCl-treated and untreated kaolin. Our findings substantiate the adsorption mechanism of Type I DMSO, highlighting its amorphous nature, instability, and catalytic degradation over time, in contrast to the intercalated type II. This elucidation is pivotal for understanding the behavior of DMSO-KCs across diverse applications, including electronics, ceramics, and materialsscience.

Proven anti-virulence therapies in combating methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Introduction: Despite years of efforts to develop new antibiotics for eradicating multidrug-resistant (MDR) and multi-virulent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infections, treatment failures and poor prognoses in most cases have been common. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches targeting virulence arrays. Our aim is to discover new anti-virulence therapies targeting MRSA and VRSA virulence arrays. Methodology: We employed phenotypic, molecular docking, and genetic studies to screen for anti-virulence activities among selected promising compounds: Coumarin, Simvastatin, and Ibuprofen. Results: We found that nearly all detected MRSA and VRSA strains exhibited MDR and multi-virulent profiles. The molecular docking results aligned with the phenotypic and genetic assessments of virulence production. Biofilm and hemolysin productions were inhibited, and all virulence genes were downregulated upon treatment with sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of these promising compounds. Ibuprofen was the most active compound, exhibiting the highest inhibition and downregulation of virulence gene products. Moreover, in vivo and histopathological studies confirmed these results. Interestingly, we observed a significant decrease in wound area and improvements in re-epithelialization and tissue organization in the Ibuprofen and antimicrobial treated group compared with the group treated with antimicrobial alone. These findings support the idea that a combination of Ibuprofen and antimicrobial drugs may offer a promising new therapy for MRSA and VRSA infections. Conclusion: We hope that our findings can be implemented in clinical practice to assist physicians in making the most suitable treatment decisions.

Prevalence of iron overload in patients with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis: A scoping review.

Background and Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are susceptible to complications, including iron overload, which can significantly impact their prognosis and overall health. This scoping review aimed to study the prevalence and implications of iron overload in CKD patients undergoing PD. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases, leading to the selection of 18 papers for in-depth analysis. These studies collectively involved 381 PD patients, 60.3% were males. Results: No consensus was reached regarding the exact diagnostic cutoff for iron overload. The investigations revealed four main aspects: (1) Seven papers identified various factors contributing to iron overload, emphasizing the role of different iron supplements and magnetic resonance imaging's capability to diagnose iron accumulation in organs; (2) Iron overload in young patients was found to hinder growth; (3) Six studies highlighted the adverse effects of iron overload, with cardiac issues being the most significant; (4) Three studies demonstrated the efficacy of iron-chelating agents, Deferoxamine and Deferasirox, in treating iron overload patients undergoing PD. Overall, the estimated prevalence of liver iron overload in CKD patients on PD ranges from approximately 10% to 28.6%, which is far lower than the prevalence of 75% elegantly shown in HD patients. Conclusion: While iron overload was a significant concern for CKD patients undergoing PD in the past, it is less common in the current era due to advancements in treatments, such as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Treatment with specific chelation agents has proven beneficial, but there is also a risk of adverse effects, necessitating meticulous monitoring and timely intervention.

Potential human health risk assessment associated with Hg, Cd, Pb, and As in sardines and shrimp from four Egyptian coastal governorates.

Heavy metal contamination in seafood is a developing concern due to the potential negative consequences on human health. Egypt's coastal regions are important for seafood production and consumption, making it critical to assess the safety of these aquatic resources. The current study examined toxic metal levels (Hg, Pb, Cd, and AS) in 96 samples of sardine and shrimp from four Egyptian coastal governorates (Alexandria, Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, and Port Said) from 2019 to 2021. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to investigate the four hazardous metals. The recovery percentages of the determined metals ranged between 97 % and 99 %. Limits of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the determined metals ranged from 0.001 to 0.0077 mg/l and from 0.0035 to 0.026 mg/l, respectively. Mercury (Hg) was not found in any of the samples tested. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the sardines and shrimp samples were higher in the winter seasons than in the summer seasons. Meanwhile, the difference in seasons had no effect on the concentration of As in the sardines and shrimp samples. The highest concentrations of the other three metals in the sardine and shrimp samples were used to calculate the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI). The obtained THQ as well as the HI of Pb, Cd, and As were all less than 1.0 (with the exception of sardine samples from Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, which recorded 1.262), indicating that there is no significant health risk to the consumer from consuming such sardines and shrimp from these governorates. The effect of different seasons on the concentrations of the metals under study does not have a specific behavior, but varies according to the governorate, the type of sample, and the type of contaminated metal. Due to the high level of contamination with heavy metals in sardine samples collected from Kafr El-Sheikh governorate (TTHQ = 1.26), an environmental study is required to determine the causes of contamination and control them.

Comparative Analysis of Dosimetry: IMRT versus 3DCRT in Left-Sided Breast Cancer Patients with Considering Some Organs in Out - of - Field Borders.

Purpose: The local management approach for node-positive breast cancer has undergone substantial evolution. Consequently, there exists a pressing need to enhance our treatment strategies by placing greater emphasis on planning and dosimetric factors, given the availability of more conformal techniques and delineation criteria, achieving optimal goals of radiotherapy treatment. The primary aim of this article is to discuss how the extent of regional nodal coverage influences the choice between IMRT and 3D radiation therapy for patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 15 patients diagnosed with left breast cancer with disease involved lymph nodes were included in this study. Delivering the recommended dose required the use of a linear accelerator (LINAC) with photon beams energy of 6 mega voltage (6MV). Each patient had full breast radiation using two planning procedures: intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional radiotherapy (3D conformal). Following the guidelines set forth by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), the planned treatment coverage was carefully designed to fall between 95% and 107% of the recommended dose. Additionally, Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs) were generated the dose distribution within these anatomical contours. Results and Conclusion: The DVH parameters were subjected to a comparative analysis, focusing on the doses absorbed by both Organs at Risk (OARs) and the Planning Target Volume (PTV). The findings suggest that low doses in IMRT plan might raise the risk of adverse oncological outcomes or potentially result in an increased incidence of subsequent malignancies. Consequently, the adoption of inverse IMRT remains limited, and the decision to opt for this therapy should be reserved for situations where it is genuinely necessary to uphold a satisfactory quality of life. Additionally, this approach helps in reducing the likelihood of developing thyroid problems and mitigates the risk of injuries to the supraclavicular area and the proximal head of the humerus bone.

Impact of cultivar types and thermal processing methods on sweet potato metabolome, a comparative analysis via a multiplex approach of NIR and GC-MS based metabolomics coupled with chemometrics.

This study comprehensively analyzes the primary metabolites of sweet potato peels and pulps from four cultivars and assesses the impact of four different processing methods on pulp metabolome using a multiplex metabolomics approach of GC-MS and NIR. A total of 69 metabolites were identified. Beauregard cv. showed the highest sugar content (387.85 mg/g), whereas Sahrawy cv. was higher in alcohols (24.63 mg/g) and organic acids (2.98 mg/g). The chemometric analysis identified key markers that distinguished each cv. represented by its pulp, peel, and processed pulp. KEGG enrichment analysis pinpointed key metabolic pathways leading to the metabolic discrepancy of the specimens. Sugars were the most altered class by processing as manifested by a 5 to 11-fold increase, notably in the air-fried pulp. Air-frying also increased alcohol and organic acid contents. NIR analysis revealed that air-frying was the preferred method of processing, preserving the majority of pulp's metabolites, including ß-carotene and phenolics.

Spectral characterization of micellar-enhanced fluorescence of europium (III)-doxycycline complex and its employment as a sensor for development of a highly sensitive fluorimetric assay for determination of indigo carmine in real syrups.

Indigo carmine (IN-CR) is a synthetic blue dye widely used as a coloring agent in various food and beverage products. It is recognized for its ability to enhance the visual appeal, hue, and consistency of food products. However, recent studies have raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with this substance. Therefore, a highly sensitive analytical tool is required for the trace determination of IN-CR in food products. This study describes the spectral characteristics of micellar-enhanced fluorescence of europium (III)-doxycycline complex and its employment as a sensor for the development of a highly sensitive fluorimetric assay for the trace determination of IN-CR. The complex was formed in an alkaline medium containing hydrogen peroxide and encapsulated into cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles. This micellar-encapsulated complex exhibited significantly enhanced fluorescence at a wavelength of 613.5 nm, overlapping with the maximum absorption peak of IN-CR at 610 nm. This inner-filter effect phenomenon resulted in IN-CR's concentration-dependent quenching of the complex's fluorescence. The fluorescence quenching of the complex by inner-filter effect of IN-CR was adopted in the development of a highly sensitive fluorimetric assay for IN-CR. The conditions of the assay were refined, and the optimum procedures were established. The assay was validated for its performance characteristics, and all the validation criteria were met. The assay displayed linearity within the IN-CR concentration range of 100-1250 ng mL-1, with a limit of detection at 41.2 ng mL-1. Importantly, the assay exhibited no interference from other substances commonly used as food additives. The recoveries ranged from 99.11 % to 101.57 %, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1.34 % to 1.89 %.The assay was successfully applied to the determination of IN-CR in commercial syrup products, and the recoveries ranged from 93.5 % to 106.32 % with relative standard deviations ≤4.72 %, confirming the reliability of the assay. The proposed assay provides some key advantages, including a novel application of the europium (III)-doxycycline complex as a fluorescence sensor for the determination of IN-CR in real syrups innovative, high sensitivity and selectivity, simplicity of analysis procedures, time-saving of entire analysis protocol. In conclusion, the assay serves as a valuable tool for quantifying IN-CR in food products, facilitating the assessment of both food quality and safety.

Is It Justified to Sacrifice the Pituitary Stalk During Craniopharyngioma Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pituitary stalk sacrifice is a surgical dilemma in craniopharyngioma surgery that needs a wise decision. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to conduct a meta-analysis of the current literature to assess if it is worth preserving the stalk during craniopharyngioma surgery or it is justified to sacrifice it. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for craniopharyngioma studies till December 2021 that directly compared the endocrine sequelae of stalk sacrifice vs preservation in their patients. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI was used through fixed- and random-effects models. RESULTS: Fourteen studies with a total of 2074 patients met our inclusion criteria. The stalk was preserved in 925 patients (44.6%), was sacrificed in 1053 patients (50.8%), and was not identified intraoperatively or partially preserved, or the authors did not mention enough data for 96 patients (4.6%). Our study found that sacrifice of the pituitary stalk was associated with a significantly increased risk of endocrine dysfunction at the last follow-up (OR = 6.69, 95% CI = 3.36-13.35, P < .0001); however, it was not associated with a significant decrease in the risk of recurrence/progression of the disease (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.60-1.06, P = .13). CONCLUSION: Pituitary stalk sacrifice significantly increased the risk of postoperative endocrine dysfunction without reducing the risk of progression or recurrence of craniopharyngioma. The ability to preserve the pituitary stalk intraoperatively is multifactorial, and stalk preservation is recommended whenever possible. Future prospective studies are recommended to assess the effect of confounding factors on the outcomes of stalk sacrifice/preservation.

Critical assessment of furrow openers and operational parameters for optimum performance under conservation tillage.

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an innovative approach that promotes sustainable farming while enhancing soil health. However, residue management challenges often hinder its adoption, causing farmers to burn crop leftovers in fields. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various furrow openers under simulated soil bin conditions. Three types of furrow openers were examined: single disk (SD), Inverted T-type furrow opener with a plain rolling coulter (ITRC), and double disc (DD) furrow opener. Tests were conducted at different forward speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 km h-1) and with three straw densities (1, 2, and 3 t ha-1) at a consistent working depth of 5 cm. Draft measurements were obtained using load cells connected to an Arduino-based data-logging system. Results indicated that draft requirements increased with forward speed and straw density, while straw-cutting efficiency decreased with these factors. Average draft values for SD, ITRC, and DD were 290.3 N, 420 N, and 368.5 N, respectively, and straw-cutting efficiencies were 53.62%, 59.47%, and 74.89%, respectively. The DD furrow opener showed the highest straw-cutting efficiency (81.36%) at a working speed of 1.5 km h-1 and a straw density of 1 t ha-1, demonstrating optimal performance compared to other furrow openers.

Correlations Between Psychiatric Disorders and Perioperative Outcomes after Lumbar Fusions: An Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (2009-2020).

BACKGROUND: Preoperative diagnoses of psychiatric disorders have a demonstrated association with higher rates of perioperative complications. However, recent studies examining the influence of psychiatric disorders on lumbar fusion outcomes are scarce. Our objective was to determine the relationship between the most common psychiatric disorders and perioperative outcomes after lumbar fusion. METHODS: Demographic and perioperative data for patients who underwent lumbar spine fusion between 2009 and 2020 were collected from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. These patients were divided into two groups: those who were previously diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, and those who were not. Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were utilized to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of 2,877,241 patients identified in the NIS database as having undergone lumbar fusion, 647,951 had diagnosed psychiatric disorders, and the remaining 2,229,290 were the unaffected cohort. On multivariable analysis, patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders had significantly increased odds of respiratory (odds ratio [OR]:1.09) and urinary (OR:1.08) complications, and experienced higher odds of mechanical injury (OR:1.27), fusion disorders (OR:1.62), dural tears (OR:1.08), postprocedure anemia (OR:1.29), longer hospital stays, and higher total costs, (p<0.001). Conversely, patients with psychiatric disorders had lower odds of neurologic injury (OR:0.8) and wound complications (OR:0.91) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety exhibited higher rates of certain types of complications. However, they appeared to have fewer neurological injuries and wound complications than patients without these psychiatric disorders. These findings highlight the necessity for additional studies to elucidate underlying reasons for these disparities.

Novel thiazole-based cyanoacrylamide derivatives: DNA cleavage, DNA/BSA binding properties and their anticancer behaviour against colon and breast cancer cells.

A novel series of 2-cyano-3-(pyrazol-4-yl)-N-(thiazol-2-yl)acrylamide derivatives (3a-f) were synthesized using Knoevenagel condensation and characterized using various spectral tools. The weak nuclease activity of compounds (3a-f) against pBR322 plasmid DNA was greatly enhanced by irradiation at 365 nm. Compounds 3b and 3c, incorporating thienyl and pyridyl moieties, respectively, exhibited the utmost nuclease activity in degrading pBR322 plasmid DNA through singlet oxygen and superoxide free radicals' species. Furthermore, compounds 3b and 3c affinities towards calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis. They revealed good binding characteristics towards CT-DNA with Kb values of 6.68 × 104 M-1 and 1.19 × 104 M-1 for 3b and 3c, respectively. In addition, compounds 3b and 3c ability to release free radicals on radiation were targeted to be used as cytotoxic compounds in vitro for colon (HCT116) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells. A significant reduction in the cell viability on illumination at 365 nm was observed, with IC50 values of 23 and 25 µM against HCT116 cells, and 30 and 9 µM against MDA-MB-231 cells for compounds 3b and 3c, respectively. In conclusion, compounds 3b and 3c exhibited remarkable DNA cleavage and cytotoxic activity on illumination at 365 nm which might be associated with free radicals' production in addition to having a good affinity for interacting with CT-DNA and BSA.

Synthesis of new binary trimethoxyphenylfuran pyrimidinones as proficient and sustainable corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in acidic medium: experimental, surface morphology analysis, and theoretical studies.

In this study, synthesis and assessment of the corrosion inhibition of four new binary heterocyclic pyrimidinones on CS in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid solutions at various temperatures (30-50 °C) were investigated. The synthesized molecules were designed and synthesized through Suzuki coupling reaction, the products were identified as 5-((5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (HM-1221), 2-thioxo-5-((5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)dihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione (HM-1222), 1,3-diethyl-2-thioxo-5-((5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)dihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione (HM-1223) and 1,3-dimethyl-5-((5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (HM-1224). The experiments include weight loss measurements (WL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP). From the measurements, it can be shown that the inhibition efficiency (η) of these organic derivatives increases with increasing the doses of inhibitors. The highest η recorded from EIS technique were 89.3%, 90.0%, 92.9% and 89.7% at a concentration of 11 × 10-6 M and 298 K for HM-1221, HM-1222, HM-1223, and HM-1224, respectively. The adsorption of the considered derivatives fit to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Since the ΔGoads values were found to be between - 20.1 and - 26.1 kJ mol-1, the analyzed isotherm plots demonstrated that the adsorption process for these derivatives on CS surface is a mixed-type inhibitors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscope (AFM) and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to study the surface morphology, whereby, quantum chemical analysis can support the mechanism of inhibition. DFT data and experimental findings were found in consistent agreement.

A Computational Analysis of the Proton Affinity and the Hydration of TEMPO and Its Piperidine Analogs.

The study investigated the impact of protonation and hydration on the geometry of nitroxide radicals using B3LYP and M06-2X methods. Results indicated that TEMPO exhibited the highest proton affinity in comparison to TEMPOL and TEMPONE. Two pathways contribute to hydrated protonated molecules. TEMPO shows lower first enthalpies of hydration (ΔH1-M), indicating stronger H-bonding interactions, while TEMPONE shows higher values, indicating weaker interactions with H2O. Solvent effects affect charge distribution by decreasing their atomic charge. Spin density (SD) is primarily concentrated in the NO segment, with minimal water molecule contamination. Protonation increases SD on N-atom, while hydration causes a more pronounced redistribution for water molecules. The stability of the dipolar structure (>N·+-O-) is evident in SD redistributions. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis of TEMPONE reveals a minimum EHOMO-LUMO gap (EH-L), enhancing the piperidine ring's reactivity. TEMPO is the most nucleophilic species, while TEMPONE exhibits strong electrophilicity. Transitioning from NO radicals to protonated forms increases the EH-L gap, indicating protonation stabilizes FMOs. Increased water molecules make the molecule less reactive, while increasing hydration decreases this energy gap, making the molecule more reactive. A smaller EH-L gap indicates the compound becomes softer and more prone to electron density and reactivity changes.

Targeting chronic lymphocytic leukemia with B-cell activating factor receptor CAR T cells.

The challenge of disease relapsed/refractory (R/R) remains a therapeutic hurdle in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, especially for hematological diseases, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) being particularly resistant to CD19 CAR T cells. Currently, there is no approved CAR T-cell therapy for CLL patients. In this study, we aimed to address this unmet medical need by choosing the B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) as a promising target for CAR design against CLL. BAFF-R is essential for B-cell survival and is consistently expressed on CLL tumors. Our research discovered that BAFF-R CAR T-cell therapy exerted the cytotoxic effects on both CLL cell lines and primary B cells derived from CLL patients. In addition, the CAR T cells exhibited cytotoxicity against CD19-knockout CLL cells that are resistant to CD19 CAR T therapy. Furthermore, we were able to generate BAFF-R CAR T cells from small blood samples collected from CLL patients and then demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of these patient-derived CAR T cells against autologous tumor cells. Given these promising results, BAFF-R CAR T-cell therapy has the potential to meet the long-standing need for an effective treatment on CLL patients.

In vivo cardioprotective effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles against doxorubicin-induced myocardial infarction by enhancing the antioxidant system and nitric oxide production.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is the result of reduced or stopped blood supply to a section of the myocardium. Regardless of its potential effectiveness in the treatment of several types of cancers, doxorubicin (DOX) capabilities are restricted because of its widespread cardiotoxic impact. AIM: In this study, the protective effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles against doxorubicin-induced myocardial infarction in rats is examined. METHODS: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and UV-Vis spectral analysis. A total cumulative dose of DOX (18 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) was injected once daily on days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 (i.p.) to induce MI in rats. 24 rats were divided into 4 groups; control, MI, and MI treated with two doses of ZnO NPs (45 and 22.5 mg/kg). RESULTS: The treatment with ZnO NPs restored ST-segment near normal, ameliorated the changes in cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, and catalase.The histological investigation revealed that ZnO NPs treated group showed marked improvement in the examined cardiac muscle and liver in numerous sections.The lower dose of ZnO NPs (22.5 mg/kg) was significantly more effective than the higher dose (45 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: The effect of ZnO NPs against doxorubicin-induced myocardial infarction in rats was assessed and the results revealed a successful cardioprotective potency through enhancing the antioxidant system and stimulating nitric oxide production in myocardial infarcted rats. This work implies that ZnO NPs could serve as promising agents for treating doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Assessment of hematological parameters in malarial suspected patients: Cross sectional study.

Background: Malaria is a Zoonotic disease, worldwide in distribution and caused by different species of plasmodium. It is a major cause of sickness and mortality in developing countries including Pakistan. This study was carried with the aim to find out the prevalence of malaria and to aware the people about this disease. Methods: The study was carried out in district charsadda. 120 blood samples were collected from suspects both male and female, during the period of March 2022 to September 2022 and were analyzed for CBC and for Microscopic examination. Results: Out of these 120 samples 12(10%) were found positive and 108(90%) were negative. The prevalence of malaria was more in the month of June and July. The infection was high in male (13.3%) as compared to female (6.6%). The prevalence was more in rural areas 8(13.3%) than in urban areas 4(6.6%). Conclusion: The Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Platelets and Red Blood Cells were found more affected in positive samples as compared to other parameters. The present study will help the malarial control programs to focus on rural areas. The Plasmodium vivax is more common in the study area.

Aggregation behavior of newly synthesized Gemini cationic surfactants in absence and in presence of different inorganic salts in 15% DMSO-water solvent.

In this study, three Gemini cationic surfactants related to thiazol-2-amine with three hydrocarbon chain lengths including 3-hexylthiazol-3-ium (TAC6), 3-dodecylthiazol-3-ium (TAC12) and octadecylthiazol3-ium (TAC18) were prepared. Surfactant structures were confirmed with IR and 1HNMR Spectroscopies. Critical micelle concentrations for all surfactants in 15% DMSO-Water solvent were measured using conductometric, refractometric, and densitometric techniques. Thermodynamics parameters were computed and explained. Also, enhancing properties of all surfactants were indicated under the effect of two concentrations, 0.001 M and 0.01 M, of six inorganic salts including Cl-, Br-, I-, Co+2, Cu+2, and Mn+2 radicals using conductivity and refractive index measurements. All techniques used to measure critical micelles concentration showed a good convergence in measuring CMC values and the behavior of all surfactants in 15% DMSO-water solvent. Increasing the binding constant of the counter ion and association constant reflects the effect of hydrocarbon chain length increment on enhancing micelle formation, where TAC 18 was shown as the lowest CMC in all applied measurements. Modeling the density of all surfactant solutions under study indicates an increase in hydrophobic polarizability with an increase in the molecular weight of the surfactant. Inorganic salts decreased the CMC of all surfactants with the increase in Gibbs free energy of micellization which ensures easier formation of more stable micelles in the presence of a salt solution. The effect of salts on decreasing CMC for all surfactants under study was arranged in the following order: Mn+2 < Cu+2 < Co+2 for cationic radicals and I- < Br- < Cl- for anionic radicals.

Design and synthesis of high quantum yield doped carbon nano probe derived from household sources for sensing of the anti-GERD drug pantoprazole.

This contribution aims to design and validate a new green, cheap, and fast approach for determining the anti-GERD drug pantoprazole in different matrices. New S and N-doped carbon nanomaterials (S,N-CNMs) have been prepared via microwave irradiation of a mixture of widely available household sources. Remarkably, the utilization of a blend of carbamide and thiocarbamide with table sugar yields S,N-CNMs exhibiting the utmost quantum yield (54 %), hydrophilicity, as well as stable, homogeneous, and diminutive particle size distribution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, and fluorescence spectroscopy were applied to characterize the S,N-CNMs. The S,N-CNMs have been used as a turn-off fluorescence probe to determine pantoprazole via a synergism of the inner filter effect and static quenching mechanisms. The fluorescence quenching is linearly correlated to pantoprazole concentration over the range of 1.0-25.0 µg/mL with a detection limit of 0.16 µg/mL. The developed probe exhibited good selectivity for pantoprazole in the presence of variability of substances. Therefore, it was applied for quality control of pantoprazole in pharmaceutical tablets and vials with an average recovery % of 100.10 ± 0.77 % and 100.33 ± 0.92 %, respectively. Moreover, it was successfully implemented to examine the content uniformity of pantoprazole in tablets. Furthermore, the prepared S,N-CNMs have been successfully used for the analysis of pantoprazole in human plasma after a simple protein precipitation step with a recovery % of 97.88 ± 5.72 %. The greenness and blueness of the developed method have been positively assessed by recent tools showing the eco-friendliness and applicability of the developed method.

ß-glucan nanoparticles alleviate acute asthma by suppressing ferroptosis and DNA damage in mice.

Asthma is a severe respiratory disease marked by airway inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress. ß-Glucan (BG), a polysaccharide constituent of fungal cellular structures, exhibits potent immunomodulatory activities. The investigational focus was on the anti-asthmatic and anti-ferroptotic properties of beta-glucan nanoparticles (BG-NPs) in a murine model of allergic asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA). BG was extracted from Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus), and its BG-NPs were characterized utilizing techniques including FT-IR, UV visible spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, DLS, XRD, and TEM. The Balb/C mice were allocated into five groups: control, untreated asthmatic, dexamethasone (Dexa)-treated (1 mg/kg), BG-treated (100 mg/kg), BG-NPs-treated (45 mg/kg), and BG-treated (100 mg/kg). Treatment with BG-NPs markedly diminished the entry of inflammatory cells into the respiratory passage, serum IgE concentrations, DNA damage, and markers of oxidative stress through the reduction of malonaldehyde (MDA) levels and enhancing the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, BG-NPs reduced iron deposition and promoted the transcriptional activity of the GPx4 gene in pulmonary cells, attenuating ferroptosis. The results demonstrated that BG-NPs reduced asthma by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and ferroptosis. Our results suggest that BG-NPs could be used as potential treatments for allergic asthma.