Nutraceutically-enhanced oral delivery of vitamin D3 via Bio-SNEDDS: Demonstrating in vivo superiority over pediatric formulations.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D3 (VD3) deficiency among children in Saudi Arabia remains a pressing concern due to its poor bioavailability and the limitations of current pediatric formulations. To address this challenge, we developed a groundbreaking pediatric self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (Bio-SNEDDS) for VD3, fortified with black seed oil and moringa seed oil for dual therapeutic benefits. Through meticulous formulation optimization using ternary phase diagrams and comprehensive testing, our Bio-SNEDDS demonstrated exceptional performance. METHODS: Bio-SNEDDS were manufactured by incorporating Black seed oil and moringa seed oil as bioactive nutraceutical excipients along with various cosurfactant and surfactants. Bio-SNEDDS were systematically optimized through ternary phase diagrams, visual tests, droplet size analysis, drug solubilization studies, dispersion assessments, and pharmacokinetic testing in rats compared to Vi-De 3®. RESULTS: Pseudoternary phase diagrams identified oil blends producing large nanoemulsion regions optimal for SNEDDS formation. The optimized F1 Bio-SNEDDS showed a mean droplet diameter of 33.7 nm, solubilized 154.46 mg/g VD3 with no metabolite formation, and maintained >88% VD3 in solution during 24 h dispersion testing. Notably, in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation at a high VD3 dose demonstrated an approximately two-fold greater relative bioavailability over Vi-De 3®, validating the superb oral delivery performance of Bio-SNEDDS even under challenging high-dose conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The Bio-SNEDDS provides an effective VD3 delivery strategy with established in vivo superiority over marketed products, along with offering additional health benefits from the natural oils.

Straw incorporation into microplastic-contaminated soil can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure.

Microplastic (MP) contamination poses a substantial threat to agroecosystems, disrupting soil properties, nutrient cycles, and microbial communities and ultimately affecting plant growth and ecosystem resilience. The effects of straw addition on the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) and greenhouse gas emissions have been extensively explored, but these effects have not been examined in the context of MP contamination. To assess the impacts of legume straw and polyethylene microplastics on SOC fractions and carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, 7-month soil incubation experiments were performed. The results revealed that the inclusion of legume straw in soil considerably increased microbial SOC compared to the control. However, straw addition to MP-contaminated soil reduced microbial SOC compared to that in soil containing only straw. In contrast, the addition of straw to MP-contaminated soil elevated (+44%) the SOC mineral relative to the sole application of straw. Intriguingly, straw incorporation into MP-contaminated soil reduced microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen relative to soil containing only straw. Straw addition to MP-contaminated soil enhanced the nitrification activity and reduced the relative expression of AOBamoABC gene compared to sole straw-incorporated soil and the control. Greenhouse gas emissions were also modulated; for instance, straw incorporation into MP-contaminated soil reduced CO2 and N2O emissions by -11% and -46%, compared to straw incorporation alone. The urease and phosphatase activities were decreased (-58% and -12%) in the MP-polluted soil with straw incorporation compared with those in the soil in which only straw was applied. However, invertase and catalase activities were upregulated in the straw-incorporated soil contaminated with MPs. Straw addition in the MP-polluted soil considerably enhanced (+2%) the microbial community structure (indicated by PLFA) compared to the sole straw application. These results provide a comprehensive perspective on the role of legume straw incorporation in addressing MP pollution, showcasing its potential for sustainable agricultural practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.

Environmental sustainable: Biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles as nano-pesticides for investigating bioactivities against phytopathogens.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are of interest in human physiopathology and have been extensively studied for their effects on the endocrine system. Research also focuses on the environmental impact of EDCs, including pesticides and engineered nanoparticles, and their toxicity to organisms. Green nanofabrication has surfaced as an environmentally conscious and sustainable approach to manufacture antimicrobial agents that can effectively manage phytopathogens. In this study, we examined the current understanding of the pathogenic activities of Azadirachta indica aqueous formulated green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) against phytopathogens. The CuONPs were analyzed and studied using a range of analytical and microscopic techniques, such as UV-visible spectrophotometer, Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD spectral results revealed that the particles had a high crystal size, with an average size ranging from 40 to 100 nm. TEM and SEM images were utilized to verify the size and shape of the CuONPs, revealing that they varied between 20 and 80 nm. The existence of potential functional molecules involved in the reduction of the nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR spectra and UV analysis. Biogenically synthesized CuONPs revealed significantly enhanced antimicrobial activities at 100 mg/L concentration in vitro by the biological method. The synthesized CuONPs at 500 µg/ml had a strong antioxidant activity which was examined through the free radicle scavenging method. Overall results of the green synthesized CuONPs have demonstrated significant synergetic effects in biological activities which can play a crucial impact in plant pathology against numerous phytopathogens.

The Development and Optimization of Lipid-Based Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems for the Intravenous Delivery of Propofol.

PURPOSE: Propofol is a relatively short-acting potent anesthetic lipophilic drug used during short surgical procedures. Despite the success of propofol intravenous emulsions, drawbacks to such formulations include inherent emulsion instability, the lack of a safe vehicle to prevent sepsis, and concern regarding hyperlipidemia-related side effects. The aim of the current investigation was to develop a novel, lipid-based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for propofol with improved stability and anesthetic activity for human use. METHODS: A series of SNEDDS formulations were developed using naturally obtained medium-chain/long-chain mono-, di-, and triglycerides, glyceryl monocaprylate, and water-soluble cosolvents with hydrogenated castor oil constructing ternary phase diagrams for propofol. The developed SNEDDS formulations were characterized using visual observation, particle size analysis, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy, equilibrium solubility, in vitro dynamic dispersion and stability, and in vivo sleeping disorder studies in rats. The in vivo bioavailability of the SNEDDSs in rats was also studied to compare the representative formulations with the marketed product Diprivan®. RESULTS: Medium-chain triglycerides (M810) with mono-diglycerides (CMCM) as an oil blend and hydrogenated castor oil (KHS15) as a surfactant were selected as key ingredients in ternary phase diagram studies. The nanoemulsifying regions were identified from the studies and a number of SNEDDSs were formulated. Results from the characterization studies demonstrated the formation of efficient nanosized particles (28-45 nm globule size, 0.10-0.20 PDI) in the optimized SNEDDS with a drug loading of 50 mg/g, which is almost 500-fold higher than free propofol. TEM analysis showed the formation of spherical and homogeneous nanoparticles of less than 50 nm. The dissolution rate of the representative SNEDDS was faster than raw propofol and able to maintain 99% propofol in aqueous solution for around 24 h. The optimized liquid SNEDDS formulation was found to be thermodynamically stable. The intravenous administration of the SNEDDS in male Wistar rats induced a sleeping time of 73-88 min. The mean plasma concentrations after the IV administration of propofol nano-formulations PF2-SNEDDS and PF8-SNEDDS were 1348.07 ± 27.31 and 1138.66 ± 44.97 µg/mL, as compared to 891.44 ± 26.05 µg/mL (p = 0.05) observed after the IV administration of raw propofol. CONCLUSION: Propofol-loaded SNEDDS formulations could be a potential pharmaceutical product with improved stability, bioavailability, and anesthetic activity.

Molecular Profiling, Characterization and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Calvatia gigantea and Mycena leaiana against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens.

The use of natural products isolated from mushrooms against infection, cancer diseases and other oxidative-stress-related diseases is one of the cornerstones of modern medicine. Therefore, we tried to establish a combination of medicinal mushrooms and nanotechnology possibly with the field of medicine for the development of antibacterial agents against these MDR strains. The aim of the research was to understand the molecular identification, characterization and antibacterial action of Calvatia gigantea and Mycena leaiana. The identification of fruiting body species via morpho-anatomical and molecular methods was necessary to analyze the genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships of mushrooms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Calvatia from Hunza, Pakistan, exhibited 98% resemblance to the previously discovered Langermannia gigantean (DQ112623) and L. gigantean (LN714562) from northern Europe, and Mycena (Pakistan) showed a 97% similarity to M. leaiana (MF686520) and M. leaiana (MW448623) from the USA. UV-vis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for AgNPs' characterization. The UV-vis absorption peak of 500-600 nm indicates the AgNPs' presence. XRD results determined Calvatia gigantea AgNPs were nanocrystals and Mycena leaiana seems to be amorphous. In addition, SEM results showed the cubic morphology of C. gigantea with a diameter of 65 nm, and the FTIR spectra of fruiting body revealed the presence of functional groups-carboxyl, nitro, and hydroxyl-in AgNPs, which catalyzed the reduction of Ag+ to Ag0. Further antibacterial activity of mushrooms against MDR strains was determined via agar well diffusion assay, and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was estimated by qualitative experimentation using the broth dilution method. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. The results showed that the mushroom AgNPs, along with their synergy and nano-composites (with the exception of Ethyl-acetate), were shown to have zones of inhibition from 4 mm to 29 mm against multidrug-resistant pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli. The mushroom composites were active against most of the tested microorganisms whilst the lowest MIC value (10-40 mg/mL) was recorded against MDR strains. Hence, the present study suggested the possibility of employing compounds present in mushrooms for the development of new antibacterial agents, as well as efflux pump inhibitors.

Effects of Apigenin on Pharmacokinetics of Dasatinib and Probable Interaction Mechanism.

Dasatinib (DAS), a narrow-therapeutic index drug, Bcr-Abl, and Src family kinases multitarget inhibitor have been approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Ph-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Apigenin (APG) has a long history of human usage in food, herbs, health supplements, and traditional medicine, and it poses low risk of damage. The concomitant use of APG containing herbs/foods and traditional medicine may alter the pharmacokinetics of DAS, that probably lead to possible herb-drug interactions. The pharmacokinetic interaction of APG pretreatment with DAS in rat plasma following single and co-oral dosing was successfully deliberated using the UPLC-MS/MS method. The in vivo pharmacokinetics and protein expression of CYP3A2, Pgp-MDR1, and BCPR/ABCG2 demonstrate that APG pretreatment has potential to drastically changed the DAS pharmacokinetics where escalation in the Cmax, AUC(0-t), AUMC(0-inf_obs), T1/2, Tmax, and MRT and reduction in Kel, Vd, and Cl significantly in rats pretreated with APG 40 mg/kg, thus escalating systemic bioavailability and increasing the rate of absorption via modulation of CYP3A2, Pgp-MDR1, and BCPR/ABCG2 protein expression. Therefore, the concomitant consumption of APG containing food or traditional herb with DAS may cause serious life-threatening drug interactions and more systematic clinical study on herb-drug interactions is required, as well as adequate regulation in herbal safety and efficacy.

Sinapic acid alleviates 5-fluorouracil-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via Nrf2/HO-1 signalling.

Fluoropyrimidine 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a DNA analogue broadly used in chemotherapy, though treatment-associated nephrotoxicity limits its widespread clinical use. Sinapic acid (SA) has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, we investigated its protective effects against 5-FU-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat model. We designated four treatment groups each Group I (control) received five intraperitoneal saline injections (once daily) from days 17 to 21; Group II received five intraperitoneal injections of 5-FU (50 mg/kg/day) from days 17 to 21; Group III received an oral administration of SA (40 mg/kg) for 21 days and five intraperitoneal injections of 5-FU (50 mg/kg/day) from days 17 to 21; and Group IV received an oral administration of SA (40 mg/kg) for 21 days (n-six rats in each group). blood samples were collected on day 22 from each group. Animals were sacrificed and their kidneys removed, and instantly frozen. 5-FU caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and activation of the apoptotic pathway by upregulating Bax and Caspase-3 and downregulating Bcl-2. However, SA exposure reduced serum toxicity indicators, boosted antioxidant defences, and reduced kidney apoptosis, which was confirmed by histopathological analysis. Therefore, prophylactic administration of SA could inhibit 5-FU-induced renal injuries in rats via suppression of renal inflammation and oxidative stress, primarily through regulation of NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines, inhibition of renal apoptosis, and restoration of tubular epithelial antioxidant activities and cytoprotective defences.

Herb-drug interaction: Effect of sinapic acid on the pharmacokinetics of dasatinib in rats.

Dasatinib (DAS) is a narrow therapeutic index drug and novel oral multitarget inhibitor of tyrosine kinase and approved for the first-line therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome (Ph + ) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). DAS, a known potent substrate of cytochrome (CYP) 3A, P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and is subject to auto-induction. The dietary supplementation of sinapic acid (SA) or concomitant use of SA containing herbs/foods may alter the pharmacokinetics as well as pharmacodynamics of DAS, that may probably lead to potential interactions. Protein expression in rat hepatic and intestinal tissues, as well as the in vivo pharmacokinetics of DAS and the roles of CYP3 A2 and drug transporters Pgp-MDR1 and BCPR/ABCG2, suggested a likely interaction mechanism. The single dose of DAS (25 mg/kg) was given orally to rats with or without SA pretreatment (20 mg/kg p.o. per day for 7 days, n = 6). The plasma concentration of DAS was estimated by using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The in vivo pharmacokinetics and protein expression study demonstrate that SA pretreatment has potential to alter the DAS pharmacokinetics. The increase in Cmax, AUC and AUMC proposes increase in bioavailability and rate of absorption via modulation of CYP3 A2, PgP-MDR1 and BCPR/ABCG2 protein expression. Thus, the concomitant use of SA alone or with DAS may cause serious life-threatening drug interactions.

Protective effect of chrysin, a flavonoid, on the genotoxic activity of carboplatin in mice.

Carboplatin is amongst the most commonly used anticancer drugs for the management of several human malignancies. However, it has displayed genotoxic properties against normal cells. Evaluation of natural products for their protective effects against chemotherapeutic drug induced toxicity has been growing in recent years. A naturally occurring flavonoid, chrysin, has strong antioxidant abilities and protects against DNA impairment. This study used multiple assays to evaluate the levels of damage to DNA in normal cells and to examine any possible protective role of chrysin against such damage. Male BALB/c mice were administered chrysin orally in two doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days and then a single injection of carboplatin [90 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] was administered intraperitoneally to induce carboplatin toxicity. 24 h after the carboplatin injection, mice were sacrificed. DNA damage was evaluated using several genotoxicity tests (8-Hydroxydeoxy-guanosine marker, comet assay, micronucleus test, and chromosomal aberration assay) to identify diverse types of damage to the DNA. The results suggest that pretreatment with chrysin significantly decreased the level of DNA damage caused by carboplatin probably due to its potent antioxidant traits. Therefore, chrysin can be considered to be developed as a chemoprotective agent against chemotherapy associated side-effects.

Nutritional Profiling, Phytochemical Composition and Antidiabetic Potential of Taraxacum officinale, an Underutilized Herb.

Taraxacum officinale (T. officinale), a wild vegetable with a number of health claims, has been mostly ignored and unexplored. The study aims to compare the nutritional, phytochemical as well as antidiabetic potential of fresh as well as shade-dried leaves of T. officinale, in order to recommend its best form as a dietary antidiabetic product. The results revealed that as compared to fresh leaves, the shade-dried leaves, in addition to possessing higher levels of carbohydrates, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, etc., also contain appreciable amounts of total phenols (5833.12 ± 4.222 mg/100), total flavonoids (188.84 ± 0.019 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (34.70 ± 0.026 mg/100 g), ß-carotene (3.88 ± 1.473 mg/100 g) and total chlorophyll (239.51 ± 0.015 mg/100 g) antioxidants. The study revealed the presence of medicinally important antidiabetic flavonoid quercetin present in T. officinale leaves. Among the three solvent systems used, the aqueous extract of shade-dried T. officinale leaves comparatively demonstrated potent antidiabetic activity under in vitro conditions in a dose-dependent manner via targeting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, the two potent enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, in addition to being a nutritious herb, the shade-dried leaves of T. officinale have great potential to suppress post-prandial glucose rise and can be better exploited through clinical trials to be used as a dietary intervention for better management of diabetes.

Thermodynamic Solubility Profile of Temozolomide in Different Commonly Used Pharmaceutical Solvents.

The solubility parameters, and solution thermodynamics of temozolomide (TMZ) in 10 frequently used solvents were examined at five different temperatures. The maximum mole fraction solubility of TMZ was ascertained in dimethyl sulfoxide (1.35 × 10-2), followed by that in polyethylene glycol-400 (3.32 × 10-3) > Transcutol® (2.89 × 10-3) > ethylene glycol (1.64 × 10-3) > propylene glycol (1.47 × 10-3) > H2O (7.70 × 10-4) > ethyl acetate (5.44 × 10-4) > ethanol (1.80 × 10-4) > isopropyl alcohol (1.32 × 10-4) > 1-butanol (1.07 × 10-4) at 323.2 K. An analogous pattern was also observed for the other investigated temperatures. The quantitated TMZ solubility values were regressed using Apelblat and Van't Hoff models and showed overall deviances of 0.96% and 1.33%, respectively. Apparent thermodynamic analysis indicated endothermic, spontaneous, and entropy-driven dissolution of TMZ in all solvents. TMZ solubility data may help to formulate dosage forms, recrystallize, purify, and extract/separate TMZ.

An In Silico Investigation to Explore Anti-Cancer Potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Phytoconstituents for the Management of Human Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world. Traditionally, medicinal plants have been used to cure various types of diseases and disorders. Based on a literature survey, the current study was undertaken to explore the anticancer potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. phytoconstituents against breast cancer target protein (PDB ID: 6CHZ) by the molecular docking technique. Molecular docking was done using Autodock/vina software. Toxicity was predicted by the Protox II server and drug likeness was predicted by Molinspiration. 100 ns MD simulation of the best protein-ligand complexes were done using the Amber 18 tool. The present molecular docking investigation has revealed that among the 40 selected phytoconstituents of F. vulgare, α-pinene and D-limonene showed best binding energy (-6 and -5.9 kcal/mol respectively) with the breast cancer target. α-Pinene and D-limonene followed all the parameters of toxicity, and 100 ns MD simulations of α-pinene and D-limonene complexes with 6CHZ were found to be stable. α-Pinene and D-limonene can be used as new therapeutic agents to cure breast cancer.

Sinapic Acid Ameliorates Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats by Suppressing Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term condition which results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum. The key indications of active disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood. Aims: We explore the underlying colon protective mechanism of sinapic acid (SA) against acetic acid (AA) induced ulcerative colitis in rats. The implications of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis are studied. Methodology: Twenty-four rats were distributed into four categories, normal control (NC), ulcerative colitis (UC), ulcerative Colitis with SA 40 mg/kg (SA 40 mg/kg + AA), and ulcerative colitis with prednisolone (PRDL 10 mg/kg + AA), and were pretreated orally with saline, saline and SA (40 mg/kg/day) or PRDL (10 mg/kg/day) respectively, for 7 days. UC was prompted by trans-rectal administration of 4% AA on the 5th day, colon tissues were surgically removed for gross morphology and histological inspection, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers and immunoblot analysis of Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Results: Macroscopic and histological inspection demonstrated that both SA 40 mg/kg and PRDL (10 mg/kg/day) significantly ameliorates colonic injuries. In addition, both pretreatments significantly ameliorates AA-induced UC, oxidative stress, as indicated by suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and restoring antioxidant/oxidant balance as indicated by catalase and glutathione levels, suppressed inflammation via inhibiting cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, inflammatory markers MPO, PGE2, COX-2 and NF-κB and inhibiting the protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 apoptotic protein and increasing the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 thereby inhibiting apoptosis. Conclusion: Sinapic acid significantly ameliorates AA induced UC in rats by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in colonic tissues which exhibits its potential for the management of UC.

Z-Guggulsterone Is a Potential Lead Molecule of Dawa-ul-Kurkum against Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

An ancient saffron-based polyherbal formulation, Dawa-ul-Kurkum (DuK), has been used to treat liver ailments and other diseases and was recently evaluated for its anticancer potential against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by our research team. To gain further insight into the lead molecule of DuK, we selected ten active constituents belonging to its seven herbal constituents (crocin, crocetin, safranal, jatamansone, isovaleric acid, cinnamaldehyde, coumaric acid, citral, guggulsterone and dehydrocostus lactone). We docked them with 32 prominent proteins that play important roles in the development, progression and suppression of HCC and those involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to identify the binding interactions between them. Three reference drugs for HCC (sorafenib, regorafenib, and nivolumab) were also examined for comparison. The in silico studies revealed that, out of the ten compounds, three of them-viz., Z-guggulsterone, dehydrocostus lactone and crocin-showed good binding efficiency with the HCC and ER stress proteins. Comparison of binding affinity with standard drugs was followed by preliminary in vitro screening of these selected compounds in human liver cancer cell lines. The results provided the basis for selecting Z-guggulsterone as the best-acting phytoconstituent amongst the 10 studied. Further validation of the binding efficiency of Z-guggulsterone was undertaking using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. The effects of Z-guggulsterone on clone formation and cell cycle progression were also assessed. The anti-oxidant potential of Z-guggulsterone was analyzed through DPPH and FRAP assays. qRTPCR was utilized to check the results at the in vitro level. These results indicate that Z-guggulsterone should be considered as the main constituent of DuK instead of the crocin in saffron, as previously hypothesized.

Reproductive toxic potential of phthalate compounds - State of art review.

Phthalates are pervasive compounds, and due to the ubiquitous usage of phthalates, humans or even children are widely exposed to them. Since phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastic matrix, they can easily leach out to contaminate the peripheral environment. Various animal and human studies have raised vital health concern including developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalate exposure. The present review is based upon the available literature on phthalates with respect to their reproductive toxic potential. Common reproductive effects such as declined fertility, reduced testis weight, variations in accessory sex organs and several female reproductive disorders appeared to be largely associated with the transitional phthalates. Among the higher molecular weight phthalates (≥ C7), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) produces some minor effects on development of male reproductive tract and among low molecular weight phthalates (≤C3), di-methyl (DMP) and di-isobutyl (DIBP) phthalate produce some adverse effects on male reproductive system. Whereas transitional phthalates such as di-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate have shown adverse effects on female reproductive system. Owing to these, non-toxic alternatives to phthalates may be developed and use of phthalates could be rationalized as an important issue where human reproduction system is involved. Though, more epidemiological studies are needed to substantiate the reported findings on phthalates.

Evaluation of the Use of Single- and Multi-Magnification Convolutional Neural Networks for the Determination and Quantitation of Lesions in Nonclinical Pathology Studies.

Digital pathology platforms with integrated artificial intelligence have the potential to increase the efficiency of the nonclinical pathologist's workflow through screening and prioritizing slides with lesions and highlighting areas with specific lesions for review. Herein, we describe the comparison of various single- and multi-magnification convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures to accelerate the detection of lesions in tissues. Different models were evaluated for defining performance characteristics and efficiency in accurately identifying lesions in 5 key rat organs (liver, kidney, heart, lung, and brain). Cohorts for liver and kidney were collected from TG-GATEs open-source repository, and heart, lung, and brain from internally selected R&D studies. Annotations were performed, and models were trained on each of the available lesion classes in the available organs. Various class-consolidation approaches were evaluated from generalized lesion detection to individual lesion detections. The relationship between the amount of annotated lesions and the precision/accuracy of model performance is elucidated. The utility of multi-magnification CNN implementations in specific tissue subtypes is also demonstrated. The use of these CNN-based models offers users the ability to apply generalized lesion detection to whole-slide images, with the potential to generate novel quantitative data that would not be possible with conventional image analysis techniques.

Biosynthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and its effects along with calcium phosphate on physicochemical attributes of wheat under drought stress.

Drought stress is reducing the production of crops globally. This research was designed to evaluate the role of titanium dioxide (TiO2 NPs) nanoparticles and calcium phosphate on wheat facing drought stress. TiO2 NPs were prepared by green synthesis and their characterization (by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX)) was also done. The results showed that TiO2 NPs worked efficiently and improved plant growth under drought. However, the best results were obtained from combined applications of 40 ppm TiO2 NPs and 40 ppm calcium phosphate on plants. They increased root length (33%), shoot length (53%), fresh weight (48%), and dry weight (44%) of wheat as compared to control. The physiological parameters including chlorophyll content, relative water content, membrane stability index, and osmolyte content (proline and sugar) were also improved. The increase in superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and, catalase activity by the combined application of TiO2 NPs and calcium phosphate was 83% and 78%, 74% and 52%, 81%, and 67% in Pakistan-13 and Zincol-16 respectively, as compared to untreated drought exposed plants. They also enhanced the nutrients uptake (including potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen) that ultimately improved plant biomass. They also maintained the level of growth hormones in plants. These hormones regulate cellular processes and are responsible for germination, development, and plant reaction in drought stress. The increase in the yield was also significant, hence it is recommended that the 40 ppm concentration of TiO2 NPs along with calcium phosphate improves the productivity of wheat under drought stress.

Sinapic acid mitigates methotrexate-induced hepatic injuries in rats through modulation of Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling.

The present research has been investigated to study the protective outcomes of sinapic acid (SA) against methotrexate (MTX) encouraged liver damage in rats by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways. The animals were arbitrarily allocated into four groups: group I rats administered a 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) vehicle orally for 15 consecutive days with a single intravenous standard saline injection (0.9% NaCl) on day seven. Groups II, III, and IV were injected intraperitoneally with 20 mg MTX/kg on 7th day. Animals in group III and IV were treated orally for 14 days with 20 mg of SA/kg dissolved daily in 0.5% CMC respectively. In all experimental groups, liver function, biochemical, histopathological and molecular changes were evaluated. MTX-induced changes in liver function indices like ALT, AST, and ALP are substantially restored with SA pretreatment. Moreover, antioxidant defense mechanisms (GSH, SOD, and CAT) and oxidative/nitrostative stress (MDA and NO) and inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-ß and MPO) were also substantially restored. Furthermore, the conclusions indicate that SA prevents the hepatic damage caused by MTX through apoptosis inhibition and stimulation of Nrf2/HO-1-medial antioxidant enzymes by NF-κB inhibition. Histological findings have shown that SA therapy has greatly protected liver damage caused by MTX.

Production of Functional Buttermilk and Soymilk Using Pediococcus acidilactici BD16 (alaD+).

Functional foods or drinks prepared using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have recently gained considerable attention because they can offer additional nutritional and health benefits. The present study aimed to develop functional drinks by the fermentation of buttermilk and soymilk preparations using the Pediococcus acidilactici BD16 (alaD+) strain expressing the L-alanine dehydrogenase enzyme. LAB fermentation was carried out for 24 h and its impact on the physicochemical and quality attributes of the fermented drinks was evaluated. Levels of total antioxidants, phenolics, flavonoids, and especially L-alanine enhanced significantly after LAB fermentation. Further, GC-MS-based metabolomic fingerprinting was performed to identify the presence of bioactive metabolites such as 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1-dodecene, 2-aminononadecane, 3-octadecene, 4-octen-3-one, acetic acid, azanonane, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, chloroacetic acid, colchicine, heptadecanenitrile, hexadecanal, quercetin, and triacontane, which could be accountable for the improvement of organoleptic attributes and health benefits of the drinks. Meanwhile, the levels of certain undesirable metabolites such as 1-pentadecene, 2-bromopropionic acid, 8-heptadecene, formic acid, and propionic acid, which impart bitterness, rancidity, and unpleasant odor to the fermented drinks, were reduced considerably after LAB fermentation. This study is probably the first of its kind that highlights the application of P. acidilactici BD16 (alaD+) as a starter culture candidate for the production of functional buttermilk and soymilk.

Aspirin prescribing pattern and guidelines-adherence evaluation for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases at a teaching hospital.

The present study investigates the aspirin prescribing pattern and guidelines-adherence evaluation for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases at a teaching hospital. A total of 816 patients were included in the study, the patients who received aspirin aged 60-69 (29.65%), followed by patients aged 50-59 years old (29.53%) and 70-79 years old (22.91%). Demographic information shown that the majority of the patients were males (58.55%). The BMI revealed that 85.78% of patients were obese. The majority of the patients have diabetes 78.67%, hypertension 74.38%, and dyslipidemia 65.68%. The mean systolic blood pressure was 136 ± 7.4 and diastolic blood pressure was 74.9 ± 5.2. After applying aspirin candidacy calculation, only 6% patients were highly recommended to be on aspirin, 49% patients had reasonable recommendation of aspirin, 27% patients use aspirin based on "may be considered" recommendation, and 23% patients were on aspirin with no indication or recommendation. The study highlights the importance of following the international recommendations in aspirin prescribing, and flags the inappropriate use and prescribing by our healthcare providers. The current study encourages further investigation to be carried out which should include patient and clinician education, to well understand and alleviate the inequalities in aspirin use and adherence. Further studies are also warranted to understand of the prescribing pattern and to provide solutions to avoid aspirin associated complications.