Recent Advances in the Synthesis of MXene Quantum Dots.

Quantum dots (QDs) with ultrahigh surface-to-volume ratio, abundant edge active sites, forceful quantum confinement and other remarkable physio-chemical properties, have garnered considerable research interest. MXene QDs, as an emerging member of them, have also attracted wide attention in the last six years, and shown great achievements in many fields. This critical review systematically summarizes the various methods for synthesizing MXene QDs. The characteristics and corresponding applications of various MXene QDs are also presented. The advantages and disadvantages of various synthetic methods, and the limitations of corresponding MXene QDs are compared and highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of synthesizing MXene QDs are proposed. We hope this review will enlighten researchers to the fabrication of more advancing and promising MXene-based QDs with proprietary properties in diverse applications.

Detection of Raillietina saudiae from the domestic pigeon in Saudi Arabia through 18S and 28S rDNA genes.

Raillietina saudiae is a well-studied avian gastrointestinal parasite belonging to the family Davaineidae and is the most prevalent cyclophyllid tapeworm infecting pigeon in Saudi Arabia. The present study considered as a complementary analysis of Al-Quraishy et al. (2019; Parasitol Int 71, 59-72) with molecular studies for two ribosomal DNA genes employed for precise recognition of this Raillietina species. The annotated partial 18S and 28S rDNA gene regions were found to be 888 and 900 bp long that utilized further to elucidate their genetic relationships at species level using maximum likelihood method. The query sequence of R. saudiae is well aligned and placed within the Davaineidae family, with the same clade of all species of Raillietina that well separated from other cyclophyllidean cestodes especially taeniid and hymenolepid species. Sequence data recorded the monophyly of Raillietina species. The current phylogeny supports the usage of the partial 18S and 28S rDNA genes as reliable markers for phylogenetic reconstructions.

Dependence of new environmental nano organic semiconductor nickel-(II)-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin films on substrate type for energy storage applications.

Characterization of organic nickel-(II)-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin films as a function of substrate type was performed for energy storage applications and consequently environmental enhancement. Nickel-(II)-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin films show an amorphous phase. They have a crystallite size of 8-11 nm. Strain caused a shift of different humps' positions. The measured transmittance has high values within the range of 85-91%, and the absorption coefficient values were included within the high-absorption region. Both optical gap and fundamental gap, refractive index, carrier-concentration-to-effective-mass ratio and lattice dielectric constant were calculated, and they were found to be increased, except refractive index and lattice dielectric constant. The obtained data indicated that nickel-(II)-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin films are a candidate for energy storage applications.

Expanding the phenotype of SLC25A42-associated mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

SLC25A42 gene encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that imports Coenzyme A into the mitochondrial matrix. A mutation in this gene was recently reported in a subject born to consanguineous parents who presented with mitochondrial myopathy with muscle weakness and lactic acidosis. In this report, we present 12 additional individuals with the same founder mutation who presented with variable manifestations ranging from asymptomatic lactic acidosis to a severe phenotype characterized by developmental regression and epilepsy. Our report confirms the link between SLC25A42 and mitochondrial disease in humans, and suggests that pathogenic variants in SLC25A42 should be interpreted with the understanding that the associated phenotype may be highly variable.

Investigation of belinostat-induced genomic instability by molecular cytogenetic analysis and pathway-focused gene expression profiling.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs), which regulate transcription and specific functions such as tumor suppression by p53, are frequently altered in tumors and have a contentious role in carcinogenesis. HDAC inhibitors, which have a long history of use in psychiatry and neurology, have recently been tested as possible treatments for tumors. Belinostat received regulatory approval in the USA on July 3, 2014, for use against peripheral T-cell lymphoma. However, the unavailability of information on belinostat genotoxicity in normal cells and the molecular mechanisms involved in the genetic instability after exposure to belinostat encouraged us to conduct this study. Our data showed that the exposure of mice to belinostat at the recommended human doses induced chromosome breakage, whole-chromosome lagging, and oxidative DNA damage in bone marrow cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of 84 genes involved in the DNA damage signaling pathway were evaluated by using an RT2 Profiler PCR array. Belinostat exposure altered the expression of 25 genes, with statistically significant changes observed in 17 genes. The array results were supported by RT-PCR and western blotting experiments. Collectively, our results showed that belinostat exposure caused oxidative DNA damage and downregulated the expression of genes involved in DNA damage repair, which may be responsible for belinostat-induced genomic instability. Thus, the clinical usage of this drug should be weighed against the hazards of carcinogenesis, and the observed genotoxicity profile of belinostat may support further development of efficient HDAC inhibitors with weaker genotoxicity.

Membrane potential oscillations are not essential for spontaneous firing generation in L4 Aß-afferent neurons after L5 spinal nerve axotomy and are not mediated by HCN channels.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Is spontaneous activity (SA) in L4 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons induced by L5 spinal nerve axotomy associated with membrane potential oscillations in these neurons, and if so, are these membrane oscillations mediated by HCN channels? What is the main finding and its importance? Unlike injured L5 DRG neurons, which have been shown to be incapable of firing spontaneously without membrane potential oscillations, membrane potential oscillations are not essential for SA generation in conducting 'uninjured' L4 neurons, and they are not mediated by HCN channels. These findings suggest that the underlying cellular mechanisms of SA in injured and 'uninjured' DRG neurons induced by spinal nerve injury are distinct. ABSTRACT: The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of peripheral neuropathic pain are not fully understood. However, preclinical studies using animal models suggest that this debilitating condition is driven partly by aberrant spontaneous activity (SA) in injured and uninjured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and that SA in injured DRG neurons is triggered by subthreshold membrane potential oscillations (SMPOs). Here, using in vivo intracellular recording from control L4-DRG neurons, and ipsilateral L4-DRG neurons in female Wistar rats that had previously undergone L5 spinal nerve axotomy (SNA), we examined whether conducting 'uninjured' L4-DRG neurons in SNA rats exhibit SMPOs, and if so, whether such SMPOs are associated with SA in those L4 neurons, and whether they are mediated by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels. We found that 7 days after SNA: (a) none of the control A- or C-fibre DRG neurons showed SMPOs or SA, but 50%, 43% and 0% of spontaneously active cutaneous L4 Aß-low threshold mechanoreceptors, Aß-nociceptors and C-nociceptors exhibited SMPOs, respectively, in SNA rats with established neuropathic pain behaviors; (b) neither SMPOs nor SA in L4 Aß-neurons was suppressed by blocking HCN channels with ZD7288 (10 mg kg-1 , i.v.); and (c) there is a tendency for female rats to show greater pain hypersensitivity than male rats. These results suggest that SMPOs are linked to SA only in some of the conducting L4 Aß-neurons, that such oscillations are not a prerequisite for SA generation in those L4 A- or C-fibre neurons, and that HCN channels are not involved in their electrogenesis.

Robot-assisted surgical approach to bladder cancer: a decade of progress!

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has gained popularity and proven its efficacy, safety and reproducibility in the last decade. RARC has resulted in less blood loss, enhanced recovery, and shorter hospital stay. RARC has proven to have similar or better postoperative morbidity, mortality and equal oncologic, outcomes. Limiting factors to the acceptance of this surgical approach have included its steep learning curve and the lack of both long-term outcome data. This article systematically reviews the literature comparing the outcomes for RARC (comparisons with open radical cystectomy when performed at the same institution) with a focus on operative, complications, oncologic, functional and survival outcomes.

Evaluation of depression symptoms and depression literacy among medical students: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Mental health plays an important role in educational performance. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between depression symptoms, depression literacy, and quality of life in undergraduate and postgraduate medical students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2023 in Riyadh with 263 medical students. Data were obtained using three different sets of questionnaires (a demographic section, the Depression Literacy Scale, and a quality-of-life questionnaire). RESULTS: In total, 134 men (51%) and 129 women (49%) participated in the study; out of these, 142 participants reported depression, while 109 individuals reported family-related depression. Only 25% of the participants attended depression seminars and workshops in the last year, while 83% felt that depression was an illness. Students with a family history of depression also reported higher levels of depression. Depression was lowest among students who attended depression management seminars or workshops. Marital status did not affect depression among medical students. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that depression is widespread among medical students and that counseling and frequent depression assessments are required. There is a need for greater awareness of different aspects of depression among medical students, parents, and medical educators. Health education programs and interventions targeting mental health care can be implemented at the individual, family, and community levels.

Translation and adaptation of the Arabic version of the injustice experience questionnaire in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to (1) translate the short version of the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ-SF) from English to Arabic and (2) test the validity and reliability of the translated Arabic version of the IEQ-SF. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in which the original English version of the IEQ-SF was translated into Arabic was conducted in accordance with Beaton's translation process. Internal consistency, reproducibility (retest within 5 days), and validity of the translated Arabic version of the IEQ-SF were tested in Arabic-speaking participants (n = 20). Individuals with chronic pain (n = 99) completed the Arabic versions of the IEQ-SF and the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) from June to August 2021. The main analyses included Cronbach's alpha (α), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and Spearman's rank correlations (ρ). RESULTS: The internal consistency (α = 0.74) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.88, 0.83-0.92 95% CI) for the translated Arabic version of IEQ-SF were high. There was also a high correlation between the translated Arabic version of the IEQ-SF and different health-related questionnaires such as the MSK-HQ (ρ = -0.738; p < 0.001), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (ρ = 0.701-0.791; all, p < 0.001), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (ρ = 0.762; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic version of the IEQ-SF demonstrated high reliability and validity and would be useful for clinicians and researchers studying Arabic-speaking individuals with chronic pain.

Unidirectional segregation of bright-bright soliton through a parity-time-symmetric potential.

We study the dynamics of two-component vector solitons, namely, bright-bright (BB) solitons interacting with parity-time (PT)-symmetric potentials. We employ direct numerical simulations to demonstrate the unidirectional segregation of the BB soliton. Using a modified perturbed dynamical variational Lagrangian approximation, we develop an analytical model to verify the results obtained from numerical calculations. Simplified variational equations of motion suggest that the splitting of BB solitons can be explained by considering the effective force between the two components.

Neuropharmacological investigation, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography analysis, and in silico studies of Phyla nodiflora.

The increasing burden of neurological disorders is becoming a worldwide health challenge and researchers are continuously struggling to cure them by utilizing the miraculous medicinal properties of plants. The crude methanolic extract of whole herb of Phyla nodiflora (Pn.Cr) was subjected to phytochemical, antioxidant and neuropharmacological assessment. The Pn.Cr was initially exposed to the in vitro examination for phytocomposition through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The Sprague Dawley rats were chronically administered with various doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) of Pn.Cr for one month with subsequent exposure to neurobehavioral and biochemical experimentation. The Pn.Cr exhibited a dose-dependent anxiolytic effect (P < 0.05 in comparison to control) as rats preferred central, illuminated and open arm zones in open field (OFT), light/dark (L/D) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. Likewise, scopolamine-induced amnesia was noticeably reversed with P < 0.05 by Pn.Cr as animals showed improved spontaneous alternation, discrimination index and shorter escape latencies in Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Subsequently, in vivo enzymatic assays depicted the reduced acetylcholinesterase and malondialdehyde levels. The levels of oxidative stress combating enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) were increased in a dose-dependent style. The UHPLC detected 22 phytocompounds were further investigated in silico studied to predict the interaction of blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing phytocompounds with human acetylcholinesterase. The four BBB crossing phytocompounds belonging to flavonoids, chalcones and alkaloids showed possible interaction with the target enzyme. We found that the phytocompounds owned by Pn.Cr might be playing multiple roles in modulation of different pathways to hinder the pathophysiology of neurological disorders including anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.

Interrelationship between body mass index and asthma in children suffering from asthma-analytical cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchial asthma and obesity are correlated diseases that are highly prevalent among children. The effect of increased body mass index (BMI), aggravating asthma, is currently controversial in this group. The aim of this study is to determine the association between Body Mass Index and severity of asthma among obese children with asthma and normal-weight children with asthma in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional analysis of 64 participants from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were analyzed. Symptoms were assessed through children's and caregivers' responses to a pretested questionnaire. Grouping of children into obese (18) and non-obese (46) was based on their body mass index (BMI) percentile. Association between obesity and final asthma score was estimated by chi-square test using SPSS software and p-value set at 0.005. RESULTS: The mean age was 10.13 ± 2.54 years (ranged 5 to 14), and the majority, 46 (71.88%), were boys. Most of the participants, 46 (71.88%), were normal to underweight and 18 (28.13%) were overweight or obese. Most of the children, 35 (54.69%), complained of cough because of asthma sometimes. Out of 64 participants, 21 (32.81%) had uncontrolled asthma, and 43 (67.19%) had controlled asthma calculated using a questionnaire. Out of 46 non-obese children with asthma, 7 (15.22%) had uncontrolled asthma, and out of 18 obese children with asthma, 14 (77.78%) had uncontrolled asthma, and the difference in the proportion of Asthma severity was significant statistically across the groups (p-value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor control of asthma symptoms was significantly higher in both obese and normal-weight children with asthma.

Masson tumor as a neck mass.

INTRODUCTION: A Masson's tumor is a benign, intravascular tumor, typically located in the fingers. Histologically, a Masson's tumor is characterized by an intravascular endothelial papillary projection associated with thrombi, without atypia or necrosis. The CD 31 and CD 34 stains are the most efficient immunohistological markers to identify the vascular origin. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old man presented with a right lateral neck mass for 3 weeks. The CT scan of the neck showed an oval, well-circumscribed cystic mass, measuring 20mm×9mm, situated over the right sternocleidomastoid muscle, with a peripheral vessel draining into the right anterior jugular vein. The mass was excised surgically, and a pathological report indicated a thrombosed material inside the lumen of a small vein with a differentiated papillary structure; neither nuclear atypia nor necrosis were seen. The patient had an uncomplicated recovery and completed 8 months of follow-up appointments without any evidence of recurrence. DISCUSSION: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) can be differentiated from angiosarcoma by lack of extension to the perivascular tissue and absence of necrosis and atypia. The pathogenesis is still unknown; surgical excision is the method of treatment. This is an extremely rare presentation of Masson's tumor.

Unidirectional flow of solitons with nonlinearity management.

Unidirectional flow of solitons is obtained with a localized modulation of the nonlinearity strength. The modulation takes the shape of an asymmetric double well with a slight difference between the potential depths. The results were established using numerical computations and then verified qualitatively using a variational approach. Our results suggest that the most important physics at the origin of the unidirectional flow is the excitation of the breathing modes in the scattering region. Simplified variational equations of motion suggested that the phenomenon can be observed if the soliton is scattered by a generic asymmetric effective double potential well.

Assessment of DNA repair efficiency in the inbred BTBR T+tf/J autism spectrum disorder mouse model exposed to gamma rays and treated with JNJ7777120.

Information regarding DNA repair in autism is limited to a few studies, which have reported inconsistent results. Therefore, we designed a study to determine whether DNA repair efficiency is altered in autism and to investigate whether the H4 ligand JNJ7777120 can enhance DNA repair efficiency in BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mice; we also attempted to elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying this amelioration. Evaluation of DNA damage using the comet assay on bone marrow cells showed increased levels of DNA damage in BTBR mice compared with age-matched control C57BL/6J mice. Conversely, BTBR animals pretreated with 20 mg/kg JNJ7777120 for five days exhibited significant decreases in DNA damage compared with that of control BTBR mice. Our results also indicated higher sensitivity of BTBR mice exposed to gamma rays to DNA damage generation. A marked difference was observed between BTBR and C57BL/6J mice at different sampling times after irradiation, with BTBR mice showing a higher percentage of DNA damage and slower repair rate than that of C57BL/6J mice. JNJ7777120 led to enhanced repair of the DNA damage induced by radiation when administered to BTBR mice five days prior to radiation. Additionally, oxidative stress in BTBR mice was significantly elevated with a reduced GSH/GSSG ratio; significant amelioration was subsequently observed in JNJ7777120-pretreated BTBR mice. Furthermore, repetitive behaviors were also attenuated in BTBR mice by JNJ7777120 treatment without altering locomotor activity. Our results suggest that JNJ7777120 can be developed for use as a therapeutic agent to enhance DNA repair efficiency in autism spectrum disorder.

Blocking of cytokines signalling attenuates evoked and spontaneous neuropathic pain behaviours in the paclitaxel rat model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (CIPNP) is a serious dose-limiting neurotoxic effect of cancer drug treatment. The underlying mechanism(s) of this debilitating condition, which lacks effective drug treatment, is incompletely understood. However, neural-immune interactions, involving increased expression and release of cytokines, are believed to be involved. Here, we examined, in the paclitaxel rat model of CIPNP, whether plasma levels of 24 cytokines/chemokines change after paclitaxel treatment, and whether blocking of signalling of some of those cytokines would reverse/attenuate behavioural signs of CIPNP. METHODS: To achieve these objectives luminex, pharmacological and behavioural experiments were performed on male Wistar rats (250-300 g) 31 days after the last injection of paclitaxel (1 mg/kg, i.p. on four alternate days) as well as on control (vehicle-treated) rats. RESULTS: Compared with control rats, plasma levels of IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ and MCP-1 were significantly upregulated in paclitaxel-treated rats. Blocking of TNF-α signalling with etanercept (2 mg/kg, i.p.) or IL-1ß with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra; 3 mg/kg, i.p.), significantly attenuated established mechanical and cold hypersensitivity as well as spontaneous pain behaviour (spontaneous foot lifting) 24 and 48 h postdrug treatment. Pharmacological blockade of MCP-1/CCL2 signalling with a highly selective CCR2 receptor antagonist (S504393, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) also significantly reduced evoked, but not spontaneous, pain behaviours of CIPNP in paclitaxel-treated rats at the same time points. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the notion that cytokines/chemokines, particularly TNF-α, IL-1 and MCP-1, are involved in the pathophysiology of CIPNP and suggest that strategies that target their inhibition may be effective in treating CIPNP. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that paclitaxel-treated rats exhibit, in addition to indices of mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, a behavioural sign of spontaneous pain, the principal compliant of patients with neuropathic pain. This was accompanied by upregulation in plasma levels of key cytokines/chemokines (IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ and MCP-1) 31 days post-treatment. However, it is noteworthy that cytokine release, rather than nerve injury per se, may be causative of NP in this model of CIPNP. Nevertheless, our findings that pharmacological blockade of TNF-α, IL-1ß and MCP-1 attenuated both evoked and spontaneous pain suggest that strategies that target inhibition of these cytokines may be effective in treating CIPNP.

Electroactive Amphiphiles for Addressable Supramolecular Nanostructures.

In this focus review we aim to highlight an exciting class of materials, electroactive amphiphiles (EAAs). This class of functional amphiphilic molecules has been the subject of sporadic investigations over the last few decades, but little attempt has been made to date to gather or organise these investigations into a logical fashion. Here we attempted to gather the most important contributions, provide a framework in which to discuss them, and, more importantly, point towards the areas where we believe these EAAs will contribute to solving wider scientific problems and open new opportunities. Our discussions cover materials based on low molecular weight ferrocenes, viologens and anilines, as well as examples of polymeric and supramolecular EAAs. With the advances of modern analytical techniques and new tools for modelling and understanding optoelectronic properties, we believe that this area of research is ready for further exploration and exploitation.

A centrifugation-based method for extraction of norovirus from raspberries.

A method was developed for extraction of noroviruses from raspberries. The method consists of removal of virus from fruit surfaces by alkaline extraction, then removal of residual food debris by centrifugation, followed by concentration of virus particles by ultracentrifugation. The efficiency of the extraction was estimated by comparison of reverse transcription PCR signals obtained from fruit extracts and the norovirus suspension that was used to contaminate the fruit. Noroviruses were recovered with at least 10% efficiency from 60-g raspberry samples (n = 10). The sample treatment reported here should be applicable for harnessing to any norovirus reverse transcription PCR and form the basis of a dependable method to detect noroviruses in raspberries.

Benzotriazole and 5-methylbenzotriazole in recycled water, surface water and dishwashing detergents from Perth, Western Australia: analytical method development and application.

A simplified and sensitive liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method without requiring sample pre-concentration was successfully developed for detecting the occurrence of ultra-low (ng L(-1)) concentrations of benzotriazole (BTri), and its derivative 5-methyl benzotriazole (5-MeBT) in various Western Australian environmental water samples. The method detection limit was 2 ng L(-1), providing similar detection limits to other more process intensive methods where pre-concentration using solid phase extraction (SPE) was employed. The method was used to assess the occurrence of BTri and 5-MeBT in wastewater and surface water samples. Over a period of 12 months, BTri and 5-MeBT concentrations in secondary treated wastewater were measured, with the highest BTri and 5-MeBT concentrations observed during winter months at 78 ng L(-1) and 21 ng L(-1), respectively. The method was also used to assess the removal efficiency of BTri and 5-MeBT through an advanced water recycling plant (AWRP). While BTri was more persistent than 5-MeBT, both compounds were removed from the AWRP to <10 ng L(-1) (BTri) and <2 ng L(-1) (5-MeBT), with reverse osmosis (RO) providing the most effective treatment process for their removal.

Fate of benzotriazole and 5-methylbenzotriazole in recycled water recharged into an anaerobic aquifer: column studies.

The fate of benzotriazole (BTri) and 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-MeBT) was investigated under anaerobic conditions at nano gram per litre concentrations in large-scale laboratory columns to mimic a managed aquifer recharge replenishment strategy in Western Australia. Investigations of BTri and 5-MeBT sorption behaviour demonstrated mobility of the compounds with retardation coefficients of 2.0 and 2.2, respectively. Degradation processes over a period of 220 days indicated first order biodegradation of the BTri and 5-MeBT under anaerobic aquifer conditions after a biological lag-time of approximately 30-60 days. Biodegradation half-lives of 29 ± 2 and 26 ± 1 days for BTri and 5-MeBT were respectively observed, with no threshold effect to biodegradation observed at the 200 ng L(-1). The detection of degradation products provided further evidence of BTri and 5-MeBT biodegradation. These results suggested that if BTri and 5-MeBT were present in recycled water recharged to the Leederville aquifer, biodegradation during aquifer passage is likely given sufficient aquifer residence times or travel distances between recycled water injection and groundwater extraction.