Comparison of simplicity, convenience, safety, and cost-effectiveness between use of insulin pen devices and disposable plastic syringes by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study from Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin pen devices and disposable plastic insulin syringes are two common tools for insulin administration. This study aims to compare the simplicity, convenience, safety, and cost-effectiveness of insulin pens versus syringe devices in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 14 diabetes clinics throughout Bangladesh from November 2021 to April 2022 among adults with T2DM injecting insulin by pen devices or disposable insulin syringes at least once a day for at least one year by purposive sampling. The simplicity, convenience, and safety of insulin devices were assessed using a structured questionnaire, and the study subjects were scored based on their answers; higher scores indicated a poorer response. Total scores for simplicity, convenience, and safety were obtained by adding the scores for relevant components. Their average monthly medical expense and cost of insulin therapy were recorded. The median values of the total scores and monthly expenses were compared between pen devices and disposable syringe users. RESULTS: 737 subjects were evaluated; 406 were pen users, and 331 were vial syringe users. The pen users had lower median scores for simplicity [6.0 (5.0-8.0) vs. 7.0 (5.0-9.0), p = 0.002], convenience [4.0 (3.0-6.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0-6.0), p < 0.001], and safety [7.0 (6.0-8.0) vs. 7.0 (6.0-9.0), p = 0.008] than vial syringe users. Pen devices were more expensive than vial syringes in terms of average medical expense per month [BDT 5000 (3500-7000) vs. 3000 (2000-5000), p < 0.001], the total cost of insulin therapy per month [BDT 2000 (1500-3000) vs. 1200 (800-1700), p < 0.001] and cost per unit of insulin used [BDT 2.08 (1.39-2.78) vs. 0.96 (0.64-1.39), p < 0.001]. Non-significant differences in favor of pens were observed in HbA1c levels [8.7 (7.8-10) vs. 8.9 (7.9-10)%, p = 0.607] and proportions of subjects having HbA1c < 7% (6.9 vs. 6.3%, p = 0.991). CONCLUSION: Insulin pens are simpler, more convenient, and safe but more expensive than vial syringes. Glycemic control is comparable between pen and syringe users. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine the clinical and economic impacts of such benefits of insulin pens.

Status of lipid control in Bangladeshi subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus on lipid-lowering drugs: a multicenter, facility-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Achievement of lipid targets is crucial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Data on lipid-control status among patients with T2DM in Bangladesh are scarce. This study was conducted to determine the lipid-control status among patients with T2DM who were on lipid-lowering drugs in the country. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the diabetes outpatient departments of several tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh from January 2022 to December 2022. Adults of both sexes diagnosed with T2DM for at least one year and were on the lipid-lowering drug(s) for a minimum of 3 months were included in the study by consecutive sampling. Patients' data were collected by face-to-face interviews, and blood samples were collected for fasting lipid profile. The lipid target was set at < 200 mg/dL for total cholesterol (TC), < 150 mg/dL for triglyceride (TG), < 100 mg/dL for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), > 40 mg/dL for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and < 160 mg/dL for non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C). RESULT: Three thousand sixty patients (age 44.7 ± 13.3 years, female 57%) with T2DM were evaluated. Overall, almost 81% of the study subjects achieved the LDL-C target. Besides, TC, TG, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C targets were achieved by 40.8, 21.6, 66.3, and 44.1% of patients, respectively. However, all the lipid parameters were under control in only 8.8% of patients. Almost 77.6% of the patients with ischemic heart disease, 81.5% of patients with stroke, and 65% of patients with CKD had LDL levels < 70 mg/dL. Only 10.03% achieved the HbA1c target of < 7%. 7.4% of patients achieved both HbA1c < 7% and LDL < 100 mg/dL and 5% achieved both HbA1c < 7% and LDL < 70 mg/dL. Advanced age (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96, 0.98, p < 0.001), longstanding T2DM (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.39, 0.72, p < 0.001), and non-statin therapy (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.16, 0.37, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with lipid control (LDL < 100 mg/dL) while using oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin (aOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.45, 2.77, p < 0.001) and having cardiovascular comorbidity (aOR 3.92, 95% CI 3.00, 5.12, p < 0.001) were positively associated with lipid control. CONCLUSION: Though most patients with T2DM achieved their target LDL level, the prevalence of both glycemic and overall lipid control was low in our study despite lipid-lowering therapy.

Simulation as a tool to model potential workflow enhancements in radiotherapy treatment pathways - A systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to synthesize and summarize the use of simulation of radiotherapy pathways. The objective was to establish the suitability of those simulations in modeling the potential introduction of processes and technologies to speed up radiotherapy pathways. A systematic literature search was carried out using PubMed and Scopus databases to evaluate the use of simulation in radiotherapy pathways. Full journal articles and conference proceedings were considered, and the search was limited to the English language only. To be eligible for inclusion, articles had to model multiple sequential processes in the radiotherapy pathway concurrently to demonstrate the suitability of simulation modeling in typical pathways. Papers solely modeling scheduling, capacity, or queuing strategies were excluded. In total, 151 potential studies were identified and screened to find 18 relevant studies in October 2022. Studies showed that various pathways could be modeled, including the entire pathway from referral to end of treatment or the constituent phases such as pre-treatment, treatment, or other subcomponents. The data required to generate models varied from study to study, but at least 3 months of data were needed. This review demonstrates that modeling and simulation of radiotherapy pathways are feasible and that model output matches real-world systems. Validated models give researchers confidence to modify models with potential workflow enhancements to assess their potential effect on real-world systems. It is recommended that researchers follow best practice guidelines when building models to ensure that they are fit for purpose and to enable decision makers to have confidence in their results.

Prevalence and predictors of diabetes distress among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a facility-based cross-sectional study of Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes distress (DD) is common and has considerable impacts on diabetes management. Unfortunately, DD is less discussed and frequently underestimated. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of DD in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at several specialized endocrinology outpatient clinics in Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020; 259 adults with T2DM participated. Participants' DD and depression were measured using the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. DDS-17 scores ≥2 and PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were the cutoffs for DD and significant depression, respectively. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 50.36 (±12.7) years, with the majority (54.8%) being male; their median (IQR) duration of diabetes was 6 (3-11) years. Among the study participants, 52.5% had DD (29.7% moderate and 22.8% high DD). The prevalence of emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, and interpersonal distress was 68.7, 28.6, 66, and 37.7%, respectively. Depression was present in 40.5%; 28.6% of the participants had DD and depression. The total DDS-17 score was positively correlated with the PHQ-9 score (r = 0.325, p < 0.001). Rural residence (OR 1.94), presence of any diabetic complication (OR 3.125), insulin use (OR 2.687), and presence of major depression (OR 4.753) were positive predictors of DD. In contrast, age ≥ 40 years at diabetes diagnosis (OR 0.047) and diabetes duration of > 10 years (OR 0.240) were negative predictors of DD (p < 0.05 in all instances). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DD in our setting is notably high; DD and depression frequently overlap. Screening for diabetes distress may be considered, especially in high-risk patients.

Effect of Transglutaminase Post-Treatment on the Stability and Swelling Behavior of Casein Micro-Particles.

Casein microparticles are produced by flocculation of casein micelles due to volume exclusion of pectin and subsequent stabilization by film drying. Transglutaminase post-treatment alters their stability, swelling behavior, and internal structure. Untreated particles sediment due to their size and disintegrate completely after the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The fact that transglutaminase-treated microparticles only sediment at comparable rates under these conditions shows that their structural integrity is not lost due to the detergent. Transglutaminase-treated particles reach an equilibrium final size after swelling instead of decomposing completely. By choosing long treatment times, swelling can also be completely suppressed as experiments at pH 11 show. In addition, deswelling effects also occur within the swelling curves, which enhance with increasing transglutaminase treatment time and are ascribed to the elastic network of cross-linked caseins. We propose a structural model for transglutaminase-treated microparticles consisting of a core of uncross-linked and a shell of cross-linked caseins. A dynamic model describes all swelling curves by considering both casein fractions in parallel. The characteristic correlation length of the internal structure of swollen casein microparticles is pH-independent and decreases with increasing transglutaminase treatment time, as observed also for the equilibrium swelling value of uncross-linked caseins.

Discovery and functional understanding of MiRNAs in molluscs: a genome-wide profiling approach.

Small non-coding RNAs play a pivotal role in gene regulation, repression of transposable element and viral activity in various organisms. Among the various categories of these small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) guide post-translational gene regulation in cellular development, proliferation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, and differentiation. Here, we performed a genome-wide computational prediction of miRNAs to improve the understanding of miRNA observation and function in molluscs. As an initial step, hundreds of conserved miRNAs were predicted in 35 species of molluscs through genome scanning. Afterwards, the miRNAs' population, isoforms, organization, and function were characterized in detail. Furthermore, the key miRNA biogenesis factors, including AGO2, DGCR8, DICER, DROSHA, TRABP2, RAN, and XPO5, were elucidated based on homologue sequence searching. We also summarized the miRNAs' function in biomineralization, immune and stress response, as well as growth and development in molluscs. Because miRNAs play a vital role in various lifeforms, this study will provide insight into miRNA biogenesis and function in molluscs, as well as other invertebrates.

Muscle cellularity, growth performance and growth-related gene expression of juvenile climbing perch Anabas testudineus in response to different eggs incubation temperature.

Although indigenous climbing perch (Anabas testudineusis) is a highly valuable species, slow growth pattern during the culture period impeding its commercial success in aquaculture. In many fish species, it has been demonstrated that incubation temperature of eggs influenced the muscle development and growth rates, which persisted throughout the subsequent larval and juvenile phases. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether different incubation temperature of eggs prior to hatching can stimulate the muscle development, growth, and growth-related gene expression of the slow-growing indigenous species of climbing perch. The fertilized eggs of A. testudineus from an artificial breeding program were incubated under control temperature of 24 °C (IT24), 26 °C (IT26), 28 °C (IT28), and 30 °C (IT30) in 10L glass aquaria with four replicated units for each temperature treatment. After hatching, the larvae from each incubated temperature were separately reared at ambient temperature for 10 days in aquarium, 20 days in hapas, and the next 42 days in cages, totaling 72 days post-hatching (dph). The hatching rates were found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in IT28 compared to the other incubation temperature treatments. After 72 dph, the growth performances (%length gained, %weight gained and SGR) were found to be significantly highest (P < 0.05) in the IT28, followed by the treatments IT30, IT26, and IT24, respectively. Survival rate (73 ± 1.257%) was also found to be highest in the same treatment. The rate of new muscle fiber formation was identified to be significantly highest (P < 0.05) in IT28 followed by the IT26, IT30 and IT24, respectively. The relative mRNA expression level of GHRH, IGF1, IGF2 and PRL was also significantly highest in the IT28 (P < 0.05) compared to other treatments. Results from the present study clearly suggested that 28 °C is the optimum eggs incubation temperature of the native strain of A. testudineus for its highest growth performances in captive breeding condition.

Effect of milk pH at heating on protein complex formation and ultimate gel properties of free-fat yoghurt.

The effect of milk pH before heating on casein-whey protein interactions and ultimate gel properties of the free-fat yoghurt was investigated. Reconstituted skim milk at different pH values (6.4, 6.8 and 7.2) was heated at 80 °C for 30 min. The type of protein and size of casein micelle in milk were determined. The storage modulus (G'), loss tangent (tan δ), flow behaviour as well as microstructure, firmness and water holding capacity of the yoghurt samples were measured. Heating milk at pH 7.2 formed mostly soluble protein complexes whereas at pH 6.4 micelle bound complexes was dominant. However, heating milk at pH 6.8 resulted in a relatively compact protein network due to a balanced contribution from both soluble protein/κ-casein complexes and whey protein-casein micelle associated complexes. Yoghurt prepared with milk heated at pH 6.8 showed significantly higher G' values, shorter gelation times, higher water holding capacity, firmness and more compact protein network compared to those at pH 6.4, 7.2 and unheated milk. The obtained results demonstrated that milk pH adjustment before heating could be an important factor governing uniform quality yoghurt production.

Variants of SMAD1 gene increase the risk of colorectal cancer in the Bangladeshi population.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common type of malignancy worldwide that may develop due to the accumulation of several genetic variations. Different single nucleotide polymorphisms of SMAD1 gene are assumed to be linked with increased colorectal cancer risk. The current case-control study was conducted to verify the association of genetic polymorphisms of SMAD1 (rs11100883 and rs7661162) with colorectal cancer in the Bangladeshi population. This study was performed on 275 colorectal cancer patients and 300 healthy volunteers using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The odds ratios were adjusted for age and sex with logistic regression analysis. In case of SMAD1 rs11100883 polymorphism, GA heterozygous genotype, GA + AA (dominant model), and minor allele "A" were significantly associated with colorectal cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.55, 95% confidence interval = 1.09-2.20, p = 0.014; adjusted odds ratio = 1.59, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-2.23, p = 0.008; and odds ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.73, p = 0.015, respectively) and the significance exists after the Bonferroni correction. Again, single nucleotide polymorphism rs7661162 showed significant association with an elevated colorectal cancer risk for AG heterozygous genotype, AG + GG (dominant model), AG versus AA + GG (overdominant model), and minor allele "G" (adjusted odds ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-2.56, p = 0.002; adjusted odds ratio = 1.68, 95% confidence interval = 1.18-2.39, p = 0.004; adjusted odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval = 1.23-2.53, p = 0.002; and odds ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.08-2.00, p = 0.014, respectively) and significance withstands after the Bonferroni correction. No significant age and gender differences between cases and controls were observed. In silico, gene expression analysis showed that the SMAD1 mRNA level was downregulated in the colon and rectal cancer tissues compared to healthy tissues. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SMAD1 rs11100883 and rs7661162 polymorphisms are responsible for increasing the susceptibility of colorectal cancer development in the Bangladeshi population.

The relationship between serum uric acid and lipid profile in Bangladeshi adults.

BACKGROUND: Although the link between elevated uric acid and metabolic syndrome has been reported in some studies; the relationship of serum uric acid (SUA) with lipid profile has not well studied or little is known so far. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between SUA and lipid profile among the general adults in Bangladesh. METHODS: In total, 280 blood samples were collected from general adult participants (male, n = 150 and female, n = 130) and analyzed for serum lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL and LDL) and SUA levels. The study subjects were divided by quartiles based on SUA levels (Q1: ≤225 µmol/L, Q2: 226-285 µmol/L, Q3: 286-340 µmol/L and Q4: > 340 µmol/L). Linear regression modeling was used to evaluate the relationship between SUA and lipid levels. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 9.2% in males and 10.4% in females. The mean level of SUA was significantly higher in male (317 ± 90 µmol/L) than in the female (255 ± 65 µmol/L) subjects (p < 0.001). An increasing trend for elevated lipid profile was observed in both gender with increasing levels of SUA in the quartiles (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between SUA and TG, TC and LDL (p < 0.01) while an inverse correlation was observed between SUA and HDL (p < 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, lipid profile was linearly associated with SUA levels (p < 0.01 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Present study showed a significant positive relationship for SUA with TG, TC and LDL levels, and an inverse relationship for SUA with HDL. Early prevention of hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia may be helpful to reduce the incidence of associated cardiovascular diseases.

Current technologies and new insights for the recovery of high valuable compounds from fruits by-products.

The recovery of high valuable compounds from food waste is becoming a tighten issue in food processing. The large amount of non-edible residues produced by food industries causes pollution, difficulties in the management, and economic loss. The waste produced during the transformation of fruits includes a huge amount of materials such as peels, seeds, and bagasse, whose disposal usually represents a problem. Research over the past 20 years revealed that many food wastes could serve as a source of potentially valuable bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and vitamins with increasing scientific interest thanks to their beneficial effects on human health. The challenge for the recovery of these compounds is to find the most appropriate and environment friendly extraction technique able to achieve the maximum extraction yield without compromising the stability of the extracted products. Based on this scenario, the aim of the current review is twofold. The first is to give a brief overview of the most important bioactive compounds occurring in fruit wastes. The second is to describe the pro and cons of the most up-to-dated innovative and environment friendly extraction technologies that can be an alternative to the classical solvent extraction procedures for the recovery of valuable compounds from fruit processing. Furthermore, a final section will take into account published findings on the combination of some of these technologies to increase the extracts yields of bioactives.

In vitro antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of methanolic fruit extract of Phyllanthus acidus.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by loss of memory and cognition. Cholinergic deficit and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and oxidation are the two promising strategies in the development of drug for AD. Phyllanthus acidus, belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, is a tree and has been used in traditional medicine to treat several pain, inflammatory and oxidative stress related disorders such as rheumatism, bronchitis, asthma, respiratory disorder, also important to promote intellect and enhance memory, thus supporting its possible anti-Alzheimer's properties. In this study, P. acidus was evaluated for its cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant potential and neuroprotective activity of P. acidus by assessing total phenol content (FCR assay), total flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity, Fe (3+) reducing power capacity, DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity & metal chelating activity. In addition acetylcholinestrase (AChE) and butyrylcholinestrase (BChE) inhibitory activities were performed using Ellman's method. RESULTS: Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of the extract were 116.98 mg of gallic acid equivalent and 168.24 mg of quercetin equivalent per gm of dried extract. The methanolic extract of P. acidus (MEPA) showed considerable total antioxidant activity and reducing capacity. In DPPH scavenging assay and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, the MEPA showed 84.33 % and 77.21 % scavenging having IC50 of 15.62 and 59.74 µg/ml respectively. In lipid peroxidation inhibition activity MEPA showed moderate inhibition of peroxidation at all concentrations with IC50 value of 471.63 µg/ml and exhibited metal chelating activity with IC50 value 308.67 µg/ml. The MEPA exhibited inhibition of rat brain acetylcholinesterase and human blood butyrylcholinesterase in a dose dependent manner and the IC50 value was found to be 1009.87 µg/ml and 449.51 µg/ml respectively. CONCLUSION: These results of the present study reveal that MEPA has considerable amount of antioxidant activity as well as anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity which suggest its effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Stimulatory and inhibitory mechanisms of slow muscle-specific myosin heavy chain gene expression in fish: transient and transgenic analysis of torafugu MYH(M86-2) promoter in zebrafish embryos.

The myosin heavy chain gene, MYHM86-2, exhibited restricted expression in slow muscle fibers of torafugu embryos and larvae, suggesting its functional roles for embryonic and larval muscle development. However, the transcriptional mechanisms involved in its expression are still ambiguous. The present study is the first extensive analysis of slow muscle-specific MYHM86-2 promoter in fish for identifying the cis-elements that are crucial for its expression. Combining both transient transfection and transgenic approaches, we demonstrated that the 2614bp 5'-flanking sequences of MYHM86-2 contain a sufficient promoter activity to drive gene expression specific to superficial slow muscle fibers. By cyclopamine treatment, we also demonstrated that the differentiation of such superficial slow muscle fibers depends on hedgehog signaling activity. The deletion analyses defined an upstream fragment necessary for repressing ectopic MYHM86-2 expression in the fast muscle fibers. The transcriptional mechanism that prevents MYHM86-2 expression in the fast muscle fibers is mediated through Sox6 binding elements. We also demonstrated that Sox6 may function as a transcriptional repressor of MYHM86-2 expression. We further discovered that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) binding elements plays a key role and myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) binding elements participate in the transcriptional regulation of MYHM86-2 expression.

In vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and the antioxidant properties of Aegle marmelos leaf extract: implications for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by loss of memory and cognition. The effective therapeutic options for AD are limited and thus there is a demand for new drugs. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) (A. marmelos) leaves have been used in traditional medicine to promote intellect and enhance memory. In this study, we evaluated A. marmelos for its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and antioxidant property in vitro in the treatment of AD. METHODS: A crude methanol extract and four fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous) were prepared from the leaves of A. marmelos. The preparations were assessed for AChE inhibitory activity by the Ellman method, and their antioxidant properties were assessed by several assays: reducing power, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical and hydroxyl radical, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of endogenous substances in A. marmelos were performed by the standard phytochemical methods. RESULTS: Among the different extracts tested, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest inhibition of AChE activity. In the same way, ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest reducing activity and radical scavenging ability towards the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (half maximal inhibitory concentration = 3.84 µg/mL) and hydroxyl free radicals (half maximal inhibitory concentration = 5.68 µg/mL). The antiradical activity of the ethyl acetate fraction appeared to be similar to that of the reference standard butylated hydroxytoluene and catechin used in this study. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction displayed higher inhibition of brain lipid peroxidation. Phytochemical screening of different extractives of A. marmelos showed the presence of phenols and flavonoids, alkaloid, saponin, glycoside, tannin and steroids. Quantitative analysis revealed higher contents of phenolics (58.79-mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract) and flavonoids (375.73-mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract) in the ethyl acetate fraction. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of A. marmelos is a significant source of polyphenolic compounds with potential AChE inhibitory property and antioxidant activity and, thus, may be useful in the treatment of AD.

Stabilizing interactions of casein microparticles after a thermal post-treatment.

Casein microparticles from milk are important carrier materials for bioactive substances with stability and swelling properties that can be influenced by heat treatment. Microparticles produced by depletion flocculation and film drying remain stable in acidic media but swell and disintegrate under slightly alkaline conditions. Heat treatment after formation can stabilize the microparticles via a disulfide bridge network and newly formed hydrophobic contacts. Temperatures >60 °C are required so that denatured whey protein initiate formation of disulfide bridges via thiol exchange reactions. The particles then swell in a two-step process and exhibit an overshooting effect. If formation of disulphide bridges is prevented during heat treatment by adding N-methylmaleimide, overshooting swelling disappears and microparticles continue to expand instead. The analysis with parallel system dynamics models is based on the swelling of uncross-linked caseins, which is limited by the expansion capacity of cross-linked caseins.

Degradation kinetics of lycopene from red amaranth & preparation of winter melon jelly using this lycopene and comparison with commercial jelly.

This study was conducted to observe the storage conditions, such as solvent and temperature, of lycopene content and degradation kinetics from red amaranth (Amaranthus gangeticus). Jelly was prepared using the extracted lycopene, the physicochemical properties and lycopene content. The extract with the maximum amount of lycopene was obtained by extraction with hexane, acetone and ethanol (2:1:1),50 ± 9 mg/kg. Higher lycopene degradation was observed at refrigerated temperature as compared to ambient temperature in hexane acetone (6:4) solvent throughout the storage periods. In this period, the initial lycopene concentration was measured to be 17 ± 8 mg/kg, whereas at the end of the storage time, it was found to be 3.0 ± 0.8 mg/kg. Hence, the results indicate that the hexane, acetone, and ethanol (in a ratio of 2:1:1) solvent method is viable for extracting and purifying lycopene from red amaranth at refrigerated temperature. This lycopene can serve as both a natural colorant and a value-added product. However, it is worth noting that lycopene can also be extracted and purified using recrystallization, column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods. The Winter melon jelly using lycopene from red amaranth contained moisture 29.6 %, ash 0.67 %, acidity 0.35 %, reducing sugar 26.8 %, non-reducing sugar 35.4 %, total soluble solid 66°brix and lycopene content 26.04 mg/kg. Proper utilization of lycopene extracted from red amaranth during the preparation of bakery, confectionary, baby food etc., may help and encourage the development of small-scale industries in the country.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon-Functionalized 2D MXene-Based 3D Porous Antifouling Nanocomposite with Long Shelf Life for High-Performance Electrochemical Immunosensor Applications.

Affinity-based electrochemical (AEC) biosensors have gained more attention in the field of point-of-care management. However, AEC sensing is hampered by biofouling of the electrode surface and degradation of the antifouling material. Therefore, a breakthrough in antifouling nanomaterials is crucial for the fabrication of reliable AEC biosensors. Herein, for the first time, we propose 1-pyrenebutyric acid-functionalized MXene to develop an antifouling nanocomposite to resist biofouling in the immunosensors. The nanocomposite consisted of a 3D porous network of bovine serum albumin cross-linked with glutaraldehyde with functionalized MXene as conductive nanofillers, where the inherited oxidation resistance property of functionalized MXene improved the electrochemical lifetime of the nanocomposite. On the other hand, the size-extruded porous structure of the nanocomposite inhibited the biofouling activity on the electrode surface for up to 90 days in real samples. As a proof of concept, the antifouling nanocomposite was utilized to fabricate a multiplexed immunosensor for the detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin biomarkers. The fabricated sensor showed good selectivity over time and an excellent limit of detection for CRP and ferritin of 6.2 and 4.2 pg/mL, respectively. This research successfully demonstrated that functionalized MXene-based antifouling nanocomposites have great potential to develop high-performance and low-cost immunosensors.

Impact of COVID-19 on celebration of death, mortuary, and funerary customs in Bangladesh: A qualitative study.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions significantly impacted religious activities related to death celebrations, mortuary practices, and funerary rituals in Bangladesh. Bereaved families faced a harsh reality, unable to perform the full rituals for their loved ones due to the pandemic outbreak. This study explores the adjustments and modifications made in cultural rituals and how they affected bereaved families and close relatives. Objective: This study aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the observance of death rituals in Bangladesh and the effects on bereaved families and close relatives. Methods: This study employed a qualitative approach and gathered data through 3 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 58 in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit participants from three distinct groups: (1) individuals who had experienced the death of a relative during the pandemic, (2) caregivers who provided support to those experiencing loss, and (3) volunteers actively involved with funeral and burial services. This selection strategy ensured a diverse range of perspectives on the impact of the pandemic on death rituals. Results: The pandemic forced people to observe funerals or make significant sacrifices to traditional practices reluctantly. Disruptions to long-standing traditions and widespread emotional toll were as various segments of society struggled to find closure in saying goodbye to loved ones. Due to the severity of the pandemic, people became heavily reliant on priests, crematorium workers, and funeral volunteers for mortuary services. Both Hindu and Muslim religions discouraged family gatherings during post-burial rituals. The fear of contracting the virus further limited bereaved families' ability to bid farewell to their deceased loved ones properly. Conclusion: This research highlights the profound impact of the pandemic on death rituals and the resulting emotional distress for bereaved families in Bangladesh. The findings are pivotal in guiding the development of concrete policies for future pandemic preparedness and response. Such policies might encompass guidelines for safe and culturally sensitive mortuary practices, psychosocial support and grief counseling initiatives for affected communities, and strategies to mitigate religious anxieties during public health emergencies.