Microbial (co)infections: Powerful immune influencers.

It is well established that by modulating various immune functions, host infection may alter the course of concomitant inflammatory diseases, of both infectious and autoimmune etiologies. Beyond the major impact of commensal microbiota on the immune status, host exposure to viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic microorganisms also dramatically influences inflammatory diseases in the host, in a beneficial or harmful manner. Moreover, by modifying pathogen control and host tolerance to tissue damage, a coinfection can profoundly affect the development of a concomitant infectious disease. Here, we review the diverse mechanisms that underlie the impact of (co)infections on inflammatory disorders. We discuss epidemiological studies in the context of the hygiene hypothesis and shed light on the sometimes dual impact of germ exposure on human susceptibility to inflammatory disease. We then summarize the immunomodulatory mechanisms at play, which can involve pleiotropic effects of immune players and discuss the possibility to harness pathogen-derived compounds to the host benefit.

Severe ocular Mpox in person living with advanced HIV treated with extended course of tecovirimat.

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV are disproportionately represented among people with severe mpox. Mild and self-limiting conjunctival involvement has been well-documented, and severe ocular complications, including keratitis, corneal scarring, and the associated loss of vision, are increasingly recognized. Tecovirimat is the first-line antiviral therapy for severe mpox, but data around the efficacy of systemic antiviral agents for mpox are limited, particularly in cases of ocular mpox. CASE REPORT: Here, we describe a case of sight-threatening necrotic blepharokeratoconjunctivitis in a person with advanced HIV, requiring an extended course of tecovirimat due to persistent mpox viral shedding for nearly 5 months.

Tracking colloidal silica particles to evaluate their dispersion and interactions in concentrated suspensions under shear force applications.

This study aimed to characterize interactions within colloidal silica particles in their concentrated suspensions, using rheo-confocal measurements and imaging, followed by image analysis. We studied the effect of shear rate (0-500 s-1) and solution pH (6, 10) on the dispersion degree of colloidal silica particles via the determination and comparison of interparticle distances and their modeling. Images corresponding to different shear rates were analyzed to identify the coordinates of the particles. These coordinates were further analyzed to calculate the distance among the particles and then their surface-to-surface distance normalized by the particle diameter (H/D). It was found that the population of the particles per unit area of the image and H/D varied with increasing shear rate. The comparison between experimentally measured and theoretically calculated H/D identified that for some particles, the former was shorter than the latter, indicating the unexpected attractions among them against the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Then, the modification of previously reported equations for H/D was suggested and confirmed its validity. Assuming pair potential interaction and hydrodynamic interaction were the main non-DLVO interactions, their magnitudes were calculated and confirmed the significance of pH and shear application strength on particle dispersion/coagulation.

Natural compounds targeting YAP/TAZ axis in cancer: Current state of art and challenges.

Cancer has become a burgeoning global healthcare concern marked by its exponential growth and significant economic ramifications. Though advancements in the treatment modalities have increased the overall survival and quality of life, there are no definite treatments for the advanced stages of this malady. Hence, understanding the diseases etiologies and the underlying molecular complexities, will usher in the development of innovative therapeutics. Recently, YAP/TAZ transcriptional regulation has been of immense interest due to their role in development, tissue homeostasis and oncogenic transformations. YAP/TAZ axis functions as coactivators within the Hippo signaling cascade, exerting pivotal influence on processes such as proliferation, regeneration, development, and tissue renewal. In cancer, YAP is overexpressed in multiple tumor types and is associated with cancer stem cell attributes, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Activation of YAP/TAZ mirrors the cellular "social" behavior, encompassing factors such as cell adhesion and the mechanical signals transmitted to the cell from tissue structure and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Therefore, it presents a significant vulnerability in the clogs of tumors that could provide a wide window of therapeutic effectiveness. Natural compounds have been utilized extensively as successful interventions in the management of diverse chronic illnesses, including cancer. Owing to their capacity to influence multiple genes and pathways, natural compounds exhibit significant potential either as adjuvant therapy or in combination with conventional treatment options. In this review, we delineate the signaling nexus of YAP/TAZ axis, and present natural compounds as an alternate strategy to target cancer.

Semirigid ureteroscopy and tamsulosin therapy as dilatation methods before flexible ureteroscopy: evaluation and benefits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of semirigid ureteroscopy and tamsulosin therapy as dilatation methods before flexible ureteroscopy advancement to the renal collecting system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included patients with renal stones less than 2 cm who underwent retrograde flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. The patients were randomized into two groups: group A patients were given a placebo for 1 week before flexible ureteroscopy, and group B patients were administered 0.4 mg of tamsulosin once daily for 1 week before surgery and underwent active dilatation using semirigid ureteroscopy before flexible ureteroscopy. The ability of the flexible ureteroscope to reach the collecting system in both groups during the same operative session was assessed. Operative outcomes and complications were collected and analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were included in our study, with each group comprising 85 patients. In group B, the flexible ureteroscope successfully accessed the kidney in 61 patients, while in group A, the flexible ureteroscope was successful only in 28 cases (71.4% versus 32.9%). In group A, 33 (38.8%) patients had lower urinary tract symptoms compared to 17 (20.2%) patients in group B (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Using tamsulosin therapy and semirigid ureteroscopy as dilatation methods before flexible ureteroscopy increased the success of primary flexible ureteroscopy advancement to renal collecting system.

Bending and reverse bending during the fabrication of novel GaAs/(In,Ga)As/GaAs core-shell nanowires monitored byin situx-ray diffraction.

We report on the fabrication of a novel design of GaAs/(In,Ga)As/GaAs radial nanowire heterostructures on a Si 111 substrate, where, for the first time, the growth of inhomogeneous shells on a lattice mismatched core results in straight nanowires instead of bent. Nanowire bending caused by axial tensile strain induced by the (In,Ga)As shell on the GaAs core is reversed by axial compressive strain caused by the GaAs outer shell on the (In,Ga)As shell. Progressive nanowire bending and reverse bending in addition to the axial strain evolution during the two processes are accessed byin situby x-ray diffraction. The diameter of the core, thicknesses of the shells, as well as the indium concentration and distribution within the (In,Ga)As quantum well are revealed by 2D energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy using a transmission electron microscope. Shell(s) growth on one side of the core without substrate rotation results in planar-like radial heterostructures in the form of free standing straight nanowires.

Higher cadmium and zinc accumulation in parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots activates its antioxidants defense system.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is herb with many biological and medicinal benefits for humans. However, growth on zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) contaminated sites might get severely affected due to over accumulation of heavy metals (HM) in different plant tissues. Antioxidants play a crucial role in minimizing the negative effects of HM. The present study investigates the effects of Zn and Cd stress on P. crispum morphological parameters, enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidant profiling and metal accumulation in shoot/root. Plants were exposed to different concentrations of Zn (50, 100, 150 and 200 µM) and Cd (10, 20, 40 and 80 µM) along with control (no stress), in soil-less Hoagland's solution. The results showed that Zn and Cd substantially decrease the growth parameters with increased contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and electrolyte leakage (EL). Non-enzymatic antioxidant activities, like total phenolic contents (TPC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), were induced high in leaves only upon Cd stress and contrarily decreased upon Zn stress. Total flavonoid contents (TFC) were decreased under Zn and Cd stress. Enzymatic antioxidant activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also strongly induced upon Cd stress. At the same time, SOD and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity was induced significantly upon Zn stress. Cd uptake and accumulation was notably high in roots as compared to shoots, which suggests P. crispum have a reduced ability to translocate Cd towards aboveground parts (leaves). Additionally, strong induction of antioxidants by P. crispum under Cd stress might indicate the capacity to effectively re-modulate its physiological response. However, further investigations regarding other HMs and experiments at the molecular level are still needed.

Unveiling the capacity of bioaugmentation application, in comparison with biochar and rhamnolipid for TPHs degradation in aged hydrocarbons polluted soil.

Persistent, aged hydrocarbons in soil hinder remediation, posing a significant environmental threat. While bioremediation offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach, its efficacy for complex contaminants relies on enhancing pollutant bioavailability. This study explores the potential of immobilized bacterial consortia combined with biochar and rhamnolipids to accelerate bioremediation of aged total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH)-contaminated soil. Previous research indicates that biochar and biosurfactants can increase bioremediation rates, while mixed consortia offer sequential degradation and higher hydrocarbon mineralization. The present investigation aimed to assess whether combining these strategies could further enhance degradation in aged, complex soil matrices. The bioaugmentation (BA) with bacterial consortium increased the TPHs degradation in aged soil (over 20% compared to natural attenuation - NA). However, co-application of BA with biochar and rhamnolipid higher did not show a statistically prominent synergistic effect. While biochar application facilitated the maintenance of hydrocarbon degrading bacterial consortium in soil, the present study did not identify a direct influence in TPHs degradation. The biochar application in contaminated soil contributed to TPHs adsorption. Rhamnolipid alone slightly increased the TPHs biodegradation with NA, while the combined bioaugmentation treatment with rhamnolipid and biochar increased the degradation between 27.5 and 29.8%. These findings encourage further exploration of combining bioaugmentation with amendment, like biochar and rhamnolipid, for remediating diverse environmental matrices contaminated with complex and aged hydrocarbons.

Chemoprotective and immunomodulatory potential of Lactobacillus reuteri against cadmium chloride-induced breast cancer in mice.

INTRODUCTION: The current study aimed to investigate the role of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast cancer was induced by using Cadmium Chloride (Cd) (2 mg/kg) in group II. Tamoxifen was administered to group III. Group IV was treated with Lactobacillus reuteri. Group V was treated with Cd for one month and divided into three subgroups including VA, VB, and VC which were treated with tamoxifen, Lactobacillus reuteri, and tamoxifen + Lactobacillus reuteri, respectively. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of TNF-α (40.9 ± 4.2 pg/mL), IL-6 (28.0 ± 1.5 pg/mL), IL-10 (60.2 ± 2.0 pg/mL), IFN-γ (60.2 ± 2.0 pg/mL), ALAT (167.2 ± 6.2 U/l), ASAT (451.6 ± 13.9 U/l), and MDA (553.8 ± 19.6 U/l) was observed in Cd group. In comparison, significantly lower levels of TNF-α (18.0 ± 1.1 pg/mL), IL-6 (9.4 ± 0.4 pg/mL), IL-10 (20.8 ± 1.1 pg/mL), IFN-γ (20.8 ± 1.1 pg/mL), ALAT (85.2 ± 3.6 U/l), ASAT (185 ± 6.9 U/l), and MDA (246.0 ± 7.5 U/l) were observed in group Cd + Tam + LR. Liver histopathology of the Cd group showed hemorrhage and ductal aberrations. However, mild inflammation and healthier branched ducts were observed in treatment groups. Furthermore, the renal control group showed normal glomerular tufts, chronic inflammation from the Cd group, and relatively healthier glomerulus with mild inflammation in treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Hence, the preventive and anticancerous role of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri is endorsed by the findings of the current study.

Is motor-driven insertion of orthodontic miniscrews more advantageous than manual insertion? A micro-CT evaluation of bone miniscrew contact surface area and cortical microcracks in rabbits.

AIM: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the bone-miniscrew contact surface area (BMC) and the cortical bone microcracks (CM) resulting from manual (hand-driven) and automated (motor-driven) orthodontic miniscrew (OM) insertion methods. METHODS: Thirty-three OM were inserted in the femurs of nine New Zealand rabbits using manual (n = 16) and automated (n = 17) insertions. After euthanizing the rabbits, bone blocks, each including one OM, were sawed. Micro-CT scanning was performed, and data analysis included reconstruction, binarization and quantification of morphometric parameters of BMC and the number and length of CM. Means and standard deviations for complete BMC, complete BMC proportion, cortical BMC, cortical BMC proportion, and length and number of CM were calculated. Mixed model analysis was used to adjust for more than one sample/CM per animal. A paired t-test was used to compare the number of CM between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared to the automated insertion, manually inserted miniscrews had significantly lower complete BMC (7.54 ± 1.80 mm2 vs. 11.99 ± 3.64 mm2), cortical BMC (5.91 ± 1.48 mm2 vs. 8.48 ± 1.90 mm2) and cortical BMC proportion (79.44 ± 5.84% vs. 87.94 ± 3.66%). However, it was not statistically significant in complete BMC proportion (p = .052). The automated insertion also resulted in a significantly lower mean number of CM than the manual method (p = .012). However, the length of the cracks was shorter in the manual group but with no significant difference (p = 0.256). CONCLUSION: Motor-driven OM insertion results in superior BMC and reduction in the number of CM, which may lead to better miniscrew stability.

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVE (4-ARYLAZO-3-METHYL-2-THIENYL) 4-ANTIPYRINE KETONES.

The chemicals formed from antipyrines are flexible organic building blocks that are employed in the development of pharmaceuticals.  By diazotizing (4-arylazo-3-hydroxy-2-thienyl) 4-antipyrine ketones 1a, 1b and 1c and (4-arylazo-3-methyl-2-thienyl) 4-antipyrine ketones (2a, 2b and 2c) further replaced with six other coupling components, a broad spectrum of hybrid molecules have been created. Mass spectra, NMR, FTIR, and elemental analyses have all been used to confirm the structures of the synthesised compounds. The antimicrobial screening was investigated by agar well diffusion and diluting the broth technique against both Gram-negative and positive-tested bacterial strains. (3-methyl-5-(phenylamino)-4-(4-tolylazo)-2-thienyl) 4-antipyrine ketone (2a) was found to be superior to Ciprofloxacin against test strains: Acinetobacter sp (34.33 ±1.15 mm), Listeria monocytogenes (29.33 ±1.15 mm) and Streptococcus sp. (19.33 ±1.15 mm). Also, good to moderate activities were expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) which were recorded at 9±1 to 59.67±4.51 µg/mL and 16±4 to > 512 µg/mL, respectively, using compounds 2a, 2b, and 2c. MBC/MIC ratio showed, that only, 2a and 2b have a bactericidal effect but other antipyrines with bacteriostatic strength. It was suggested that the use of these novel synthesized (4-arylazo-3-methyl-2-thienyl) 4-antipyrine ketone derivatives molecules as a new chemical class of antimicrobial agents.

Beyond pulmonary embolism: Alternative diagnosis and incidental findings on CT pulmonary angiography in sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hematological disorder associated with severe complications, such as vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome (ACS), and an increased risk of thromboembolic events, including pulmonary embolism (PE). The diagnosis of PE in SCD patients presents challenges due to the overlapping symptoms with other pulmonary conditions. Our previous study revealed that nearly 96% of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scans in SCD patients were negative for PE, highlighting a gap in understanding the significance of CTPA findings when PE is absent. METHODS: In this retrospective follow-up study conducted at the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain, we examined SCD patients with HbSS genotypes who underwent CTPA from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, for suspected PE, but the results were negative. The aim of this study was to identify alternative diagnoses and incidental findings from CTPA scans. Experienced radiologists reviewed the CTPA images and reports to assess potential alternative diagnoses and incidental findings, incorporating an additional analysis of chest X-rays to evaluate the diagnostic value of CTPA. Incidental findings were classified based on their location and clinical significance. RESULTS: Among the 230 evaluated SCD patients (average age 39.7 years; 53% male) who were CTPA negative for PE, 142 (61.7%) had identifiable alternative diagnoses, primarily pneumonia (49.1%). Notably, 88.0% of these alternative diagnoses had been previously suggested by chest radiographs. Furthermore, incidental findings were noted in 164 (71.3%) patients, with 11.0% deemed clinically significant, necessitating immediate action, and 87.8% considered potentially significant, requiring further assessment. Notable incidental findings included thoracic abnormalities such as cardiomegaly (12.2%) and an enlarged pulmonary artery (11.3%), as well as upper abdominal pathologies such as hepatomegaly (19.6%), splenomegaly (20.9%), and gallstones (10.4%). CONCLUSION: This study underscores the limited additional diagnostic yield of CTPA for identifying alternative diagnoses to PE in SCD patients, with the majority of diagnoses, such as pneumonia, already suggested by chest radiographs. The frequent incidental findings, most of which necessitate further evaluation, highlight the need for a cautious and tailored approach to using CTPA in the SCD population.

Role of Functional Groups in Tuning Luminescence Signature of Solution-Processed Graphene Quantum Dots: Experimental and Theoretical Insights.

Zero-dimensional graphene quantum dots (GQDs) present unique optoelectronic properties in the large-spectrum range from UV to visible. However, the origin of luminescence in GQDs is still a debatable question. Therefore, the present work investigates the features of trap-mediated and edge-state-functionalized group-associated luminescence enhancement of GQDs. The attached functional groups' involvement in the upsurge of photoluminescence has been discussed theoretically as well as experimentally. In addition, the role of the aromatic ring, the functional group attached, and their positions of attachment to the aromatic ring to tune the emission wavelength and Raman modes have been elucidated theoretically as well as experimentally. We found that in the case of the -OH group attached outside of the aromatic ring, the long-range π hybridization dominates, which suggests that the emission from this model can be dictated by long-range π hybridization. In particular, we found that oxygen-containing functional groups attached outside of the aromatic ring are the main source of the luminescence signature in GQDs. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) indicates that the -OH functional group attached outside of the aromatic ring perfectly matched with our experimental results, as the experimental bandgap (2.407 eV) is comparable with the theoretical simulated bandgap (2.399 eV) of the -OH group attached outside of the aromatic ring.

Entrepreneurial leadership, nurses' proactive work behavior, and career adaptability: a structural equation model.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare organizations with practitioners who exhibit proactive work behavior and career adaptability acquire a competitive advantage in the face of many adversities. Entrepreneurial leadership (EL) is a new leadership approach that has a huge impact on followers' behavior, although research into its theory and empirical evidence is still in its infancy. METHODS: A non-probability convenience sample methodology (n = 450) was utilized to choose study participants, who were equally dispersed among the two private hospitals in Alexandria. A cross-sectional study was carried out in all departments of the hospitals, which were chosen at random using a simple random procedure. Three validated scales were used in this study to measure the study variables and establish a structural equation model. RESULTS: The result of this study revealed that nurses perceived moderate mean scores of all variables; entrepreneurial leadership (140.84 ± 11.94), proactive work behavior (46.02 ± 5.85), and career adaptability (85.55 ± 10.35). In addition, the structured equation model revealed a goodness fit index and presents that entrepreneurial leadership significantly affects nurses' proactive work behavior with an estimated ß of 0.555, coefficient of regression C.R. of 4.006, at P value < 0.001. Also, it significantly affects career adaptability with an estimated ß of .834, a coefficient of regression C.R. of 3.491 at P value < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The developed structural equation model confirmed the significant impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on nurses' proactive work behavior (PWB) and career adaptability (CA)". Therefore, this study offers important implications for nurse managers, staff nurses, hospital human resources management practice, and academics.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma: Case of a giant tumour inside the abdomen.

Retroperitoneal liposarcomas are rare malignant tumours that often grow rapidly in size and become symptomatic lat e in t he disease course, posing diagnostic a nd therapeutic challenges. Although abdominal imaging can rel iab ly diagnose the tumour, definitive diagnosis is only p ossib le th rough bio psy af ter surgical excision , w hich remains the primary treatment modality for these tumours. Long- term sur v ival is p rimarily determ ined throu gh histologic grade and post-resection tumour margins. We report t he case of a 43-year-o ld male patient, see n at Dr Ruth KM Pfau Hospital Karachi, who under went successful surgical excision for a well-differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma an d had no rad io gr aphic evidence o f local recurrence at both 3 and 12-month follow-ups.

Cardiovascular calcification in hemodialysis patients: A Qatar-based prevalence and risk factors study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis (HD) have an increased risk of death due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification (VC) is predictive of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for VC in dialysis patients in Qatar. METHODS: This is a retrospective nationwide study including all chronic ambulatory dialysis patients in Qatar from 2020 to 2022. We used our national electronic medical record to track demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory values, and diagnostic data for each patient. Calcifications were assessed by echocardiography (routinely done for all our dialysis population per national protocol), computed tomography, X-ray, and ultrasound. The study protocol was approved by the local medical research ethics committee (MRC-01-20-377). RESULTS: 842 HD patients were included in this study. Vascular calcifications (VC) were prevalent in 52.6% of patients. The main site of VC was Mitral valve calcifications in 55.5% of patients. Patients with VC were significantly older and had more prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between patients with calcifications and patients without calcifications regarding serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH level. In multivariate analysis, age and diabetes significantly increased the risk factor for calcification (95% CI 1.033-1.065, p < 0.0001, and 95% CI 1.128-2.272, p < 0001, respectively). Moreover, higher vitamin D levels and higher doses of IV Alfacalcidol were significant risk factors for calcifications (95% CI 1.005-1.030, p < 0.007, and 95% CI 1.092-1.270, p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study found that vascular calcification was widespread among our dialysis population in Qatar. Implementing the practice of echocardiography in dialysis patients was extremely helpful and the most productive in detecting vascular calcification. Diabetes mellitus almost doubles the risk for vascular calcifications in dialysis patients. These results are beneficial in identifying risk factors for vascular calcification, which can help stratify dialysis patients' risk of cardiovascular disease and optimize prevention efforts.

Evaluating the Effect of pH, Temperature and Concentration on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Spectroscopically, Spectrophotometrically and Microscopically Characterized Mentha Spicata Capped Silver Nanoparticles.

The use of traditional plants has been tremendously increased due to their higher biological impact, minimal side effects, and comparatively low cost. Moreover, the emergence of antibacterial resistance is also shifting the scientific community to reconsider herbal remedies which provide relatively safer, cheap and biologically tolerable solutions. The present research was designed to fabricate the Mentha spicata conjugated silver nanoparticles (Me-AgNPs). Furthermore, the assessment of the bactericidal potential of Me-AgNPs against various bacterial strains was another motive behind this study. Fabricated NPs were characterized with the help of the UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Me-AgNPs showed a significant zone of inhibition (23 ± 0.2 mm) at 8 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and a 4.0 ± 0.2 mm zone of growth inhibition at 2 mg/mL against Aeromonas veronii. The stability of Me-AgNPs was assessed at various pH (4, 7 and 11) and temperatures (25 °C, 4 °C, 37 °C, 75 °C). The significant zones of inhibition (11.3 ± 0.3 mm, 8.3 ± 0.3mm, 14.3 ± 0.3 mm, and 7.6 ± 0.2 mm) were observed at pH 11 against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Growth inhibition zones (14.0 ± 0.5 mm and 13.0 ± 0.5 mm) were also determined against B. subtilis and S. aureus at 25 °C. DPPH bioassay was conducted to find the antioxidant properties of Me-AgNPs. The highest (38.66 ± 0.2%) free radical scavenging activity was shown by Me-AgNPs at 4 mg/mL. Present study results concluded that biogenic Me-AgNPs have bactericidal as well as anti-oxidative potential. Moreover, these green synthesized Me-AgNPs could maintain their potency and stability at a wide range of pH and temperature.

Synthesis and comparison of three photocatalysts for degrading tramadol as an analgesic and widely used drug in water samples.

Tramadol is an analgesic drug that is mainly excreted in the urine. The entry of Tramadol into water samples causes their biological contamination. Therefore, three catalysts such as bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and a magnetized Keggin type of polyoxometalate (α-Fe2O3@phosphotungstic acid), were synthesized as photocatalysts to degrade Tramadol in water samples. The morphology and properties of the prepared photocatalysts were evaluated using several techniques. Effects of several factors, including tramadol concentration, pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and photocatalyst amount, were studied and optimized by a design experiment procedure based on Box-Behnken design for reducing the number of experiments and cost and investigating the interactions between factors in the photocatalytic degradation process of Tramadol. These factors were optimized for each prepared photocatalyst individually. Under the optimum conditions, the percentages of tramadol degradation and kinetics of the degradation process were evaluated in the presence of each photocatalyst. The tramadol degradation percentages using bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid were 81.10% for 120 min, 90.63% for 80 min, and 91.32% for 80 min, respectively. The rate constants of tramadol degradation were 0.0145, 0.0329, and 0.0312 min-1 for bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid, respectively. The results indicated the highest percentage of tramadol degradation and rate of the degradation process were obtained using α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid and cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, respectively.

A rare case of an intra-articular true lipoma of the ankle.

BACKGROUND: Most of the foot and ankle soft tissue tumors are benign. Although lipomas are the most common soft tissue tumors, intra-articular lipomas are an extremely rare entity. The majority of described cases of intra-articular lipomas occur in the knee joint. In particular, an intra-articular true lipoma of the ankle has not been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with a progressively growing ankle mass over 5 years, which started to restrict the range of motion. It was not preceded by any trauma or sports activity. On examination, a non-tender firm mass was evident on the lateral aspect of the right ankle joint with no signs of inflammation. It was non-compressible, non-mobile, and did not transilluminate. The clinical diagnosis was probable for a soft tissue ganglion. A radiograph revealed a soft tissue opacity over the anterolateral aspect of the tibiotalar joint. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-defined, multilobulated, encapsulated lesion located at the lateral aspect of the tibiotalar joint; with intra- and extra-articular components and an analogous signal intensity to fat. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor, and the histopathological examination showed mature adipose tissue representing an intra-articular lipoma. At the follow-up visit, the patient had complete resolution of symptoms and no active complaints. CONCLUSION: An intra-articular true lipoma of the ankle is an extremely rare tumor. MRI is an invaluable diagnostic tool to make a reliable diagnosis of intra-articular masses.

Entomopathogenic fungal infection following immune gene silencing decreased behavioral and physiological fitness in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Entomopathogenic fungi are a promising category of biocontrol agents with mosquitocidal properties. Prior studies have proved their potential to reduce fecundity, human biting and vector competence, all of them together determine vectorial capacity of the mosquitoes. Unfortunately, conventional vector control strategies are inadequate with growing problem of insecticide resistance and environmental deterioration. Therefore, alternate vector control measures are immediately needed and to accomplish that, an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological defense mechanisms of the mosquitoes against fungal infection is essential. In this study, fitness was considered with respect to different behavioral (self-grooming and flight), physiological (antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides) parameters and survival rates as compared to the control group. We found a significant upregulation in CLSP2, TEP22, Rel1 and Rel2 genes at multiple time periods of fungal infection, which indicates the successful fungal infection and activation of Toll and IMD pathways in mosquitoes. RNAi-mediated silencing of Rel1 and Rel2 genes (transcription factors of Toll and IMD pathways, respectively) significantly reduced the survival, self-grooming frequencies and durations, and flight locomotor activity among adult Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes. Moreover, Rel1 and Rel2 knockdown significantly decreased antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides expression levels in target mosquitoes. These results indicate an overall decrease in fitness of the mosquitoes after fungal challenge following Rel1 and Rel2 silencing. These findings provide an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological responses in mosquitoes with altered immunity against entomopathogenic fungal infections which can guide us towards the development of novel biocontrol strategies against mosquitoes.