Effects of Shrimp Shell-Derived Chitosan on Growth, Immunity, Intestinal Morphology, and Gene Expression of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared in a Biofloc System.

Chitosan (CH) shows great potential as an immunostimulatory feed additive in aquaculture. This study evaluates the effects of varying dietary CH levels on the growth, immunity, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a biofloc system. Tilapia fingerlings (mean weight 13.54 ± 0.05 g) were fed diets supplemented with 0 (CH0), 5 (CH5), 10 (CH10), 20 (CH20), and 40 (CH40) mL·kg-1 of CH for 8 weeks. Parameters were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. Their final weight was not affected by CH supplementation, but CH at 10 mL·kg-1 significantly improved weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) compared to the control (p < 0.05) at 8 weeks. Skin mucus lysozyme and peroxidase activities were lower in the chitosan-treated groups at weeks 4 and 8. Intestinal villi length and width were enhanced by 10 and 20 mL·kg-1 CH compared to the control. However, 40 mL·kg-1 CH caused detrimental impacts on the villi and muscular layer. CH supplementation, especially 5-10 mL·kg-1, increased liver and intestinal expressions of interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 8 (IL-8), LPS-binding protein (LBP), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST-α) compared to the control group. Overall, dietary CH at 10 mL·kg-1 can effectively promote growth, intestinal morphology, innate immunity, and antioxidant capacity in Nile tilapia fingerlings reared in biofloc systems.

Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Antioxidant Potential of the Vietnamese Smilax glabra Roxb: Insights from UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and Zebrafish Model Studies.

Research on natural products is growing due to their potential health benefits and medicinal properties. Despite regional variations in phytochemical composition and bioactivity, Smilax glabra Roxb (SGB) has attracted the interest of researchers. Scientists are particularly interested in the Vietnamese SGB variant, which is influenced by biological and environmental factors. Despite geographical differences in phytochemical makeup and bioactivities, SGB remains a fascinating subject in traditional herbal medicine. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), the phytochemicals in Vietnamese SGB extracts were investigated. This study revealed a wide range of phytochemical compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, organic acids, phenolics, and steroids. Furthermore, utilizing zebrafish as a model organism, we discovered that these extracts have the surprising ability to greatly improve the survival rate of zebrafish larvae exposed to oxidative stress caused by arsenite (NaAsO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Notably, our discoveries suggest the occurrence of new antioxidative pathways in addition to the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, expanding the understanding of the antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic uses of these plants. To summarize, our research findings shed light on the phytochemical composition of Vietnamese SGB, revealing its potential as a natural antioxidant and encouraging further exploration of its underlying mechanisms for future innovative antioxidant therapies.

Identification of efflux pump inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa MexAB-OprM via ligand-based pharmacophores, 2D-QSAR, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics approaches.

Efflux pumps have been reported as one of the significant mechanisms by which bacteria evade the effects of multiple antibiotics. The tripartite efflux pump MexAB-OprM in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most significant multidrug efflux systems due to its broad resistance to antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones, lipophilic ß-lactam antibiotics, nalidixic acid, novobiocin, rifampicin, and tetracycline. A promising strategy to overcome this resistance mechanism is to combine antibiotics with efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), which can increase their intracellular concentration to enhance their biological activities. Based on 143 EPIs with chemically diverse skeletons, the 3D pharmacophore and 2D-QSAR modelings were developed and used for the virtual screening on 9.2 million compounds including ZINC15, DrugBank, and Traditional Chinese Medicine databases to identify new EPIs. The molecular docking was also performed to evaluate the binding affinity of potential EPIs to the distal-binding pocket of MexB and resulted in 611 potential EPIs. The structure-activity relationship analyses suggested that nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, piperazine and pyridine scaffolds, and amide derivatives are the most favorable chemically features for MexAB inhibitory activities. The results from molecular dynamics analysis in 100 ns indicated that ZINC009296881 and ZINC009200074 were the most potential MexB inhibitors with strong binding affinity to the distal pocket and MM/GBSA ∆Gbind values of - 38.97 and - 30.19 kcal mol-1, respectively. The predicted pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity of these compounds indicated their potential oral drugs. Multistep virtual screening of EPIs for MexAB-OprM, efflux pump multidrug resistant of P. aeruginosa.

Comparison of students' readiness from six health education programs for interprofessional learning in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional education (IPE) is expected to help prepare undergraduate health profession students to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in realising quality of care. Studies stress the necessity of students' readiness for interprofessional learning (IPL) in view of designing IPE programs. The present study aims to determine students' IPL-readiness and looks at related differences in students enrolled in different programs and at different phases in their educational program. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was set up among 1139 students from six health programs at HueUMP, using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The overall mean RIPLS score was 68.89. RIPLS scores significantly differed between programs and between phases in the educational programs. Medical students presented a lower readiness level for IPL than students from other programs. In contrast to a significant increase in RIPLS scores of students in the clinical phase in Vietnamese traditional medicine, medicine, and pharmacy, a decrease in RIPLS scores was observed in students in the clinical phase in odonto-stomatology. CONCLUSIONS: The differences could be related to differences in educational programs and the study phases in a particular program. These results offer insights to direct the design and implementation of IPE in health education curricula and especially underscore the need to provide IPE throughout the curriculum.

Association of Labor Epidural Analgesia, Oxytocin Exposure, and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children.

Importance: Maternal labor epidural analgesia (LEA) and oxytocin use for labor and delivery have been reported to be associated with child autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, it remains unclear whether these 2 common medications used during labor and delivery have synergistic associations with ASD risk in children. Objective: To assess the independent associations of LEA and oxytocin during labor and delivery with ASD, as well as outcome modification associated with the concurrent use of both interventions. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data for this cohort study included 205 994 singleton births with vaginal deliveries in a single integrated health care system in Southern California from calendar years 2008 to 2017. Children were followed up to December 31, 2021. Data on use of LEA and oxytocin, covariates, and ASD outcome in children were obtained from electronic medical records. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) adjusting for covariates. Exposures: Labor epidural analgesia and/or oxytocin use during labor and delivery. Main Outcomes and Measures: A child's clinical diagnosis of ASD during follow-up and at age of diagnosis. Results: Among the cohort, 153 880 children (74.7%) were exposed to maternal LEA and 117 808 children (57.2%) were exposed to oxytocin during labor and delivery. The population of children was approximately half boys and half girls. The median (IQR) age of the mothers was 30.8 (26.8-34.5) years for those not exposed to LEA, 30.0 (25.9-33.8) years for those exposed to LEA, 30.4 (26.5-34.1) years for those unexposed to oxytocin, and 30.0 (25.9-33.9) years for those exposed to oxytocin during labor and delivery. A total of 5146 children (2.5%) had ASD diagnosed during follow-up. Oxytocin exposure was higher among LEA-exposed (67.7%) than -unexposed (26.1%) children. The ASD risk associated with LEA was independent of oxytocin exposure (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18-1.38); however, the ASD risk associated with oxytocin was not significant after adjusting for LEA exposure (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.99-1.12). A significant interaction of LEA and oxytocin on child ASD risk was found (P = .02 for interaction). Compared with no exposure, HRs were 1.20 (95% CI, 1.09-1.32) for LEA alone, 1.30 (95% CI, 1.20-1.42) for both LEA and oxytocin, and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.78-1.04) for oxytocin alone. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest an association between maternal LEA and ASD risk in children, and the risk appeared to be further increased if oxytocin was also administered. Oxytocin exposure without LEA exposure was not associated with ASD risk in children. These findings must be interpreted with caution. Further studies are needed to replicate or refute the study results and examine biological plausibility.

Surgical outcomes and quality of life assessment of esophagectomy for cancer with colon conduit via retrosternal route.

PURPOSE: Colon conduit is an alternative to a gastric conduit for esophagectomy in patients that stomach is not available. Surgical technique is complex and has a high risk of morbidities and mortality. Outcomes of patients are still lacking in the literature, thus aims of this study are to evaluate the safety, feasibility and long-term functional outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer with colon conduit via retrosternal route. METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent operation between August 2016 and June 2021 for malignancies. Minimally invasive esophagectomy and laparotomy were performed in accordance with the 2017 Japan Esophageal Society's guidelines. Colonic interposition was used for esophageal replacement. Outcomes were technical success, complications assessed using Clavien-Dindo classification, and patient's quality of life (QOL) based on EORTC-QOL-OES18 questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age was 56.0 ± 9.9 years and 21 patients (80.8%) were men. Mean operating time was 432 ± 66 min. Technical success was 100%. The average number of resected lymph nodes was 26 ± 14. Twelve patients (46.2%) experienced postoperative complications: 7/12 were classified as grade I-II, 3/12 as grade III, 1/12 as grade IV, and 1/12 as grade V (death). Patient's QOL improved during the follow-up period with median (25-75th percentiles) global EORTC-QOL-OES18 score was 29 (17-34); 13 (9-21), and 9 (6-16) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. During the follow-up period, there were 4 late complications, 3 lymphatic recurrences, 5 distant metastases, and 6 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Colon conduit via retrosternal route after esophagectomy is feasible, safe, and could provide acceptable long-term functional outcomes.

Modulation of growth, immune response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared under biofloc system using mango peel powder.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mango peel powder (MGPP) on growth, innate immunity, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia reared under biofloc system. Three hundred Nile tilapia (average weight 14.78 ± 0.05 g) were distributed into 15 fiber tanks (300 L per tank) assigned to five treatments in triplication. Fish were fed basal diet containing different levels MGPP as follows: 0 (MGPP0: control), 6.25 (MGPP 6.25), 12.5 (MGPP 12.25), 25 (MGPP 25), and 50 (MGPP 50) g kg-1 diet for 8 weeks. Specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), skin mucus of lysozyme (SMLA), and peroxidase activities (SMPA), serum of lysozyme (SL) and peroxidase (SP) were measured every for weeks; while immune-antioxidant-related gene expressions were determined after 8 weeks post-feeding. The results indicated that MGPP 25 diet resulted in higher SGR, WG, FW, and FCR but no significant differences among treatments were noticed. In terms of immune responses, lysozyme and peroxidase activities in mucus and serum were significantly higher in MGPP 12.5 and MGPP 25 diets against the control. Similarly, significant up-regulation of IL-1 and IL-8 gene expressions was observed in fish fed MGPP 25 against the control. However, no significant differences in LBP, GSTa, GPX, and GSR among treatments were observed. Overall, dietary inclusion of MGPP 25 significantly enhanced immune response and immune related gene expressions but not growth performance and antioxidant gene expressions. The results implied that MGPP can be potentially used as an immunostimulants in Nile tilapia culture.

Influence of black rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran derived anthocyanin-extract on growth rate, immunological response, and immune-antioxidant gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in a biofloc system.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with anthocyanin extracted from black rice bran (AR) on the growth rate, immunological response, and expression of immune and antioxidant genes in Nile tilapia raised in an indoor biofloc system. A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (15.14 ± 0.032 g) were maintained in 150 L tanks and acclimatized for two weeks. Five experimental AR diets (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g kg-1) with various anthocyanin doses were used to feed the fish. We observed that the growth and feed utilization of fish fed with different dietary AR levels increased significantly after eight weeks (p < 0.05). In addition, the serum immunity of fish fed AR diets was much greater than that of those fed non-AR diets (p < 0.05). However, there were little or no difference in between fish fed AR enriched diets and the control AR-free diet (p > 0.05). After eight weeks, fish fed AR-supplemented diets had significantly higher mRNA transcript levels in immune (interleukin [IL]-1, IL-8, and liposaccharide-binding protein [LBP]) and antioxidant (glutathione transferase-alpha [GST-α] and glutathione reductase [GSR]) genes compared to control fish fed the AR-free diet, with the greatest enhancement of mRNA transcript levels (in the case of IL-8 by up to about 5.8-fold) in the 4 g kg-1 AR diet. These findings suggest that dietary inclusion of AR extract from black rice bran at 4-8 g kg-1 could function as a herbal immunostimulant to enhance growth performance, feed consumption, and immunity in Nile tilapia.

Safety and immunogenicity of a synthetic multiantigen modified vaccinia virus Ankara-based COVID-19 vaccine (COH04S1): an open-label and randomised, phase 1 trial.

Background: COH04S1, a synthetic attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector co-expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid antigens, was tested for safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults. Methods: This combined open-label and randomised, phase 1 trial was done at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center (Duarte, CA, USA). We included participants aged 18-54 years with a negative SARS-CoV-2 antibody and PCR test, normal haematology and chemistry panels, a normal electrocardiogram and troponin concentration, negative pregnancy test if female, body-mass index of 30 kg/m2 or less, and no modified vaccinia virus Ankara or poxvirus vaccine in the past 12 months. In the open-label cohort, 1·0 × 107 plaque-forming units (PFU; low dose), 1·0 × 108 PFU (medium dose), and 2·5 × 108 PFU (high dose) of COH04S1 were administered by intramuscular injection on day 0 and 28 to sentinel participants using a queue-based statistical design to limit risk. In a randomised dose expansion cohort, additional participants were randomly assigned (3:3:1), using block size of seven, to receive two placebo vaccines (placebo group), one low-dose COH04S1 and one placebo vaccine (low-dose COH04S1 plus placebo group), or two low-dose COH04S1 vaccines (low-dose COH04S1 group). The primary outcome was safety and tolerability, with secondary objectives assessing vaccine-specific immunogenicity. The primary immunological outcome was a four times increase (seroconversion) from baseline in spike-specific or nucleocapsid-specific IgG titres within 28 days of the last injection, and seroconversion rates were compared with participants who received placebo using Fisher's exact test. Additional secondary outcomes included assessment of viral neutralisation and cellular responses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT046339466. Findings: Between Dec 13, 2020, and May 24, 2021, 56 participants initiated vaccination. On day 0 and 28, 17 participants received low-dose COH04S1, eight received medium-dose COH04S1, nine received high-dose COH04S1, five received placebo, 13 received low-dose COH04S1 followed by placebo, and four discontinued early. Grade 3 fever was observed in one participant who received low-dose COH04S1 and placebo, and grade 2 anxiety or fatigue was seen in one participant who received medium-dose COH04S1. No severe adverse events were reported. Seroconversion was observed in all 34 participants for spike protein and 32 (94%) for nucleocapsid protein (p<0·0001 vs placebo for each comparison). Four times or more increase in SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies within 56 days was measured in nine of 17 participants in the low-dose COH04S1 group, all eight participants in the medium-dose COH04S1 group, and eight of nine participants in the high-dose COH04S1 group (p=0·0035 combined dose levels vs placebo). Post-prime and post-boost four times increase in spike-specific or nucleocapsid-specific T cells secreting interferon-γ was measured in 48 (98%; 95% CI 89-100) of 49 participants who received at least one dose of COH04S1 and provided a sample for immunological analysis. Interpretation: COH04S1 was well tolerated and induced spike-specific and nucleocapsid-specific antibody and T-cell responses. Future evaluation of this COVID-19 vaccine candidate as a primary or boost vaccination is warranted. Funding: The Carol Moss Foundation and City of Hope Integrated Drug Development Venture programme.

A new diterpenoid from the leaves of Phyllanthus acidus.

A new diterpenoid, phyllane C (1), along with three known compounds, ovoideal E (2), spruceanol (3), and fluacinoid B (4) were isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus acidus growing in Thailand. The structures were determined by analysis of their MS and NMR data as well as by comparison with literature values. DFT-NMR chemical shift calculations and subsequent DP4/DP4+ probability methods were applied to define the relative configuration of 1. Compound 3 showed a weak cytotoxicity against K562 cell line (IC50 41.9 ± 2.31 µg/mL).

Assessment of Plastic Surgery Residency Applications without United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Scores.

SUMMARY: The United States Medical Licensing Examination announced the changing of Step 1 score reporting from a three-digit number to pass/fail beginning on January 1, 2022. Plastic surgery residency programs have traditionally used United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores to compare plastic surgery residency applicants. Without a numerical score, the plastic surgery residency application review process will likely change. This article discusses advantages, disadvantages, and steps forward for residency programs related to the upcoming change. The authors encourage programs to continue to seek innovative methods of objectively and holistically evaluating applications.

Influence of Acetylcholine Esterase Inhibitors and Memantine, Clinically Approved for Alzheimer's Dementia Treatment, on Intestinal Properties of the Mouse.

Four drugs are currently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the FDA. Three of these drugs-donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine-belong to the class of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors. Memantine, a NMDA receptor antagonist, represents the fourth and a combination of donepezil and memantine the fifth treatment option. Recently, the gut and its habitants, its microbiome, came into focus of AD research and added another important factor to therapeutic considerations. While the first data provide evidence that AD patients might carry an altered microbiome, the influence of administered drugs on gut properties and commensals have been largely ignored so far. However, the occurrence of digestive side effects with these drugs and the knowledge that cholinergic transmission is crucial for several gut functions enforces the question if, and how, this medication influences the gastrointestinal system and its microbial stocking. Here, we investigated aspects such as microbial viability, colonic propulsion, and properties of enteric neurons, affected by assumed intestinal concentration of the four drugs using the mouse as a model organism. All ex vivo administered drugs revealed no direct effect on fecal bacteria viability and only a high dosage of memantine resulted in reduced biofilm formation of E. coli. Memantine was additionally the only compound that elevated calcium influx in enteric neurons, while all acetylcholine esterase inhibitors significantly reduced esterase activity in colonic tissue specimen and prolonged propulsion time. Both, acetylcholine esterase inhibitors and memantine, had no effect on general viability and neurite outgrowth of enteric neurons. In sum, our findings indicate that all AD symptomatic drugs have the potential to affect distinct intestinal functions and with this-directly or indirectly-microbial commensals.

Cytotoxic phenolic compounds isolated from the fruits of Macaranga denticulata.

A new modified geranylated flavonoid, 3'-dehydroxy-solophenol C (1), along with 17 known compounds (2-18) were isolated from the fruits of Macaranga denticulata. Their structures were established by spectral analysis, such as mass spectrometry, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR. The new geranylated flavonoid 1 showed a moderate cytotoxic activity against the A549 cell line with IC50 value of 16.0 µM. Compound 9 showed the highest cytotoxic activities against KB, HepG2, Lu-1 and MCF7 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.6, 0.8, 1.3 and 1.2 µM, respectively.

Association Between Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring.

Importance: Although the safety of labor epidural analgesia (LEA) for neonates has been well documented, the long-term health effects of LEA on offspring remain to be investigated. Objective: To assess the association between maternal LEA exposure and risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in offspring. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data for this retrospective longitudinal birth cohort study were derived from electronic medical records from a population-based clinical birth cohort. A total of 147 895 singleton children delivered vaginally between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015, in a single integrated health care system were included. Children were followed up from the age of 1 year until the first date of the following occurrences: clinical diagnosis of ASD, last date of health plan enrollment, death, or the study end date of December 31, 2018. Exposures: Use and duration of LEA. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was clinical diagnosis of ASD. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of ASD associated with LEA exposure. Results: Among the cohort of 147 895 singleton children (74 425 boys [50.3%]; mean [SD] gestational age at delivery, 38.9 [1.5] weeks), 109 719 (74.2%) were exposed to maternal LEA. Fever during labor was observed in 13 055 mothers (11.9%) in the LEA group and 510 of 38 176 mothers (1.3%) in the non-LEA group. Autism spectrum disorders were diagnosed in 2039 children (1.9%) in the LEA group and 485 children (1.3%) in the non-LEA group. After adjusting for potential confounders, including birth year, medical center, maternal age at delivery, parity, race/ethnicity, educational level, household income, history of comorbidity, diabetes during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, preeclampsia or eclampsia, prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, gestational age at delivery, and birth weight, the HR associated with LEA vs non-LEA exposure was 1.37 (95% CI, 1.23-1.53). Relative to the unexposed group, the adjusted HR associated with LEA exposure of less than 4 hours was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.17-1.53), with LEA exposure of 4 to 8 hours was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.20-1.53), and with LEA exposure of more than 8 hours was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.27-1.69). Within the LEA group, there was a significant trend of ASD risk associated with increasing duration of LEA exposure after adjusting for covariates (HR for linear trend, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.01-1.09] per 4 hours). Adding fever to the model did not change the HR estimate associated with LEA exposure (adjusted HR for LEA vs non-LEA, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.22-1.53]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study suggests that maternal LEA may be associated with increased ASD risk in children. The risk appears to not be directly associated with epidural-related maternal fever.

Inhibition of Autophagy Amplifies Baicalein-Induced Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer.

Baicalein is a Chinese herbal compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis that has anti-tumor properties. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of action of baicalein against human colorectal cancer cell lines and to assess whether the anti-proliferative effects of baicalein may be amplified with autophagy inhibition. Human colon cancer cell lines (HT-29, HCT-116, SW480, and SW620) were treated with baicalein alone and in combination with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). Baicalein reduced cell viability in all four colon cancer lines in a dose-dependent fashion. Combination treatment of baicalein and the autophagy inhibitor CQ significantly decreased cell viability compared with baicalein alone in HT-29 and HCT-116 cell lines. Western blot analysis of the HCT-116 cell line treated with both baicalein and CQ demonstrated increased expression of LC3-II, a component of autophagy. The combination of baicalein with CQ culminated in activation of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of autophagy enhanced apoptotic cell death induced by baicalein treatment in colon cancer cell lines. Future work will assess other targetable apoptotic pathways activated by baicalein and autophagy inhibition.

Corrigendum: A novel ultraviolet B home phototherapy system: Efficacy, tolerability, adherence, and satisfaction.

The original article was published on February 15, 2019 and corrected on April 15, 2019. The third pair of panes of Figure 2 were reversed, such that the pane previously depicted on the left was after phototherapy. The corrected sequence is now before phototherapy, on the left, and after, on the right. This change appears in the revised online PDF copy of this article.

A novel ultraviolet B home phototherapy system: Efficacy, tolerability, adherence, and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Phototherapy is effective in treating psoriasis and other skin conditions. However, clinic-based phototherapy can be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient. Conventional home phototherapy addresses many hurdles, but has other limitations. OBJECTIVE: Assess the treatment efficacy, adherence, and satisfaction of a novel ultraviolet B home phototherapy system. METHODS: Eight patients with stable plaque psoriasis completed a multicenter, prospective, open label, interventional study using a home phototherapy device designed to improve treatment control and adherence. Matched control and study lesions were assessed on each subject. A dosing protocol based on American Academy of Dermatology guidelines for narrowband UVB phototherapy was managed by the phototherapy system. Responsiveness to the treatment was measured using the Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) at 10 weeks versus control. Patient satisfaction was graded on a five-star Likert scale. RESULTS: At 10 weeks, all patients experienced improvement in the treated lesions, with a mean improvement of 57% in PSI (P<0.0001 compared to baseline and P<0.0002 compared to the control lesions). Patient treatment adherence was 96% and treatment satisfaction was 100% five-star rated. Control lesions did not significantly change in PSI over the 10-week period (P=0.1411). CONCLUSIONS: The home phototherapy system provided a safe and effective means to manage plaque psoriasis.

VIETHERB: A Database for Vietnamese Herbal Species.

Vietnam carries a highly diverse practice of traditional medicine in which various combinations of herbs have been widely used as remedies for many types of diseases. Poor hand-written records and current text-based databases, however, perplex the process of conventionalizing and evaluating canonical therapeutic effects. In efforts to reorganize the valuable information, we provide the VIETHERB database ( http://vietherb.com.vn/ ) for herbs documented in Vietnamese traditional medicines. This database is constructed with confidence to provide users with information on herbs and other side information including metabolites, diseases, morphologies, and geographical locations for each individual species. Our data in this release consist of 2,881 species, 10,887 metabolites, 458 geographical locations, and 8,046 therapeutic effects. The numbers of species-metabolite, species-therapeutic effect, species-morphology, and species-distribution binary relationships are 17,602, 2,718, 11,943, and 16,089, respectively. The information on Vietnamese herbal species can be easily accessed or queried using their scientific names. Searching for species sharing side information can be simply done by clicking on the data. The database primarily serves as an open source facilitating users in studies of modernizing traditional medicine, computer-aided drug design, conservation of endangered plants, and other relevant experimental sciences.

Alkene Synthesis by Photocatalytic Chemoenzymatically Compatible Dehydrodecarboxylation of Carboxylic Acids and Biomass.

Direct conversion of renewable biomass and bioderived chemicals to valuable synthetic intermediates for organic synthesis and materials science applications by means of mild and chemoselective catalytic methods has largely remained elusive. Development of artificial catalytic systems that are compatible with enzymatic reactions provides a synergistic solution to this enduring challenge by leveraging previously unachievable reactivity and selectivity modes. We report herein a dual catalytic dehydrodecarboxylation reaction that is enabled by a crossover of the photoinduced acridine-catalyzed O-H hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and cobaloxime-catalyzed C-H-HAT processes. The reaction produces a variety of alkenes from readily available carboxylic acids. The reaction can be embedded in a scalable triple-catalytic cooperative chemoenzymatic lipase-acridine-cobaloxime process that allows for direct conversion of plant oils and biomass to long-chain terminal alkenes, precursors to bioderived polymers.