D-Glucosamine is a Potential Urease Inhibitor from Middle Eastern Medicinal Plants for Combatting Helicobacter Pylori Infections; a Molecular Docking and Simulation Approach.

Helicobacter pylori stands as a significant risk factor for both peptic and stomach ulcers. Their resistance to the highly acidic host environment primarily stems from their capability to produce urease, an enzyme that rapidly converts urea into NH3 and CO2. These byproducts are crucial for the bacterium's survival under such harsh conditions. Given the pivotal role of medicinal plants in treating various ailments with minimal side effects, there is an urgent need for a natural drug that can effectively eliminate H. pylori by inhibiting urease. Hence, the current study aims to identify the most potent urease inhibitor among the natural compounds found in Middle Eastern medicinal plants, taking into consideration factors such as optimal affinity, drug-like properties, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and thermodynamic attributes. In total, 5599 ligand conformers from 151 medicinal plants were subjected to docking against the urease's active site. The top-ranking natural compounds, as determined by their high docking scores, were selected for further analysis. Among these compounds, D-glucosamine (PubChem code 439,213) exhibited the most interactions with the crucial amino acid residues in the urease's active site. Furthermore, D-glucosamine demonstrated superior absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties compared to other top-ranked candidates. Molecular dynamics simulations conducted over 100 nanoseconds revealed stable root mean square deviations and fluctuations of the protein upon complexation with D-glucosamine. Additionally, the radius of gyration and solvent-accessible surface area values for the D-glucosamine-urease complex were notably lower than those observed in other typical urease-inhibitor complexes. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the potential development of D-glucosamine as a novel urease inhibitor. This promising compound holds the potential to serve as an effective drug for combating H. pylori infections in the near future.

Impact of ultrasound processing parameters on physical characteristics of lycopene emulsion.

Using ultrasound technology for obtaining O/W lycopene emulsions needs analyzing the parameters for the enhanced application. To this end, O/W lycopene emulsions (30:70) were processed using ultrasound with powers of 240 W and 360 W in 5, 10, and 15 min. Afterward, the poly dispersity index, droplet size, ζ-potential, turbidity, phase separation, lycopene concentration, rheological behavior, surface tension, and morphology of emulsions was investigated. The experimental results showed good emulsifying characteristics with respect to droplet size and ζ-potential. If the mean values of the droplet size were significantly reduced and the ζ-potential increased. The ultrasound application had a significant impact on emulsion stability with no phase separation and significantly high lycopene retention. Ultrasound reduced the apparent viscosity by reducing the particle size due to the energy supplied to the system. The final emulsion that was treated at 360 W, and 2160 J/cm3 in 10 min, presented enhanced technological properties appropriate for food products.

Control of dynamics via identical time-lagged stochastic inputs.

We investigate the impact of a stochastic forcing, comprised of a sum of time-lagged copies of a single source of noise, on the system dynamics. This type of stochastic forcing could be made artificially, or it could be the result of shared upstream inputs to a system through different channel lengths. By means of a rigorous mathematical framework, we show that such a system is, in fact, equivalent to the classical case of a stochastically-driven dynamical system with time-delayed intrinsic dynamics but without a time lag in the input noise. We also observe a resonancelike effect between the intrinsic period of the oscillation and the time lag of the stochastic forcing, which may be used to determine the intrinsic period of oscillations or the inherent time delay in dynamical systems with oscillatory behavior or delays. As another useful application of imposing time-lagged stochastic forcing, we show that the dynamics of a system can be controlled by changing the time lag of this stochastic forcing, in a fashion similar to the classical case of Pyragas control via delayed feedback. To confirm these results experimentally, we set up a laser diode system with such stochastic inputs, which effectively behaves as a Langevin system. As in the theory, a peak emerged in the autocorrelation function of the output signal that could be tuned by the lag of the stochastic input. Our findings, thus, indicate a new approach for controlling useful instabilities in dynamical systems.

Altering allergenicity of cow's milk by food processing for applications in infant formula.

Cow's milk-based infant formulas have a long tradition in infant nutrition, although some infants are unable to use them due to presence of several known allergens. Various processing methods have been identified capable of reducing cow's milk protein allergenicity including thermal and non-thermal methods and their combinations. Heat treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis have been in production of hypoallergenic infant formulas. However, modulation of allergenic epitopes depends on the extent of heat treatment applied, which consequently may also reduce a nutritional value of these proteins. In addition, enzymatic hydrolysis may not target allergenic epitopes thus allergenicity may persist; however released peptides may have detrimental impact on taste and functional properties of final products. Modulation of allergenicity of milk proteins appears to require a concerted effort to minimize detrimental effects as clinical studies conducted on commercial hypoallergenic formulas demonstrated persistence of allergic symptoms. This article covers traditional and novel processing methods and their impact on reduction of cow's milk allergenicity in milk-based infant formulas.

Dichloroacetate induces autophagy in colorectal cancer cells and tumours.

BACKGROUND: Dichloroacetate (DCA) has been found to have antitumour properties. METHODS: We investigated the cellular and metabolic responses to DCA treatment and recovery in human colorectal (HT29, HCT116 WT and HCT116 Bax-ko), prostate carcinoma cells (PC3) and HT29 xenografts by flow cytometry, western blotting, electron microscopy, (1)H and hyperpolarised (13)C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Increased expression of the autophagy markers LC3B II was observed following DCA treatment both in vitro and in vivo. We observed increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mTOR inhibition (decreased pS6 ribosomal protein and p4E-BP1 expression) as well as increased expression of MCT1 following DCA treatment. Steady-state lactate excretion and the apparent hyperpolarised [1-(13)C] pyruvate-to-lactate exchange rate (k(PL)) were decreased in DCA-treated cells, along with increased NAD(+)/NADH ratios and NAD(+). Steady-state lactate excretion and k(PL) returned to, or exceeded, control levels in cells recovered from DCA treatment, accompanied by increased NAD(+) and NADH. Reduced k(PL) with DCA treatment was found in HT29 tumour xenografts in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: DCA induces autophagy in cancer cells accompanied by ROS production and mTOR inhibition, reduced lactate excretion, reduced k(PL) and increased NAD(+)/NADH ratio. The observed cellular and metabolic changes recover on cessation of treatment.

Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and medical uses of Oldenlandia (family Rubaceae): a review.

The Oldenlandia genus comprises approximately 240 species of plants, yet only a limited number of these have been investigated for their chemical composition and medicinal properties. These species contain a wide range of compounds such as iridoids, anthraquinones, triterpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, vitamins, essential oils, phenolic acids, and coumarins. These diverse phytochemical profiles underscore the pharmacological potential of Oldenlandia plants for various medical purposes. Among other chemical constituents, ursolic acid stands out as the most important active compound in Oldenlandia, owing to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective properties. The evaluation of Oldenlandia's pharmacological prospects indicates that the holistic utilization of the entire plant yields the most significant effects. Oldenlandia diffusa showcases anticancer and anti-inflammatory capabilities attributed to its varying constituents. Across a broad spectrum of pharmacological capacities, anticancer research predominates, constituting the majority of medical uses. Oldenlandia diffusa emerges as a standout for its remarkable anticancer effects against diverse malignancies. Antioxidant applications follow, with O. corymbosa demonstrating potent antioxidant properties alongside O. umbellata and O. diffusa. Subsequent priority lies in anti-inflammatory studies, wherein O. diffusa exhibits noteworthy efficacy, trailed by O. corymbosa also takes the lead in antimicrobial activity, with O. umbellata as a strong contender. Additional investigation is essential to ascertain the relative significance of these species in various pharmacological applications. This comprehensive assessment underscores the multifaceted potential of Oldenlandia as a versatile herbal resource, offering diverse pharmacological capacities. The call for sustained exploration and research remains essential to unlock the full extent of Oldenlandia's medicinal benefits.

Comparative analysis of freeze drying and spray drying methods for encapsulation of chlorophyll with maltodextrin and whey protein isolate.

Chlorophyll (Chl) is a healthy green pigment that is very unstable. So, chlorophyll microcapsules were fabricated using maltodextrin and whey protein isolate as carriers and freeze-drying (FD) and spray-drying (SD) as encapsulation methods. The microcapsules obtained by the freeze-drying method (FDM) had smaller particle sizes (1.087-0.165 µm) and higher ζ-potential (-10.6 to -18.3 mV) than the spray-drying method (SDM) (3.420-0.285 µm) and (-9.5 to -10.7 mV) respectively. FTIR, XRD, and DSC studies showed that the inclusion of Chl within microcapsules and FDM had a higher melting point (150.12 °C) than SDM (125.03 °C) and Chl (115.66 °C). FD was more effective in protecting Chl from changes in pH (pH 2 to 8, Chl retention; 49.67 %-91.28 %) and light (Chl retention; 38.12 %) than SD. Therefore, due to preserving Chl and increasing its stability, FDM could be a promising approach to use as a natural food colourant.

Influencing surgical management in patients with carcinoma of the cervix using a T2- and ZOOM-diffusion-weighted endovaginal MRI technique.

BACKGROUND: Endovaginal MRI (evMRI) at 3.0-T with T2-weighted (T2-W) and ZOnal Oblique Multislice (ZOOM)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) potentially improves the detection of stage Ia/Ib1 cervical cancer. We aimed to determine its sensitivity/specificity, document tumour-to-stromal contrast and establish the effect of imaging on surgical management. METHODS: Following ethical approval and written informed consent, 57 consecutive patients with suspected stage Ia/Ib1 cervical cancer underwent evMRI at 3.0-T using T2-W and ZOOM-DWI. Sensitivity/specificity were calculated against histopathology for two independent observers. Tumour-to-stromal contrast was determined on T2-W, and diffusion-weighted (b=800 s mm(-2)) images and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were recorded. In patients due for radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT), change of surgical management based on imaging findings was documented. RESULTS: Sensitivity/specificity for detecting tumour was the following: reporting read 88.0/81.8%, anonymised read 92.0/81.8% (observer 1); 84.0/72.7% (observer2; median tumour volume=1.7 cm(3)). Intraobserver agreement was excellent (kappa=0.89) and the interobserver agreement was good (kappa=0.65). Tumour-to-stromal contrast was greater on ZOOM-DWI compared with T2-W images (3.35±2.36 vs 1.39±0.95; P<0.0004). Tumour and stromal ADCs were significantly different (P<0.00001). In 31 patients due for RVT, evMRI altered surgical management in 12 (38.7%) cases (10 cone-biopsy, 2 chemoradiotherapy). CONCLUSION: T2-W+ZOOM-DWI evMRI has high sensitivity/specificity for detecting stage Ia/Ib1 cervical tumours; in patients due for RVT, the surgical management was altered in ∼39%.

Effect of coating using beeswax and sodium nitroprusside on chlorophyll stability and quality factors of lime during cold storage.

Lime (Citrus floridana) is a quickly perishable fruit, limiting its shelf life because of reduced chlorophyll content and post-harvest quality under different storage conditions. To increase chlorophyll stability as well as other quality factors of limes, they were coated with beeswax in 0.1 wt.% and sodium nitroprusside in three various concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) at 25 °C for 3 min and then stored at 8 °C for 60 days. In this research, changes in weight loss, juice content, firmness (F), chlorophyll, chlorophyllase activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, color, total acidity (titratable acidity), ascorbic acid (ASA) and sensory evaluation were studied. During storage at low temperatures, BW surface coating (0.1%) alone, sodium nitroprusside alone, and also in combination with each other and a double layer were effective in maintaining chlorophyll and the qualitative characteristics of limes. In our observations, the best treatment was the treatment where the limes were coated by beeswax enriched by sodium nitroprusside coating. This treatment contained the highest content of lime juice and the highest chlorophyll plus the lowest activity of chlorophyllase and polyphenol oxidase, while the amount of green color was maintained to a large extent. As a result, it is possible to use beeswax enriched by sodium nitroprusside coating method to maintain the quality and chlorophyll of cold-stored lime fruits.

Artecanin of Laurus nobilis is a novel inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease with highly desirable druglikeness.

Main protease (Mpro) is a critical enzyme in the life cycle of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2). Due to its essential role in the maturation of the polyproteins, the necessity to inhibit Mpro is one of the essential means to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19. In this context, this study was conducted on the natural compounds of medicinal plants that are commonly available in the Middle East to find out the most potent one to inhibit Mpro with the best bioavailability and druglikeness properties. A total of 3392 compounds of sixty-six medicinal plants were retrieved from PubChem database and docked against Mpro. Thirty compounds with the highest docking scores with Mpro were chosen for further virtual screening. Variable druglikeness and toxicity potentials of these compounds were evaluated using SwissADME and Protox servers respectively. Out of these virtually screened compounds, artecanin was predicted to exhibit the most favourable druglikeness potentials, accompanied by no predicted hepatoxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that Mpro-artecanin complex exhibited comparable stability with that observed in the ligand-free Mpro. This study revealed for the first time that artecanin from Laurus nobilis provided a novel static and dynamic inhibition for Mpro with excellent safety, oral bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic profile. This study suggested the ability of artecanin to be used as a potential natural inhibitor that can be used to block or at least counteract the SARS-CoV-2 invasion.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Masoprocol: a promising candidate for targeting insulin resistance by inhibiting resistin with optimal druglikeness Potentials: an in silico approach.

Resistin is a cysteine-rich secretory hormone that induces resistance to insulin, and its elevated expression is correlated with the onset of diabetes and several related metabolic disorders. Resistin performs its inhibitory role by connecting three identical subunits through Cys22-based disulfide linkages. The necessity to inhibit the formation of resistin trimer is one of the essential means to prevent the aggravation of diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, and atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to screen the clinically approved drugs to find the most potent one to inhibit resistin with the best pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties. A total of 4654 clinically approved drugs were docked against the Cys22 residue of resistin. The top ten drugs with the highest high-precision (XP) docking scores were selected. Ioversol and masoprocol showed the highest XP docking and Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Surface Area (MMGBSA) scores, respectively, with double hydrogen bonding with the targeted Cys22. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that the masoprocol-resistin complex exhibited lower root mean square deviation (RMSD), radius of gyration, and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) values than those observed in the ioversol-resistin complex. Both drugs induced drastic conformational changes in resistin monomer interactions. However, ioversol did not prove satisfying drug-likeness properties, while masoprocol showed the most favourable pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness properties. This study has demonstrated that masoprocol offers a novel inhibitory effect on resistin with the highest ligand affinity, making it a promising drug for combating insulin resistance.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Hemagglutinin 3 and 8 can be the most efficient influenza subtypes for human host invasion; a comparative in silico approach.

The severity of the influenza virus infection is largely determined by its ability to invade the human host receptor. This critical step is conducted by utilizing hemagglutinin (HA) due to its binding with sialic acid 2,6 (SA). Though 18 subtypes (H1-H18) of HA have been identified, the most efficient one for conducting the host entry has not yet been resolved. This study aims to assess the severity of infections for HA variants by conducting a comparative docking of H1-H18 with the human SA receptor. Eighteen viral 3D structures were retrieved, minimized, and optimized for docking with human SA. In all retrieved structures, five conserved amino acid residues were selected for docking with human SA. Special protein grids were prepared by locating these five residues in the 18 selected subtypes. Results showed that H3 and H8 exerted the highest standard precision and extra precision docking scores, and the highest binding affinities with the human SA, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the actual positioning of the selected 3D structures and showed these docked structures belonged to their usual classes due to the extremely close distances found in each docked subtype compared with its corresponding non-docked structures. H8-SA showed slightly better RMSD and SASA values than H3-SA, while H3-SIA showed more favourable radius of gyration scores than H8-SIA in the majority of the simulation period. Due to the highest affinity of binding of H3 and H8 with the human receptor, special caution should be exercised regarding any possible outbreak mediated by these subtypes in human populations. However, it is important to acknowledge a limitation inherent to the computational approach; it may hold relative rather than absolute significance. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of the intricate interplay between HA variants and the host receptor, taking into account the broader context of viral infection dynamics.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Intravenous platelet blockade with cangrelor during PCI.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous cangrelor, a rapid-acting, reversible adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, might reduce ischemic events during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 5362 patients who had not been treated with clopidogrel to receive either cangrelor or placebo at the time of PCI, followed by 600 mg of clopidogrel. The primary end point was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 48 hours. Enrollment was stopped when an interim analysis concluded that the trial would be unlikely to show superiority for the primary end point. RESULTS: The primary end point occurred in 185 of 2654 patients receiving cangrelor (7.0%) and in 210 of 2641 patients receiving placebo (8.0%) (odds ratio in the cangrelor group, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 1.07; P=0.17) (modified intention-to-treat population adjusted for missing data). In the cangrelor group, as compared with the placebo group, two prespecified secondary end points were significantly reduced at 48 hours: the rate of stent thrombosis, from 0.6% to 0.2% (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.85; P=0.02), and the rate of death from any cause, from 0.7% to 0.2% (odds ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.83; P=0.02). There was no significant difference in the rate of blood transfusion (1.0% in the cangrelor group and 0.6% in the placebo group, P=0.13), though major bleeding on one scale was increased in the cangrelor group, from 3.5% to 5.5% (P<0.001), because of more groin hematomas. CONCLUSIONS: The use of periprocedural cangrelor during PCI was not superior to placebo in reducing the primary end point. The prespecified secondary end points of stent thrombosis and death were lower in the cangrelor group, with no significant increase in the rate of transfusion. Further study of intravenous ADP blockade with cangrelor may be warranted. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00385138.)

Developing and optimizing low-saturated oleogel shortening based on ethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose biopolymers.

Oleogels,gels in which the continuous liquid phase is oil, have been suggested as promising low-saturated alternatives to the conventional shortenings. In this study, we aimed to develop and optimize low saturated oleogel shortenings using ethylcellulose or ethylcellulose/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose biopolymers (as oleogelators), sunflower oil (as the base oil), and palm stearin (as the source of saturated fatty acids). Using the response surface-d-optimal method, oleogel formulations containing saturated fatty acids as low as 15.19 % could be developed. As compared to the commercial shortening samples, oleogel shortenings had much lower saturation levels (15.19-17.02 vs 47.87-58.65 %) but a comparable melting point, firmness, and rheological properties. However, oleogel samples had lower solid fat content and induction period of oxidation than commercial ones. Oleogel made using ethylcellulose/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose biopolymers contained lower saturation level, solid fat content, induction period of oxidation, and firmness but a higher melting point, as compared to that made using ethylcellulose.

Ultra-stable high internal phase emulsions stabilized by protein-anionic polysaccharide Maillard conjugates.

This paper reports the production of O/W high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) using protein-anionic polysaccharide Maillard conjugates. First, Maillard conjugates were prepared from soy protein isolate (SPI) or sodium caseinate (SC) proteins and Alyssum homolocarpum seed gum (AHSG) or kappa-carrageenan (kC) polysaccharides. The conjugation process was confirmed and monitored by UV spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared, circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopies, and differential scanning calorimetry. Under the optimized reaction conditions, SC-AHSG conjugates exhibited the highest glycation degree and emulsifying properties. Next, HIPEs were made using the optimized conjugates, and their microstructure, droplet size, and physical stability were evaluated. The emulsion stabilized by SC-AHSG conjugate had the lowest mean droplet size (363.07 ± 34.56 nm), orderly-packed oil droplets with monomodal distribution, the highest zeta potential (-27.70 ± 0.70 mV), high storage stability (no creaming or oil-off) and was ultra-stable against environmental stresses. Results of this research are helpful for development of emulsion-based foods with novel functionality.

Epicatechin is a promising novel inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 entry by disrupting interactions between angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 and the viral receptor binding domain: A computational/simulation study.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the first target of SARS-CoV-2 and a key functional host receptor through which this virus hooks into and infects human cells. The necessity to block this receptor is one of the essential means to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19. This study was conducted to determine the most eligible natural compound to suppress ACE2 to counterfeit its interaction with the viral infection. To do this, the most known compounds of sixty-six Iraqi medicinal plants were generated and retrieved from PubChem database. After preparing a library for Iraqi medicinal plants, 3663 unique ligands' conformers were docked to ACE2 using the GLIDE tool. Results found that twenty-three compounds exhibited the highest binding affinity with ACE2. The druglikeness and toxicity potentials of these compounds were evaluated using SwissADME and Protox servers respectively. Out of these virtually screened twenty-three compounds, epicatechin and kempferol were predicted to exert the highest druglikeness and lowest toxicity potentials. Extended Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that ACE2-epicatechin complex exhibited a slightly higher binding stability than ACE2-kempferol complex. In addition to the well-known ACE2 inhibitors that were identified in previous studies, this study revealed for the first time that epicatechin from Hypericum perforatum provided a better static and dynamic inhibition for ACE2 with highly favourable pharmacokinetic properties than the other known ACE2 inhibiting compounds. This study entailed the ability of epicatechin to be used as a potent natural inhibitor that can be used to block or at least weaken the SARS-CoV-2 entry and its subsequent invasion. In vitro experiments are required to validate epicatechin effectiveness against the activity of the human ACE2 receptor.

Preparation and characterization of a novel biodegradable film based on sulfated polysaccharide extracted from seaweed Ulva intestinalis.

Seaweeds can be a suitable, inexpensive, abundant, and renewable source for the production of biodegradable films as an alternative to plastics. Sulfated polysaccharides, which are abundant in Ulva intestinalis seaweed, have shown important biological activities such as anticoagulant, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. Mechanical, physicochemical, barrier, and surface properties of sulfated polysaccharide films extracted from Ulva intestinalis using glycerol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as plasticizers were studied. Ulva intestinalis sulfated polysaccharide films (USP films) were successfully prepared by the incorporation of three concentrations of plasticizers (30, 40, and 50%). The film properties depended on the type and concentration of the plasticizer. Based on the results, by increasing the concentration of the plasticizer, the thickness, moisture content, solubility, and elongation at break of the USP films increased and tensile strength, young's modulus, transparency, and barrier properties of the films decreased. The film plasticized with 30% PEG showed the highest value of tensile strength (36.95 MPa), and the lowest value for permeability to vapor water and oxygen were 1.9 g mm-1 s-1kPa-1 × 10-11 and 7.45 cm-3.cm/cm2.s.cmHg ×10-8, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that the surface of the films was free of bubbles, cracks, or fractures. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results revealed some interactions between plasticizers and the polymer.

A Contemporary 20-Year Cleveland Clinic Experience of Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis: Etiology, Echocardiographic Imaging, Management, and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, or marantic endocarditis, is rare. Contemporary data on the etiology, echocardiographic evaluation, and management of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis are limited. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed. Electronic medical records and echocardiographic records were searched for patients ages ≥18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis between January 1999 and November 2019. Demographic, echocardiographic, and management data were collected. RESULTS: Of 600,577 transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) and 89,264 transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs), 42 patients had nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (mean age: 54 ± 14.5 years; 66.7% were female). The median duration of follow-up was 8.2 (interquartile range 3.3-24.4) months. Seventeen patients (40.5%) had malignancy, 33.3% had systemic lupus erythematosus, and 35.7% had antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Stroke was the most common presentation (59.5%). TTE enabled the diagnosis in 19 cases (45.2%), compared with TEE, which identified the condition in 33 of 34 (97.1%) cases in which it was utilized. Three-dimensional echocardiography was performed in 17 TEEs. The most common valves involved were mitral (61.9%), and aortic (23.8%) valves. Thirty-two patients were managed with anticoagulation. Ten patients underwent surgery. Sixteen (38.1%) patients died, most of whom had a diagnosis of advanced malignancy. CONCLUSION: In a contemporary 20-year cohort, TTE and TEE played important roles in diagnosis, with superior diagnostic performance of TEE for nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Mortality was high, and advanced malignancy portended a worse prognosis. Management in most cases was therapeutic anticoagulation. In select cases, surgery provided favorable outcomes.

Development of emulsion films based on bovine gelatin-nano chitin-nano ZnO for cake packaging.

This research extends the effect of packaging with bovine gelatin, gelatin nanocomposite (GN), gelatin emulsion (GE), two layers gelatin nanocomposite and gelatin emulsion (GNE), and polyethylene (PE) films on sponge cake properties during storage at 25°C and 55 ± 2% RH. In this regard, water vapor permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP) of films were compared. Then, moisture content, acidity, peroxide value, texture profile, organoleptic properties, and fungal growth of packed cakes were determined. Results showed that the addition of nanoparticles could reduce the water vapor permeability from 9.680 ± 0.460 × 10-10 (g m/sm-2Pa-1) for net gelatin film to 6.067 ± 0.337 × 10-10 (g m/sm-2 Pa-1) for gelatin nanocomposite film and oxygen permeability from 39.262 (cm3µm/ m2dkPa) for net gelatin film to 29.645 (cm3µm m-2 dkPa) for nanocomposite film. However, GNE films had the highest barrier properties. Results of acidity and peroxide values of cakes admitted the sufficiency of GNE films for sponge cakes packaging. In addition, antifungal properties of nanoparticles led to less fungal growth on cakes packed in GNE films. The cakes packed in GNE films own more organoleptic and texture acceptability than the ones packed in other films. Generally, according to the results GNE films are acceptable for packaging of sponge cakes which contain no preservative because this packaging can prevent fungal growth for a longer time and even more can maintain the cake chemical and organoleptic quality.

The influence of yeast level and fermentation temperature on Ochratoxin A decrement during bread making.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) occurrence in cereals is a permanent challenge in human health. In recent years, some studies have focused on the role of yeasts as adsorbing tools to eliminate OTA. The aim of the current research was to study the effects of different variables including Saccharomyces cerevisiae amount and the fermentation temperature on the reduction of OTA during bread baking. For this purpose, the OTA was spiked to the flour and then the bread was prepared. OTA levels in flour, dough, and bread were measured by the high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FD). The results revealed that yeast level and fermentation temperature had a significant effect on OTA reduction. The increase of the amount of S. cerevisiae from 1% to 2% w/w and the fermentation temperature from 25ºC to 30ºC resulted in the increment of OTA reduction from 31.17% to 59.41%. During baking, OTA reduction was 19.21%. In general, the utilization of 2% w/w S. cerevisiae and the fermentation temperature of 35 ºC could reduce considerable amount of OTA in the wheat bread.