PEO-Based Solid Composite Polymer Electrolyte for High Capacity Retention All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Battery.

The limited ionic conductivity at room temperature and the constrained electrochemical window of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) pose significant obstacles that hinder its broader utilization in high-energy-density lithium metal batteries. The garnet-type material Li6.4 La3 Zr1.4 Ta0.6 O12 (LLZTO) is recognized as a highly promising active filler for enhancing the performance of PEO-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). However, its performance is still limited by its high interfacial resistance. In this study, a novel hybrid filler-designed SPE is employed to achieve excellent electrochemical performance for both the lithium metal anode and the LiFePO4 cathode. The solid composite membrane containing hybrid fillers achieves a maximum ionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10-4 S cm-1 and a Li+ transference number of 0.67 at 40 °C, respectively. Additionally, the Li/Li symmetric cells demonstrate a smooth and stable process for 2000 h at a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2 . Furthermore, the LiFePO4 /Li battery delivers a high-rate capacity of 159.2 mAh g-1 at 1 C, along with a capacity retention of 95.2% after 400 cycles. These results validate that employing a composite of both active and inactive fillers is an effective strategy for achieving superior performance in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs).

Ratiometric Fluorescence and Chromogenic Probe for Trace Detection of Selected Transition Metals.

The design and development of a fluorescence sensor aimed at detecting and quantifying trace amounts of toxic transition metal ions within environmental, biological, and aquatic samples has garnered significant attention from diagnostic and testing laboratories, driven by the imperative to mitigate the health risks associated with these contaminants. In this context, we present the utilization of a heterocyclic symmetrical Schiff Base derivative for the purpose of fluorogenic and chromogenic detection of Co2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions. The characterization of the ligand involved a comprehensive array of techniques, including physical assessments, optical analyses, NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectrometric examinations. The mechanism of ligand-metal complexation was elucidated through the utilization of photophysical parameters and FT-IR spectroscopic analysis, both before and after the interaction between the ligand and the metal salt solution. The pronounced alterations observed in absorption and fluorescence spectra, along with the distinctive chromogenic changes, following treatment with Co2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+, affirm the successful formation of complexes between the ligands and the treated metal ions. Notably, the receptor's complexation response exhibited selectivity towards Co(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II), with no observed chromogenic changes, spectral variations, or band shifts for the various tested metal ions, including Na+, Ag+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Pd2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Sn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cr3+ and Al3+. This absence of interaction between these metal ions and the ligand could be attributed to their compact or inadequately conducive conduction bands for complexation with the ligand's structural composition. To quantify the sensor's efficacy, fluorescence titration spectra were employed to determine the detection limits for Co2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+, yielding values of 2.92 × 10-8, 8.91 × 10-8, and 4.39 × 10-3 M, respectively. The Benesi-Hildebrand plots provided association constant values for the ligand-cobalt, ligand-copper, and ligand-mercury complexes as 0.74, 2.52, and 13.89 M-1, respectively.

Synthesis, Invitro Cytotoxic Activity and Optical Analysis of Substituted Schiff Base Derivatives.

Fluorescent cytotoxic compounds with readout delivery are crucial in chemotherapy. The growing demands of these treatment strategies require the novel heterocyclic molecules with better selectivity alongside fluorescence marker potential. In this context, a series of nine isatin Schiff base derivatives 4a-i were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for UV-visible, fluorescence, thermal and bioanalysis in order to explore the effect of structure on their bioprofiles. The analogue 4d exhibited maximum cytotoxic activity on Hella cells with percentage inhibition of 83% at 50 µM and 100% at 150 µM concentrations while 4c showed minimum cytotoxic activity with the value of 19% at 50 µM and 22% at 150 µM concentrations. Meanwhile, 4g was found to exhibit maximum inhibition potential towards Vero Cells with the percentage inhibition values of 83 at 50 µM concentration. The overall SAR study showed that the para-fluoro-substituted isatin moieties exhibited the appreciable percentage inhibition while the least activity was delivered by the isatin derivatives with para-bromo substitution.

Recent Advances of carbon Pathways for Sustainable Environment development.

Carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging type of carbon nanomaterial with strong biocompatibility, distinct chemical and physical properties, and low toxicity. CDs may emit fluorescence in the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR) range, which renders them beneficial for biomedical applications. CDs are usually made from carbon precursors and can be synthesized using top-down and bottom-up methods and it can be easily functionalized using different methods. For specific cases of biomedical applications carbon dot functionalization augments the materials' characteristics. Novel functionalization techniques are still being investigated. This review will look at the benefits of functionalization to attain a high yield and various biological applications. Biomedical applications such as photodynamic and photothermal therapy, biosensing, bioimaging, and antiviral and antibacterial properties will be covered in this review. The future applications of green synthesized carbon dots will be determined in part by this review.

Genomic features of lung cancer patients in Indonesia's national cancer center.

INTRODUCTION: Advances in molecular biology bring advantages to lung cancer management. Moreover, high-throughput molecular tests are currently useful for revealing genetic variations among lung cancer patients. We investigated the genomics profile of the lung cancer patients at the National Cancer Centre of Indonesia. METHODS: A retrospective study enrolled 627 tissue biopsy samples using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 80 circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) liquid biopsy samples using next-generation sequencing (NGS) from lung cancer patients admitted to the Dharmais Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. Data were obtained from medical records. Data statistically analysed with p < 0.05 is considered significant. RESULT: The EGFR test results revealed by RT-PCR were wild type (51.5%), single variant (38.8%), double variant (8.3%), and triple variant (1.4%), with 18.66% L85R, 18.22% Ex19del, and 11.08% L861Q variant. Liquid biopsy ctDNA using NGS showed only 2.5% EGFR wild type, 62.5% single variant and 35% co-variant, with EGFR/TP53 and EGFR/PIK3CA as the highest. CONCLUSION: EGFR variants are the most found in our centre. Liquid biopsy with ctDNA using NGS examination could detect broad variants and co-variants that will influence the treatment planning.

Effectiveness of conservation messages to reduce households' GHG emissions: A serious-gaming experiment.

Households play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, there have been few studies of household conservation from the perspective of the nexus of food, energy, and water (FEW) consumption. This study's objective is to understand the effects of different types of intervention messages for inducing conservation of FEW resources and reducing carbon emissions at the household level in the U.S. Employing a serious-gaming approach, we developed the HomeRUN (Home Role-play for Understanding the Nexus) game, which allows players to act as homeowners and take behavioral and technological upgrade actions in a computer-simulation setting. The types of messages tested include social comparisons and resource-reduction measures across FEW sectors as well as information about the health, economic, and environmental impacts of FEW consumption. A game experiment with U.S. university students finds that social-comparison messages on food and energy consumption, but not on water, lead to significant reductions in household carbon emissions. In addition, messages associated with each type of FEW resource tend to lead to an immediate action corresponding to the particular FEW domain. These insights support a prioritization of intervention messaging for coordinated FEW conservation efforts at a household level.

Genetic variant in TNF-α gene and its plasma level in relation to obstructive sleep apnoea in the Pakistani population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the link between tumour necrosis factor-alpha -308 guanine/adenine polymorphism and tumour necrosis factor-alpha plasma levels in relation to obstructive sleep apnoea. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to March 2021 at the sleep clinic of Dow University Hospital, Karachi, on obstructive sleep apnoea patients and healthy controls. Epworth Sleep Scale score was used to determine daytime sleepiness, while full-night polysomnography was carried out for obstructive sleep apnoea confirmation and categorisation according to severity. Blood sample collection was followed by deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha measurement using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genotype distribution and allelic frequency were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Out of the 225 subjects, with a mean age of 47.68±9.88 years, 132 (58.7%) were males, and 93 (41.3%) were females. Among them, 150 (66.7%) were patients, and 75 (33.3%) were controls. Heterozygous tumour necrosis factor-alpha -308 guanine/adenine genotypes were significantly higher among the patients (p<0.05). Minor allele - 308 adenine showed an association with obstructive sleep apnoea, its severity, higher tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, neck circumference, excessive daytime sleepiness and the presence of hypertension (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha -308 adenine allele and higher tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels were found to be linked with obstructive sleep apnoea. The polymorphism also showed an association with hypertension in obstructive sleep apnoea patients.

An Artificial Intelligence model for implant segmentation on periapical radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To segment dental implants on PA radiographs using a Deep Learning (DL) algorithm. To compare the performance of the algorithm relative to ground truth determined by the human annotator. Methodology: Three hundred PA radiographs were retrieved from the radiographic database and consequently annotated to label implants as well as teeth on the LabelMe annotation software. The dataset was augmented to increase the number of images in the training data and a total of 1294 images were used to train, validate and test the DL algorithm. An untrained U-net was downloaded and trained on the annotated dataset to allow detection of implants using polygons on PA radiographs. RESULTS: A total of one hundred and thirty unseen images were run through the trained U-net to determine its ability to segment implants on PA radiographs. The performance metrics are as follows: accuracy of 93.8%, precision of 90%, recall of 83%, F-1 score of 86%, Intersection over Union of 86.4% and loss = 21%. CONCLUSIONS: The trained DL algorithm segmented implants on PA radiographs with high performance similar to that of the humans who labelled the images forming the ground truth.

Association between Statin Use and Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced cardiac dysfunction (CIC) is a significant and concerning complication observed among cancer patients. Despite the demonstrated cardioprotective benefits of statins in various cardiovascular diseases, their effectiveness in mitigating CIC remains uncertain. Objective: This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the potential cardioprotective role of statins in patients with CIC. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases to identify relevant articles published from inception until 10th May 2023. The outcomes were assessed using pooled odds ratio (OR) for categorical data and mean difference (MD) for continuous data, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: This meta-analysis comprised nine studies involving a total of 5532 patients, with 1904 in the statin group and 3628 in the non-statin group. The pooled analysis of primary outcome shows that patients who did not receive statin suffer a greater decline in the LVEF after chemotherapy compared to those who receive statin (MD, 3.55 (95% CI: 1.04-6.05), p = 0.01). Likewise, we observed a significantly higher final mean LVEF among chemotherapy patients with statin compared to the non-statin group of patients (MD, 2.08 (95% CI: 0.86-3.30), p > 0.001). Additionally, there was a lower risk of incident heart failure in the statin group compared to the non-statin group of patients (OR, 0.41 (95% CI: 0.27-0.62), p < 0.001). Lastly, the change in the mean difference for LVEDV was not statistically significant between the statin and non-statin groups (MD, 1.55 (95% CI: -5.22-8.33), p = 0.65). Conclusion: Among patients of CIC, statin use has shown cardioprotective benefits by improving left ventricular function and reducing the risk of heart failure.

Effectiveness of early pharmaceutical interventions in symptomatic COVID-19 patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: We assessed the effectiveness of oral Hydroxychloroquine (HC), Azithromycin (AZ) and Oseltamivir (OS), alone or combined, among patients hospitalized with mildly symptomatic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19). Methods: Following the approval of the National Bioethics Committee and prospective registration (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04338698), a multicenter randomized clinical trial of adaptive design was conducted at 10 multispecialty hospitals in Pakistan. Patients were randomized into seven treatment groups. Starting April 15, 2020, consenting, eligible, otherwise healthy adult patients or those with co-morbidities under control, were recruited if they presented with mildly symptomatic COVID-19 (scored 3 on a 7-point ordinal scale anchored between 1 = not hospitalized, able to undertake normal activities, to 7 = death) confirmed by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Two primary outcomes were assessed by day seven: Turning qRT-PCR negative; and clinical improvement of two points from the baseline. Outcome rates were compared using a chi-square test. Multiple imputations were applied to handle missing data. An interim data analysis was carried out on July 19, 2020, following which the study continued without treatment group changes. Data Safety and Monitoring Board advised to stop recruitment due to its futility on January 18, 2021. Results: Of 471 patients randomized, a total of 426 (90.4%) completed the follow-up for primary outcomes. Based on imputed data analyses at day seven: Total qRT-PCR negative cases were 137/471 (29%, 95% CI 25.0 - 33.4). By day seven, a total of 111/471 (23.5%, 95% CI 19.8 - 27.6) showed clinical improvement. No serious or non-serious adverse event was reported. Conclusions: Among patients with mild COVID-19, there was no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of oral antimalarial, antiviral, or antibiotic treatments.Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04338698.

Concomitant Effect of Quercetin and Its Copper Complex in the Development of Sustained-Release Nanoparticles of Polycaprolactone, Used for the Treatment of Skin Infection.

The study aimed to improve the treatment of impetigo with naturally occurring quercetin and its copper-quercetin (Cu-Q) complex by preparing sustained-release (SR) nanoparticles of polycaprolactone (PCL). The solvent evaporation method was used for the copper-quercetin (Cu-Q) complex formation, and their PCL nanoparticles (PCL-NPs, Q-PCL-NPs, and Cu-Q-PCL-NPs) were prepared by the high-pressure homogenization method. Synthesis of nanoparticles was confirmed by their physicochemical and antibacterial properties of quercetin against Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria. The percentage loading efficiency of quercetin and release in 100 mM of phosphate buffer pH 7.4 and 5.5 at 37 °C was found to be more than 90% after 24 h with the zero-order release pattern. Minimum inhibitory concentration of nanoparticles was found to increase threefold in the case of Cu-Q-PCL-NPs may be due to the synergistic antibacterial behavior. Scanning electron microscopy showed spherical nanoparticles, and surface roughness was confirmed by atomic force microscopy analysis. Fortunately, no sign of irritation on rat skin even at 3%, was seen. In vitro antioxidant assay by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl reduction was found to be ≤80 ± 0.02% which confirmed their scavenging activity. Interestingly, for the ex vivo study, the tape-stripping model was applied against Staphylococcus aureus containing rats and showed the formation of the epidermal layer within 4-5 days. Confirmation of antibacterial activity of pure quercetin, from Cu-Q complex, and their SR release from Q-PCL-NPs and Cu-Q-PCL-NPs was considered an effective tool for the treatment of skin diseases and can be used as an alternative of already resistant ciprofloxacin in impetigo.

Exploring the Potent Combination of Quercetin-Boronic Acid, Epalrestat, and Urea Containing Nanoethosomal Keratolytic Gel for the Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathic Pain: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Transdermal penetration of therapeutic moieties from topical dosage forms always remains a challenge due to the presence of permeation impeding keratin which should be addressed. The purpose of the study was to formulate quercetin and 4-formyl phenyl boronic acid (QB complex) used for the preparation of nanoethosomal keratolytic gel (EF3-G). The QB complex was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy while skin permeation, viscosity, and epalrestat entrapment efficiency were used for the optimization of nanoethosomal gel. The keratolytic effect of the proposed nanoethosomal gel with urea (QB + EPL + U) was calculated in rat and snake skin. The spherical shape of nanoethosomes was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. According to the findings of stability studies, viscosity decreases as temperature increases, proving their thermal stability. The negative charge of optimized EF3 with 0.7 PDI proved narrow particle size distribution with homogeneity. Optimized EF3 showed two folds increase of epalrestat permeation in highly keratinized snake skin as compared to rats' skin after 24 h. Antioxidant behaviors of EF3 (QB) > QB complex > quercetin > ascorbic acid proved reduction of oxidative stress in DPPH reduction analysis. Interestingly, the hot plate and cold allodynia test in the diabetic neuropathic rat model reduced 3-fold pain as compared to the diabetic control group which was further confirmed by in vivo biochemical studies even after the eight week. Conclusively, ureal keratolysis, primary dermal irritation index reduction, and improved loading of epalrestat render the nanoethosomal gel (EF3-G) ideal for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain.

Neonatal mortality among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units in India and Pakistan: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore potential reasons for differences in preterm neonatal mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in India and Pakistan. DESIGN: A prospective observational study, the Project to Understand and Research Stillbirth and Preterms in Southeast Asia (PURPOSe) was conducted July 2018 to February 2020. SETTING: Three hospitals in Davangere, India, and a large public hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. POPULATION: Of a total of 3,202 preterm infants enrolled, 1,512 were admitted to a study NICU. METHODS: We collected data for neonates, including length of stay, diagnoses, and diagnostic tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neonatal mortality, tests performed, diagnoses ascertained. RESULTS: For infants of equivalent weights and gestational ages, neonatal mortality in Pakistan was twice that in the Indian NICU. The mean newborn length of stay in Pakistan was 2 days compared with 10 days for India. Fewer diagnostics and other investigations were used to determine neonatal condition or guide treatment in the Pakistani NICU. Because of limited information from testing in Pakistan concerning clinical respiratory distress, respiratory distress syndrome appeared to be over-diagnosed, whereas other conditions including pneumonia, sepsis, necrotising entercolitis and intraventricular haemorrhage were rarely diagnosed. CONCLUSION: In the Pakistani site, the limited resources available to the NICU appeared related to a shorter length of stay and decreased diagnostic testing, likely explaining the higher mortality. With improved care, reduction in mortality among preterm neonates should be achievable.

γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) Sensitive Fluorescence Probes for Cancer Diagnosis; Brief Review.

Millions of deaths occur each year due to the late diagnosis of abnormal cellular growth within the body. However, the devastating impact of this can be significantly reduced if cancer metastasis is detected early through the use of enzymatic biomarkers. Among several biomarkers, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) stands out as a member of the aminopeptidase family. It is primarily found on the surface of cancer cells such as glioma, ovarian, lung, and prostate cancer, without being overexpressed in normal cells or tissues. Recent years have witnessed significant progress in the field of cancer monitoring and imaging. Fluorescence sensing techniques have been employed, utilizing organic small molecular probes with enzyme-specific recognition sites. These probes emit a fluorescent signal upon interacting with GGT, enabling the imaging, identification, and differentiation of normal and cancerous cells, tissues, and organs. This review article presents a concise overview of recent progress in fluorescent probes developed for the selective detection of GGT, focusing on their applications in cancer imaging. It highlights the observed alterations in the fluorescence and absorption spectra of the probes before and after interaction with GGT. Additionally, the study investigates the changes in the probe molecule's structure following enzyme treatment, evaluates the sensor's detection limit, and consolidated imaging studies conducted using confocal fluorescence analysis. This comprehensive survey is expected to contribute to the advancement of sensing techniques for biomarker detection and cancer imaging, providing valuable insights for refining methodologies and inspiring future developments in this field.

Synthesis, Characterization, Optical Properties, Molecular Modeling and Urease Inhibition Analysis of Organic Ligands and Their Metal Complexes.

Recently, screening of efficient urease inhibitors by employing organic small molecules metalloderivatives interests the scientific community due to their efficacy for treatment of urease triggered health complications. This study comprises the synthesis, urease inhibition activity, optical analysis and molecular modeling of hydrazinecarbothioamide and hydrazinecarboxamide metalloderivatives. Characterization of synthesized materials was done by UV-visible, fluorescence, NMR and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. Metalloderivatization of ligands induce increment in urease inhibition potential and effect was prominent for copper complexes with 10-fold enhancement, cobalt complex with 3.5 fold's enhancement and palladium with 2-fold increment in the inhibition efficacy toward urease when it was compared with reference urease inhibitor. Zinc and iron complexes cause declined urease inhibition activity of the bare ligand. The overall activity of hydrazinecarbothioamide slightly exceeds than that of hydrazinecarboxamide, possibly due to larger complexation ability of sulfur-based ligand in comparison to oxygenated derivatives i.e., hydrazinecarboxamide. The enzyme inhibition kinetics for the most active complexes represent the mixed type urease inhibition for 3a and competitive urease inhibition for 5a, as determined by Lineweaver-Burk plots. The docked scoring values for both the ligands were calculated to be 61.34, 64.72, 56.68, 62.94, 64.98 and 58.98. Three active hydrogen bonds were observed in docking complex upon computational analysis of most potent metallodrug 3a inside active region of targeted protein.

Recent Development on Sensing Strategies for Small Molecules Detections.

Sensors play a critical role in the detection and monitoring of various substances present in our environment, providing us with valuable information about the world around us. Within the field of sensor development, one area that holds particular importance is the detection of small molecules. Small molecules encompass a wide range of organic or inorganic compounds with low molecular weight, typically below 900 Daltons including gases, volatile organic compounds, solvents, pesticides, drugs, biomarkers, toxins, and pollutants. The accurate and efficient detection of these small molecules has attracted significant interest from the scientific community due to its relevance in diverse fields such as environmental pollutants monitoring, medical diagnostics, industrial optimization, healthcare remedies, food safety, ecosystems, and aquatic and terrestrial life preservation. To meet the demand for precise and efficient monitoring of small molecules, this summary aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in sensing and quantification strategies for various organic small molecules including Hydrazine, Glucose, Morpholine, Ethanol amine, Nitrosamine, Oxygen, Nitro-aromatics, Phospholipids, Carbohydrates, Antibiotics, Pesticides, Drugs, Adenosine Triphosphate, Aromatic Amine, Glutathione, Hydrogen Peroxide, Acetone, Methyl Parathion, and Thiophenol. The focus is on understanding the receptor sensing mechanism, along with the electrical, optical, and electrochemical response. Additionally, the variations in UV-visible spectral properties of the ligands upon treatment with the receptor, fluorescence and absorption titration analysis for limit of detection (LOD) determination, and bioimaging analysis are discussed wherever applicable. It is anticipated that the information gathered from this literature survey will be helpful for the perusal of innovation regarding sensing strategies.

Postoperative outcomes, predictors and trends of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with underlying aortic stenosis: a nationwide inpatient sample analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures frequently necessitate hospitalization, especially among patients aged 75 and above who might concurrently suffer from aortic stenosis (AS). This study focuses on postoperative outcomes, potential determinants of morbidity and mortality, as well as evolving trends in patients with AS undergoing surgical repair of hip fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2019 was conducted. Hip fracture cases were identified, and a subgroup with AS was isolated using the ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes. We compared baseline characteristics, postoperative in-hospital outcomes and trends in mortality and morbidity between patients with and without AS. RESULTS: From the dataset, 2,834,919 patients with hip fracture were identified on weighted analysis. Of these, 94,270 (3.3%) were found to have concurrent AS. The AS cohort was characterized by higher mean age and elevated burden of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Postoperative mortality following hip fracture surgery was greater in the AS groups compared to non-AS group (3.3% vs 1.57%, p < 0.001). Risk factors such as congestive heart failure (OR, 2.3[CI, 2.1-2.6]), age above 85 years (OR, 3.2[CI, 2.2-4.7]), cardiac arrhythmias (OR, 2.4[CI, 2.2-2.6]), end-stage renal disease (OR, 3.4[CI, 2.7-4.1]), malnutrition (OR, 2.3[CI, 2.1-2.7]) and AS (OR, 1.2[CI, 1.08-1.5] were associated with increased adjusted odds of postoperative mortality. AS was linked to higher adjusted odds of postoperative mortality (OR, 1.2 [CI, 1.1-1.5]) and complications such as acute myocardial infarction (OR, 1.2 [CI, 1.01-1.4]), cardiogenic shock (OR, 2.0[CI, 1.4-2.9]) and acute renal failure (OR, 1.1[CI, 1.02-1.2]). While hospital stay duration was comparable in both groups (average 5 days), the AS group incurred higher costs (mean $50,673 vs $44,607). The presence of acute heart failure in patients with AS and hip fracture significantly increased mortality, hospital stay, and cost. A notable decline in postoperative in-hospital mortality was observed in both groups from 2008-2019 though the rate of major in-hospital complications rose. CONCLUSION: AS significantly influences postoperative in-hospital mortality and complication rates in hip fracture patients. While a reduction in postoperative mortality was observed in both AS and non-AS cohorts, the incidence of major in-hospital complications increased across both groups.

Cellular and Non-cellular Antioxidant Properties of Vitamin E-Loaded Metallic-Quercetin/Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Melanogenesis.

Inhibition of melanogenesis by quercetin and vitamin E is extensively reported in the literature, independently, with limitations in antioxidant potential owing to less permeation, solubility, decreased bioavailability, and reduced stability. Thus, the aim of the present study was to synthesize a novel complex of metal ions (copper and zinc) with quercetin to enhance antioxidant properties which were confirmed by docking studies. Polycaprolactone-based nanoparticles of the synthesized complex (PCL-NPs, Q-PCL-NPs, Zn-Q-PCL-NPs, Cu-Q-PCL-NPs) were made later loaded with vitamin E which made the study more interesting in enhancing antioxidant profile. Nanoparticles were characterized for zeta size, charge, and polydispersity index, while physiochemical analysis of nanoparticles was strengthened by FTIR. Cu-Q-PCL-NPs-E showed maximum in vitro release of vitamin E, i.e., 80 ± 0.54%. Non-cellular antioxidant effect by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was observed at 93 ± 0.23% in Cu-Q-PCL-NPs-E which was twofold as compared to Zn-Q-PCL-NPs-E. Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cancer cell lines were used to investigate the anticancer and cellular antioxidant profile of loaded and unloaded nanoparticles. Results revealed reactive oxygen species activity of 90 ± 0.32% with the addition of 89 ± 0.64% of its anticancer behavior shown by Cu-Q-PCL-NPs-E after 6 and 24h. Similarly, 80 ± 0.53% inhibition of melanocyte cells and 95 ± 0.54% increase of keratinocyte cells were also shown by Cu-Q-PCL-NPs-E that confirmed the tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory effect. Conclusively, the use of zinc and copper complex in unloaded and vitamin E-loaded nanoparticles can provide enhanced antioxidant properties with inhibition of melanin, which can be used for treating diseases of melanogenesis.

Molecular docking and in vitro antibacterial activity of chiral phthalimide on ESBL producing gram negative bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is tricky enemy that challenges our healthcare system. It is a stealthy, adaptive and ever evolving opponent, which can take years to develop but can spread like wildfire. In this study, derivatives of chiral phthalimides were developed with this aim to control the growth of resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by targeting their resistance causing proteins and explore their binding interaction focal points through computational docking. Total 8 novel chiral phthalimides were synthesized and its antibiogram analysis was done on Muller-Hinton Agar by disc diffusion method. Cytotoxicity studies were made to check efficacy of tested compounds on human RBCs and monitor release of hemoglobin absorbance at 540nm. By using in silico molecular approach, crystal structure of target protein was retrieved from Protein Data Bank and docked through Autodock vina and PyRx. The obtained results revealed that seven out of eight compounds have active inhibitory effects against virulent strains. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was measured for most potent compounds i.e., 2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid (compound 7) and 3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl) propanoic acid (compound 8). Docking studies displayed a report of highest affinity binding points i.e., amino acids LYS315, ALA318, TYR150, THR262, HIS314 and ARG148 for compound 7 while ALA 318, LYS 315, ARG14 and ILE291 for compound 8.

Key considerations when using the sulforhodamine B assay for screening novel anticancer agents.

Anticancer drug discovery programmes use a large number of in-vitro assays to screen the potency of compound libraries. The accuracy and reliability of these in-vitro assays are vital in selecting potent lead candidates for further (pre)clinical studies. Among the commonly used cell viability assays, the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay has been a popular choice due to its simplicity, accuracy, reliability and reproducibility. SRB dye interacts with protein's basic amino acids and viable cell number is determined based on the cellular protein content. In this study, the cytotoxic potency of the novel hydroxythiopyridone derivatives towards A549 and H522 cells was determined using the SRB assay. The known drugs oxaliplatin and vorinostat were also examined. The resulting EC50 values were accurate, reliable and reproducible. However, all EC50 values calculated in 6-well plates were higher compared to those determined from 96-well plates. Furthermore, results from 6-well plates were also more variable compared to 96-well plates. Our results confirm that SRB assay is a reliable technique in screening the potency of anticancer drug candidates but plating conditions need to be carefully considered.