Salvimulticanol from Salvia multicaulis suppresses LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages: in vitro and in silico studies.

Sustained inflammatory responses can badly affect several vital organs and lead to chronic inflammation-related disorders, such as atherosclerosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancers. Salvia multicaulis is one of the widely distributed plants that contains several biologically active phytochemicals and diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, finding alternative and safer natural plant-extracted compounds with good curative anti-inflammatory efficiencies is an urgent need for the clinical treatment of inflammation-related diseases. In the current study, S. multicaulis Vahl was used to extract and isolate two compounds identified as salvimulticanol and candesalvone B methyl ester to examine their effects against inflammation in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells that were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Accordingly, after culturing RAW264.7 cells and induction of inflammation by LPS (100 ng/ml), cells were exposed to different concentrations (9, 18, 37.5, 75, and 150 µM) of each compound. Then, Griess assay for detection of nitric oxide (NO) levels and western blotting for the determination of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were performed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism. Our obtained results validated that the level of NO was significantly decreased in the macrophage cell suspensions as a response to salvimulticanol treatment in a dose-dependent manner (IC50: 25.1 ± 1.2 µM) as compared to the methyl ester of candesalvone B which exerted a weaker inhibition (IC50: 69.2 ± 3.0 µM). This decline in NO percentage was comparable with a down-regulation of iNOS expression by western blotting. Salvimulticanol strongly interacted with both the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex and the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) kinase subunit beta (IKKß) to disrupt their inflammatory activation due to the significant hydrogen bonds and effective interactions with amino acid residues present in the target proteins' active sites. S.multicaulis is a rich natural source of the aromatic abietane diterpenoid, salvimulticanol, which exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect through targeting iNOS and diminishing NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a mechanism that is dependent on the inhibition of TLR4-MD-2 and IKKß as activators of the classical NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway.

Vertebral Fracture Associated With Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: A Case Report.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is considered a safe, reliable, and non-invasive modality for kidney stone management. However, there are well-established complications related to ESWL documented in the literature in the form of renal and extrarenal complications. Skeletal complications related to ESWL are rarely recorded; as far as we know, there is only one documented case report of an ESWL-related burst vertebral fracture seen in an osteoporotic patient, diagnosed as granulomatous spondylitis. Here, we present a novel case of a transverse process fracture of the third lumbar vertebra related to ESWL in a young patient otherwise free from any medical illness.

Sequential graph convolutional network and DeepRNN based hybrid framework for epileptic seizure detection from EEG signal.

Automated epileptic seizure detection from ectroencephalogram (EEG) signals has attracted significant attention in the recent health informatics field. The serious brain condition known as epilepsy, which is characterized by recurrent seizures, is typically described as a sudden change in behavior caused by a momentary shift in the excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells, and EEG signal is primarily used in most cases to identify seizure to revitalize the close loop brain. The development of various deep learning (DL) algorithms for epileptic seizure diagnosis has been driven by the EEG's non-invasiveness and capacity to provide repetitive patterns of seizure-related electrophysiological information. Existing DL models, especially in clinical contexts where irregular and unordered structures of physiological recordings make it difficult to think of them as a matrix; this has been a key disadvantage to producing a consistent and appropriate diagnosis outcome due to EEG's low amplitude and nonstationary nature. Graph neural networks have drawn significant improvement by exploiting implicit information that is present in a brain anatomical system, whereas inter-acting nodes are connected by edges whose weights can be determined by either temporal associations or anatomical connections. Considering all these aspects, a novel hybrid framework is proposed for epileptic seizure detection by combined with a sequential graph convolutional network (SGCN) and deep recurrent neural network (DeepRNN). Here, DepRNN is developed by fusing a gated recurrent unit (GRU) with a traditional RNN; its key benefit is that it solves the vanishing gradient problem and achieve this hybrid framework greater sophistication. The line length feature, auto-covariance, auto-correlation, and periodogram are applied as a feature from the raw EEG signal and then grouped the resulting matrix into time-frequency domain as inputs for the SGCN to use for seizure classification. This model extracts both spatial and temporal information, resulting in improved accuracy, precision, and recall for seizure detection. Extensive experiments conducted on the CHB-MIT and TUH datasets showed that the SGCN-DeepRNN model outperforms other deep learning models for seizure detection, achieving an accuracy of 99.007%, with high sensitivity and specificity.

Brd4::Nutm1 fusion gene initiates NUT carcinoma in vivo.

NUT carcinoma (NC) is an aggressive cancer with no effective treatment. About 70% of NUT carcinoma is associated with chromosome translocation events that lead to the formation of a BRD4::NUTM1 fusion gene. Because the BRD4::NUTM1 gene is unequivocally cytotoxic when ectopically expressed in cell lines, questions remain on whether the fusion gene can initiate NC. Here, we report the first genetically engineered mouse model for NUT carcinoma that recapitulates the human t(15;19) chromosome translocation in mice. We demonstrated that the mouse t(2;17) syntenic chromosome translocation, forming the Brd4::Nutm1 fusion gene, could induce aggressive carcinomas in mice. The tumors present histopathological and molecular features similar to human NC, with enrichment of undifferentiated cells. Similar to the reports of human NC incidence, Brd4::Nutm1 can induce NC from a broad range of tissues with a strong phenotypical variability. The consistent induction of poorly differentiated carcinoma demonstrated a strong reprogramming activity of BRD4::NUTM1. The new mouse model provided a critical preclinical model for NC that will lead to better understanding and therapy development for NC.

Assessment of modified chitosan composite in acidic reservoirs through pilot and field-scale simulation studies.

Chemical flooding through biopolymers acquires higher attention, especially in acidic reservoirs. This research focuses on the application of biopolymers in chemical flooding for enhanced oil recovery in acidic reservoirs, with a particular emphasis on modified chitosan. The modification process involved combining chitosan with vinyl/silane monomers via emulsion polymerization, followed by an assessment of its rheological behavior under simulated reservoir conditions, including salinity, temperature, pressure, and medium pH. Laboratory-scale flooding experiments were carried out using both the original and modified chitosan at conditions of 2200 psi, 135,000 ppm salinity, and 196° temperature. The study evaluated the impact of pressure on the rheological properties of both chitosan forms, finding that the modified composite was better suited to acidic environments, showing enhanced resistance to pressure effects with a significant increase in viscosity and an 11% improvement in oil recovery over the 5% achieved with the unmodified chitosan. Advanced modeling and simulation techniques, particularly using the tNavigator Simulator on the Bahariya formations in the Western Desert, were employed to further understand the polymer solution dynamics in reservoir contexts and to predict key petroleum engineering metrics. The simulation results underscored the effectiveness of the chitosan composite in increasing oil recovery rates, with the composite outperforming both its native counterpart and traditional water flooding, achieving a recovery factor of 48%, compared to 39% and 37% for native chitosan and water flooding, thereby demonstrating the potential benefits of chitosan composites in enhancing oil recovery operations.

Electronic and Molecular Adsorption Properties of Pt-Doped BC6N: An Ab-Initio Investigation.

In the last two decades, significant efforts have been particularly invested in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron carbon nitride h-BxCyNz because of its unique physical and chemical characteristics. The presence of the carbon atoms lowers the large gap of its cousin structure, boron nitride (BN), making it more suitable for various applications. Here, we use density functional theory to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Pt-doped BC6N (Pt-BC6N, as well as its adsorption potential of small molecular gases (NO, NO2, CO2, NH3). We consider all distinct locations of the Pt atom in the supercell (B, N, and two C sites). Different adsorption locations are also considered for the pristine and Pt-doped systems. The formation energies of all Pt-doped structures are close to those of the pristine system, reflecting their stability. The pristine BC6N is semiconducting, so doping with Pt at the B and N sites gives a diluted magnetic semiconductor while doping at the C1 and C2 sites results in a smaller gap semiconductor. We find that all doped structures exhibit direct band gaps. The studied molecules are very weakly physisorbed on the pristine structure. Pt doping leads to much stronger interactions, where NO, NO2, and NH3 chemisorb on the doped systems, and CO2 physiorb, illustrating the doped systems' potential for gas purification applications. We also find that the adsorption changes the electronic and magnetic properties of the doped systems, inviting their consideration for spintronics and gas sensing.

Evaluation of Sechium edule fruit attenuation impact on the cardiomyopathy of the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Sechium edule, commonly known as chayote is known for its low glycemic index, high fiber content, and rich nutritional profile, which suggests it may be beneficial for individuals with diabetes. While research specifically examining the impact of chayote on diabetes is limited, this study screened its biological impacts by using different biomarkers on streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-ID) rats. The ethanolic extract of the Sechium edule fruits was assessed for different phytochemical, biochemical, and anti-diabetic properties. In the results, chayote extract had high phenolic and flavonoid contents respectively (39.25 ± 0.65 mg/mL and 12.16 ± 0.50 mg/mL). These high phenolic and flavonoid contents showed high implications on STZ-ID rats. Altogether 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract considerably reduced the blood sugar level and enhanced the lipid profile of the STZ-ID rats. Additionally, they have decreased blood urea and serum creatinine levels. Besides, the levels of SGOT, SGPT, LDH, sodium, and potassium ions were significantly lowered after the administration period. More importantly, the electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters such as QT, RR, and QTc which were prolonged in the diabetic rats were downregulated after 35 days of administration of S. edule extract (400 mg/kg). And, the histological examination of the pancreas and kidney showed marked improvement in structural features of 200 and 400 mg/kg groups when compared to the diabetic control group. Where the increase in the glucose levels was positively correlated with QT, RR, and QTc (r2 = 0.76, r2 = 0.76, and r2 = 0.43) which means that ECG could significantly reflect the diabetes glucose levels. In conclusion, our findings showed that the fruit extract exerts a high potential to reduce artifacts secondary to diabetes which can be strongly suggested for diabetic candidates. However, there is a need to study the molecular mechanisms of the extract in combating artifacts secondary to diabetes in experimental animals.

A smartphone-assisted photoelectrochemical POCT method via Z-scheme CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 for simultaneously detecting co-contamination with microplastics in food and the environment.

As emerging contaminants, microplastics threaten food and environmental safety. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP, released from microplastics) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, adsorbed on microplastics) coexisted in food and the environment, harming human health, requesting a sensitive and simultaneous testing method to monitor. To address current sensitivity, simultaneousness, and on-site portability challenges during dual targets in complex matrixes, CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 nanoflower was designed to develop a smartphone-assisted photoelectrochemical point-of-care test (PEC POCT). The carrier transfer mechanism in CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 was proven via density functional theory calculation. Under optimal conditions, the PEC POCT showed low detection limits of 0.126, and 0.132 pg/mL, wide linearity of 0.001-500, and 0.0005-50 ng/mL for DBP and BaP, respectively. The smartphone-assisted PEC POCT demonstrated satisfied recoveries (80.00%-119.63%) in real samples. Coherent results were recorded by comparing the PEC POCT to GC-MS (DBP) and HPLC (BaP). This novel method provides a practical platform for simultaneous POCT for food safety and environment monitoring.

Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

The meat of the quail is one of the most delicious types, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is useful in treating nervous diseases. In the present investigation, based on their live body weight, 270 genetically-enhanced white quail chicks of mixed sex were randomly assigned to 3 groups, each with 90 chicks. The first group's birds were slaughtered at 28 d of age. The birds in the second group were slaughtered at 31 d, and the birds in the third group were slaughtered at 34 d. Results showed no significant difference between the various groups in the overall mortality rate index at the end of each fattening stage (P > 0.05). There were substantial variations (P ≤ 0.05) in the average live weight index between the first and both groups at each group's marketing age. With increasing marketing age, body weight increases. Quail chicks raised for 34 d received the lowest EPEF (28.90 points), followed by those raised for 31 d and 28 d, which received 33.37 and 37.32 points, respectively. The economic feasibility of the 3 groups, no significant differences in the profit index were observed at the age of 28 d. Compared to the marketing age of the other 2 groups, it was noted that the profit index decreased as the birds advanced in age. Delaying marketing to 31 d leads to a decrease in profit by 5.7%, and delaying marketing to 34 d reduces the profit index to 26.36% compared to marketing at 28 d. For blood hematology parameters, a significant increase in the studied indicators with the age of the birds was observed through the study of blood indicators. Still, it did not reach the significance level. It could be concluded that 28 d is the ideal marketing age for the enhanced white quails, as it yielded the highest economic return and the best performance.

An ingenious technique based on the usage of fluorone-based dye; pyrosin B in prucalopride assay in different matrices through an "on-off" dye native fluorescence probe.

Prucalopride (PCD), is a modern medication approved by the United States in 2018 to alleviate constipation caused by motility issues. PCD demonstrates a strong affinity and selectivity toward the 5-HT4 receptor. The study here introduces a feasible, direct, non-extractive, and affordable pathway for PCD analytical tracking. The fluorimetric study is based on the on-off effect on the emission amplitude of fluorone-based dye (pyrosin B). In a one-pot experiment, the complex between PCD and pyrosin B is formed instantly in an acidic medium. Correlation between decreased pyrosin B emission and PCD concentrations provides a linear calibration plot from 50 to 900 ng/mL. PCD-dye complex system affecting variables were meticulously tuned. The values of the estimated limit of quantitation and limit of detection for the current methodology were 47.5 and 15.7 ng/mL, respectively. Conformity of the strategy validity was achieved by a comprehensive study of the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use criteria. The method was convincingly applied for PCD assay in tablets and content uniformity investigation. Furthermore, PCD tracking in the spiked biological fluid was applied. Finally, the method uses distilled water as dispersing medium which rise accommodation with the green chemistry principle.

Predictors of procedural errors in class II resin composite restorations using bitewing radiographs.

Objective: To identify the potential factors that induce procedural errors during posterior proximal resin composite restorations placed by dental students. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 803 bitewing radiographs of posterior proximal resin composite restorations placed by dental students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. Atypical radiographic signs of failure were screened, and different patient-, operator-, and clinical-related factors were recorded. Chi-square test was used to examine the relationship between procedural errors and recorded factors. Stepwise adjusted logistic regression model was performed to identify predictors of procedural errors. Results: The most observed errors were internal gaps at the bonding interface and internal voids. Molars had 0.39 the risk of internal voids (odds ratio [OR] = 0.39; confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-0.60; P = <0.0001), 0.41 the risk of sharp angle (OR = 0.41; CI = 0.24-0.68; P = <0.001), and 0.57 the risk of open contact (OR = 0.57; CI = 0.34-0.97; P = 0.04) compared to premolars. Those who were >40 years of age had 1.79 the risk of overhang compared to younger patients (OR = 1.79; CI = 1.04-3.11; P = <0.04). First molars and premolars had 0.64 the risk of overhang compared to second molars and premolars (OR = 0.64; CI = 0.41-1.00; P = 0.04). Junior students had 1.97 the risk of internal gap compared to their senior counterparts (OR = 1.97; CI = 1.20-3.21; P = 0.008). Mesial restorations had 0.38 the risk of external gap compared to mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) restorations (OR = 0.38; CI = 0.19-0.78; P = 0.003). Restorations with a margin coronal to the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) had 0.44 the risk of external gap compared to those restorations with a margin apical to the CEJ (OR = 0.44; CI = 0.29-0.66; P = <0.0001). Conclusion: Our findings suggested a higher incidence of procedural errors in restoring premolars and MOD cavity preparations. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the comprehensiveness of laboratory training and expose students to diverse clinical scenarios and various techniques.

Lichen Planus of the Eyelids: Case Report of a Rare Presentation of a Common Dermatosis.

Lichen planus (LP) is a common T-cell-mediated autoimmune skin disease, and its exact etiology is unknown. Typically, it affects the trunk, flexural surfaces, and the mucosa.We report a rare finding of LP involving both eyelids in a 67-year-old female. A 67-year-old Saudi female with a medical history of diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis presented with a three-month history of pruritic skin eruptions in both eyelids. She had no associated musculoskeletal symptoms or fatigue and no medical or family history of atopy. The patient had violaceous, thin, scaly plaques confined to both eyelids. Oral mucosa, genitalia, scalp, and nails were not affected. Histopathology from the right lower eyelid confirmed the diagnosis of LP. Hepatitis C virus serology was negative. Patient was examined by ophthalmology to rule out conjunctival involvement of LP. She had dry eyes only. She was initially managed by topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and didn't tolerate it due to severe reaction. She tolerated mometasone propionate 0.1% cream, which relieved the itch and partially improved the lesions. Although rare, LP of the eyelids must be considered among differential diagnoses of eyelid dermatitis. It can be confined, or it may concomitantly involve other parts of the body. LP of the eyelid may also extend to the conjunctiva, so it's important to screen patients by ophthalmology to rule out possible ocular involvement. This is the first case report of a Saudi patient with LP confined to the eyelid. The management of LP involving the eyelids is challenging. Treatment options include topical steroids, tacrolimus ointment, phototherapy and oral retinoids (etretinate).

Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) poses a significant risk to patient health, with treatment options varying in efficacy and safety. Ultrasound-facilitated catheter-directed thrombolysis (USCDT) has emerged as a potential alternative to conventional catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for patients with intermediate to high-risk APE. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of USCDT versus conventional CDT in patients with intermediate to high-risk APE. METHODS: This observational retrospective study was conducted at the Armed Forces Hospital, Al-Hada, Taif, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), on 135 patients diagnosed with APE and treated with either USCDT or CDT (58 underwent CDT, while 77 underwent USCDT). The primary efficacy outcome was the change in the right ventricle to the left ventricle (RV/LV) diameter ratio. Secondary outcomes included changes in pulmonary artery systolic pressure and the Miller angiographic obstruction index score. Safety outcomes focused on major bleeding events. RESULTS: Both USCDT and CDT significantly reduced RV/LV diameter ratio (from 1.35 ± 0.14 to 1.05 ± 0.17, P < 0.001) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) (from 55 ± 7 mmHg to 38 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.001) at 48- and 12-hours post-procedure, respectively, with no significant differences between treatments. However, USCDT was associated with a significantly lower rate of major bleeding events compared to CDT (0% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that USCDT was associated with a 71.9% risk reduction of bleeding (OR = 0.281, 95% CI = 0.126 - 0.627, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: USCDT is a safe and effective alternative to CDT for the treatment of intermediate to high-risk APE, as it significantly reduces the risk of major bleeding.

Two chromatographic methods for determination of cytarabine and dexamethazone; two co-administered drugs for the treatment of leukemia: green analytical perspective.

Two sensitive, straightforward and repeatable chromatographic techniques were developed for the determination of Cytarabine HCl and Dexamethazone in their pure form and spiked human plasma without prior separation. The drugs are used co-administered for the treatment of Leukemia, a certain type of blood cancer. Method (A) is an isocratic chromatographic HPLC method; separation was accomplished on C18 column using the eluting mixture of 6.9 g/L Monobasic Sodium Phosphate pH 3: methanol (70:30, v/v) and detection was at 275 nm. Concentrations were in the range of 0.2-15 µg/mL for both CYT and DEX. Method (B) is a HPTLC method in which separation was attained on HPTLC F254 plates using methanol: ethyl acetate: ammonia, (7.8:2:0.2, by volume) as eluting solvents and detection was at 275 nm. Concentrations were in the range of 0.1-4 µg/band for both CYT and DEX. The parameters for system suitability testing were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the developed chromatographic procedures in terms of performance. The recently developed techniques were applied for the determination of the drugs under investigation in spiked human plasma. Validation parameters were examined in accordance with US-FDA criteria. All results were found to be within the acceptable ranges. To evaluate the greenness characters of the proposed methods to the environment; three greenness assessment tools including eco-scale assessments (ESA), green analytical procedure index (GAPI), and Analytical Greenness calculator (AGREE) were used. Acceptable and satisfying results that demonstrated the greenness characteristics of the suggested methods were attained.

The Prevalence of Shoulder Pain and Awareness of Frozen Shoulder Among the General Population in Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

Background The global prevalence of shoulder pain varies widely across countries. Additionally, shoulder pain and frozen shoulder can significantly affect patients' quality of life due to high levels of pain and disability. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain and its risk factors. It also aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding frozen shoulders and its related factors in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Taif City in December 2023 using a validated questionnaire comprised of socio-demographic characteristics, the prevalence of shoulder pain, and the awareness of frozen shoulders. Results A total of 378 participants enrolled in the study, with 54.8% being male and 62.7% being graduates and having jobs equally distributed among office (24.9%) and in the field (24.9%). Most participants were smokers (75.9%) and did not engage in body-building activities (79.6%). Around 26.5% of them had diabetes. The prevalence of shoulder pain was 32.8%. Aging from 35 to 44 years (p<0.001), having a higher salary from 6000 to 10000 SAR (p<0.001), retirement (p<0.001), engaging in body-building activities (p=0.035), having diabetes (p<0.001), and having other comorbidities (p<0.001) are significantly impacted having shoulder pain. Increased knowledge about the frozen shoulder is correlated with aging from 25-34 (p=0.026), smoking (p=0.002), engaging in bodybuilding (p<0.001), having diabetes (p=0.010), and having other medical conditions (p=0.010). Conclusion The study has shown that shoulder pain is prevalent among Taif City's population. Nevertheless, a low level of knowledge was observed. Therefore, enhancing the national educational programs is needed to increase public awareness of frozen shoulders.

Global scholarly output on orthodontic temporary anchorage devices (TADs): A silver jublee scientometric analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the global scholarly production of articles related to temporary anchorage devices (TADs) from 1998-2023 in peer-reviewed dental journals indexed in the Web of Science. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of TADs-related articles was created via a Web of Sciences structured search. The bibliometric characteristics of the studies, including the number of citations, publication year, journal title, journal impact factor (IF), authorship, contributing institutions and countries, thematic field, and study design, were extracted. Keyword co-occurrence network analyses and the correlation between the number of citations and the article age, journal IF, and journal quartile of each article were performed. RESULTS: The top 50 cited articles were published from 1999-2016, and the total number of citations ranged from 82-602, with 160.36 citations/paper on average. Most of the articles originated from Japan (n = 12), with the most remarkable contributions from Nihon and Okayama Universities, Japan (n = 5, each). The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics had the most cited articles, with 196.57 citations/paper on average. A significant positive correlation occurred between the number of citations and publication age (rho = 0.392, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our scientometric analysis reported the characteristics of TADs-related articles published over 25 years. Most highly-cited articles were published between 2005 and 2008. The positive correlation between articles' publication date and the number of citations might impact the top 50 within the next 5-10 years.

Characterization and Cytotoxicity Assessment of Synthesized Palladium (II) Complex-Encapsulated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment.

The treatment of cancer often leads to a range of adverse effects. Encapsulating drugs can mitigate these effects and enhance drug efficacy by enabling a controlled release at the site of interest. This study details the successful synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) through the precipitation of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O with KOH. A Pd(II) complex drug was synthesized from a Schiff base ligand derived from 2-hydroxybenzohydrazide and (E)-1-(2-(p-tolyl)hydrazono)propan-2-one using potassium tetrachloropalladate(II). This complex was subsequently incorporated into ZnONPs. Characterization of the resulting compounds was performed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta Potential, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy. TEM imaging revealed particle sizes of 160.69 ± 4.74 nm for ZnONPs and 185.28 ± 2.3 nm for the Pd(II) complex-encapsulated ZnONPs. The Zeta potential values were 6.53 mV for ZnONPs and 7.36 mV for Pd(II) complex-encapsulated ZnONPs. UV-visible spectroscopy showed an absorption peak at 360 nm for ZnONPs, while the Pd(II) complex-encapsulated ZnONPs exhibited a peak at 410 nm. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of the Pd(II) complex within the ZnONPs, as evidenced by a consistent Zn-O vibrational band at 832 cm-1 and a shift in another peak from 460 to 413 cm-1. Additionally, the detection of a C = N stretching vibration at 1548 cm-1 and a carbonyl stretch at 1626 cm-1 was observed. The Encapsulation Efficiency (E.E.) of the Pd(II) complex was 97.2%. A drug release experiment conducted at pH 7 showed a steady-state release pattern after 16 h, with a cumulative release of 44.3%. The cytotoxic effects of the Pd(II) complex and its encapsulated form in ZnONPs on the MCF-7 cell line were assessed via MTT test. The Pd(II) complex encapsulated within ZnONPs exhibited decreased toxicity relative to the unencapsulated drug, as evidenced by a higher IC50 value of 418.5 µg/ml. This suggests that the encapsulation facilitates a sustained release, which allows for targeted accumulation within cells. The elevated IC50 value indicates that the drug delivery system may be engineered to modulate the release of the drug in a more controlled manner, potentially resulting in a prolonged release profile rather than an immediate therapeutic impact.

Long-read powered viral metagenomics in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea.

Dominant microorganisms of the Sargasso Sea are key drivers of the global carbon cycle. However, associated viruses that shape microbial community structure and function are not well characterised. Here, we combined short and long read sequencing to survey Sargasso Sea phage communities in virus- and cellular fractions at viral maximum (80 m) and mesopelagic (200 m) depths. We identified 2,301 Sargasso Sea phage populations from 186 genera. Over half of the phage populations identified here lacked representation in global ocean viral metagenomes, whilst 177 of the 186 identified genera lacked representation in genomic databases of phage isolates. Viral fraction and cell-associated viral communities were decoupled, indicating viral turnover occurred across periods longer than the sampling period of three days. Inclusion of long-read data was critical for capturing the breadth of viral diversity. Phage isolates that infect the dominant bacterial taxa Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter, usually regarded as cosmopolitan and abundant, were poorly represented.

Topical insulin in neurotrophic keratopathy after diabetic vitrectomy.

To assess the efficacy and safety of topical insulin (TI) for treating neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) within one-month post-diabetic vitrectomy (DV) compared to conventional non-invasive measures, we conducted this retrospective case-control study including all eyes that developed acute NK (stages 2 and 3) following DV between October 2020 and June 2023. The control group included NK cases managed with preservative-free lubricant eye drops and prophylactic topical antibiotics. In contrast, the study group included NK cases treated with TI [1 unit per drop] four times daily, in addition to the previously mentioned treatment. The primary outcome measure was time to epithelial healing. Secondary outcome measures included any adverse effect of TI or the need for amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT). During the study period, 19 patients with a mean age of 49.3 ± 8.6 years received TI versus 18 controls with a mean age of 52.5 ± 10.7 years. Corneal epithelial healing was significantly faster in the TI-treated group compared to controls, with a mean difference of 12.16 days (95% CI 6.1-18.3, P = 0.001). Survival analysis indicated that the insulin-treated group had 0% and 20% of NK stages 2 and 3, respectively, that failed to achieve corneal epithelial healing, compared to 20% and 66.7% for the control group (P < 0.001). In the control group, two eyes required AMT due to progressive thinning. Additionally, three patients in the control group, progressing to stage 3 NK, were switched to TI, achieving healing after a mean of 14 days. No adverse effects were reported in the TI-treated group. Our study suggests that TI can effectively and safely promote the healing of NK after DV.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds accelerates wound healing in rats: Possible molecular mechanisms.

Wound healing is a complex, intricate, and dynamic process that requires effective therapeutic management. The current study evaluates the wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds (CCS) in rats. Sprague Dawley (24) rats were distributed into four cages, wounds produced on the back of the neck, and received two daily topical treatments for 14 days: A, rats received normal saline; B, wounded rats treated with intrasite gel; C and D, rats received 0.2 mL of 250 and 500 mg/kg of CCS, respectively. After that, wound area and closure percentage were evaluated, and wound tissues were dissected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical examinations. Acute toxicity trials of methanolic extract of CCS showed the absence of any physiological changes or mortality in rats. CCS application caused a significant reduction in wound size and a statistically elevated percentage of wound contraction than those of vehicle rats. CCS treatment caused significant up-regulation of collagen fiber, fibroblasts, and fewer inflammatory cells (inflammation) in granulation tissues. TGF-ß1 (angiogenetic factor) was significantly more expressed in CCS-treated rats in comparison to normal saline-treated rats; therefore, more fibroblasts transformed into myofibroblasts (angiogenesis). CCS-treated rats showed remarkable antioxidant potentials (higher SOD and CAT enzymes) and decreased MDA (lipid peroxidation) levels in their wound tissue homogenates. Hydroxyproline amino acid (collagen) was significantly up-regulated by CCS treatment, which is commonly related to faster wound closure area. The outcomes suggest CCS as a viable new source of pharmaceuticals for wound treatment.