Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging of the maxillary sinus is indispensable for implantologists, offering three-dimensional anatomical visualization, morphological variation detection, and abnormality identification, all critical for diagnostics and treatment planning in digital implant workflows. The following systematic review presented the current evidence pertaining to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for CBCT-derived maxillary sinus imaging tasks. An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane up until January 2024. Based on the eligibility criteria, 14 articles were included that reported on the use of AI for the automation of CBCT-derived maxillary sinus assessment tasks. The QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2) tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias and applicability concerns. The AI models used were designed to automate tasks such as segmentation, classification, and prediction. Most studies related to automated maxillary sinus segmentation demonstrated high performance. In terms of classification tasks, the highest accuracy was observed for diagnosing sinusitis (99.7%), whereas the lowest accuracy was detected for classifying abnormalities such as fungal balls and chronic rhinosinusitis (83.0%). Regarding implant treatment planning, the classification of automated surgical plans for maxillary sinus floor augmentation based on residual bone height showed high accuracy (97%). Additionally, AI demonstrated high performance in predicting gender and sinus volume. In conclusion, although AI shows promising potential in automating maxillary sinus imaging tasks which could be useful for diagnostic and planning tasks in implantology, there is a need for more diverse datasets to improve the generalizability and clinical relevance of AI models. Future studies are suggested to focus on expanding the datasets, making the AI model's source available, and adhering to standardized AI reporting guidelines.
Background: Across the globe, breastfeeding stands out as a highly effective strategy for reducing infant and child morbidity and mortality. Concurrently, postpartum depression (PPD) emerges as a notable public health issue, adversely affecting both exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practices for infants and the fulfillment of parenting roles. Despite the lack of substantial evidence in Ethiopia and the specific study areas, indicating the association between PPD and EBF practices, this study endeavors to fill this gap. The primary objective is to examine the correlation between PPD and EBF practices, along with exploring other pertinent factors, in Assosa Town, West Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from 7 March to 5 April 2019. The study involved the recruitment of 462 participants through a systematic random sampling method. Data collection was facilitated by conducting a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. To screen for PPD, we used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool. This tool, EPDS, was used solely as a screening tool and not for diagnostic purposes. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and subsequently exported to SPSS version 24 for comprehensive statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between independent variables and dependent variables. Odds ratios, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated to ascertain the presence and strength of any associations. Statistical significance was acknowledged at a p-value of <0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of EBF practices was found to be 58.2% (95% CI: 51.4-65.7), while the prevalence of PPD was 18.7% (95% CI: 15.94-26.7). Among mothers without PPD, the prevalence of EBF practices was notably higher at 62.4% (95% CI: 55.9-65.2%) compared to mothers experiencing PPD, where the prevalence was 31.3% (95% CI: 24.7-32.5%). Mothers who experienced PPD exhibited 51% reduced odds of practicing EBF compared to their counterparts (AOR = 0.49. 95% CI: 0.25-0.8). Furthermore, factors such as having a higher family monthly income (AOR = 8.7, 95% CI: 4.2-17.2), being multiparous (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI 4.9-10.8), attending antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 3.4-14.1), opting for vaginal delivery (AOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 5.6-17.4), and receiving husband's support (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI: 4.6-12.7) demonstrated a statistically significant positive association with EBF practices. Conclusion: In this study, a substantial number of mothers demonstrated suboptimal EBF practices during the first 6 months of their infants' lives. Consequently, the findings underscore a clear association between PPD and EBF. Thus, it is imperative to intensify efforts in the early detection and treatment of PPD, enhance household income, advocate for ANC, and encourage active husband involvement to bolster EBF practices.
INTRODUCTION: Automated segmentation of three-dimensional pulp space on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images presents a significant opportunity for enhancing diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical education in endodontics. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the performance of AI-driven automated pulp space segmentation on CBCT images. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, up until February 2024. Two independent reviewers participated in the selection of studies, data extraction, and evaluation of the included studies. Any disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: Thirteen studies that met the eligibility criteria were included. Most studies demonstrated high accuracy in their respective segmentation methods, although there was some variation across different structures (pulp chamber, root canal) and tooth types (single-rooted, multi-rooted). Automated segmentation showed slightly superior performance for segmenting the pulp chamber compared to the root canal and single-rooted teeth compared to multi-rooted ones. Furthermore, second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal segmentation also demonstrated high performance. In terms of time efficiency, the minimum time required for segmentation was 13 seconds. CONCLUSION: AI-driven models demonstrated outstanding performance in pulp space segmentation. Nevertheless, these findings warrant careful interpretation, and their generalizability is limited due to the potential risk and low evidence level arising from inadequately detailed methodologies and inconsistent assessment techniques. In addition, there is room for further improvement, specifically for root canal segmentation and testing of AI performance in artifact-induced images.
BACKGROUND: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that possess the potential for self-renewal with the capacity to differentiate into multiple lineages. In humans, their limited numbers pose a challenge in fulfilling the necessary demands for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues or organs. Studies suggested that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), necessary for repair and regeneration via transplantation, require doses ranging from 10 to 400 million cells. Furthermore, the limited expansion of MSCs restricts their therapeutic application. AIM: To optimize a novel protocol to achieve qualitative and quantitative expansion of MSCs to reach the targeted number of cells for cellular transplantation and minimize the limitations in stem cell therapy protocols. METHODS: Human umbilical cord (hUC) tissue derived MSCs were obtained and re-cultured. These cultured cells were subjected to the following evaluation procedures: Immunophenotyping, immunocytochemical staining, trilineage differentiation, population doubling time and number, gene expression markers for proliferation, cell cycle progression, senescence-associated ß-galactosidase assay, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression, mycoplasma, cytomegalovirus and endotoxin detection. RESULTS: Analysis of pluripotent gene markers Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog in recultured hUC-MSC revealed no significant differences. The immunophenotypic markers CD90, CD73, CD105, CD44, vimentin, CD29, Stro-1, and Lin28 were positively expressed by these recultured expanded MSCs, and were found negative for CD34, CD11b, CD19, CD45, and HLA-DR. The recultured hUC-MSC population continued to expand through passage 15. Proliferative gene expression of Pax6, BMP2, and TGFb1 showed no significant variation between recultured hUC-MSC groups. Nevertheless, a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle was observed in recultured hUC-MSCs. Cellular senescence markers (hTERT expression and ß-galactosidase activity) did not show any negative effect on recultured hUC-MSCs. Additionally, quality control assessments consistently confirmed the absence of mycoplasma, cytomegalovirus, and endotoxin contamination. CONCLUSION: This study proposes the development of a novel protocol for efficiently expanding stem cell population. This would address the growing demand for larger stem cell doses needed for cellular transplantation and will significantly improve the feasibility of stem cell based therapies.
Cancer is a severe disease that results in death in all countries of the world. A nano-based drug delivery approach is the best alternative, directly targeting cancer tumor cells with improved drug cellular uptake. Different types of nanoparticle-based drug carriers are advanced for the treatment of cancer, and to increase the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of cancer therapy, many substances have been looked into as drug carriers. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) have significantly attracted interest recently. These natural biomolecules that alternate to other polymers are frequently recycled in medicine due to their amphipathic properties. Lipid nanoparticles typically provide a variety of benefits, including biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review covers different classes of LBNPs, including their characterization and different synthesis technologies. This review discusses the most significant advancements in lipid nanoparticle technology and their use in medicine administration. Moreover, the review also emphasized the applications of lipid nanoparticles that are used in different cancer treatment types.
The number of exotic animal practitioners in Southeast Asia (SEA) has increased over the last 30 years to match the increase in ownership of exotic pets. Fortunately, veterinary health care has advanced due to the leaders in the field educating other practitioners and promoting exotic animal practice. Continuing education opportunities are available for exotic medicine in SEA. In Thailand and Singapore, there is a niche of clients with high spending power that has transcended to increased demand for exotic health care. This has led to the establishment of exotic-only specialist hospitals and more access to advanced imaging for exotic pets.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular (group of events that affect heart and blood vessels) and cerebrovascular (events affecting blood vessels supplying the brain) events (MACCE) in patients with uraemia complicated with hypertension who required maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) treatment. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data and laboratory indicators of 156 uraemia patients complicated with hypertension were collected and retrospectively analysed. The patients were admitted to a tertiary care hospital (Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences AIMS) in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, from February 2018 to February 2022. The data was collected through consecutive sampling and patients were recruited after following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Eighty-one out of 156 patients were not complicated with MACCE, and 75 patients were complicated with MACCE during the MHD treatment cycle, with an incidence of 48.08%. Compared to the non-MACCE group, the MACCE group's diabetes, body mass growth rate, triglyceride (TG), NT-proBNP, standard deviation and coefficient of variance for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP-SD, SBP-CV, DBP-SD, and DBP-CV) showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the groups. Diabetes, body mass growth rate, TG, NT-proBNP, SBP-SD, SBP-CV, DBP-SD, and DBP-CV with odds ratios of 3.074, 3.202, 2.188, 2.512, 2.357, 2.431, 2.299, and 2.062 respectively were risk factors for MACCE in uraemia patients with hypertension. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, we inferred that patients with uraemia and hypertension complicated by MACCE in the treatment cycle of MHD were related to diabetes, body mass growth rate, TG, NT-proBNP, SBP-SD, SBP-CV, DBP-SD, and DBP-CV.
Owing to the rapidly increasing performance of ternary semiconductors; Aluminium Gallium Arsenide (Al1-xGaxAs; x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) has been studied by first-principles calculations in Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP-Code). Density functional theory in the frame of full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) is used. The structural, electronic, and optical behavior of the Zinc Blend (ZB) structure of AlAs with Ga impurity was computed by using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) as exchange potential and Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) as functional. Changes in lattice parameters (a), bulk modulus (66.07-76.85), hardness (5.79-8.91) and machinability (1.36-1.46), band gap energy (Eg), and optical properties are computed and discussed in this work. Lattice parameters and elastic constants showed excellent agreement with the reported data whereas some properties were found to excel much more than the theoretical reports. Remarkable bandgap reduction from 1.7eV to 0.28eV is very encouraging in its low-energy applications in UV and visible ranges. Real (Re) and Imaginary (Img) parts of the dielectric function and refractive index shifts towards lower energy values show good agreement with those of theoretical and experimental works. We contribute to the knowledge and characterization of Al1-xGaxAs facilitating its integration into various technological advancements such as photovoltaic, laser, diodes, and high-frequency transistors.
This unique study examined the theoretical pure BaTiO3 and doped Ra (Ba1-xRaxTiO3) impact on electronic, mechanical and optical responses were using Heydscuseria-Ernzerhof screened hybrid functional (HSE06) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA-PBE) with norm-converging pseudopotential approaches in the density functional theory. Computed the lattice constant and bond lengths for pure (BaTiO3) and doped atoms as well as explored the changes of consequences of electronic, mechanical and optical responses. The calculated values indicate the BaTiO3 is an indirect characteristic and an optically inactive nature. The low energy state and also conduction band of the crystal structure to transform to the direction of low energy and narrows the electronic band gap. The bandgap of pure BaTiO3 is continually reduced which shifts the Fermi energy level Eg. When increasing the doping impurities (x) of (Ra) in BaTiO3, the band gap shifts from indirect (X-G) to direct (X-X) nature and become optically active. The elastic and mechanical responses are essential for suitable (Ra) doped material ensuring structural integrity and predicting a ductile behavior. Kleinman coefficient (ξ), it is clear that (Ra)-doped materials shows slightly large resistance to bond bending and bond angle distortion as compare to pure BaTiO3. Optical characteristics of the both pure and doped (Ra) materials in the core level spectra are thoroughly investigated. Optical coefficients are obtained in the energy scale start from 0 to 20 eV. Moreover, the results of optical properties show excellent influence of doping so that this material can be employed as UV filter in the UV region and in optoelectronics devices.
INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis is a microbial infection of the endocardial surface of the native and prosthetic valves. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge regarding the current guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians, cardiologists, and dentists in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The questionnaire was distributed as Google Forms among the required population, and responses were collected on a Google Response Sheet. RESULTS: The participants viewed rheumatic heart disease (83.7%) and heart transplant (96.7%) as the most vulnerable conditions that warrant the need for antibiotic prophylaxis. The other questions yielded average responses. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of adhering to standard guidelines and highlight the need for knowledge of the current guidelines.
AIM: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the association between body weight and oral cGVHD (chronic graft versus host disease). METHODS: Patients with oral cGVHD were compared with an age and gender-matched non-GVHD cohort in terms of demographic information, body mass index (BMI), date of transplant, length of hospitalization, and oral complications. Weight was stratified in pre-and post-transplant weight, mean weight after acquiring cGVHD for the first year, and post-oral cGVHD BMI. Each patient was matched and compared with two controls at a 1:2 ratio. Firth's penalized likelihood logistic regression was used to investigate the association between oral complications and weight loss greater than 5% in the oral cGVHD group. RESULTS: This study included 137 patients (n = 42 oral cGVHD, n = 12 non oral-cGVHD and n = 83 non-GVHD). The oral cGVHD cohort had a 1.44 times higher risk (RR) of being underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) compared to the non-GVHD cohort. Oral mucositis was an independent predictor of weight loss above 5% in the oral cGVHD cohort (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The weight loss was more prevalent among oral cGVHD, and oral mucositis was linked to significant weight loss. Weight loss may indicate the need to initiate early and aggressive symptomatic oral cGVHD treatment.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome , Graft vs Host Disease , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Stomatitis , Humans , Cohort Studies , Graft vs Host Disease/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects , Chronic Disease , Weight Loss
Van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) showcase robust and tunable light-matter interactions, establishing an intriguing realm for investigating atomic-scale photocatalytic properties. Here, we employ ab initio methods to study the photocatalytic and optical properties of semiconducting SiPGaS/arsenene-based vdWHs with a type-II band alignment. Across the heterointerfaces, there exists significant built-in electric fields and large potential drop, in turn facilitating the spatial separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. These vdWHs further possess high carrier mobility in the order of 102 cm2Vâ»1Sâ»1, which combining with appropriate band edge positions, endow the vdWHs an absorption coefficient of â¼105 cmâ»1 to harvest a maximal portion of the solar spectrum for visible-light-driven photocatalytic applications. Our findings also reveal transition of the type-II band alignment in a type-III configuration via compressive strain for tunneling field-effect transistor application. Furthermore, both types of vdWHs exhibit enhanced suitability for photocatalysis under conditions with a pH of 2.
Cobalamin (vitamin B12), an essential vitamin with low oral bioavailability, plays a vital role in cellular functions. This research aimed to enhance the absorption of vitamin B12 using sublingual mucoadhesive tablets by increasing the residence time of the drug at the administration site. This research involved the preparation of different 50 mg placebo formulas using different methods. Formulas with disintegration times less than one minute and appropriate physical characteristics were incorporated into 1 mg of cyanocobalamin (S1-S20) using the direct compression method. The tablets obtained were evaluated ex vivo for residence time, and only those remaining for >15 min were included. The final formulas (S5, S8, S11, and S20) were evaluated in several ways, including pre- and post-compression, drug content, mucoadhesive strength, dissolution, and Permeapad® permeation test employed in the Franz diffusion cell. After conducting the evaluation, formula S11 (Eudragit L100-55) emerged as the most favorable formulation. It exhibited a mucoadhesive residence time of 118.2 ± 2.89 min, required a detachment force of 26 ± 1 g, maintained a drug content of 99.124 ± 0.001699%, and achieved a 76.85% drug release over 22 h, fitting well with the Peppas-Sahlin kinetic model (R2: 0.9949). This suggests that the drug release process encompasses the Fickian and non-Fickian kinetic mechanisms. Furthermore, Eudragit L100-55 demonstrated the highest permeability, boasting a flux value of 6.387 ± 1.860 µg/h/cm2; over 6 h. These findings indicate that including this polymer in the formulation leads to an improved residence time, which positively impacts bioavailability.
Objective: To investigate the relationship of serum homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin-B12 levels with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi from July 2021 to June 2022. Total 124 participants were recruited from gynecology outpatient department after taking informed consent. The participants included 62 non-pregnant females with two or more consecutive unexplained RPLs and 62 healthy women having at least two successful deliveries without any pregnancy loss. Serum folic acid and vitamin-B12 levels were measured by chemiluminescent method and serum homocysteine was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparison of quantitative variables with RPL cases and control was done by Mann-Whitney U-test (for non-normally distributed data) and independent sample t-test (for normally distributed data), while Pearson's chi-square test was used for the association of qualitative variables with RPL cases and control. Correlation of homocysteine with vitamin-B12 and folic acid was assessed in RPL cases. Results: The median age of the study population was 27 (IQR 25-32) years. The median body mass index (BMI) was 26.25 (IQR 22-29) kg/m2. Cases had significantly lower serum folic acid (p-value=0.022), while vitamin-B12 was decreased in cases as compared to controls (p-value=0.295). Mean concentration of serum homocysteine was higher in RPL cases as compared to controls (p-value=0.094). There was significant association of serum vitamin B12 (p-value=0.001) and folic acid levels (p-value=0.004) with RPL. The homocysteine was not significantly correlated with vitamin-B12 (r=0.124, p=0.338) and folic acid (r=0.067, p=0.606) in the RPL group. Conclusion: Reduced level of serum folic acid and vitamin B12 was significantly associated with RPL cases, while homocysteine was marginally raised however the difference was not significant. Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation before next pregnancy in RPL patients is likely to be beneficial in improving pregnancy outcomes.
The objective of the study was to assess the effect of warm compresses in preserving perineal integrity in women who delivered a single baby vaginally with cephalic presentation. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and the ISI Web of Science databases. Two researchers worked independently and conducted the study's search, selection, and extraction. We calculated the pooled risk ratio (R.R.)- for our categorical outcomes- and mean difference (M.D.)-for our continuous outcomes- using random or fixed-effect meta-analysis according to heterogenicity status. I2 test was used to detect heterogenicity. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Our study analyzed 13 controlled trials (n= 3947) to compare warm compresses versus not using it during vaginal delivery. The analysis revealed that warm compresses group had better outcomes regarding episiotomy, degree of perineal trauma (third and fourth degree), perineal trauma requiring suturing, and also in behavioral pain scales (severe muscle tense, being very restless, and constant grimacing) with the following R.R. and confidence intervals: (R.R.= 0.56, 95% C.I.[0.23, 1.37]), (R.R.= 0.69, 95% C.I.[0.54, 0.89], p= 0.004),( (R.R.= 0.37, 95% C.I.[0.18, 0.77], p= 0.004), and ( (R.R.= 0.42, 95% C.I.[0.23, 0.78], p= 0.006) respectively. We conclude that among primiparous women, warm compresses group showed better outcome in improving perineal comfort than a the good of women who did not receive warm compresses after delivery.
Delivery, Obstetric , Hyperthermia, Induced , Obstetric Labor Complications , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects , Delivery, Obstetric/methods , Obstetric Labor Complications/prevention & control , Perineum/injuries , Treatment Outcome , Labor Pain , Hyperthermia, Induced/instrumentation
Carob is botanically called as Ceratonia siliqua and belongs to the Legumes family. The fruit is derived from hermaphrodite trees and hard in shape. The carob contains high sugar contents in pulp, fat in seed and minerals like potassium, calcium, and phosphorus are present in pods. Polyphenols and antioxidants are abundant in leaves and pods. It can be used for enhancing human health due to its high nutritional profile. Carob gum is used in the pharmaceutical industry in the form of pomades, anti-celiac ingredients, pills, and dental paste. The clinical carob can aid as an anti-cancer, anti-reflux, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal. Nowadays, carob seeds are being used as an alternative to cocoa powder in food items whereas the leaves, pods, and seeds of carob are also historically used as food for animal feed. However, these parts of carob are available in markets with reasonable prices. Carob production, though with a rising contribution, contributes to the local economy. In this sense, we can incorporate knowledge on the chemical properties and the biological effect of carob fruits on human health. In this study, the supportive and health-promoting impacts of carob are discussed along with the clinical testing obtained from natural constituents of carob. In addition, further studies can be performed to extract and separate polyphenols and antioxidant potential for the development of functional that play a valuable role in pharmaceutical and food sectors.
CONTEXT: A remarkable change in lattice parameters and bulk modulus is achieved by the suitable addition of Al (Al1-x Lax Sb) and In (Al1-x Inx Sb) atoms in the AlSb compound. Electronic responses like band structure, the total partial density of states, and the elemental density of states are thoroughly investigated. The computed values indicate that the binary compound AlSb is an indirect band gap and an optically inactive response. After increasing the doping concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75) of La and In in AlSb, the band gap changes from indirect to direct nature. Hence, Al1-0.75 La0.25 Sb, Al1-0.50 La0.50 Sb, Al1-0.75 In0.25Sb, and Al1-0.50 In0.50Sb become optically active. The illustrious roles of Al-3p and In-4d states on the band gap and nonlinear responses of these compounds are extensively explored by the comparison between the computed results of ultra-soft and norm converging pseudopotentials. The excess specific heat (CV), enthalpy of mixing (Hm), and phonon dispersion curves resulting from the concentrations "x" are estimated in order to investigate the thermodynamic stability responses of the pristine and doped AlSb. The obtained CV and thermal coefficient statistics for Al1-x Lax Sb and Al1-x Inx Sb may be useful for a good mapping of experimental results and examining these compounds' enharmonic responses. There is a valuable change in optical characteristics like dielectric functional, absorption, conductivity, and refractive index due to the addition of (La, In) impurities in AlSb. It is further observed that Al1-0.75 La0.25 Sb, Al1-0.50 La0.50 Sb, Al1-0.75 In0.25Sb, and Al1-0.50 In0.50Sb are significantly mechanically stable compared to pristine AlSb. The above results suggest that Al1-x Lax Sb and Al1-x Inx Sb are high-performance optical materials and can be promising potential candidates for optoelectronic applications. METHODS: The structural, electronic, mechanical, vibrational, and optical responses of the pure and doped Al1-0.75 La0.25 Sb, Al1-0.50 La0.50 Sb, Al1-0.75 In0.25Sb, and Al1-0.50 In0.50Sb are investigated, using Heydscuseria-Ernzerhof screened hybrid functional (HSEO6) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with norm-converging and ultra-soft pseudopotential techniques in the density functional theory.
Electronics , Hot Temperature , Electric Conductivity , Thermodynamics , Vibration
BACKGROUND: Demyelinating diseases represent a broad spectrum of disorders and are characterized by the loss of specialized glial cells (oligodendrocytes), which eventually leads to neuronal degeneration. Stem cell-based regenerative approaches provide therapeutic options to regenerate demyelination-induced neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to explore the role of oligodendrocyte-specific transcription factors (OLIG2 and MYT1L) under suitable media composition to facilitate human umbilical-cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) differentiation toward oligodendrocyte for their potential use to treat demyelinating disorders. METHODOLOGY: hUC-MSCs were isolated, cultured, and characterized based on their morphological and phenotypic characteristics. hUC-MSCs were transfected with OLIG2 and MYT1L transcription factors individually and in synergistic (OLIG2 + MYT1L) groups using a lipofectamine-based transfection method and incubated under two different media compositions (normal and oligo induction media). Transfected hUC-MSCs were assessed for lineage specification and differentiation using qPCR. Differentiation was also analyzed via immunocytochemistry by determining the expression of oligodendrocyte-specific proteins. RESULTS: All the transfected groups showed significant upregulation of GFAP and OLIG2 with downregulation of NES, demonstrating the MSC commitment toward the glial lineage. Transfected groups also presented significant overexpression of oligodendrocyte-specific markers (SOX10, NKX2.2, GALC, CNP, CSPG4, MBP, and PLP1). Immunocytochemical analysis showed intense expression of OLIG2, MYT1L, and NG2 proteins in both normal and oligo induction media after 3 and 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that OLIG2 and MYT1L have the potential to differentiate hUC-MSCs into oligodendrocyte-like cells, which is greatly facilitated by the oligo induction medium. The study may serve as a promising cell-based therapeutic strategy against demyelination-induced neuronal degeneration.
Introduction: Spray-dried yogurt powder (SDYP) has shelf stability and other functional properties that improve solubility and facilitate the use, processing, packaging, and transportation of other food derivatives, such as bread and pastries on a large scale. The present research was conducted to develop SDYP and further its utilization to prepare functional cookies. Methods: Yogurt was spray-dried by employing different outlet air temperatures (OAT) (65°C, 70°C & 75°C) and inlet air temperature (IAT) (150°C, 155°C & 160°C). Spray drying shows that increasing the temperature increases nutritional loss, whereas S. thermophilus culture shows resistance to the intensive heat approaches. On the other hand L. delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus culture was found to be significantly affected. A total of 4 treatments, including one control for the functional cookies development. Results and discussion: A directly proportional relation was investigated between the increasing concentration of SDYP and baking characteristics and cookie's mineral and protein profile. Bioactive parameters like antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and total phenolic content (TPC) were also affected significantly. The sensory profile shows an incline towards T0 (0% SDYP) to T3 (10% SDYP) in all attributes but starts to decline when the concentration of SDYP reaches 15%. This study suggests that by employing a certain combination of temperatures (OAT: 60°C IAT: 150°C); maximum survival of inoculated culture can be achieved, and this powder can be utilized in the development of functional cookies with enhanced sensory as well as biochemical characteristics significantly (P< 0.05).
An adult 22-year-old, male southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) presented for lethargy, dysorexia and soft feces. Clinical findings under chemical immobilization were unremarkable except for heterophilic toxic changes on blood smear, reduced albumin/globulin ratio and potentially elevated liver parameters. The animal was treated for suspected hepatobiliary insufficiency and received supportive treatment with daily subcutaneous fluids and medication and was monitored with a quality-of-life assessment. It was eventually euthanized after further deterioration. Post-mortem examination revealed vegetative valvular endocarditis, bile duct obstruction, cholangiohepatitis and splenitis with intralesional Enterococcus casseliflavus isolated. This is a first documented case of E. casseliflavus infection in a bird with multiorgan involvement.
Bacterial Infections , Enterococcus , Animals , Male , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Birds
