Natural Inhibitory Treatment of FungiInduced Deterioration of Carbonate and Cellulosic Ancient Monuments: Isolation, Identification and Simulation of Biogenic Deterioration.

Fungi play a significant role in the deterioration of various types of monuments. Therefore, the protection of ancient monuments from fungal attacks is an important goal that must attract the attention of researchers worldwide. A total of 69 fungal isolates were recovered from 22 deteriorated objects compromising paper, textiles, wood, and stone in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) storeroom, Cairo, Egypt. The isolates were identified as 12 different species categorized into three different genera, namely, Aspergillus (9 species), Penicillium (2 species) and Trichoderma (1 species). Among them, Aspergillus fumigatus was the most prevalent species. Three essential oils were assessed for antifungal activity and compared with the antifungal effects of five synthetic microcides to identify a natural inhibitory treatment. Thyme oil and sodium azide were found to be the most active growth inhibitors, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 625 and 100 ppm, with inhibition zone diameters of 19.0 ± 0.70 - 23.76 ± 1.15 and 13.30 ± 0.35 - 19.66 ± 0.54 mm, respectively. An in vitro simulation of the biodeterioration process was conducted using spores of the A. fumigatus strain NMEC-PSTW.1 on model cubes made of paper, textile, wood, and stone materials. The changes in the characteristics of the artificially deteriorated materials were analyzed using environmental scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed changes in the morphology, physical properties, and chemical composition induced by A. fumigatus NMEC-PSTW.1. Overall, thyme oil is recommended as a natural inhibitor to protect carbonate and cellulosic monuments in NMEC against fungal attack.

Comprehensive insight into exploring the potential of microbial enzymes in cancer therapy: Progress, challenges, and opportunities: A review.

Microbial enzymes are crucial catalysts in various industries due to their versatility and efficiency. The microbial enzymes market has recently expanded due to increased demand for many reasons. Among them are eco-friendly solutions, developing novel microbial strains with enhanced enzymes that perform under harsh conditions, providing sustainability, and raising awareness about the benefits of enzyme-based products. By 2030, the global enzyme market is expected to account for $525 billion, with a growth rate of 6.7 %. L-asparaginase and L-glutaminase are among the leading applied microbial enzymes in antitumor therapy, with a growing market share of 16.5 % and 9.5 %, respectively. The use of microbial enzymes has opened new opportunities to fight various tumors, including leukemia, lymphosarcoma, and breast cancer, which has increased their demand in the pharmaceutical and medicine sectors. Despite their promising applications, commercial use of microbial enzymes faces challenges such as short half-life, immunogenicity, toxicity, and other side effects. Therefore, this review explores the industrial production, purification, formulation, and commercial utilization of microbial enzymes, along with an overview of the global enzyme market. With ongoing discoveries of novel enzymes and their applications, enzyme technology offers promising avenues for cancer treatment and other therapeutic interventions.

Pilomatrixoma of the Ankle: A Case Report.

Pilomatrixoma, also known as calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a rare benign skin tumor originating from hair follicle matrix cells. It typically presents as a firm, painless subcutaneous nodule, most commonly found in the head, neck, and upper extremities. Pilomatrixoma can occasionally appear in atypical locations, posing a diagnostic challenge due to its nonspecific clinical presentation. A 43-year-old female presented with a painless, slowly enlarging mass on the lateral side of her left ankle, which had been present for approximately one year. Physical examination revealed a firm, well-circumscribed subcutaneous nodule measuring about 2 cm in diameter with normal overlying skin. An MRI of the left ankle demonstrated a well-circumscribed, subcutaneous mass with heterogeneous signal intensity, consistent with calcifications, suggesting pilomatrixoma. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy confirmed the presence of basaloid cells, shadow cells, and areas of calcification. The lesion was surgically excised, and histopathological examination validated the diagnosis of pilomatrixoma. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, with no recurrence at the six-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of considering pilomatrixoma in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules, even in unusual locations. A comprehensive diagnostic approach, including clinical evaluation, imaging, and histopathological examination, is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Surgical excision with clear margins is the treatment of choice, ensuring low recurrence rates and excellent patient outcomes. This report enhances the understanding of pilomatrixoma and highlights the necessity for a multimodal diagnostic strategy in managing this rare condition effectively.

Bacterial stroke-associated pneumonia: microbiological analysis and mortality outcome.

BACKGROUND: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) considerably burden healthcare systems. This study aimed to identify predictors of developing SAP in acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the Stroke Unit at Manial Specialized Hospital factors with microbiological causality and impact on 30-day mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. All patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Stroke Unit at Manial Specialized Hospital (from February 2021 to August 2023) were divided into the SAP and non-SAP groups. Detailed clinical characteristics and microbiological results were recorded. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-two patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (mean age of 55 ± 10) were included. One hundred sixty-nine (32.4%) of stroke patients developed SAP; Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most commonly detected pathogen (40.2%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.7%). Bacteremia was identified in nine cases (5.3%). The number of deaths was 11, all of whom were diagnosed with SAP, whereas none from the non-SAP group died (P < 0.001). The binary logistic regression model identified three independent predictors of the occurrence of SAP: previous history of TIA/stroke (OR = 3.014, 95%CI = 1.281-7.092), mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.883, 95%CI = 1.544-15.436), and bulbar dysfunction (OR = 200.460, 95%CI = 80.831-497.143). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke-associated pneumonia was reported in one-third of patients with acute ischemic stroke, adversely affecting mortality outcomes. Findings showed that the main predictors of SAP were bulbar dysfunction, the use of mechanical ventilation and previous history of TIA/stroke. More attention to these vulnerable patients is necessary to reduce mortality.

Measurement of Natriuretic Peptides in Patients with Suspected Heart Failure to Prevent Overuse of Echocardiography - a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend measuring natriuretic peptides (BNP or NT-proBNP) in patients with suspected heart failure (HF) as a first-line tool. HF should be ruled-out if concen-trations of NT-proBNP are below 300 ng/L and 125 ng/L for acute HF and chronic HF, respectively. METHODS: Patients with suspected HF referred for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were enrolled; NT-pro-BNP concentrations were obtained from medical charts (measurement < 48 hours) or prospectively measured on the day of TTE. RESULTS: Out of 109 patients, NT-proBNP was measured by the referring department before TTE in 40 patients (36.7%), and 37.5% of these patients had NT-proBNP concentration below the rule-out threshold. NT-proBNP was measured in additional 38 patients on the day of TTE. Overall, 38.5% of the patients had a NT-proBNP concentration below the threshold value. CONCLUSIONS: Natriuretic peptides are not routinely measured in patients with suspected HF; systematic measurement would reduce unnecessary TTE by at least 38.5%.

Conservation tillage: a way to improve yield and soil properties and decrease global warming potential in spring wheat agroecosystems.

Climate change is one of the main challenges, and it poses a tough challenge to the agriculture industry globally. Additionally, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the main contributor to climate change; however, croplands are a prominent source of GHG emissions. Yet this complex challenge can be mitigated through climate-smart agricultural practices. Conservation tillage is commonly known to preserve soil and mitigate environmental change by reducing GHG emissions. Nonetheless, there is still a paucity of information on the influences of conservation tillage on wheat yield, soil properties, and GHG flux, particularly in the semi-arid Dingxi belt. Hence, in order to fill this gap, different tillage systems, namely conventional tillage (CT) control, straw incorporation with conventional tillage (CTS), no-tillage (NT), and stubble return with no-tillage (NTS), were laid at Dingxi, Gansu province of China, under a randomized complete block design with three replications to examine their impacts on yield, soil properties, and GHG fluxes. Results depicted that different conservative tillage systems (CTS, NTS, and NT) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the plant height, number of spikes per plant, seed number per meter square, root yield, aboveground biomass yield, thousand-grain weight, grain yield, and dry matter yield compared with CT. Moreover, these conservation tillage systems notably improved the soil properties (soil gravimetric water content, water-filled pore space, water storage, porosity, aggregates, saturated hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, light fraction organic carbon, carbon storage, microbial biomass carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen storage, microbial biomass nitrogen, total phosphorous, available phosphorous, total potassium, available potassium, microbial counts, urease, alkaline phosphatase, invertase, cellulase, and catalase) while decreasing the soil temperature and bulk density over CT. However, CTS, NTS, and NT had non-significant effects on ECe, pH, and stoichiometric properties (C:N ratio, C:P ratio, and N:P ratio). Additionally, conservation-based tillage regimes NTS, NT, and CTS significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the emission and net global warming potential of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) by 23.44, 19.57, and 16.54%, respectively, and decreased the greenhouse gas intensity by 23.20, 29.96, and 18.72%, respectively, over CT. We conclude that NTS is the best approach to increasing yield, soil and water conservation, resilience, and mitigation of agroecosystem capacity.

The relationship of the male's proctodeal gland size to sperm-egg interaction and the duration of fertility in Japanese quail.

In avian species, male fertility significantly impacts reproductive success. This study investigates the relationship between proctodeal gland size in male Japanese quails and sperm function, as well as female fertility duration. Six hundred adult Japanese quails were selected and housed in individual cages. Males (n = 300) were divided into 6 groups (50/group) based on the size of their proctodeal glands. Females (n = 300) were randomly assigned to corresponding groups. After acclimatization, sperm kinematics and the frequency and weight of foam discharge were evaluated. Males were paired with females for 24 h, and eggs were collected for 20 d postcopulation. Eggs were incubated to assess fertility duration. Fresh eggs (n = 20/group/d) were used to assess sperm penetration into the perivitelline membrane on the 2nd, 9th, and 16th d postinsemination. Plasma testosterone levels and the testes' relative weight were determined. The results indicated a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, and nearly all sperm kinematic parameters such as VSL, VCL, VAP, LIN, WOB, and STR values as the size of the proctodeal gland increased. Quails copulated with males having a small and average proctodeal gland area (<400 mm2) laid fertile eggs for a shorter period and had significantly fewer sperm penetration holes than those mated with males having a larger proctodeal gland area (>400 mm2). The proctodeal gland size was positively correlated with testicular weight, plasma testosterone concentrations, and sperm kinetic variables. The results indicate that the size of the proctodeal gland in males can be used to predict sperm function and the duration of fertility in Japanese quail.

Characteristics and kinetics of thermophilic actinomycetes' amylase production on agro-wastes and its application for ethanol fermentation.

Thermophilic actinomycetes are commonly found in extreme environments and can thrive and adapt to extreme conditions. These organisms exhibit substantial variation and garnered significant interest due to their remarkable enzymatic activities. This study evaluated the potential of Streptomyces griseorubens NBR14 and Nocardiopsis synnemataformans NBRM9 strains to produce thermo-stable amylase via submerged fermentation using wheat and bean straw. The Box-Behnken design was utilized to determine the optimum parameters for amylase biosynthesis. Subsequently, amylase underwent partial purification and characterization. Furthermore, the obtained hydrolysate was applied for ethanol fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The optimal parameters for obtaining the highest amylase activity by NBR14 (7.72 U/mL) and NBRM9 (26.54 U/mL) strains were found to be 40 and 30 °C, pH values of 7, incubation time of 7 days, and substrate concentration (3 and 2 g/100 mL), respectively. The NBR14 and NBRM9 amylase were partially purified, resulting in specific activities of 251.15 and 144.84 U/mg, as well as purification factors of 3.91 and 2.69-fold, respectively. After partial purification, the amylase extracted from NBR14 and NBRM9 showed the highest activity level at pH values of 9 and 7 and temperatures of 50 and 60 °C, respectively. The findings also indicated that the maximum velocity (Vmax) for NBR14 and NBRM9 amylase were 57.80 and 59.88 U/mL, respectively, with Km constants of 1.39 and 1.479 mM. After 48 h, bioethanol was produced at concentrations of 5.95 mg/mL and 9.29 mg/mL from hydrolyzed wheat and bean straw, respectively, through fermentation with S. cerevisiae. Thermophilic actinomycetes and their α-amylase yield demonstrated promising potential for sustainable bio-ethanol production from agro-byproducts.

The clinical signature of genetic variants and serum levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in Egyptian breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an integral cytokine for the modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity and is involved in the pathogenesis of various cancers. However, conflicting findings on the relationship between MIF polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC) have been reported in earlier research. We investigated the clinical value of serum MIF levels and the association between MIF rs1049829 and rs755622 variants with their serum levels and propensity to develop BC. METHODS: A total of 133 treatment-naïve Egyptian BC females and 126 apparently healthy controls were matriculated in this case-control study. The serum MIF protein levels were quantified by ELISA, whereas the genotyping was executed utilizing the TaqMan® allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS: A significant increase in the serum MIF level in BC cases was observed in comparison to control subjects (P < 0.0001), with a diagnostic potential to discriminate BC with 92.5% sensitivity and 73.7% specificity at a cut-off value > 9.47 ng/mL. Besides, a significant difference in serum MIF level was observed in BC cases with progesterone receptor (PR) negativity compared to those with PR positivity (P = 0.046). Moreover, a significant association was depicted between the rs1049829 variant of MIF gene and the protective effect against BC meanwhile the rs755622 variant demonstrated no significant link with BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that serum MIF levels may be regarded as a promising serum tumor marker for BC. Also, the rs1049829 variant of the MIF gene is considered a protective candidate against BC.

Tumor-Agnostic Therapy-The Final Step Forward in the Cure for Human Neoplasms?

Cancer accounted for 10 million deaths in 2020, nearly one in every six deaths annually. Despite advancements, the contemporary clinical management of human neoplasms faces a number of challenges. Surgical removal of tumor tissues is often not possible technically, while radiation and chemotherapy pose the risk of damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs, presenting complex clinical challenges. These require a paradigm shift in developing new therapeutic modalities moving towards a more personalized and targeted approach. The tumor-agnostic philosophy, one of these new modalities, focuses on characteristic molecular signatures of transformed cells independently of their traditional histopathological classification. These include commonly occurring DNA aberrations in cancer cells, shared metabolic features of their homeostasis or immune evasion measures of the tumor tissues. The first dedicated, FDA-approved tumor-agnostic agent's profound progression-free survival of 78% in mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer paved the way for the accelerated FDA approvals of novel tumor-agnostic therapeutic compounds. Here, we review the historical background, current status, and future perspectives of this new era of clinical oncology.

Impact of Blood Sampling Methods on Blood Loss and Transfusion After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to assess the impact of the closed-loop sampling method on blood loss and the need for blood transfusion in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: A single tertiary center. PARTICIPANTS: All pediatric patients younger than 4 years old who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after cardiac surgery were enrolled. The study included 100 pediatric patients in the conservative (postimplementation) group and 43 pediatric patients in the nonconservative group (preimplementation). INTERVENTIONS: Observational. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the volume of blood loss during the PICU follow-up period. The secondary outcomes were the requirement for blood transfusion in each group, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospital stay, and mortality. MAIN RESULTS: In the conservative (postimplementation) group, blood loss during the follow-up period was 0.67 (0.33-1.16) mL/kg/d, while it was 0.95 (0.50-2.30) mL/kg/d in the nonconservative (preimplementation) group, demonstrating a significant reduction in blood loss in the conservative group (p = 0.012). The groups showed no significant differences in terms of the required blood transfusion volume postoperatively during the first 24 hours, first 48 hours, or after 48 hours (p = 0.061, 0.536, 0.442, respectively). The frequency of blood transfusion was comparable between the groups during the first 24 hours, first 48 hours, or after 48 hours postoperatively (p = 0.277, 0.639, 0.075, respectively). In addition, the groups did not show significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The closed-loop sampling method can be efficient in decreasing blood loss during postoperative PICU follow-up for pediatric patients after cardiac surgeries. However, its application did not reduce the frequency or the volume of blood transfusion in these patients.

The use of proteins and peptides-based therapy in managing and preventing pathogenic viruses.

Therapeutic proteins have been employed for centuries and reached approximately 50 % of all drugs investigated. By 2023, they represented one of the top 10 largest-selling pharma products ($387.03 billion) and are anticipated to reach around $653.35 billion by 2030. Growth hormones, insulin, and interferon (IFN α, γ, and ß) are among the leading applied therapeutic proteins with a higher market share. Protein-based therapies have opened new opportunities to control various diseases, including metabolic disorders, tumors, and viral outbreaks. Advanced recombinant DNA biotechnology has offered the production of therapeutic proteins and peptides for vaccination, drugs, and diagnostic tools. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression host systems, including bacterial, fungal, animal, mammalian, and plant cells usually applied for recombinant therapeutic proteins large-scale production. However, several limitations face therapeutic protein production and applications at the commercial level, including immunogenicity, integrity concerns, protein stability, and protein degradation under different circumstances. In this regard, protein-engineering strategies such as PEGylation, glycol-engineering, Fc-fusion, albumin conjugation, and fusion, assist in increasing targeting, product purity, production yield, functionality, and the half-life of therapeutic protein circulation. Therefore, a comprehensive insight into therapeutic protein research and findings pave the way for their successful implementation, which will be discussed in the current review.

Biodegradation and antimicrobial capability-induced heavy metal resistance of the marine-derived actinomycetes Nocardia harenae JJB5 and Amycolatopsis marina JJB11.

Currently, heavy metal-resistant (HMR) marine actinomycetes have attracted much attention worldwide due to their unique capabilities. In this study, 27 marine-derived actinomycetes were isolated from coastal beaches in the Arabian Gulf of Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia and screened for resistance to 100 mg/L of the heavy metals Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+ using different assay techniques. Six isolates were selected as HMRs, of which two isolates, JJB5 and JJB11, exhibited the highest maximum tolerance concentrations (200- > 300 mg/L). Both isolates were the highest among six-HMR screened for their biodegradation potential of plastics low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride, recording the highest weight loss (15 ± 1.22 - 65 ± 1.2%) in their thin films. They also showed the highest biodegradability of the pesticides acetamiprid, chlordane, hexachlorocyclohexane, indoxacarb and lindane, indicating promising removal capacities (95.70-100%) for acetamiprid and indoxacarb using HPLC analysis. Additionally, the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of both isolates displayed the highest antimicrobial activity among the six-HMR screened against a variety of microbial test strains, recording the highest inhibition zone diameters (13.76 ± 0.66 - 26.0 ± 1.13 mm). GC‒MS analyses of the ethyl acetate extract of their CFFs revealed the presence of diverse chemical compounds with a multitude of remarkable biological activities. Based on their spore morphology and wall-chemotype, they were assigned to the nocardioform-actinomycetes. Furthermore, their phenotypic characteristics, together with 16S rRNA gene sequencing (OR121525-OR121526), revealed them as Nocardia harenae JJB5 and Amycolatopsis marina JJB11. Our results suggest that marine HMR actinomycetes are promising candidates for various biotechnological applications.

Spontaneous Idiopathic Bilateral Sagittal Band Rupture: A Case Report.

Introduction: Extensor tendon subluxation or dislocation resulting from sagittal band rupture can be associated with snapping, catching, locking, pain, and swelling of the finger. Several etiologies were reported in the literature, with frequent mention of a traumatic rupture caused by a direct blow at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ). The other causes of sagittal band injuries are degenerative disease, congenital infection, and rheumatoid arthritis. To our knowledge, we report the first case of spontaneous idiopathic bilateral sagittal band rupture. Case Report: We, herein, present the case of a seronegative 29-year-old female who presented with pain and swelling in the dominant hand for 4 days. Conclusion: Upon examination, she was found to have bilateral dislocation of the extensor tendons at the level of the (MCPJ) of the third and fourth digits. Any underlying cause was excluded, and the diagnosis was confirmed with a dynamic ultrasound study.

Lymphatic Chyle Duct Injury and Identification During Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Preventing Postoperative Chylous Ascites.

We present a case of intraoperative detection of an iatrogenic chyle duct injury during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The chyle duct injury was identified and managed by ligature, preventing postoperative chylous ascites.

Co-impacts of cation type and humic acid on migration of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media.

The aging process of microplastics (MPs) could significantly change their physical and chemical characteristics and impact their migration behavior in soil. However, the complex effects of different cations and humic acids (HA) on the migration of aged MPs through saturated media are not clear. In this research, the migration and retention of pristine/aged PSMPs (polystyrene microplastics) under combined effects of cations (Na+, Ca2+) (ionic strength = 10 mM) and HA (0, 5, 15 mg/L) were investigated and analyzed in conjunction with the two-site kinetic retention model and DLVO theory. The findings showed that the aging process accelerated PSMPs migration under all tested conditions. Aged PSMPs were less susceptible to Ca2+ than pristine PSMPs. Under Ca2+ conditions, pristine/aged PSMPs showed higher retention than under Na+ conditions in the absence of HA. Furthermore, under Na+ conditions, the migration of aged PSMPs significantly increased at higher concentrations of HA. However, under Ca2+ conditions, the migration of aged PSMPs decreased significantly at higher concentrations of HA. In higher HA conditions, HA, Ca2+, and PSMPs interact to cause larger aggregations, resulting in the sedimentation of aged PSMPs. The DLVO calculations and two-site kinetic retention models' results showed the detention of PSMPs was irreversible under higher HA conditions (15 mg/L) with Ca2+, and aged PSMPs were more susceptible to clogging. These findings may help to understand the potential risk of migration behavior of PSMPs in the soil-groundwater environment.

Intrinsic Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism in New Halide Perovskite AgCrX3 (X: F, Cl, Br, I) Using Ab Initio and Monte Carlo Simulations.

Herein, we present a detailed comparative study of the structural, elastic, electronic, and magnetic properties of a series of new halide perovskite AgCrX3 (X: F, Cl, Br, I) crystal structures using density functional theory, mean-field theory (MFT), and quantum Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. As demonstrated by the negative formation energy and Born-Huang stability criteria, the suggested perovskite compounds show potential stability in the cubic crystal structure. The materials are ductile because the Pugh's ratio is greater than 1.75, and the Cauchy pressure (C12-C44) is positive. The ground state magnetic moments of the compound were calculated as 3.70, 3.91, 3.92, and 3.91 µB for AgCrF3, AgCrCl3, AgCrBr3, and AgCrI3, respectively. The GGA + SOC computed spin-polarized electronic structures reveal ferromagnetism and confirm the metallic character in all of these compounds under consideration. These characteristics are robust under a ±3% strained lattice constant. Using relativistic pseudopotentials, the total energy is calculated, which yields that the single ion anisotropy is 0.004 meV and the z-axis is the hard-axis in the series of AgCrX3 (X: F, Cl, Br, and I) compounds. Further, to explore room-temperature intrinsic ferromagnetism, we considered ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions of the magnetic ions in the compounds by considering a supercell with 2 × 2 × 2 dimensions. The transition temperature is estimated by two models, namely, MFT and MC simulations. The calculated Curie temperatures using MC simulations are 518.35, 624.30, 517.94, and 497.28 K, with ±5% error for AgCrF3, AgCrCl3, AgCrBr3, and AgCrI3 compounds, respectively. Our results suggest that halide perovskite AgCrX3 compounds are promising materials for spintronic nanodevices at room temperature and provide new recommendations. For the first time, we report results for novel halide perovskite compounds based on Ag and Cr atoms.

Continuous Wave Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation and Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Childhood Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis.

PRCIS: Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TS-CPC) and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) were effective in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications in childhood glaucoma. OBJECTIVE: To report the outcomes of continuous wave TS-CPC and ECP in childhood glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search of relevant databases. We collected data on age, follow-up duration, type of glaucoma, previous surgical interventions, preoperative and postoperative IOP, preoperative and postoperative number of glaucoma medications, adverse events, number of sessions, and success rates at different time points. The main outcome measures are the amount of IOP and glaucoma medication reduction. RESULTS: We included 17 studies studying 526 patients (658 eyes); 11 evaluated the effectiveness of TS-CPC (268 patients, 337 eyes), 5 evaluated ECP (159 patients, 197 eyes), and one study compared both techniques (56 patients, 72 eyes for TS-CPC vs 43 patients, 52 eyes for ECP). The median duration of follow-up was 28 months in the TS-CPC group and 34.4 months in the ECP group. The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.7 in the TS-CPC and 1.3 in the ECP. In the TS-CPC group, the mean IOP was significantly reduced from 31.2 ± 8 to 20.8 ± 8 mm Hg at the last follow-up ( P < 0.001). The mean number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 2.3 ± 1.3 to 2.2 ± 1.3 ( P = 0.37). In the ECP group, there was also a significant reduction in the mean IOP from 32.9 ± 8 mm Hg with a mean of 1.7 ± 0.7 glaucoma medications to 22.6 ± 9.8 mm Hg ( P < 0.0001) on 1.2 ± 1.1 medications ( P = 0.009) at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Both TS-CPC and ECP were effective in reducing the IOP and glaucoma medications in childhood glaucoma. Multiple treatment sessions were required.

Nocardiopsis synnemataformans NBRM9, an extremophilic actinomycete producing extremozyme cellulase, using lignocellulosic agro-wastes and its biotechnological applications.

Actinomycetes are an attractive source of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. The search for actinomycetes producing extremozyme cellulase using cheap lignocellulosic waste remains a priority goal of enzyme research. In this context, the extremophilic actinomycete NBRM9 showed promising cellulolytic activity in solid and liquid assays. This actinomycete was identified as Nocardiopsis synnemataformans based on its phenotypic characteristics alongside phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequencing (OQ380604.1). Using bean straw as the best agro-waste, the production of cellulase from this strain was statistically optimized using a response surface methodology, with the maximum activity (13.20 U/mL) achieved at an incubation temperature of 40 °C, a pH of 9, an incubation time of 7 days, and a 2% substrate concentration. The partially purified cellulase (PPC) showed promising activity and stability over a wide range of temperatures (20-90 °C), pH values (3-11), and NaCl concentrations (1-19%), with optimal activity at 50 °C, pH 9.0, and 10% salinity. Under these conditions, the enzyme retained >95% of its activity, thus indicating its extremozyme nature. The kinetics of cellulase showed that it has a Vmax of 20.19 ± 1.88 U/mL and a Km of 0.25 ± 0.07 mM. The immobilized PPC had a relative activity of 69.58 ± 0.13%. In the in vitro microtiter assay, the PPC was found to have a concentration-dependent anti-biofilm activity (up to 85.15 ± 1.60%). Additionally, the fermentative conversion of the hydrolyzed bean straw by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (KM504287.1) amounted to 65.80 ± 0.52% of the theoretical ethanol yield. Overall, for the first time, the present work reports the production of extremozymatic (thermo, alkali-, and halo-stable) cellulase from N. synnemataformans NBRM9. Therefore, this strain is recommended for use as a biotool in many lignocellulosic-based applications operating under harsh conditions.