Investigating the Wound-Healing Potential of a Nanoemulsion-Gel Formulation of Pituranthos tortuosus Essential Oil.

This study explores a nanoemulsion (NE)-based gel incorporating Tunisian Pituranthos tortuosus essential oil, with a focus on its wound-healing potential. The essential oil, extracted via hydrodistillation, underwent GC-MS analysis for compositional verification. The physicochemical characterization included dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential measurement, pH, and viscosity. The gelification of the NE facilitated topical application. The results revealed an average extraction yield of 0.45% and identified 38 compounds in the essential oil. The NE exhibited a particle size of 27 ± 0.4 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.3, and a zeta potential of -22.8 ± 1.4 mV. The stability of the gelified preparation was confirmed through thermodynamic stability studies, TEM observations, and zeta and size results. In vivo experiments confirmed significant wound-healing effects, highlighting the promising role of the NE-based gel in healthcare advancements. This research underscores the potential of novel phyto-based delivery systems in wound care.

Thymoquinone-loaded self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

In the present study, a self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was developed to evaluate the efficiency of thymoquinone (TQ) in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. SNEDDS was pharmaceutically characterized to evaluate droplet size, morphology, zeta potential, thermodynamic stability, and dissolution/diffusion capacity. Animals were orally pre-treated during 10 days with TQ-loaded SNEDDS. Biochemical analyses, hematoxylin-eosin staining, indirect immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were carried out to assess cell injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The TQ formulation showed good in vitro characteristics, including stable nanoparticle structure and size with high drug release rate. In vivo determinations revealed that TQ-loaded SNEDDS pre-treatment of rats maintained cellular integrity by decreasing transaminase (ALT and AST) release and preserving the histological characteristics of their liver. The antioxidant ability of the formulation was proven by increased SOD activity, reduced MDA concentration, and iNOS protein expression. In addition, this formulation exerted an anti-inflammatory effect evidenced by reduced plasma CRP concentration, MPO activity, and gene expressions of TLR-4, TNF-α, NF-κB, and IL-6. Finally, the TQ-loaded SNEDDS formulation promoted cell survival by enhancing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In conclusion, our results indicate that TQ encapsulated in SNEDDS significantly protects rat liver from I/R injury.

Life cycle assessment as decision support tool for water reuse in agriculture irrigation.

This study presents a decision support tool that evaluates the environmental efficiency of water reclamation for agricultural irrigation, among other options. The developed tool is published as open source at https://doi.org/10.18167/DVN1/YLP1BA. The objective of this decision support tool is to facilitate the interpretation of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results. This framework was applied to a representative case of reuse of reclaimed water for vine irrigation at the Murviel-Les-Montpellier experimental site (Hérault, France). It was then generalized through modeling assumptions to consider different reuse scenarios. To highlight situations in which the supply of recycled water for irrigation may or may not provide significant environmental benefits, three main parameters were varied: (i) tertiary treatment technologies, (ii) availability of conventional water sources, (iii) energy mix composition. The results show that the environmental impact of reclaimed water depends directly on the type of tertiary treatment technology and the location of the treatment plant in relation to the field and other water sources. The decision support tool has identified where wastewater reuse is clearly an environmentally beneficial source of irrigation among surface and groundwater sources (e.g., WWTP closer to field than river, groundwater too deep, tertiary treatment environmentally beneficial). However, there are many situations where the decision support process cannot distinguish between water reuse for agricultural irrigation and conventional water sources, especially when the nutrient content of treated municipal wastewater is insufficient to offset the negative effects of high energy requirements and chemicals of tertiary treatment.

Contribution of Nanotechnologies to Vaccine Development and Drug Delivery against Respiratory Viruses.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the coronavirus disease 2019, a respiratory viral illness linked to significant morbidity, mortality, production loss, and severe economic depression, was the third-largest cause of death in 2020. Respiratory viruses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2, and adenovirus, are among the most common causes of respiratory illness in humans, spreading as pandemics or epidemics throughout all continents. Nanotechnologies are particles in the nanometer range made from various compositions. They can be lipid-based, polymer-based, protein-based, or inorganic in nature, but they are all bioinspired and virus-like. In this review, we aimed to present a short review of the different nanoparticles currently studied, in particular those which led to publications in the field of respiratory viruses. We evaluated those which could be beneficial for respiratory disease-based viruses; those which already have contributed, such as lipid nanoparticles in the context of COVID-19; and those which will contribute in the future either as vaccines or antiviral drug delivery systems. We present a short assessment based on a critical selection of evidence indicating nanotechnology's promise in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections.

Integrated membrane bioreactors modelling: A review on new comprehensive modelling framework.

Integrated Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) models, combination of biological and physical models, have been representing powerful tools for the accomplishment of high environmental sustainability. This paper, produced by the International Water Association (IWA) Task Group on Membrane Modelling and Control, reviews the state-of-the-art, identifying gaps for future researches, and proposes a new integrated MBR modelling framework. In particular, the framework aims to guide researchers and managers in pursuing good performances of MBRs in terms of effluent quality, operating costs (such as membrane fouling, energy consumption due to aeration) and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Model assessment of the prevailing fouling mechanisms in a submerged membrane anaerobic reactor treating low-strength wastewater.

Three models (blocking laws, combined and resistance-in-series) were applied to identify the prevailing fouling mechanisms in a submerged membrane in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating municipal wastewater. Experimental runs were carried out at lab-scale with filtration periods of 4 and 10 min, followed by relaxation periods of one minute with and without nitrogen bubbling. In all conditions excepting one (IF4R), the blocking laws model showed a predominance of cake formation. With the combined model, cake formation coupled with intermediate, standard and complete fouling had the better fits in all conditions, excepting IF4 and IF4R. When sewage was fed, both models pointed at intermediate fouling in the absence of gas bubbling. The resistance-in-series model identified the positive effect of gas bubbling and a post-cake fouling behavior, not shown by the other two models. This modeling approach could be applied for achieving longer filtration runs in submerged UF membranes.

Apolipoprotein B and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are better risk markers for coronary artery disease than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypertriglyceridemic metabolic syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in the general population. Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL) particles have been considered as a risk marker in metabolic syndrome diagnosis. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentration reflects the number of LDL particles and is closely associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the associations of ApoB, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with metabolic syndrome and its relationship with significant coronary stenosis (SCS) in a Tunisian population. METHODS: We enrolled 192 patients, who underwent coronary angiography. The body mass index, blood lipids, fasting glucose, insulin concentration, and blood pressure of every patient were measured. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS: The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 58.3%. The comparison of the lipidic parameters between subject with and without metabolic syndrome showed a significant increase in ApoB and NHDL-C but not in LDL-C. By considering triglyceride (TG) limits (TG ≤ 0.9 mmol/L and TG > 1.70 mmol/L), we noted no differences in ApoB, NHDL-C, and LDL-C between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome in triglyceridemia ≤0.9 mmol/L. In triglyceridemia >1.70 mmol/L, a significant increase in ApoB and NHDL-C, but not in LDL-C, was noted. These results seem to consolidate the probability of increased sd-LDL in hypertriglyceridemic metabolic syndrome subjects. Indeed, in our study the odds ratio (OR) of SCS associated with metabolic syndrome is 3.81 (P = 0.007) in the studied population. This risk increases to 8.70 (P = 0.026) in hypertriglyceridemic subjects and seems to be associated with ApoB and NHDL-C (OR = 1.87, P = 0.038; OR = 1.26, P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ApoB and NHDL-C seem to be more correlated to SCS in metabolic syndrome with hypertriglyceridemia than LDL-C.

Elevated liver enzymes in metabolic syndrome are associated with coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

BACKGROUND: Recently, elevated liver enzymes have attracted great interest as potential novel markers of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a relationship between elevated liver enzymes and coronary stenosis associated with metabolic syndrome in a Tunisian population. METHODS: We enrolled 192 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Significant coronary stenosis (SCS) was diagnosed in the presence of coronary stenosis with lumenal narrowing >or=50%. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS: Frequencies of subjects with liver enzyme activities belonging to quartile 4 were higher in the group with metabolic syndrome. Association of SCS with metabolic syndrome was more significant in the quartile 4 of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Odds ratios of SCS associated with metabolic syndrome were: [1.40 (0.66-2.9) for quartile 1 versus 4.20 (1.3-9.9) for quartile 4 of GGT; 1.52 (0.29-3.7) for quartile 1 vs. 5.30 (1.39-18.9) for quartile 4 of ALT]. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated liver enzyme activity was associated with metabolic syndrome and only GGT and ALT seem to be associated with an increase of the coronary stenosis in the studied population with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in a tunisian population.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of disorders that produces a high risk of atherosclerosis. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome clearly varies depending on ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with significant coronary stenosis (SCS) in a Tunisian population. METHODS: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. SCS was defined as a luminal narrowing of more or equal to 50% in at least 1 major coronary artery, as judged by coronary angiography. A total of 192 subjects documented by coronary angiography were recruited from the cardiology department. RESULTS: In all, 54.2% (n = 104) of patients presented with metabolic syndrome, with a higher prevalence among women (65.9% vs. 45.5%; P = 0.004). In the subjects with metabolic syndrome, the fasting hyperglycemia was the most common metabolic disorder (86.5%). The risk of SCS increased approximately 3-fold in the presence of metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR) = 3.38, P = 0.004]. In addition, SCS risk was increased according to the increase in the number of metabolic syndrome components. The most atherogenic profile was that which assembled five metabolic syndorme components (OR = 4.18, P = 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the risk of SCS in the presence of metabolic syndrome. In fact, the OR of SCS associated with metabolic syndrome was (4.96, P = 0.001) in participants in the highest quartile of HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for SCS. The detection, prevention, and treatment of the underlying risk factors of metabolic syndrome should become an important approach for reduction of the cardiovascular disease burden in our study population.