Exploring the effectiveness of flavone derivatives for treating liver diseases: Utilizing DFT, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics techniques.

In exploring nature's potential in addressing liver-related conditions, this study investigates the therapeutic capabilities of flavonoids. Utilizing in silico methodologies, we focus on flavone and its analogs (1-14) to assess their therapeutic potential in treating liver diseases. Molecular change calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were conducted on these compounds, accompanied by an evaluation of each analog's physiochemical and biochemical properties. The study further assesses these flavonoids' binding effectiveness and locations through molecular docking studies against six target proteins associated with human cancer. Tropoflavin and taxifolin served as reference drugs. The structurally modified flavone analogs (1-14) displayed a broad range of binding affinities, ranging from -7.0 to -9.4 kcal mol⁻¹, surpassing the reference drugs. Notably, flavonoid (7) exhibited significantly higher binding affinities with proteins Nrf2 (PDB:1 × 2 J) and DCK (PDB:1 × 2 J) (-9.4 and -8.1 kcal mol⁻¹) compared to tropoflavin (-9.3 and -8.0 kcal mol⁻¹) and taxifolin (-9.4 and -7.1 kcal mol⁻¹), respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the docked complexes had a root mean square deviation (RMSD) value ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 nm and a root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) value between 0.35 and 1.3 nm during perturbation. The study concludes that 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (7) shows substantial promise as a potential therapeutic agent for liver-related conditions. However, further validation through in vitro and in vivo studies is necessary. Key insights from this study include:•Screening of flavanols and their derivatives to determine pharmacological and bioactive properties using ADMET, molinspiration, and pass prediction analysis.•Docking of shortlisted flavone derivatives with proteins having essential functions.•Analysis of the best protein-flavonoid docked complexes using molecular dynamics simulation to determine the flavonoid's efficiency and stability within a system.

Infection control measures at diagnostic imaging departments in governmental hospitals, Gaza-Strip.

INTRODUCTION: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial in safeguarding patient safety and minimizing the risk of healthcare-associated infections. AIM: The study investigated infection prevention and control measures for diagnostic imaging departments at governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional analytical study. The sample included all radiographers (81) and radiologists (40) working at Al Shifa Medical Complex and European Gaza Hospital (EGH). Data was collected using an interview questionnaire (121) and an observation checklist. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26, and the result was significant (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Only 27.3 % of the participants revealed the availability of training courses for IPC. More than half of the participants received their last training sessions one year ago, and most of them attended five basic in-service training sessions related to IPC. Radiologists' and medical radiographers' knowledge and practice scores regarding IPC measures were 85.3 % and 61.7 %, respectively, and there were statistically significant differences between the participants' practice domain and their years of experience (p-value .014). There is inadequate hand hygiene among radiographers in the radiology department, and only 29 % of the staff washed their hands immediately upon arrival at the unit. The total score of the Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework domains is almost equal at the two hospitals (280/500). The total score of the eight domains of the IPC Assessment Framework is 568.5/800 for Al Shifa Hospital and 516/800 for EGH, which indicates an intermediate IPC level. CONCLUSION: Efforts are needed to enhance the scope and quality of implementation and to concentrate on creating long-term plans to sustain and promote the existing IPC program activities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Regular assessments should be conducted to monitor progress, identify gaps, and guide quality improvement efforts. Assessment feedback should be used to develop targeted interventions and continuously enhance IPC measures.

Retraction: Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis: A Rare Variant of Chronic Cholecystitis.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21400.].

Efficacy of Three Interdental Cleaning Methods for Peri-Implant Health Maintenance of Single Implant-Supported Crowns: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of an interproximal brush, a water flosser, and dental floss in removing plaque and reducing inflammation around implant-supported crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 45 participants with implant-supported single crowns. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: interproximal brush, water flosser, and dental floss. Plaque index scores, gingival index scores, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed at baseline and after a two-week period. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the outcomes among the groups. RESULTS: Following the second visit, improvements in plaque control were observed across all three interdental cleaning methods. The water flosser demonstrated a slight reduction in IL-6 levels (60.17 ± 3.07 vs 58.79 ± 4.04) compared to the initial visit, although this decrease was not statistically significant. Conversely, both the interdental brush and dental floss exhibited a slight increase in IL-6 levels at the second visit (60.73 ± 2.93 and 55.7 ± 10.64, respectively) compared to the mean at the first visit (58.38 ± 3.24 and 54.6 ± 2.22, respectively). Among the groups, only the interproximal brush demonstrated a statistically significant difference in IL-6 levels (p=0.008), while no statistically significant differences were observed in the dental floss and water flosser groups. CONCLUSION: Within the study's limitations, our findings suggest that all three methods of interdental cleaning effectively improve plaque control and reduce gingival inflammation. However, using a water flosser appears to reduce inflammation more effectively, highlighting its potential advantage over the other two methods. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and impact of these methods on implant survival.

The effectiveness of dental water jet in reducing dental plaque and gingival bleeding in orthodontic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review and meta-analysis tests the effectiveness of dental water jet (DWJ) with manual toothbrushes (MTB) compared to MTB alone in oral health maintenance in orthodontic patients. METHODS: Four databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and Cochrane Library until 6 January 2022 using a combination of medical subject heading (MeSH) terms and keywords. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were only included and critically appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB) tool. The mean difference (MD) effect measure was calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel statistical test (95% confidence interval [CI]) to compare both study groups (p-value < 0.05). RESULTS: After reviewing 5881 studies from a systematic search, six were selected for inclusion, with four involved in the quantitative analysis. The risk of bias was low in two studies, moderate in two studies and high in the remaining two studies. The meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in plaque index and bleeding scores in DWJ + MTB group compared MTB alone group in orthodontic patients with generalized gingivitis (MD = -0.75, 95% CI [-1.29, -0.22], p = 0.006) and (MD = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.27, -0.08], p = 0.0003), respectively. However, no significant improvement was detected between both groups in the gingival index. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DWJ as an adjunctive device in addition to MTB can be an effective strategy for maintaining oral hygiene in orthodontic patients with gingivitis. However, more high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm the findings.

Potential contamination and health risk assessment of heavy metals in Hurghada coastal sediments, Northwestern Red Sea.

Throughout the year, people flock to the Red Sea's shoreline for tourism and fishing. The current study aims to document heavy metal contamination and human health assessment in 30 surface sediment samples collected along the Hurghada shoreline in Egypt. To estimate sediment contamination, the pollution index (PI), pollution load index (PLI), degree of contamination (Cdeg), and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) were calculated, while the chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard index (HI), cancer risk (CR), and total lifetime cancer risk (LCR) were determined on both adults and children via ingestion, dermal, and inhalation pathways. The HM averages (µg/g dry weight) were in the following order: Fe (345.70) > Mn (49.36) > Pb (41.98) > Zn (7.47) > Ni (1.73) > Cu (1.23) > Co (1.09) > Cd (0.14). Pollution indices found that Hurghada coastal sediments were moderately polluted with Pb but not with the other HMs. The average CDI values were in the descending order of ingestion > dermal > inhalation pathways, and the average CDI values on children were higher than those on adults. The hazard index (HI) for adults and children was Pb > Ni > Cd > Fe > Mn > Co > Cu > Zn, and all values were <1.0, showing that these HMs had no substantial non-carcinogenic impacts on the human body. LCR results show that children have greater values than adults. LCR values in adults were lower than 1 × 10-6, indicating no substantial health concerns, while in children they ranged from 1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-4, indicating no significant risk to human health.

Dietary hydrolyzed soya lecithin affects feed intake, abundance of bacteria in the caecum, fatty acid composition and area of adipocytes in pre-mating primiparous V-line female rabbit.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of hydrolyzed soya lecithin; also called lysolecithin or lysophosphatidylcholine, on growth performance, caecal microbiota and fat depots in pre-breeding primiparous rabbits does. For this, 60 V-Line primiparous rabbits does (5-6 months) were used in a 30-day experiment. Does were allotted into three iso-nitrogenous iso-caloric dietary treatments (n = 20/group) as follows: (1) CON received 0% soya lecithin, (2) LECL group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% soya lecithin and (3) LECH group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% soya lecithin. Growth performance indices were measured, caecum samples were collected for measurement of specific bacteria via qPCR, and several fat depots including periovarian fat were sampled for adipocyte morphometry and fatty acid profiling. Statistical analysis was performed using GLM procedures of SAS v9.4. Soya lecithin increased feed intake (p < 0.05). The abundance of caecal Bifidobacteria species, Ruminococcus species and phylum Butryvibrio-specific genes increased (p < 0.05) in rabbits receiving soya lecithin in their diet, soya lecithin increased the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in subcutaneous and perirenal fat (p < 0.05) and increased the level of monounsaturated fatty acids in periovarian fat (p < 0.05); additionally, the adipocyte area increased in periovarian and perirenal fat (p < 0.05). In conclusion, soya lecithin at a dose of 0.5% increased feed intake and energy storage in adipocytes and improved the fatty acid profile of periovarian fat.

Adoption of on-farm feed safety practices among livestock farmers: Evidence from Saudi Arabia.

Compliance with feed safety standards and practices on the farm promotes sustainable livestock production and can positively affect the environment and human health. This study aims to examine farmers' on-farm adoption of feed safety practices and determine the differences in adoption according to the socio-economic characteristics of farmers. An online survey was conducted to collect the study data. The study participants consisted of 442 livestock farmers in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. The study findings revealed that farmers highly adopted categories of feed purchasing (77.9 %) and feed mixing and distribution (75.05 %), whereas they were considered as a moderate level adoption regarding feed storing (70.9 %). The cluster analysis results showed two main patterns of adoption- "high adopters" and "moderate adopters"-based on the average level of adoption for 25 feed safety practices examined. The cluster of "high adopters" accounted for 59.9 % of the sample and had higher average adoption in all practices examined. The findings revealed that there are significant differences between the two segments of farmers, corresponding to gender, membership in livestock association, extension contact, raising sheep, and feeding system. This study proposes the regular monitoring of farms to ensure strict adherence to feed safety regulations, with the implementation of awareness and capacity development initiatives pertaining to feed safety concerns.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Environmental Applications of Novel Per-Fluorinated Organic Polymers with Azo- and Azomethine-Based Linkers via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution.

This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of novel perfluorinated organic polymers with azo- and azomethine-based linkers using nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The polymers were synthesized via the incorporation of decafluorobiphenyl and hexafluorobenzene linkers with diphenols in the basic medium. The variation in the linkers allowed the synthesis of polymers with different fluorine and nitrogen contents. The rich fluorine polymers were slightly soluble in THF and have shown molecular weights ranging from 4886 to 11,948 g/mol. All polymers exhibit thermal stability in the range of 350-500 °C, which can be attributed to their structural geometry, elemental contents, branching, and cross-linking. For instance, the cross-linked polymers with high nitrogen content, DAB-Z-1h and DAB-Z-1O, are more stable than azomethine-based polymers. The cross-linking was characterized by porosity measurements. The azo-based polymer exhibited the highest surface area of 770 m2/g with a pore volume of 0.35 cm3/g, while the open-chain azomethine-based polymer revealed the lowest surface area of 285 m2/g with a pore volume of 0.0872 cm3/g. Porous structures with varied hydrophobicities were investigated as adsorbents for separating water-benzene and water-phenol mixtures and selectively binding methane/carbon dioxide gases from the air. The most hydrophobic polymers containing the decafluorbiphenyl linker were suitable for benzene separation, while the best methane uptake values were 6.14 and 3.46 mg/g for DAB-Z-1O and DAB-A-1O, respectively. On the other hand, DAB-Z-1h, with the highest surface area and being rich in nitrogen sites, has recorded the highest CO2 uptake at 298 K (17.25 mg/g).

Synthesis, Characterization, and DFT Calculations of a New Sulfamethoxazole Schiff Base and Its Metal Complexes.

A new Schiff base, 4-((1E,2E)-3-(furan-2-yl)allylidene)amino)-N-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl) benzene-sulfonamide (L), was synthesized by thermal condensation of 3-(2-furyl)acrolein and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and the furan Schiff base (L) was converted to a phenol Schiff base (L') according to the Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and studied experimentally. The structural and spectroscopic properties of the Schiff base were also corroborated by utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Furthermore, a series of lanthanide and transition metal complexes of the Schiff base were synthesized from the nitrate salts of Gd, Sm, Nd, and Zn (L1, L2, L3, and L4), respectively. Various spectroscopic studies confirmed the chemical structures of the Schiff-base ligand and its complexes. Based on the spectral studies, a nine-coordinated geometry was assigned to the lanthanide complexes and a six-coordinated geometry to the zinc complex. The elemental analysis data confirmed the suggested structure of the metal complexes, and the TGA studies confirmed the presence of one coordinated water molecule in the lanthanide complexes and one crystalline water molecule in the zinc complex; in addition, the conductivity showed the neutral nature of the complexes. Therefore, it is suggested that the ligand acts as a bidentate through coordinates to each metal atom by the isoxazole nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the sulfur dioxide moiety of the SMX based on FTIR studies. The ligand and its complexes were tested for their anti-inflammatory, anti-hemolytic, and antioxidant activities by various colorimetric methods. These complexes were found to exhibit potential effects of the selected biological activities.

The Antiproliferative Activity of Adiantum pedatum Extract and/or Piceatannol in Phenylhydrazine-Induced Colon Cancer in Male Albino Rats: The miR-145 Expression of the PI-3K/Akt/p53 and Oct4/Sox2/Nanog Pathways.

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. Despite advances in medical science, the treatment of colon cancer still poses a significant challenge. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Adiantum pedatum (AP) extract and/or piceatannol on colon cancer induced via phenylhydrazine (PHZ) in terms of the antioxidant and apoptotic pathways and histopathologic changes in the colons of male albino rats. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control, AP extract, piceatannol (P), PHZ, PHZ and AP treatments, PHZ and P treatments, PHZ and both AP and P, and PHZ and prophylaxis with both AP and P. The results demonstrated that PHZ induced oxidative damage, apoptosis, and histopathological changes compared to the control group. However, the administration of AP or P or AP + P as therapy or prophylaxis significantly ameliorated these changes and upregulated the colonic mir-145 and mRNA expression of P53 and PDCD-4 while downregulating the colonic mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT, c-Myc, CK-20, SOX-2, OCT-4, and NanoG compared to the PHZ group. These findings suggest that the candidate drugs may exert their anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant and apoptotic activities.

Profiling estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors in colorectal cancer in relation to gender, menopausal status, clinical stage, and tumour sidedness.

Background: Although estrogen (ERα/ERß), progesterone (PGR), and androgen (AR) receptors are pathologically altered in colorectal cancer (CRC), their simultaneous expression within the same cohort of patients was not previously measured. Methods: ERα/ERß/PGR/AR proteins were measured in archived paired normal and malignant colon specimens (n =120 patients) by immunohistochemistry, and results were analyzed by gender, age (≤50 vs. ≥60 years), clinical stages (early-stage I/II vs. late-stage III/IV), and anatomical location (right; RSCs vs. left; LSCs). Effects of 17ß-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone alone or combined with the specific blockers of ERα (MPP dihydrochloride), ERß (PHTPP), PGR (mifepristone), and AR (bicalutamide) on cell cycle and apoptosis were also measured in the SW480 male and HT29 female CRC cell lines. Results: ERα and AR proteins increased, whilst ERß and PGR declined markedly in malignant specimens. Moreover, male neoplastic tissues showed highest AR expression, whilst ERß and PGR weakest alongside ERα strongest expression was seen in cancerous tissues from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage neoplasms also revealed maximal alterations in the expression of sex steroid receptors. By tumor location, LSCs disclosed significant elevations in ERα with marked declines in PGR compared with RSCs, and ERα strongest alongside PGR weakest expression was detected in advanced LSCs from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage LSCs from females aged ≥60 years also showed weakest ERß and strongest AR expression. In contrast, male RSC and LSC tissues exhibited equal ERß and AR expression in all clinical stages. ERα and AR proteins also correlated positively, whereas ERß and PGR inversely, with tumor characteristics. Concomitantly, E2 and P4 monotherapies triggered cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the SW480 and HT29 cells, and while pre-treatment with ERα-blocker enhanced the effects of E2, ERß-blocker and PGR-blocker suppressed the E2 and P4 anti-cancer actions, respectively. In contrast, treatment with the AR-blocker induced apoptosis, whilst co-treatment with testosterone hindered the effects. Conclusions: This study advocates that protein expression of sex steroid receptors in malignant tissues could represent prognostic markers, as well as hormonal therapy could provide an alternative strategy against CRC, and their efficacies could be dependent on gender, clinical stage, and tumor location.

A STUDY OF THE ASSESSMENT OF SERUM ADROPIN LEVEL AS A RISK FACTOR OF ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS CASES.

Adropin is a peptide hormone that was first identified in 2008 and was first thought to have a significant role in the balance of fatty acids and glucose in peripheral tissues. We look at the relationship between adropin and diabetes individuals' ischemic heart disease. The objective of the study is to evaluate the serum adropin level as a potential indicator of ischemic heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The 90 participants in this case-control study were split into three groups: Group (I) consisted of 30 T2DM patients with ischemic heart disease Group (II) consisted of 30 T2DM patients without ischaemic heart disease Group (III) consisted of 30 healthy persons as the control group. HbA1c, lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL), HOMA IR serum creatinine, AST, ALT, and serum adropin were also evaluated. Fasting plasma glucose, 2h postprandial plasma glucose, Carotid artery intimal thickness using ultrasound, and Carotid artery intimal thickness were also measured. Patients with diabetes who did not have ischemic heart disease had a statistically significant rise in serum Adropin hormone (p value 0.001), with values of (26.867 10.037) ng/L and (87.500 40.509) ng/L, respectively. Additionally, there was a bad correlation between serum adropin and CIMT and fasting insulin. Assessment of serum adropin levels may serve as a risk indicator for the emergence of ischemic heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis: A Rare Variant of Chronic Cholecystitis.

Gallbladder disease is a very common condition that encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases with a wide range of severity and clinical manifestations. Gallbladder disorders include biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, Mirizzi syndrome, and gallstone ileus. We report the case of a 70-year-old man who presented to the emergency department complaining of worsening abdominal pain, located in the right upper quadrant and radiating to the right shoulder. It was aggravated by food intake and relieved with the use of antacid medications. The medical history of the patient was significant for stable angina, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and sickle cell trait. Examination of the abdomen revealed generalized tenderness with guarding. Abdominal computed tomography scan demonstrated the presence of significant diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall with poor contrast enhancement. Complete resection of the gallbladder was performed because of suspected gallbladder carcinoma. Histopathological examination revealed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, which is a rare form of chronic cholecystitis. The differentiation between gallbladder carcinoma and xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis may not be easy and histopathological examination is the most accurate way to make the diagnosis.

Comparison of photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy as adjuncts to mechanical debridement for the treatment of peri-implantitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuncts to mechanical debridement (MD) for the treatment of peri-implantitis. The present study is based on the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the peri-implant inflammatory parameters (modified plaque index [mPI], modified gingival index [mGI], probing depth [PD]) and crestal bone loss (CBL) following MD either with PBMT or PDT in patients with peri-implantitis. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with peri-implantitis were randomly categorized into three groups. In Groups 1 and 2, patients underwent MD with adjunct PBMT and PDT, respectively. In Group 3, patients underwent MD alone (controls). Peri-implant inflammatory parameters were measured at baseline and 3-months follow-up. P-values < 0.01 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: At baseline, peri-implant clinicoradiographic parameters were comparable in all groups. Compared with baseline, there was a significant reduction in mPI (P< 0.001), mGI (P< 0.001) and PD (P< 0.001) in Groups 1 and 2 at 3-months follow-up. In Group 3, there was no difference in the scores of mPI, mGI and PD at follow-up. At 3-months follow-up, there was no difference in mPI, mGI and PD among patients in Groups 1 and 2. The mPI (P< 0.001), mGI (P< 0.001) and PD (P< 0.001) were significantly higher in Group 3 than Groups 1 and 2. The CBL was comparable in all groups at follow-up. CONCLUSION: PBMT and PDT seem to be useful adjuncts to MD for the treatment of peri-implant soft-tissue inflammation among patients with peri-implantitis.

Thermal decomposition of perfluorinated carboxylic acids: Kinetic model and theoretical requirements for PFAS incineration.

Thermal decomposition of high-fluorine content PFAS streams for the disposal of old generations of concentrates of firefighting foams, exhausted ion-exchanged resins and granular activated carbon, constitutes the preferred method for destruction of these materials. This contribution studies the thermal transformation of perfluoropentanoic acid (C4F9C(O)OH, PFPA), as a model PFAS species, in gas-phase reactions over broad ranges of temperature and residence time, which characterise incinerators and cement kilns. Our focus is only on gas-phase reactions, to formulate a gas-phase submodel that, in future, could be used in comprehensive simulation of thermal destruction of PFAS; such comprehensive models will need to comprise fluorine mineralisation on flyash and in clinker material. Our submodel consists of 56 reactions and 45 species, and includes new pathways that cover the initial decomposition channels of PFPA, including those that lead to the formation of the n-C4F9 radical, the abstraction of hydroxyl H by O/H radicals, the fragmentation of the n-C4F9 radical, reactions between HF and perfluoropentanoic acid, as well as between HF and heptafluorobutanoyl fluoride (C3F7COF), and the cyclisation reactions. The model illustrates the formation of a wide spectrum of small CnFm and CnHFm compounds in the temperature window of 800-1500 K, 2 and 25 s residence time in a plug flow reactor, providing theoretical estimates for the operating conditions of PFAS thermal destruction systems. The initiation reactions involve the loss of HF and formation of the transition α-lactone species that converts to C3F7COF, with C4F9C(O)OH completely decomposed at 1020 K for 2 s residence time. At 1500 K, we predict the emission of ꞉CF2 (biradical difluorocarbene), HF, CO2, CO, CF4, C2F6, and C2F4, but at < 1400 K, we note the formation of 1H-nonafluorobutane (C4HF9), phosgene (COF2), and heptafluorobutanoyl fluoride (C3F7COF), with 1-C4F8, 2-C4F8 and C3HF7 persisting to 1500 K. We demonstrate that, the gas-phase pyrolysis processes by themselves convert PFAS to HF and short-chain fluorocarbons, with similar product distribution for short (2 s) and long (25 s) residence times, as long as the treatment temperature exceeds 1500 K. These residence times reflect those encountered in incinerators and cement kilns, respectively. Thermokinetic and mechanistic insights revealed herein shall assist to innovate PFAS thermal disposal technologies, and, from a fundamental perspective, to accelerate research progress in modelling of gas/solid reactions that mineralise PFAS-derived fluorine.

Correlation between Apelin and Some Angiogenic Factors in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia: Apelin-13 as Novel Drug for Treating Preeclampsia and Its Physiological Effects on Placenta.

Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the commonest causes for maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Imbalances of angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response have a role in the pathogenesis of PE. Data regarding the circulating apelin level and its role in PE remains controversial. This study was formulated to assess the serum apelin level in PE, investigate its correlation with some inflammatory, oxidative stress, and angiogenic proteins in a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; the N (gamma)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced rat model of PE and determine whether apelin administration could protect against development of PE. 40 healthy adult female albino rats and 10 adult male albino rats were used in this study. The pregnant female rats were randomly divided into three groups: group 1 (normal pregnant group), group 2 (PE-induced group), injected subcutaneously with 75 mg L-NAME/kg bodyweight/day starting from day 9 to 20 of gestation, and group 3 (PE-induced group supplemented with apelin (PE + apelin)); PE induced as before and simultaneously subcutaneously injected with apelin-13 (6 × 10-8 mol/kg bodyweight/twice daily) beginning from day 6 to 20 of gestation. In all groups, blood pressure and urine protein were determined at gestation days (GD) 0, 10, and 18. Moreover, serum apelin, placental growth factor (PLGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and serum superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of all groups were estimated at the end of experiment. Placental histopathological examination was also performed. PE-induced rats showed significantly decreased serum apelin levels. Moreover, they showed significantly increased blood pressures, urine proteins, sFlt-1, sEng, and IFN-γ (mean arterial blood pressure, urine proteins, sFlt-1, sEng, and IFN-γ showed significant negative correlations with serum apelin level), but it showed significantly decreased VEGF, PLGF, IL-10, SOD, and CAT (VEGF, PLGF, IL-10, and SOD showed significant positive correlations with serum apelin level). In contrast, exogenous apelin administration significantly ameliorated these parameters together with improvement in the placental histoarchitecture in the apelin-supplemented PE group. This study demonstrated the protective effects of apelin administration on the pathogenesis of PE.

Sun-dried Azolla leaf meal at 10% dietary inclusion improved growth, meat quality, and increased skeletal muscle Ribosomal protein S6 kinase ß1 abundance in growing rabbit.

Rapidly growing human populations and the increased need for high nutritive value meat in terms of low fat, high protein, and low sodium content are the driving reasons for the increase in rabbit meat production. However, dietary protein alternatives to sustain rabbit meat production, without competing with humans for strategic crops are needed. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the effect of Azolla leaf meal (ALM) as a dietary protein source on growth performance, meat quality, and abundance and activation of Ribosomal protein S6 kinase ß1 (p70S6K1), a downstream target of mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway and, thus, a key player in the regulation of protein synthesis and muscle mass. For this purpose, 60 weaned male V-Line rabbits were blocked for the initial BW and randomly allotted into four dietary treatments, with 15 replicate per treatment (n = 15/group) as follows: (1) CON group was fed on basal diet contains 0% of ALM, (2) AZ10 group fed on diet containing 10% ALM, (3) AZ20 group fed on diet containing 20% ALM, and (4) AZ30 group fed on diet containing 30% ALM. Rabbits were raised individually, and the experimental period was 42 days. At the end of the experiment, rabbits were euthanised and blood and skeletal muscle samples were collected. Body weight and BW gain were the highest in AZ10 group (P = 0.01), while feed intake was the highest in AZ30 (P = 0.01), feed conversion ratio was the lowest in AZ10 and highest in AZ30 (P = 0.01). Dressing % was the highest in AZ10 and lowest in AZ30 groups (P = 0.01). Muscle cross-sectional area was low in both AZ20 and AZ30 groups compared to CON (P = 0.01). The lysine concentration of Longissimus lumborum muscle increased (P = 0.03) while isoleucine tended to decrease in AZ10 vs CON (P = 0.09). The phosphorylation ratio of skeletal muscle p70S6K1 increased in AZ10 and AZ20 groups (P = 0.05). Therefore, ALM could be included in a growing rabbit diet, up to 10%, while higher doses negatively alter production performance, meat quality, and feed efficiency of growing rabbits.

Identification of a novel nonsense variant in FYCO1 gene associated with infantile cataract and cortical atrophy.

INTRODUCTION: Cataract is a major condition characterized by ocular lens opacification, resulting from alteration in the lens architecture, lens proteins or both. It is responsible for about one-third of infants' blindness worldwide. Variants in the FYCO1 gene have been associated with autosomal recessive infantile cataract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) in a nine months old male patient who was referred for genetic investigation because of infantile cataract. WES analysis revealed the presence of a homozygous pathogenic variant (c.2365C>T) in exon 8 of the FYCO1 gene. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This is the first report on a Lebanese infant with infantile cataract and cortical atrophy which was not previously reported, resulting from a novel homozygous FYCO1 variant; thus expanding the clinical phenotypic spectrum of FYCO1 involvement.