The Impact of Age, Comorbidities, and Discharge Timing on Clinical Outcomes Following Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background The adoption of same-day discharge (SDD) in elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures offers potential benefits in terms of patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare costs. Despite these advantages, the safety and efficacy of SDD, especially among patients with diverse health profiles, are not fully understood. This study investigates the effects of patient-specific factors, including age, comorbidities, and discharge timing, on the clinical outcomes of elective PCI, focusing on the viability of SDD. Methods A prospective study was carried out at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, involving 220 patients undergoing elective PCI from January to June 2023. This research compared the clinical outcomes of patients discharged on the same day with those who had extended hospital stays, examining the impact of age, comorbidities, and PCI success. Main outcome measures included post-procedure complications and hospital readmissions within 30 days. Results The study enrolled participants with an average age of 62 years, the majority (88%, n=194/220) of whom had comorbidities. Interestingly, 16% (n=35/220) of the participants were discharged on the same day, while the rest stayed longer in the hospital. Notably, those in the SDD group experienced significantly more complications and readmissions, with 95.14% (n=33/36) compared to only 16.22% (n=30/184) in their counterparts. Factors such as age, comorbidities, success of PCI, timing of discharge, and patient satisfaction emerged as significant predictors of the observed outcomes. Conclusion This study highlights the essential role of personalized care in discharge planning following elective PCI, advocating for a cautious approach towards SDD, especially for older patients and those with multiple health issues.

Investigating the effect of SUMO fusion on solubility and stability of amylase-catalytic domain from Pyrococcus abyssi.

Alpha amylase belonging to starch hydrolyzing enzymes has significant contributions to different industrial processes. The enzyme production through recombinant DNA technology faces certain challenges related to their expression, solubility and purification, which can be overcome through fusion tags. This study explored the influence of SUMO, a protein tag reported to enhance the solubility and stability of target proteins when fused to the N-terminal of the catalytic domain of amylase from Pyrococcus abyssi (PaAD). The insoluble expression of PaAD in E. coli was overcome when the enzyme was expressed in a fusion state (S-PaAD) and culture was cultivated at 18 °C. Moreover, the activity of S-PaAD increased by 1.5-fold as compared to that of PaAD. The ligand binding and enzyme activity assays against different substrates demonstrated that it was more active against 1 % glycogen and amylopectin. The analysis of the hydrolysates through HPLC demonstrated that the enzyme activity is mainly amylolytic, producing longer oligosaccharides as the major end product. The secondary structure analyses by temperature ramping in CD spectroscopy and MD simulation demonstrated the enzymes in the free, as well as fusion state, were stable at 90 °C. The soluble production, thermostability and broad substrate specificity make this enzyme a promising choice for various foods, feed, textiles, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and many industrial applications.

Nitrogen Fertilization and Cultivar Interactions Determine Maize Yield and Grain Mineral Composition in Calcareous Soil under Semiarid Conditions.

Identifying the contributions of climate factors and fertilization to maize yield is significant for the assessment of climate change impacts on maize production under semiarid conditions. This experiment was conducted with an overall objective to find how N fertilization and cultivar interactions along with climatic conditions determine the mineral composition and maize yield responses of four divergent maize cultivars grown under eight different fertilization levels. The results showed that element contents were significantly affected by year (Y), cultivar (C), N fertilization, and N × C interaction. The element contents of grains were mainly influenced by N rate or N × C interactions. The results showed that maize yield was significantly affected by year (Y), genotype (G), N fertilization (N), and Y × G × N interaction. These results implied that the maize yield was significantly affected by changes in genotypes and environments. Overall, our findings are a result of the interactions of genetic, environmental, and agronomic management factors. Future studies could evaluate more extreme plant densities, N fertilizer levels, and environments to further enhance our understanding of management effects on the mineral composition and maize yield in calcareous soil.

Long-term outcome of microvascular decompression for typical trigeminal neuralgia with autologous muscle: an analysis of 1025 patients from a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the long-term outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) utilizing autologous muscle for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all first-time MVD patients for typical classic TGN without prior surgical intervention who were treated between 2000 and 2019 at a tertiary supraregional neurosurgery practice. Demographic characteristics, surgical findings, operative results, complications, and recurrence rates at 1 year, 5 years, and last follow-up were collected. Pain outcome was assessed using the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score. The chi-square test with continuity correction was used to compare categorical variables, and Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used to identify factors associated with recurrence. RESULTS: In total, 1025 patients were studied with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) (range) follow-up of 8 (5-13) (3-20) years. In the immediate postoperative period, 889 patients (86.7%) had complete pain relief and 106 (10.3%) had partial pain relief; neither group required medication, and 30 patients (2.9%) had no relief. One hundred forty-one recurrences (13.8%) occurred over a median (IQR) of 3 (2-6) years after surgery. The proportion of patients without recurrence was 97% at 1 year, 90% at 5 years, 85% at 10 years, 82% at 15 years, and 81% at 20 years. There was no significant difference in the probability of recurrence between patients with complete (114/907 [12.6%] recurrences) or partial (19/106 [17.9%] recurrences) postoperative pain relief (p = 0.124, log-rank test). Patients with venous compression (n = 322) had a significantly higher rate of MVD failure (n = 16 [5%]) compared to those with arterial compression (14/703 [2%]) (p = 0.015, chi-square test). In the Cox proportional hazards model, venous compression and lack of immediate postoperative pain relief had hazard ratios of 1.62 (95% CI 1.16-2.27) and 2.65 (95% CI 1.45-4.82) for recurrence, respectively. One hundred twenty-four (12.1%) complications were documented, including facial numbness (44 [4.3%]), facial nerve palsy (37 [3.6%]), CSF leak (13 [1.3%]), and diplopia (5 [0.5%]), which resolved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: MVD with autologous muscle provides long-lasting pain relief in TGN patients with vascular compression with minimum morbidity and is a viable alternative to synthetic materials.

Structural and functional insights of starch processing α-amylase from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcusabyssi.

The genomic screening of hyper-thermophilic Pyrococcus abyssi showed uncharacterized novel α-amylase sequences. Homology modelling analysis revealed that the α-amylase from P. abyssi consists of an N-terminal GH57 catalytic domain, α-amylase central, and C-terminal domain. Current studies emphasize in-silico structural and functional analysis, recombinant expression, characterization, structural studies through CD spectroscopy, and ligand binding studies of the novel α-amylase from P. abyssi. The soluble expression of PaAFG was observed in the E. coli Rosetta™ (DE3) pLysS strain upon incubation overnight at 18 °C in an orbital shaker. The optimum temperature and pH of the PaAFG were observed at 90 °C in 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 6. The Km value for PaAFG against wheat starch was determined as 0.20 ± 0.053 mg while the corresponding Vmax value was 25.00 ± 0.67 µmol min-1 mg-1 in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 and 12.5 % glycerol. The temperature ramping experiments through CD spectroscopy reveal no significant change in the secondary structures and positive and negative ellipticities of the CD spectra showing the proper folding and optimal temperature of PaAFG protein. The RMSD and RMSF of the PaAFG enzyme determined through molecular dynamic simulation show the significant protein's stability and mobility. The soluble production, thermostability and broad substrate specificity make this enzyme a promising choice for various industrial applications.

Models and data used to predict the abundance and distribution of Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick) in North America: a scoping review.

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) remain prevalent worldwide, and risk assessment of tick habitat suitability is crucial to prevent or reduce their burden. This scoping review provides a comprehensive survey of models and data used to predict I. scapularis distribution and abundance in North America. We identified 4661 relevant primary research articles published in English between January 1st, 2012, and July 18th, 2022, and selected 41 articles following full-text review. Models used data-driven and mechanistic modelling frameworks informed by diverse tick, hydroclimatic, and ecological variables. Predictions captured tick abundance (n = 14, 34.1%), distribution (n = 22, 53.6%) and both (n = 5, 12.1%). All studies used tick data, and many incorporated both hydroclimatic and ecological variables. Minimal host- and human-specific data were utilized. Biases related to data collection, protocols, and tick data quality affect completeness and representativeness of prediction models. Further research and collaboration are needed to improve prediction accuracy and develop effective strategies to reduce TBD.

2D Ni2P/N-doped graphene heterostructure as a Novel electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction: A computational study.

The main prerequisite for designing electrocatalysts with favorable performance is to examine the links between electronic structural features and catalytic activity. In this work, Ni2P as a model electrocatalyst and one of the most potent catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was utilized to develop various Ni2P and carbon-based (graphene and N-doped graphene) heterostructures. The characteristics of such structures (Ni2P, graphene, N-doped graphene, Ni2P/graphene, and Ni2P/N-doped graphene), including binding energies, the projected density of states (PDOS), band structure, charge density difference, charge transfer, Hirshfeld charge analysis, and minimum-energy path (MEP) towards HER were calculated and analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) approach. The coupling energy values of hybrid systems were correlated with the magnitude of charge transfer. The main factors driving a promising water-splitting reaction were explained by the data of PDOS, band structures, and charge analysis, including the inherent electronegativity of the N species alongside shifting the Fermi level toward the conductive band. It was also shown that a significant drop occurs in the HER energy barrier on Ni2P/graphene compared to the pristine Ni2P due to N doping on the graphene layer in the Ni2P/N-doped graphene heterostructure.

Acidification of European croplands by nitrogen fertilization: Consequences for carbonate losses, and soil health.

Soil acidification is an ongoing problem in intensively cultivated croplands due to inefficient and excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization. We collected high-resolution data comprising 19,969 topsoil (0-20 cm) samples from the Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey (LUCAS) of the European commission in 2009 to assess the impact of N fertilization on buffering substances such as carbonates and base cations. We have only considered the impacts of mineral fertilizers from the total added N, and a N use efficiency of 60 %. Nitrogen fertilization adds annually 6.1 × 107 kmol H+ to European croplands, leading to annual loss of 6.1 × 109 kg CaCO3. Assuming similar acidification during the next 50 years, soil carbonates will be completely removed from 3.4 × 106 ha of European croplands. In carbonate-free soils, annual loss of 2.1 × 107 kmol of basic cations will lead to strong acidification of at least 2.6 million ha of European croplands within the next 50 years. Inorganic carbon and basic cation losses at such rapid scale tremendously drop the nutrient status and production potential of croplands. Soil liming to ameliorate acidity increases pH only temporarily and with additional financial and environmental costs. Only the direct loss of soil carbonate stocks and compensation of carbonate-related CO2 correspond to about 1.5 % of the proposed budget of the European commission for 2023. Thus, controlling and decreasing soil acidification is crucial to avoid degradation of agricultural soils, which can be done by adopting best management practices and increasing nutrient use efficiency. Regular screening or monitoring of carbonate and base cations contents, especially for soils, where the carbonate stocks are at critical levels, are urgently necessary.

Landscape of FLT3 Variations Associated with Structural and Functional Impact on Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Computational Study.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is hallmarked by the clonal proliferation of myeloid blasts. Mutations that result in the constitutive activation of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene, coding for a class III receptor tyrosine kinase, are significantly associated with this heterogeneous hematologic malignancy. The fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand binds to the extracellular domain of the FLT3 receptor, inducing homodimer formation in the plasma membrane, leading to autophosphorylation and activation of apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow. In the present study, we evaluated the association of FLT3 as a significant biomarker for AML and tried to comprehend the effects of specific variations on the FLT3 protein's structure and function. We also examined the effects of I836 variants on binding affinity to sorafenib using molecular docking. We integrated multiple bioinformatics tools, databases, and resources such as OncoDB, UniProt, COSMIC, UALCAN, PyMOL, ProSA, Missense3D, InterProScan, SIFT, PolyPhen, and PredictSNP to annotate the structural, functional, and phenotypic impact of the known variations associated with FLT3. Twenty-nine FLT3 variants were analyzed using in silico approaches such as DynaMut, CUPSAT, AutoDock, and Discovery Studio for their impact on protein stability, flexibility, function, and binding affinity. The OncoDB and UALCAN portals confirmed the association of FLT3 gene expression and its mutational status with AML. A computational structural analysis of the deleterious variants of FLT3 revealed I863F mutants as destabilizers of the protein structure, possibly leading to functional changes. Many single-nucleotide variations in FLT3 have an impact on its structure and function. Thus, the annotation of FLT3 SNVs and the prediction of their deleterious pathogenic impact will facilitate an insight into the tumorigenesis process and guide experimental studies and clinical implications.

Distal Versus Proximal Radial Arterial Access for Percutaneous Coronary Angiography and Intervention: Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is a major impediment to reintervention in patients who underwent proximal transradial access (p-TRA) for coronary catheterization. Distal transradial access (d-TRA) at the level of snuffbox distal to the radial artery bifurcation is a novel alternative to p-TRA. We conducted an updated meta-analysis of all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the incidence of RAO between p-TRA and d-TRA, along with access site-related complications. PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for RCTs published since 2017 to October 2023 comparing d-TRA and p-TRA for coronary angiography and/or intervention. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the random-effects model for procedural and clinical outcomes for the 2 approaches. A total of 18 RCTs with 8,205 patients (d-TRA n = 4,096, p-TRA n = 4,109) were included. The risk of RAO (RR 0.31, 0.21 to 0.46, p ≤0.001) and time to hemostasis (minutes) (MD -51.18, -70.62 to -31.73, p <0.001) was significantly lower in the d-TRA group. Crossover rates (RR 2.39, 1.71 to 3.32, p <0.001), access time (minutes) (MD 0.93, 0.50 to 1.37, p <0.001), procedural pain (MD 0.46, 0.13 to 0.79, p = 0.006), and multiple puncture attempts (RR 2.13, 1.10 to 4.11, p = 0.03) were significantly higher in the d-TRA group. The use of d-TRA for coronary angiography and/or intervention is associated with a lower risk of RAO at the forearm and may preserve p-TRA site for reintervention in selective patients by reducing the incidence of RAO.

Exchangeable versus residual metals in naturally aged plastic litter.

Metals may be associated with plastics as additives arising from manufacture or through acquisition from the environment, but these associations are often poorly defined or referred to synonymously when considering metal availability. In this study, samples of plastic litter (n = 22) have been collected from various environmental and industrial compartments of Lublin Province, Poland, and fractionated according to polymer type (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, expanded polystyrene, polypropylene, and "mixed") before being micronised to < 2 mm. Composites (n = 89) were subjected to two phases of a standardised and widely employed sequential extraction protocol (Bureau Communautaire de Reference; BCR) in order to define available (acid-soluble and exchangeable) and residual (soluble in boiling aqua regia) concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. For a given metal, total content, calculated by summing available and residual components, was highly variable, both between locations and amongst polymer categories, reflecting the heterogeneous distribution of a multitude of different additives. Overall, however, concentrations were greatest for Fe, with medians of several hundred to several thousand mg kg-1 amongst the different polymers, and lowest for Cd, Co, and Ni, where nearly all concentrations were below 10 mg kg-1. Median percentage metal availabilities were greatest for expanded polystyrene and were above 25% for Mn and Zn and below 10% for Cr and Fe in all polymer types. These observations are largely, but not entirely, attributed to the relative contributions of metals acquired from the environment and metals present as additives and residues. Significantly, the approach employed allows direct comparisons of metal availability in plastics with metal availability in environmental solids in order to evaluate the overall impacts of plastics in metal risk assessments.

Engineering Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots: Tailoring Optical and Chemical Properties through Selection of Nitrogen Precursors.

The process of N-doping is frequently employed to enhance the properties of carbon quantum dots. However, the precise requirements for nitrogen precursors in producing high-quality N-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) remain undefined. This research systematically examines the influence of various nitrogen dopants on the morphology, optical features, and band structure of NCQDs. The dots are synthesized using an efficient, eco- friendly, and rapid continuous hydrothermal flow technique. This method offers unparalleled control over synthesis and doping, while also eliminating convention-related issues. Citric acid is used as the carbon source, and urea, trizma base, beta-alanine, L-arginine, and EDTA are used as nitrogen sources. Notably, urea and trizma produced NCQDs with excitation-independent fluorescence, high quantum yields (up to 40%), and uniform dots with narrow particle size distributions. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT modelling established that defects and substituents within the graphitic structure have a more significant impact on the NCQDs' electronic structure than nitrogen-containing functional groups. Importantly, for the first time, this work demonstrates that the conventional approach of modelling single-layer structures is insufficient, but two layers suffice for replicating experimental data. This study, therefore, provides essential guidance on the selection of nitrogen precursors for NCQD customization for diverse applications.

Evaluating the Differential Risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy Among Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) significantly complicates percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with a higher prevalence in diabetic patients. This study compares the incidence of CIN in diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing PCI. Material and methods Conducted at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, PAK, from January to December 2023, this observational study involved 450 adult patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing PCI. The cohort was categorized based on diabetes status, excluding patients with chronic kidney disease and those on renal replacement therapy. Baseline characteristics documented included age, gender, blood pressure, creatinine levels, and the presence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). CIN was defined as a ≥25% increase in serum creatinine from baseline within 48-72 hours post-PCI. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 25.0, Armonk, NY), incorporating descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and independent t-tests, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results The median age of the study population was 55 years. The cohort comprised 52% male (n=234) and 48% female (n=216). Notably, 33% (n=149) had ACS. Diabetic patients exhibited a significantly higher incidence of CIN post-PCI compared to non-diabetics. The highest incidence of CIN (17%, n=77) occurred in the 70+ age group. The findings highlight the criticality of renal function monitoring and procedural adjustments for diabetic patients. Conclusion Diabetic patients demonstrate an increased risk of CIN following PCI. This necessitates the development of tailored prevention strategies for this high-risk subgroup.

Sea-level rise and mental health among coastal communities: A quantitative survey and conditional process analysis.

This is the first large-scale empirical study examining the impact of sea-level rise induced by climate change on mental health outcomes among coastal communities. The study focuses on Bangladesh, a country severely affected by salinity ingress, flood risks, and agricultural damage due to sea-level changes. Participants (n = 1,200) randomly selected from three coastal regions each having high, moderate, or low vulnerability to sea-level rise were surveyed during the pre-monsoon season in 2021. The cross-sectional survey included validated measures of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, environmental stressors, resource loss, and demographics. The results indicated significantly higher levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress in residents of high-vulnerability areas compared to moderate or low-vulnerability regions. Resource loss served as a mediating variable between environmental stressors and mental health outcomes. Furthermore, demographic analyses showed that older adults and women reported higher levels of psychological distress. These findings align with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, highlighting urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and sustainable models of care in coastal areas increasingly threatened by sea-level rise.

Social Media Use and Alcohol Sipping in Early Adolescents: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Social media can influence alcohol initiation behaviors such as sipping, which can lead to future adverse alcohol-related outcomes. Few studies have examined the role of problematic social media use, characterized by addiction, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse, especially in early adolescence. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prospective association between social media use and sipping alcohol in a nationwide sample of early adolescents, and the extent to which problematic social media use mediates the association. METHODS: We analyzed prospective data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 7514; ages 9-10 years at baseline; 2016-2018) to estimate associations between social media time (Year 1) and alcohol sipping (Year 3) using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for confounders and testing problematic social media use (Year 2) as a mediator. RESULTS: Social media time (Year 1) was prospectively associated with 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.20-1.43) times higher risk of new-onset sipping (Year 3). The association between social media time and new-onset alcohol sipping was partially mediated by problematic social media use at Year 2 (25.0% reduction in the association between the former two factors after adding problematic social media use, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Time spent on social media was associated with a higher risk of alcohol sipping in a diverse national sample of early adolescents, and the association was partially mediated by problematic social media use. Media literacy education and family media use plans could advise early adolescents about exposure to alcohol content on social media and warning signs for problematic use.

Synthesis of unsymmetric phosphorotrithioates by sequential coupling of 1,1-dichloro-N,N-diethylphosphanamine with thiols and sulfenyl chloride.

Herein, we present the first, one-step, direct synthesis of unsymmetric phosphorotrithioates through a process involving sequential coupling of 1,1-dichloro-N,N-diethylphosphanamine with thiols and sulfenyl chloride. This method showcases excellent functional group tolerance, substrate compatibility, and mild reaction conditions, offering a streamlined approach for the challenging phosphorotrithioate synthesis. Additionally, the applicability of this method can be extended to the synthesis of mixed phosphoroselenodithioates.

Setting research priorities for global pandemic preparedness: An international consensus and comparison with ChatGPT's output.

Background: In this priority-setting exercise, we sought to identify leading research priorities needed for strengthening future pandemic preparedness and response across countries. Methods: The International Society of Global Health (ISoGH) used the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method to identify research priorities for future pandemic preparedness. Eighty experts in global health, translational and clinical research identified 163 research ideas, of which 42 experts then scored based on five pre-defined criteria. We calculated intermediate criterion-specific scores and overall research priority scores from the mean of individual scores for each research idea. We used a bootstrap (n = 1000) to compute the 95% confidence intervals. Results: Key priorities included strengthening health systems, rapid vaccine and treatment production, improving international cooperation, and enhancing surveillance efficiency. Other priorities included learning from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, managing supply chains, identifying planning gaps, and promoting equitable interventions. We compared this CHNRI-based outcome with the 14 research priorities generated and ranked by ChatGPT, encountering both striking similarities and clear differences. Conclusions: Priority setting processes based on human crowdsourcing - such as the CHNRI method - and the output provided by ChatGPT are both valuable, as they complement and strengthen each other. The priorities identified by ChatGPT were more grounded in theory, while those identified by CHNRI were guided by recent practical experiences. Addressing these priorities, along with improvements in health planning, equitable community-based interventions, and the capacity of primary health care, is vital for better pandemic preparedness and response in many settings.

Effects of Spirulina supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

AIM: We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, and serum pentraxin 3 (PTX-3) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Eighty patients with UC were randomly assigned to consume either 1 g/day (two 500 mg capsules/day) of SP (n = 40) or control (n = 40) for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, physical activity, disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum PTX-3 levels were assessed and compared between groups at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (91.3%) completed the trial. We observed increases in serum total antioxidant capacity levels in the SP supplementation group compared to the control group after 8 weeks of intervention (p ≤ 0.001). A within-group comparison indicated a trend towards a higher health-related quality of life score after 8 weeks of taking two different supplements, SP (p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.012), respectively. However, there were no significant changes in participant's disease activity score in response to SP administration (p > 0.05). Similarly, changes in ESR and PTX-3 levels were comparable between groups post-intervention (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SP improved antioxidant capacity status and health-related quality of life in patients with UC. Our findings suggest that SP supplementation may be effective as an adjuvant treatment for managing patients with UC. Larger trials with longer interventions periods are required to confirm our findings.

JNK3 inhibitors as promising pharmaceuticals with neuroprotective properties.

The intensive study and investigation of neuroprotective therapy for central nervous system (CNS) diseases is ongoing. Due to shared mechanisms of neurodegeneration, a neuroprotective approach might offer benefits across multiple neurological disorders, despite variations in symptoms or injuries. C-Jun N-terminal Kinase 3 (JNK3) is found primarily in the CNS and is involved in physiological processes such as brain development, synapse formation, and memory formation. The potential of JNK3 as a target for pharmacological development holds promise for advancing neuroprotective therapies. Developing small molecule JNK3 inhibitors into drugs with neuroprotective qualities could facilitate neuronal restoration and self-repair. This review focuses on elucidating key neuroprotective mechanisms, exploring the interplay between neurodegenerative diseases and neuroprotection, and discussing advancements in JNK3 inhibitor drug development.

N2 reduction to NH3 on surfaces of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 catalysts.

CONTEXT: The abilities of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 as catalysts for N2-RR to create the NH3 are investigated by theoretical levels. The ∆Eadoption and ∆Eformation of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 are investigated. The ∆Eadsorption of N2-RR intermediates and ΔGreaction of reaction steps of N2-RR on Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 are examined. In acceptable mechanisms, the *NN → *NNH step is potential limiting step and *NN → *NNH step in enzymatic mechanism is endothermic reaction. The ∆Greaction of *NHNH2 → *NH2NH2 step on Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 are -0.904, -0.928, -0.860, -0.882, -0.817 and -0.838 eV, respectively. The Co-Al18P18 and Ni-Al21N21 have the highest ∆Greaction values for reaction steps of N2-RR. Finally, it can be concluded that the Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24 and Mn-B27P2 have acceptable potential for N2-RR by acceptable pathways. METHODS: The structures of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 and N2-RR intermediates are optimized by PW91PW91/6-311+G (2d, 2p) and M06-2X/cc-pVQZ as theoretical levels in GAMESS software. The convergence for force set displacement of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 and N2-RR intermediates are 1.5 × 105 Hartree/Bohr and 6.0 × 10-5 Angstrom. The Opt = Tight and MaxStep = 30 are considered to optimize Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 and N2-RR intermediates. The frequencies of Co-Al18P18, Ni-Al21N21, Fe-B24N24, Mn-B27P27, Ti-C60 and Cu-Si72 and N2-RR intermediates are calculated.