[Analysis of indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate in clinical practice]. / Vybor metodiki opredeleniya skorosti plazmennoi eliminatsii indotsianina zelenogo v klinicheskoi praktike.

OBJECTIVE: To justify the optimal method for determining indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (PDRICG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed PDRICG in intensive care units. Indocyanine green was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. PDRICG was analyzed simultaneously by using of three methods: 1) PDD (PiCCO2 LiMON device), 2) SBS with analysis of plasma samples on precise spectrophotometer, 3) SBS with analysis of plasma samples on simple experimental photometer. RESULTS: PDD method was used for 346 PDRICG tests in 256 patients. Of these, 14.3% of measurements were erroneous. Paired tests using PDD and SBS methods were performed in 299 cases. SBS method resulted erroneous data in 0.6% of cases. Certain correlation (r=0.79, p<0.001) was found between the reference method (SBS with spectrophotometry) and the PDD method. Bland-Altman plot for these two methods showed that proportional bias of mean difference was caused by extremely high PDRICG of the PDD method (for example, more than 30%/min). Comparison of two SBS variants (spectrophotometer and experimental photometer) revealed good correlation (r=0.91, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SBS method for measuring PDRICG ensures accurate results under mechanical interferences in patients with impaired capillary blood flow. This eliminates the need for redo measurement. Duplication of the PDD and SBS methods is recommended when repeating the test is not possible (organ donors).

Isatin-tethered halogen-containing acylhydrazone derivatives as monoamine oxidase inhibitor with neuroprotective effect.

Sixteen isatin-based hydrazone derivatives (IS1-IS16) were synthesized and assessed for their ability to inhibit monoamine oxidases (MAOs). All the molecules showed improved inhibitory MAO-B activity compared to MAO-A. Compound IS7 most potently inhibited MAO-B with an IC50 value of 0.082 µM, followed by IS13 and IS6 (IC50 = 0.104 and 0.124 µM, respectively). Compound IS15 most potently inhibited MAO-A with an IC50 value of 1.852 µM, followed by IS3 (IC50 = 2.385 µM). Compound IS6 had the highest selectivity index (SI) value of 263.80, followed by IS7 and IS13 (233.85 and 212.57, respectively). In the kinetic study, the Ki values of IS6, IS7, and IS13 for MAO-B were 0.068 ± 0.022, 0.044 ± 0.002, and 0.061 ± 0.001 µM, respectively, and that of IS15 for MAO-A was 1.004 ± 0.171 µM, and the compounds were reversible-type inhibitors. The lead compounds were central nervous system (CNS) permeable, as per parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) test results. The lead compounds were examined for their cytotoxicity and potential neuroprotective benefits in hazardous lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Pre-treatment with lead compounds enhanced anti-oxidant levels (SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx) and decreased ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, TNF-alpha, and NF-kB) production in LPS-intoxicated SH-SY5Y cells. To confirm the promising effects of the compound, molecular docking, dynamics, and MM-GBSA binding energy were used to examine the molecular basis of the IS7-MAO-B interaction. Our findings indicate that lead compounds are potential therapeutic agents to treat neurological illnesses, such as Parkinson's disease.

Color stability of bleached tooth enamel brushed with different stain-removing toothpastes.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of four toothpastes on the color stability of in-office bleached tooth specimens were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated an experimental toothpaste (EXP) and three commercially available toothpastes: Colgate Optic White (OPW), Aquafresh White & Protect (AWP), and Crest 3D White (CDW). OPW, AWP, and CDW contained inorganic abrasives, whereas EXP and AWP contained sodium polyphosphate. Forty-eight randomly selected human-extracted maxillary central incisors were bleached and brushed twice daily over 30 days. We analyzed the final color difference (ΔE*ab, ΔE00 , ΔWID ), arithmetic average surface roughness (Ra) of the enamel measured on days 0 and 30, and scanning electron microscopy images of enamel surfaces and toothpastes. ΔE*ab, ΔE00 , ΔWID , and Ra were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: ΔE*ab and ΔE00 values were significantly lower after toothbrushing with EXP, OPW, and CDW than with AWP. OPW induced the greatest positive ΔWID . Ra was significantly increased by OPW and CDW, but slightly increased by AWP, with cube-like particles, and EXP, with no particle-like structures. CONCLUSIONS: Only EXP stabilized the color of bleached teeth without increasing the enamel surface roughness. Sodium polyphosphate with approximately 10 phosphate groups was effective at removing stains. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The effect of toothpaste on the color stability of bleached teeth depends on the constituting abrasives and chemical components. Polyphosphoric acid has different stain-removal effects depending on its degree of polymerization. Additionally, although certain types of abrasives may be effective for color stability, they also increase the surface roughness of the enamel.

The complex of tannic acid and cetylpyridinium chloride: An antibacterial and stain-removal cleaner for aligners.

INTRODUCTION: Effective aligner hygiene is recognized as an important part of orthodontic treatments and oral hygiene. However, there is no effective cleansing method for removable aligners. METHODS: In this study, we incorporated tannic acid (TA) with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) to develop the TA-CPC complex. The antibacterial properties of 15.8 mg/mL TA-CPC against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated in vitro, which were compared with 5.1 mg/mL TA, 10.7 mg/mL CPC, a commercial denture cleansing solution (YA; 15 mg/mL), and water. As for the assessment of stain-removal ability, the aligners stained by coffee were soaked in cleansing solutions, and the color changes (ΔE∗) were calculated on the basis of the CIE L∗a∗b∗ color system, and the National Bureau of Standards system was used for the clinical interpretation of the color change. Atomic force microscope examination, tensile property assessment, and wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis were performed to investigate the material compatibility of TA-CPC, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and live/dead assay were used to test the cytotoxicity of TA-CPC. RESULTS: The results showed that TA-CPC had a positive zeta-potential, and cation-π interaction changed the chemical environments of the phenyl group in TA-CPC, resulting in greater inhibition zones of S. aureus and E. coli than other cleaners. The quantification of the biofilm biomass and the fluorescent intensities also reflected that the TA-CPC solution exhibited better antibacterial ability. As for the ability of stain removal, ΔE∗ value of group TA-CPC was 2.84 ± 0.55, whereas those of stained aligners immersed with deionized distilled water, TA, YA, and CPC were 10.26 ± 0.04, 9.54 ± 0.24, 5.93 ± 0.36, and 4.69 ± 0.35, respectively. The visual inspection and National Bureau of Standards ratings also showed that the color of stained aligners cleansed by TA-CPC was much lighter than those of the other groups. Meanwhile, TA-CPC had good compatibility with the aligner material and cells. CONCLUSIONS: TA-CPC is a promising strategy to inhibit the formation of biofilms and remove the stains on the aligners safely, which may disinfect the aligners to improve oral health and help keep the transparent appearances of aligners without impacting the morphology and mechanical properties.

A flexible, image-based, high-throughput platform encompassing in-depth cell profiling to identify broad-spectrum coronavirus antivirals with limited off-target effects.

The recent pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) posed a major threat to global health. Although the World Health Organization ended the public health emergency status, antiviral drugs are needed to address new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics. To identify novel broad-spectrum coronavirus drugs, we developed a high-content imaging platform compatible with high-throughput screening. The platform is broadly applicable as it can be adapted to include various cell types, viruses, antibodies, and dyes. We demonstrated that the antiviral activity of compounds against SARS-CoV-2 variants (Omicron BA.5 and Omicron XBB.1.5), SARS-CoV, and human coronavirus 229E could easily be assessed. The inclusion of cellular dyes and immunostaining in combination with in-depth image analysis enabled us to identify compounds that induced undesirable phenotypes in host cells, such as changes in cell morphology or in lysosomal activity. With the platform, we screened ∼900K compounds and triaged hits, thereby identifying potential candidate compounds carrying broad-spectrum activity with limited off-target effects. The flexibility and early-stage identification of compounds with limited host cell effects provided by this high-content imaging platform can facilitate coronavirus drug discovery. We anticipate that its rapid deployability and fast turnaround can also be applied to combat future pandemics.

Comparative histomorphologic study of basement membrane side staining and additional epithelial side staining of the anterior lens capsule with Trypan Blue.

PURPOSE: To compare the histomorphologic changes on the anterior lens capsule by both epithelial and basement membrane side staining to those of only basement membrane side staining of the anterior lens capsule with Trypan Blue (TB). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done on 72 samples from patients who underwent cataract surgery between April 2021 and September 2022. After capsulorhexis of the TB-stained capsule, it was made into two halves externally and one half labeled as controls (sample A). The other half was immediately stained further with TB on the epithelial side and was taken as cases (sample B). Samples were analyzed for lens epithelial cells and basement membrane changes. RESULTS: The loss of intactness of lens epithelial cells, partial or complete detachment of lens epithelial cells, degeneration of lens epithelial cells, and basement edema were significantly higher in cases compared to controls, whereas intactness of the basement membrane did not show any statistical significance between the two groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in cell density in cases compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Staining the epithelial side of the capsular bag with TB is more detrimental to lens epithelial cells and paves the way for a further study of staining the capsular bag before intra-ocular lens implantation to reduce the incidence of posterior capsule opacification.

Optimization of Sirius Red-Based Microplate Assay to Investigate Collagen Production In Vitro.

Tissue fibrosis is characterized by chronic fibroblast activation and consequently excessive accumulation of collagen-rich extracellular matrix. In vitro microplate-based assays are essential to investigate the underlying mechanism and the effect of antifibrotic drugs. In this study, in the absence of a gold-standard method, we optimized a simple, cost-effective, Sirius Red-based colorimetric measurement to determine the collagen production of fibroblasts grown on 96-well tissue culture plates. Based on our findings, the use of a serum-free medium is recommended to avoid aspecific signals, while ascorbate supplementation increases the collagen production of fibroblasts. The cell-associated collagens can be quantified by Sirius Red staining in acidic conditions followed by alkaline elution. Immature collagens can be precipitated from the culture medium by acidic Sirius Red solution, and after subsequent centrifugation and washing steps, their amount can be also measured. Increased attention has been paid to optimizing the assay procedure, including incubation time, temperature, and solution concentrations. The resulting assay shows high linearity and sensitivity and could serve as a useful tool in fibrosis-related basic research as well as in preclinical drug screening.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Medicine Food Homology Flower Saffron against CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice via the Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF Signaling Pathway.

Liver fibrosis refers to a complex inflammatory response caused by multiple factors, which is a known cause of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. As a valuable medicine food homology herb, saffron has been widely used in the world. Saffron is commonly used in liver-related diseases and has rich therapeutic and health benefits. The therapeutic effect is satisfactory, but its mechanism is still unclear. In order to clarify these problems, we planned to determine the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of saffron extract in preventing and treating liver fibrosis through network pharmacology analysis combined with in vivo validation experiments. Through UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS analysis, a total of fifty-six nutrients and active ingredients were identified, and nine of them were screened to predict their therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis. Then, network pharmacology analysis was applied to identify 321 targets for saffron extract to alleviate liver fibrosis. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis showed that the putative targets of saffron for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis are mainly involved in the calcium signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, endocrine resistance, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, and the cAMP signaling pathway. Based on the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mice model, we experimentally confirmed that saffron extract can alleviate the severity and pathological changes during the progression of liver fibrosis. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis confirmed that saffron treatment can prevent the CCl4-induced upregulation of HIF-1α, VEGFA, AKT, and PI3K, suggesting that saffron may regulate AKT/HIF-1α/VEGF and alleviate liver fibrosis.

Effects of two novel denture cleansers on multispecies microbial biofilms, stain removal and the denture surface: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The continuously increasing demand for removable denture appliances and the importance of adequate denture cleaning have led to the development of various denture cleansing products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two novel denture cleansing agents (GE and TM) and three commonly available cleansers (0.5% sodium hypochlorite; NaClO, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate; CHX, and Polident®; POL) on multispecies microbial biofilm formation, stain removal and physical properties of dentures. METHODS: The antimicrobial activities of denture cleansing agents were determined against major oral opportunistic pathogens including Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, using time-kill assays. Multispecies microbial biofilms grown on acrylic resins for 72 h were generated to determine the antibiofilm effects of cleansing agents by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Evaluations of the tea and coffee stain removal properties and the alterations in the physical properties of dentures were also performed. The toxicity of cleanser residues released from denture acrylics to fibroblast cells was investigated using MTT assay. RESULTS: All denture cleansing agents tested could effectively kill oral bacteria and Candida albicans. Furthermore, after immersion for more than 3 h, the cleansers Polident®, GE and TM could efficiently penetrate and inhibit multispecies denture biofilms with effects similar to 10 min of immersion in 0.5% NaClO. However, immersion in 0.12% CHX for 20 min showed less antibiofilm activity. The NaClO solution had the highest efficacy for removing stains from the artificial teeth. Conversely, the CHX solution enhanced tea and coffee staining, and the teeth immersed in this solution showed clinically unacceptable colour changes (ΔE > 5.5). However, the colour differences of teeth stained and immersed in POL, GE and TM cleansers were in the clinically acceptable range. There was no significant difference among the POL, GE and TM cleansers in terms of stain removal efficacy. The cleansers GE and TM did not alter the surface roughness and colour of the materials, moreover the residues of both cleansers did not exhibit cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Two novel denture cleansing agents containing natural products, GE and TM exhibited effective antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm and stain removal capabilities without toxicity or disturbance of the physical properties of acrylics.

Enhancing wool dyeing with clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) based natural dye via microwave treatment using a central composite design.

This research investigates the viability of using Syzygium aromaticum (clove) as a natural dye for wool yarn through the application of microwave treatment and optimization using central composite design (CCD). As concerns grow over the environmental impact of synthetic dyes and their detrimental disposal in water bodies, the search for eco-friendly alternatives becomes imperative to revolutionize the textile industry. Microwave-assisted extraction of the colorant from clove powder is explored as an efficient and sustainable method, minimizing solvent usage and energy consumption compared to conventional techniques. To enhance colorfastness properties while eliminating the need for toxic mordants, green alternatives such as Al, Fe, and tannic acid, combined with plant phenolics from red sumac, pomegranate rind, and weld, are employed. According to the analysis of CCD, the higher color strength value 18.1653 was achieved using pH = 3, time = 50 min, temperature = 70 °C, and salt concentration = 1.5 g/100 mL. The optimized dyeing conditions also showed a maximum level of colorfastness properties of 5 for light, 5 for wash, 5 for dry rubbing, and 4 for wet rubbing. The findings from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses provide valuable insights into the chemical and morphological changes induced by microwave treatment and dyeing with clove extract. The results affirm the presence of eugenol as a potential active molecule responsible for the captivating color of clove flower buds, validating its suitability as a natural dye source for wool. This study highlights the promising potential of microwave-assisted extraction and plant-based biomolecules as innovative and environmentally friendly approaches in natural dyeing, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the textile industry. Embracing these eco-friendly practices allows the textile sector to reduce its ecological footprint and contribute to a cleaner and greener environment. Further research and implementation of these techniques can foster a more harmonious coexistence with nature, ensuring a healthier ecosystem for all.

Carbon Dots from Tire Waste for the Photodegradation of Methyl Orange Dye, Antimicrobial Activity, and Molecular Docking Study.

In this study, solvothermal pathway was employed for the synthesis of P, N codoped C-dot using tire waste as a sustainable source of carbon and nitrogen. Comprehensive analyses encompassing X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, cyclic voltammetry, and UV-Vis spectra were used to assess the crystalline structure, purity, size, fluorescence up-conversion, and morphological attributes of the nanomaterial. Subsequently, the produced C-dots were evaluated for their efficacy in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange dyes, demonstrating notable success in degrading methyl orange dye within eight hours in the visible region. Furthermore, the same nanomaterial was applied for carrying out agar disk-diffusion assays against a spectrum of microorganisms. Results revealed substantial inhibition zones against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Elucidating the antimicrobial mechanism, molecular-docking simulations were excuted using on AutoDock Vina with designated ligands. The results indicated a strong binding affinity of the C-dots with certain proteins associated with antibacterial activity. This observation suggests that the synthesized C-dots effectively engage with the active sites of these proteins, indicating their potential as promising antibacterial agents. Importantly, this study implies that C-dots do not induce protein denaturation, thereby warranting further investigation of their utility as antibacterial agents.

Antimicrobial potential and rhodamine B dye degradation using graphitic carbon nitride and polyvinylpyrrolidone doped bismuth tungstate supported with in silico molecular docking studies.

The environmental-friendly hydrothermal method has been carried out to synthesize Bi2WO6 and g-C3N4/PVP doped Bi2WO6 nanorods (NRs) by incorporating different concentrations of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as well as a specified quantity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Bi2WO6 doped with g-C3N4 provides structural and chemical stability, reduces charge carriers, degrades dyes, and, owing to lower bandgap energy, is effective for antibacterial, catalytic activity, and molecular docking analysis. The purpose of this research is the treatment of polluted water and to investigate the bactericidal behavior of a ternary system. The catalytic degradation was performed to remove the harmful rhodamine B (RhB) dye using NaBH4 in conjunction with prepared NRs. The specimen compound demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) at both high and low concentrations. Higher doped specimens of g-C3N4/PVP-doped Bi2WO6 exhibited a significant improvement in efficient bactericidal potential against E. coli (4.55 mm inhibition zone). In silico experiments were carried out on enoyl-[acylcarrier-protein] reductase (FabI) and ß-lactamase enzyme for E. coli to assess the potential of Bi2WO6, PVP doped Bi2WO6, and g-C3N4/PVP-doped Bi2WO6 NRs as their inhibitors and to justify their possible mechanism of action.

The photodynamic activity properties of a series of structurally analogous tetraarylporphyrin, chlorin and N-confused porphyrin dyes and their Sn(IV) complexes.

A series of tetraarylporphyrin, -chlorin and N-confused porphyrin dyes with 4­methoxy­meso-aryl rings (1-Por, 1-Chl and 1-NCP) and their Sn(IV) complexes (1-SnPor, 1-SnChl and 1-SnNCP) have been synthesized and characterized. The heavy atom effect of the Sn(IV) ion results in relatively high singlet oxygen quantum yield values of 0.67, 0.71 and 0.85 for 1-SnPor, 1-SnChl and 1-SnNCP, respectively. The photodynamic activities of 1-Por, 1-Chl, 1-NCP, 1-SnPor, 1-SnChl and 1-SnNCP were determined against MCF-7 breast cancer cells through illumination with Thorlabs 625 or 660 nm (240 or 280 mW.cm-2) light emitting diodes (LEDs) for 20 min. The IC50 values for 1-SnChl and 1-SnNCP lie between 1.4 - 6.1 and 1.6 - 4.8 µM upon photoirradiation with the 660 and 625 nm LEDs, respectively, while higher values of >10 µM were obtained for 1-SnPor and the free base dyes. In a similar manner, 1-SnChl and 1-SnNCP were found to also have significantly higher photodynamic antimicrobial activity against planktonic Gram-(+) Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-(-) Escherichia coli bacteria than the other dyes studied. Upon illumination with Thorlabs 625 and 660 nm LEDs for 75 min, Log10 reduction values of 7.62 and > 2.40-3.69 were obtained with 1 and 5 µM solutions, respectively.

Hematoxylin and Eosin staining of PhenoCycler® Fusion flow cell slides.

Multiplexed Imaging technologies are powerful techniques that enable ultrahigh-plex spatial phenotyping of whole tissue sections at single cell spatial resolution. Co-Detection by Indexing (CODEX) multiplexing can detect up to 100 proteins using cyclic detection of DNA conjugated antibodies applied to tissue sections. However, it is necessary to correlate multiplexed fluorescent (mIF) spatial images with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained sections post analysis. To effectively correlate mIF spatial images with H&E morphology, an (H&E) staining protocol was developed that is directly applied to the CODEX Fusion flow-cell slide after analysis allowing for direct H&E correlation and annotation with mIF images.

Detection and treatment of biofilm-induced periodontitis by histidine-doped FeSN nanozyme with ultra-high peroxidase-like activity.

Pathogenic biofilm induced oral diseases have posed a significant treat to human health, such as periodontitis resulting from the formation of bacterial biofilm on teeth and gums. The traditional treatment methods such as mechanical debridement and antibiotic therapy encounter the poor therapeutic effect. Recently, numerous nanozymes with excellent antibacterial effect have been widely used in the treatment of oral diseases. In this study, a novel iron-based nanozyme (FeSN) generated by histidine-doped FeS2 with high peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity was designed for the oral biofilm removal and treatment of periodontitis. FeSN exhibited an extremely high POD-like activity, and enzymatic reaction kinetics and theoretical calculations had demonstrated its catalytic efficiency to be approximately 30 times than that of FeS2. The antibacterial experiments showed that FeSN had robust antibacterial activity against Fusobacterium nucleatum in the presence of H2O2, causing a reduction in the levels of glutathione reductase and ATP in bacterial cells, while increasing the level of oxidase coenzyme. The ultrahigh POD-like activity of FeSN allowed for easy detection of pathogenic biofilms and promoted the breakdown of biofilm structure. Furthermore, FeSN demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity to human fibroblast cells. In a rat model of periodontitis, FeSN exhibited significant therapeutic effects by reducing the extent of biofilm formation, inflammation, and alveolar bone loss. Taken together, our results suggested that FeSN, generated by self-assembly of two amino acids, represented a promising approach for biofilm removal and periodontitis treatment. This method has the potential to overcome the limitations of current treatments and provide an effective alternative for periodontitis treatment.

Indicator-dependent differences in detection of local intracellular Ca2+ release events evoked by voltage-gated Ca2+ entry in pancreatic ß-cells.

Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators have become widely used in cell signalling studies as they offer advantages over cell-loaded dye indicators in enabling specific cellular or subcellular targeting. Comparing responses from dye and protein-based indicators may provide information about indicator properties and cell physiology, but side-by-side recordings in cells are scarce. In this study, we compared cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) changes in insulin-secreting ß-cells recorded with commonly used dyes and indicators based on circularly permuted fluorescent proteins. Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging of K+ depolarization-triggered submembrane [Ca2+]i increases showed that the dyes Fluo-4 and Fluo-5F mainly reported stable [Ca2+]i elevations, whereas the proteins R-GECO1 and GCaMP5G more often reported distinct [Ca2+]i spikes from an elevated level. [Ca2+]i spiking occurred also in glucose-stimulated cells. The spikes reflected Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, triggered by autocrine activation of purinergic receptors after exocytotic release of ATP and/or ADP, and the spikes were consequently prevented by SERCA inhibition or P2Y1-receptor antagonism. Widefield imaging, which monitors the entire cytoplasm, increased the spike detection by the Ca2+ dyes. The indicator-dependent response patterns were unrelated to Ca2+ binding affinity, buffering and mobility, and probably reflects the much slower dissociation kinetics of protein compared to dye indicators. Ca2+ dyes thus report signalling within the submembrane space excited by TIRF illumination, whereas the protein indicators also catch Ca2+ events originating outside this volume. The study highlights that voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry in ß-cells is tightly linked to local intracellular Ca2+ release mediated via an autocrine route that may be more important than previously reported direct Ca2+ effects on phospholipase C or on intracellular channels mediating calcium-induced calcium release.

An eco-friendly ultrasound approach to extracting yellow dye from Cassia alata flower petals: Characterization, dyeing, and antibacterial properties.

Using natural dyes in dyeing industries becomes an alternative to synthetic dyes, which are known to contain harmful chemicals that can pose risks to the environment and human health. This study involves the extraction of yellow dye from Cassia alata flower petals, optimization of the extraction process using an ultrasonic bath (40 KHz and an input power of 500), ultrasonic probe (390 W, 455 W, 520 W, 585 W, and 650 W), and conventional heating (heating mantle with 30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C), characterization of the dye, as well as dyeing (cotton, silk, and leather) without using a mordant. The extracted yellow dye was further evaluated to determine its antibacterial activity against skin bacteria. Dye extraction optimization using UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis revealed that the maximum yellow color in methanol extract (287 and 479 nm) was obtained at 50 °C for 45 min using ultrasonic water bath extraction, followed by the ultrasonic probe and direct heating. Based on the FTIR spectra, it is evident that OH is present at approximately 3300 cm-1, while CH stretches at around 2900 cm-1. A characteristic peak at 1608 cm-1 bears a striking similarity to anthraquinonoid-based compounds. Also, using the ultrasonic water bath dyeing technique at 50 °C for 45 min, the yellow color of cotton, silk, and leather was dyed optimally. Due to effective color removal after two washings with boiling soap liquid, the dyed cotton and silk fabric displayed good washing and rubbing fastness. Regarding antibacterial activity, the dye was highly active against all pathogens after extraction in methanol. The maximum inhibition was observed against Pseudomonas sp. with a MIC value of 1.56 mg/ml.

The impact of using the internal mammary artery as a recipient vessel on medial mastectomy skin flap perfusion in autologous breast reconstruction: An observational study using indocyanine green.

BACKGROUND: The internal mammary artery (IMA) is the preferred recipient vessel for microvascular anastomosis in immediate autologous breast reconstruction following skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM). Although the IMA accounts for approximately 60% of the blood supply to the breast, the exact contribution to the mastectomy skin flap perfusion is unclear. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the impact of using the IMA as a recipient vessel on medial mastectomy skin flap perfusion assessed with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). METHODS: This observational study included ten consecutive women who underwent immediate autologous breast reconstructions following SSM. Two intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) assessments were performed to assess tissue perfusion of the upper and lower part of the medial mastectomy skin flap: the first following the SSM and the second after clamping the IMA. During a 120-second angiography, three additional images were made after 60, 90, and 120 s. The ICG inflow time and mean, minimum, and maximum fluorescence intensities (FIs) were obtained. RESULTS: Four unilateral and six bilateral autologous breast reconstructions were included. There was no difference in tissue perfusion when comparing the inflow time (24.1 s vs. 23.0 s, P = 0.348), the mean FI (131.4 vs. 124.0, P = 0.126), minimum FI (28.6 vs. 33.4, P = 0.086), and maximum FI (253.1 vs. 247.6, P = 0.166) before and after clamping the IMA. CONCLUSION: According to this study, the use of the IMA as a recipient vessel does not reduce medial mastectomy skin flap perfusion in patients undergoing immediate autologous breast reconstructions following SSM.