Mannose-specific plant and microbial lectins as antiviral agents: A review.

Lectins are non-immunological carbohydrate-binding proteins classified on the basis of their structure, origin, and sugar specificity. The binding specificity of such proteins with the surface glycan moiety determines their activity and clinical applications. Thus, lectins hold great potential as diagnostic and drug discovery agents and as novel biopharmaceutical products. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in understanding plant and microbial lectins as therapeutic agents against various viral diseases. Among them, mannose-specific lectins have being proven as promising antiviral agents against a variety of viruses, such as HIV, Influenza, Herpes, Ebola, Hepatitis, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1), Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and most recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The binding of mannose-binding lectins (MBLs) from plants and microbes to high-mannose containing N-glycans (which may be simple or complex) of glycoproteins found on the surface of viruses has been found to be highly specific and mainly responsible for their antiviral activity. MBLs target various steps in the viral life cycle, including viral attachment, entry and replication. The present review discusses the brief classification and structure of lectins along with antiviral activity of various mannose-specific lectins from plants and microbial sources and their diagnostic and therapeutic applications against viral diseases.

Preclinical and Clinical Studies on the Use of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds.

To date, the widespread implementation of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic wounds, including debridement, infection control, and the use of grafts and various dressings, has been time-consuming and accompanied by many challenges, with definite success not yet achieved. Extensive studies on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have led to suggestions for their use in treating various diseases. Given the existing barriers to utilizing such cells and numerous pieces of evidence indicating the crucial role of the paracrine signaling system in treatments involving MSCs, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from these cells have garnered significant attention in treating chronic wounds in recent years. This review begins with a general overview of current methods for chronic wound treatment, followed by an exploration of EV structure, biogenesis, extraction methods, and characterization. Subsequently, utilizing databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, we have explored the latest findings regarding the role of EVs in the healing of chronic wounds, particularly diabetic and burn wounds. In this context, the role and mode of action of these nanoparticles in healing chronic wounds through mechanisms such as oxygen level elevation, oxidative stress damage reduction, angiogenesis promotion, macrophage polarization assistance, etc., as well as the use of EVs as carriers for engineered nucleic acids, have been investigated. The upcoming challenges in translating EV-based treatments for healing chronic wounds, along with possible approaches to address these challenges, are discussed. Additionally, clinical trial studies in this field are also covered.

A sustainable nano-hybrid system of laccase@M-MWCNTs for multifunctional PAHs and PhACs removal from water, wastewater, and lake water.

This study examined the use of modified multiwall carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNTs) with immobilized laccase (L@M-MWCNTs) for removing ciprofloxacin (Cip), carbamazepine (Cbz), diclofenac (Dcf), benzo[a]pyrene (Bap), and anthracene (Ant) from different water samples. The synthesized materials were characterized using an array of advanced analytical techniques. The physical immobilization of laccase onto M-MWCNTs was confirmed through Scanning electron microscope (SEM)-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The specific surface area of M-MWCNTs decreased by 65% upon laccase immobilization. There was also an increase in nitrogen content seen by EDS analysis asserting successful immobilization. The results of Boehm titration and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) exhibited an increase in acidic functional groups after laccase immobilization. L@M-MWCNTs storage for two months maintained 77.8%, 61.6%, and 57.6% of its initial activity for 4 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C, respectively. In contrast, the free laccase exhibited 55.3%, 37.5%, and 23.5% of its initial activity at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C, respectively. MWCNTs improved storability and widened the working temperature range of laccase. The optimum removal conditions of studied pollutants were pH 5, 25 °C, and 1.6 g/L of M-MWCNTs. These parameters led to >90% removal of the targeted pollutants for four treatment cycles of both synthetic water and spiked lake water. L@M-MWCNTs demonstrated consistent removal of >90% for up to five cycles even with spiked wastewater. The adsorption was endothermic and followed Langmuir isotherm. Oxidation, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and ring cleavage seem to be the dominant degradation mechanisms.

Characterization and genome analysis of a broad host range lytic phage vB_SenS_TUMS_E19 against Salmonella enterica and its efficiency evaluation in the liquid egg.

Salmonella enterica serovars are zoonotic bacterial that cause foodborne enteritis. Due to bacteria's antibiotic resistance, using bacteriophages for biocontrol and treatment is a new therapeutic approach. In this study, we isolated, characterized, and analyzed the genome of vB_SenS_TUMS_E19 (E19), a broad host range Salmonella bacteriophage, and evaluated the influence of E19 on liquid eggs infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the isolated bacteriophage had a siphovirus morphotype. E19 showed rapid adsorption (92% in 5 min), a short latent period (18 min), a large burst size (156 PFU per cell), and a broad host range against different Salmonella enterica serovars. Whole-genome sequencing analysis indicated that the isolated phage had a 42 813 bp long genome with 49.8% G + C content. Neither tRNA genes nor those associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, or lysogenic formation were detected in the genome. The efficacy of E19 was evaluated in liquid eggs inoculated with S. Enteritidis at 4 and 25 °C, and results showed that it could effectively eradicate S. Enteritidis in just 30 min and prevented its growth up to 72 h. Our findings indicate that E19 can be an alternative to a preservative to control Salmonella in food samples and help prevent and treat salmonellosis.

Predictors for poor daily weight gain in preterm neonates exposed to different dose regimens of caffeine in ICU- a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: With a wide therapeutic index, efficacy, ease of use, and other neuroprotective and respiratory benefits, caffeine citrate(CC) is currently the drug of choice for preterm neonates (PTNs). Caffeine-induced excessive energy expenditure, diuresis, natriuresis, and other CC-associated potential side-effects (CC-APSEs) result in lower daily-weight gain (WG) in premature neonates. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for daily-WG in neonates exposed to different dose regimens of caffeine in ICU. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included neonates of ≤ 36weeks gestational age (GA) and received CC-therapy. The same participants were followed for data analysis in two postnatal phases: 15-28 and 29-42 days of life (DOL). Based on daily CC-dose, formed group-I (received; standard-doses = 5 mg/kg/day), group-II (received;>5-7 mg/kg/day), and group-III (received;>7 mg/kg/day). Prenatal and postnatal clinical characteristics, CC-regimen, daily-WG, CC-APSEs, and concomitant risk-factors, including daily-caloric intake, Parenteral-Nutrition duration, steroids, diuretics, and ibuprofen exposure, were analyzed separately for group-II and group-III using group-I as standard. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for daily-WG. RESULTS: Included 314 PTNs. During 15-28 DOL, the mean-daily-WG(MD-WG) was significantly higher in group-I than group-II [19.9 ± 0.70 g/kg/d vs. 17.7 ± 0.52 p = 0.036] and group-III [19.9 ± 0.70 g/kg/d vs. 16.8 ± 0.73 p < 0.001]. During 29-42 DOL the MD-WG of group-I was only significantly higher than group-III [21.7 ± 0.44 g/kg/d vs. 18.3 ± 0.41 g/kg/d p = 0.003] and comparable with group-II. During 15-28 DOL, observed CC-APSEs was significantly higher in group-II and III but during 29-42 DOL it was only significant in group-III. In the adjusted regression analysis for daily-WG during 15-28DOL, with respect to standard-dose, 5-7 mg/kg/day (ß=-1.04; 95%CI:-1.62,-0.93) and > 7-10 mg/kg/day (ß=-1.36; 95%CI:-1.56,-1.02) were associated with a lower daily-WG. However, during 29-42DOL, this association was present only for > 7-10 mg/kg/day (ß=-1.54; 95%CI:-1.66,-1.42). The GA ≤ 27weeks (ß=-1.03 95%CI:-1.24, -0.88) was associated with lower daily-WG only during 15-28DOL. During both periods of therapy, higher cumulative-caffeine dose and presence of culture proven sepsis, tachypnea, hyponatremia, and feeding intolerance were significantly associated with lower daily-WG. Conversely, daily kcal intake was found to be linked with an increase in daily-WG in both periods. CONCLUSION: In this study cohort exposure to higher caffeine daily and cumulative doses is associated with lower postnatal daily-WG in PTNs than standard-daily doses, which may be due to its catabolic effects and CC-APSEs.

Effects of hydroxytyrosol on post-thaw quality of rooster sperm.

Semen cryopreservation is one of the most important reproduction techniques in the livestock and poultry industry. Cryopreservation induces cold stress, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress causing structural and biochemical damages in sperm. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the hydroxytyrosol (HT), as an antioxidant, at the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL on post-thaw semen quality metrics in rooster. Semen samples were collected twice a week from 10 roosters (29 weeks), processed and frozen according to experimental groups. Different quality parameters, including total motility, progressive motility, viability, morphology, membrane integrity, and malondialdehyde were measured after thawing. Results showed that 25 and 50 µg/mL of HT produced the highest percentage of total motility (51.01 ± 2.19 and 50.15 ± 2.19, respectively) and progressive motility (35.74 ± 1.34 and 35.15 ± 1.34, respectively), membrane integrity (48.00 ± 2.18 and 46.75 ± 2.18, respectively) as well as viability (53.00 ± 2.17 and 52.50 ± 2.17, respectively) compared with the other groups (p < .05). The group with 25 µg/mL of HT showed the lowest significant (p < .05) MDA concentration (1.81 ± 0.25). Our results showed that the effect of HT was not dose-dependent and optimum concentration of HT could improve functional parameters of rooster sperm after freezing-thawing. These findings suggest that HT may have protective effects on the rooster sperm during the freezing-thawing process.

COV-MobNets: a mobile networks ensemble model for diagnosis of COVID-19 based on chest X-ray images.

BACKGROUND: The medical profession is facing an excessive workload, which has led to the development of various Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems as well as Mobile-Aid Diagnosis (MAD) systems. These technologies enhance the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, particularly in areas with limited resources or remote regions during the pandemic. The primary purpose of this research is to predict and diagnose COVID-19 infection from chest X-ray images by developing a mobile-friendly deep learning framework, which has the potential for deployment in portable devices such as mobile or tablet, especially in situations where the workload of radiology specialists may be high. Moreover, this could improve the accuracy and transparency of population screening to assist radiologists during the pandemic. METHODS: In this study, the Mobile Networks ensemble model called COV-MobNets is proposed to classify positive COVID-19 X-ray images from negative ones and can have an assistant role in diagnosing COVID-19. The proposed model is an ensemble model, combining two lightweight and mobile-friendly models: MobileViT based on transformer structure and MobileNetV3 based on Convolutional Neural Network. Hence, COV-MobNets can extract the features of chest X-ray images in two different methods to achieve better and more accurate results. In addition, data augmentation techniques were applied to the dataset to avoid overfitting during the training process. The COVIDx-CXR-3 benchmark dataset was used for training and evaluation. RESULTS: The classification accuracy of the improved MobileViT and MobileNetV3 models on the test set has reached 92.5% and 97%, respectively, while the accuracy of the proposed model (COV-MobNets) has reached 97.75%. The sensitivity and specificity of the proposed model have also reached 98.5% and 97%, respectively. Experimental comparison proves the result is more accurate and balanced than other methods. CONCLUSION: The proposed method can distinguish between positive and negative COVID-19 cases more accurately and quickly. The proposed method proves that utilizing two automatic feature extractors with different structures as an overall framework of COVID-19 diagnosis can lead to improved performance, enhanced accuracy, and better generalization to new or unseen data. As a result, the proposed framework in this study can be used as an effective method for computer-aided diagnosis and mobile-aided diagnosis of COVID-19. The code is available publicly for open access at https://github.com/MAmirEshraghi/COV-MobNets .

Treatment of superficial and deep partial width second degree burn's wound with allogeneic cord blood platelet gel.

BACKGROUND: Burns are caused by a variety of mechanisms, including flames, hot liquids, metallurgy, chemicals, electric current, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. The most significant burn wound management involves complete repair and regeneration as soon as possible while minimizing infection, contraction, and scarring in the damaged tissue area. Some factors such as delivery of nutrients, growth factors, and oxygen are essential to promote and stimulate the wound healing progress in the burns area. When these factors are not provided, the burn wound undergoes a physiological crisis. The use of growth factors is a promising approach to overcoming this limitation. Umbilical cord blood platelet concentrates are a rich natural source of growth factors. METHODS: This clinical trial used growth factors released from the lysis of umbilical cord blood platelet concentrates that have a key role in promoting re-epithelization and regeneration of damaged tissues by forming a fibrin network. This study evaluated the effectiveness of allogeneic cord blood platelet gel topical dressing in a group of patients diagnosed with superficial and deep partial thickness (second-degree) burn wounds. Clinical outcomes were compared between the intervention group and a control group of patients with superficial second-degree burn wounds who received the standard routine treatment including paraffin gauze wound dressing and silver sulfadiazine ointment. RESULTS: The study's results showed that the increased rate of recovery and tissue granulation completely promoted to wound healing and burn wound closure, decreased the recovery time, and reduced inflammation and scars caused by burn injuries. However, the use of cord blood platelet gel topical dressing is not currently a routine treatment method in patients suffering from burn wounds. However, the study's results showed that allogenic cord blood platelet gel could be used to treat superficial and deep second-degree burns as a routine treatment. It was also shown that allogenic cord blood platelet gel topical dressing could be a candidate for autograft or after autograft skin transplantation surgery (in donor and recipient sites) instead of skin surgery in some patients. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic topical wound dressing provides an effective treatment that offers a faster rate of epithelialization and healing of wounds and also decreases patients' scar and inflammation level as well as the length of recovery time. This, finally, leads to better burn wound management and the improved quality of burn wound treatment.

Spectral prediction of soil salinity and alkalinity indicators using visible, near-, and mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Drought and the impacts of climate change have led to an escalation in soil salinity and alkalinity across various regions worldwide, including Iran. The Chahardowli Plain in western Iran, in particular, has witnessed a significant intensification of this phenomenon over the past decade. Consequently, modeling of soil attributes that serve as indicators of soil salinity and alkalinity became a priority in this region. To date, only a limited number of studies have been conducted to assess indicators of salinity and alkalinity through spectrometry across diverse spectral ranges. The spectral ranges encompassing mid-infrared (mid-IR), visible, and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy were employed to estimate soil properties including sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), exchangeable sodium ratio (ESR), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). Five distinct models were employed: Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), bootstrapping aggregation PLSR (BgPLSR), Memory-Based Learning (MBL), Random Forest (RF), and Cubist. The calibration and assessment of model performance were carried out using several key metrics including Ratio of Performance to Deviation (RPD) and the coefficient of determination (R2). Analysis of the outcomes indicates that the accuracy and precision of the mid-IR spectra surpassed that of vis-NIR spectra, except for pH, which exhibited a superior RPD compared to other properties. Notably, in the prediction of pH utilizing vis-NIR reflectance spectra, the BgPLSR model exhibited the highest accuracy and precision, boasting an RPD value of 2.56. In the domain of EC prediction, the PLSR model yielded an RPD of 2.64. For SAR, the MBL model achieved an RPD of 2.70, while ESR prediction benefited from the MBL model with an impressive RPD of 4.36. Likewise, the MBL model demonstrated remarkable precision and accuracy in ESP prediction, garnering an RPD of 4.41. The MBL model's efficacy in forecasting with limited datasets was notably pronounced among the models considered. This study underscores the valuable role of spectral predictions in facilitating the work of soil surveyors in gauging salinity and alkalinity indicators. It is recommended that the integration of spectrometry-based salinity and alkalinity predictions be incorporated into forthcoming soil mapping endeavors within semi-arid and arid regions.

Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acid and rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) supplementation on semen quality, sperm fatty acids and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dietary fish oil (FO) and rooibos supplementation on semen quality, fatty acids composition and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders. Seventy-two 47-week-old Ross broiler breeder roosters were randomly assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements to include two FO concentrations (0% and 2%) and 3 rooibos concentrations (0%, 1.5% and 3%) for 13 weeks consecutive. The different diets affected semen parameters significantly (p < 0.05), except for the semen concentration and abnormality of the sperm. The sperm of the FO and 3% rooibos-treated group showed better motility and viability when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The susceptibility of semen to lipid peroxidation was increased in roosters fed the rooibos-free diets (p < 0.05), but it was reduced (p < 0.05) when the diet was supplemented with 1.5% and 3% rooibos. In addition, at 64 weeks, the highest concentration of testosterone was observed in the roosters fed a diet that included 2% FO and 3% rooibos (p < 0.05); however, the difference in testosterone levels between Week 52 and Week 64 was not significant (p > 0.05). The fertility rate of collected eggs from the FO and 3% rooibos group was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the other groups at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of FO along with rooibos improved seminal quality and reproduction performance in aged roosters.

Modeling the spatial variation of calcium carbonate equivalent to depth using machine learning techniques.

Inorganic carbon is the largest source of carbon in terrestrial surface, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, including the Chahardowli Plain in western Iran. Inorganic carbon plays an equal or greater role than organic soil carbon in these areas, although less attention has been paid in quantifying their variability. The objective of this study was to model and map calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) presenting inorganic carbon in soil using machine learning and digital soil mapping techniques. Chahardowli Plain in foothills of the Zagros Mountains in the southeast of Kurdistan Province in Iran was taken as a case study area. CCE was measured at 0-5, 5-15, 15-30, 30-60, and 60-100 cm depths following GloalSoilMap.net project specifications. A total of 145 samples were collected from 30 soil profiles using the conditional Latin hypercube (cLHS) method of sampling. Relationships between CCE and environmental predictors were modeled using random forest (RF) and decision tree (DT) models. In general, the RF model performed slightly superior than the DT model. The mean value of CCE increased with soil depth, from 3.5% (0-5 cm) to 63.8% (30-60 cm). Remote sensing (RS) variables and terrestrial variables were equally important. The importance of RS variables was higher at the surface than terrestrial variables, and vice versa. The most significant variables were Channel Network Base Level (CNBL) variable and Difference Vegetation Index (DVI) with the same variable importance value (21.1%). In areas affected by river activities, the use of the CNBL and vertical distance to channel networks (VDCN) as variables in digital soil mapping (DSM) could increase the accuracy of soil property prediction maps. The VDCN played a principal role in soil distribution in the study area by affecting the rate of discharge and, thus, erosion and sedimentation. A high percentage of carbonate in parts of the region could exacerbate nutrient deficiencies for most crops and provide information for sustainably managing agricultural activity.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles adsorb emerging pollutants (glyphosate pesticide) from aqueous solutions.

The present study captures the precipitation synthesis of zinc nanoparticles and modification with alumina and oleic acid. The crystalline size evaluated from the XRD profile of the zinc oxide nanoparticles was 18.05 nm but was reduced to 14.20 and 14.50 nm upon modification with oleic acid and alumina. The XRD spectra also showed evidence of the amorphous nature of zinc oxide nanoparticles and subsequent enhancement upon modification. A porous appearance was observed in the SEM instrumentation but seems to be enhanced by modification. The FTIR absorption spectra of the nanoparticles showed a peak associated with ZnO vibration around 449 cm, but the enhanced intensity was observed due to modification. The prepared ZnO-NPs and the modified samples were good materials for the adsorption removal of glyphosate from water, recording efficiencies above 94% at neutral pH and showing a possible incremental trend with an enhanced period of contact and adsorbent dosage. The adsorbents showed maximum capacity that ranged from 82.85 to 82. 97 mg/g. The adsorption models of Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and BET showed excellent fitness. Results from computational results complemented experimental data and were used to identify the sites for adsorption and characteristics of molecular descriptors for the systems.

Potential of a novel scaffold composed of human platelet lysate and fibrin for human corneal endothelial cells.

Cell-based therapies have been emerged to find innovative solutions for corneal endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate the suitability of a blended scaffold containing human platelet lysate (HPL) and fibrin not only for cultivating human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) but also for serving as a scaffold for the respected cells. We isolated HCECs from human donors and encapsulated the cells with three concentrations of HPL/Fibrin scaffold, namely HPL/Fibrin 1, HPL/Fibrin 2 and HPL/Fibrin 3, by adding 28.9, 57.8 and 86.7 mg/dl of fibrinogen to HPL to obtain a final percentage of 10, 20 and 30 % of fibrinogen, respectively. SEM imaging and swelling test were done to characterize the scaffolds. Cell viability assay and cell counting were performed on the cells. HCECs were characterized by morphology and immunocytochemistry. SEM imaging on freeze-dried scaffolds showed higher porosity of HPL/Fibrin 1 and HPL/Fibrin 2 than HPL/Fibrin 3, but larger pores were observed only in HPL/Fibrin 1. Cellular attachment and morphology on HPL/Fibrin 1 were appropriate by SEM imaging. A higher swelling rate was observed in HPL/Fibrin 1. After 3 and 5 days, higher numbers of cells were observed specifically in HPL/Fibrin 1. A higher expression of Na+/K+-ATPase, ZO-1 and vimentin proteins was detected in the HPL/Fibrin 1-cultured HCECs as compared with control (no scaffold). HPL/Fibrin can be used as a suitable scaffold for HCECs while preserving the cells viability. Further investigations are necessitated to approve the beneficial effects of the suggested scaffold for delivering and transplantation of cultivated HCECs into the anterior chamber of the eye.

Role of Cultured Skin Fibroblasts in Regenerative Dermatology.

The skin, as the largest organ, covers the entire outer part of the body, and since this organ is directly exposed to microbial, thermal, mechanical and chemical damage, it may be destroyed by factors such as acute trauma, chronic wounds or even surgical interventions. Cell therapy is one of the most important procedures to treat skin lesions. Fibroblasts are cells that are responsible for the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and the organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and have many vital functions in wound healing processes. Today, cultured autologous fibroblasts are used to treat wrinkles, scars, wounds and subcutaneous atrophy. The results of many studies have shown that fibroblasts can be effective and beneficial in the treatment of skin lesions. On the other hand, skin substitutes are used as a regenerative model to improve and regenerate the skin. The use of these alternatives, restorative medicine and therapeutic cells such as fibroblasts has tremendous potential in the treatment of skin diseases and can be a new window for the treatment of diseases with no definitive treatment. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description ofthese Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Long-Term Potentiodynamic Testing and Tribometric Properties of Amorphous Alloy Coatings under Saline Environment.

Protective coatings for harsh environments are always welcome, but they must overcome profound challenges, including corrosion and wear resistance. The purpose of this study is to look into the long-term potentiodynamic polarization measurements and dry tribometric behavior of plasma-sprayed amorphous coatings on AISI 1035 mild steel. To investigate the impact of unique active polarization potentials on the electrochemical studies of the iron-based amorphous layer, which compares favorably to AISI 1035 mild steel, the active potential polarization curve and friction coefficient tests were performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analyses were used to investigate the coating's corrosion behavior. Their mechanical (Tribometric tests at higher sliding speeds) and chemical properties (electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization investigations) have also been thoroughly investigated. There is enough validation that these protective coatings can be used in hostile environments. The effects of long-term corrosion for 24 and 48 h were thoroughly examined. Tribometric examinations revealed that amorphous layers are highly resistant under dry conditions, as they offered a very low and stable friction coefficient less than 4 µ with micro Vickers hardness 1140 ± 22.14 HV, which is more than twice as compared to mild steel AISI 1035. The corrosion resistance of coatings in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution displays active transition characteristics of activation, passivation, over passivation, and pitting, as shown by the potentiodynamic polarization curves.

Impacts of caffeine on resistant chicken's performance and cardiovascular gene expression.

We previously reported a study on 288 broiler (Gallus gallus) chicks who received caffeine in water between days 3 and 42, at levels of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day. In the previous report, we found that caffeine caused pulmonary hypertension (PH)-associated mortality in a significant minority (20%-30%) of birds, including right ventricular hypertrophy and ascites. We have also shown a significant upregulation of the serotonin transporter (SERT), troponin T2, adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA1) and phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5) in chicken suffering from PH. Here, we examine the resistant (survived) chicks from the first study that had not died due to acute heart failure and did not have clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension. Our goal was to determine whether birds who lacked overt signs of disease had subclinical manifestations, including similar changes in gene expression, growth rates and altered systemic haemodynamics. We found that growth was significantly increased by caffeine consumption (p < 0.01) at low doses; however, dosage over 50 mg/BW/d had remarkable adverse effects on growth (p < 0.01). Blood pressure, troponin T2 and PDE5 gene expression were not significantly altered by caffeine administration (p > 0.05). However, SERT gene expression linearly increased with increasing caffeine dosage (p < 0.01). The impact of caffeine on ADORA1 gene expression was dose dependent and nonlinear. In conclusion, despite the significant effects of caffeine on birds' growth, no significant negative effects of caffeine were observed on the cardiovascular function of resistant chickens. This work provides valuable information for further study on different dosage of caffeine in an animal model.

Evaluation of Blood Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Level in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and objective: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) appears to be an active and important biomarker for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular issues among individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Herein, a systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to probe whether plasma/serum ICAM-1levels are different in adults with OSA compared to adults with no OSA, as well as adults with severe OSA compared to adults with mild/moderate OSA. Materials and methods: A thorough and systematic literature search was performed in four databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) until 17 July 2022, without any age and sample size restrictions to retrieve the relevant articles. The standardized mean difference (SMD) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of plasma/serum of ICAM-1 levels was reported. Analyses, including sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, trial sequential analysis, meta-regression, and a funnel plot analysis, were performed in the pooled analysis. Results: A total of 414 records were identified in the databases, and 17 articles including 22 studies were entered into the meta-analysis. The pooled SMD of serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels in adults with OSA compared to controls was 2.00 (95%CI: 1.41, 2.59; p < 0.00001). The pooled SMD of serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels in adults with severe compared to mild/moderate OSA was 3.62 (95%CI: 1.74, 5.51; p = 0.0002). Higher serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels were associated with a higher mean age of controls, higher scores for the apnea-hypopnea index, and with a lower mean age of adults with OSA and with smaller sample sizes. Conclusions: Th results of the present meta-analysis showed that serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels in adults with OSA was higher than serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels in controls. Similarly, serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels in adults with severe OSA were higher compared to serum/plasma ICAM-1 levels of adults with mild or moderate OSA. Therefore, ICAM-1 may be used as an additional diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in adults with OSA.

Comparative culture of human corneal endothelial cells following treatment with human platelet lysate/fibrin hydrogel versus Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor: in vitro and ex vivo study.

PURPOSE: The advancement of tissue engineering and cell therapy research has resulted in innovative therapeutic options for patients with corneal endothelial diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the potential effect of using human platelet lysate (HPL)/Fibrin hydrogel versus using a Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor, on the culture of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) under in vitro and ex vivo conditions. METHODS: HCECs were isolated from human donors and treated separately with HPL/Fibrin hydrogel, a Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor, and fetal bovine serum (FBS). MTT viability assay and cell counting were performed on the treated cells. Subsequently, we prepared ex vivo models of human corneal endothelial dysfunction and incubated them with DiI-labeled-HCECs. Specular and fluorescence microscopy were then performed on each of the ex vivo models. RESULTS: In comparison, similar viability results were achieved in the cells treated with HPL/Fibrin hydrogel versus those treated with the Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor, but both treatments showed higher viability than the control group (FBS). More importantly, based on the specular and fluorescence microscopic results, the HPL/Fibrin hydrogel and the Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor treatments showed similar inducible effects on the attachment of the cells to the Descemet membranes of the ex vivo models. CONCLUSION: HPL/Fibrin hydrogel and Y-27632 ROCK inhibitor have similar inducible effects on the viability and attachment of the HCECs. A definite advantage of treating cells with HPL/Fibrin hydrogel is that it serves as a xeno-free and biocompatible material which can have autologous applications in future usage by clinics.

Efficacy of allogeneic cord blood platelet gel on wounds of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients after pseudosyndactyly surgery.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the formation of blisters and wounds in skin and mucous membranes; it is classified into four types and has various methods of treatment. Management of previous wounds and prevention of formation of new lesions are the most important strategies in the course of therapy to improve patient's quality of life; lack of wound management can lead to further complications such as infection. The current study investigated the therapeutic effects of allogeneic platelet gel (prepared from umbilical cord blood) in a group of children diagnosed with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) eligible for surgical correction of pseudosyndactyly in the hand. The post-surgical clinical outcome in this group was compared with the clinical outcomes of DEB patients receiving the standard treatment (paraffin gauze wound dressing and topical antibiotics) after corrective surgery. The current study results showed an increase in the rate of recovery and promotion of tissue granulation, complete wound healing, and a decrease in pain level and treatment period. The application of cord blood platelet gel topical dressing was not a conventional method of treatment in patients with DEB wounds and blisters. However, the current study results demonstrated that this gel dressing could effectively accelerate epithelialization and healing of the wounds and decrease patients' pain and post-surgical recovery period, which altogether leads to improvements in patients' overall quality of life.

Hepatoprotective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v supplemented via drinking water against aflatoxin-induced liver damage.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of intake of a lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v) on aflatoxin-induced hepatotoxicity in broilers. For this, broilers were intoxicated with dietary aflatoxins and simultaneously treated with live Lp299v in drinking water. One-day-old male broilers were divided into eight groups (n = 10/group) as follows. Aflatoxin groups fed basal diet contaminated with aflatoxins (200 or 2000 ppb). The probiotic groups received drinking water enriched with live (Lp299v) (108 CFU/ml). A group of birds was given a commercial mycotoxin binder (2.5 g/kg feed). Control groups received basal diet without probiotic or aflatoxin binder. The growth performance was calculated for the entire period (0-42 days), and blood and liver specimens were processed for histology and determination of liver damage markers. Results showed extensive damage including bile duct hyperplasia, hepatocellular ballooning, and necrosis in chickens fed aflatoxin alone. However, liver lesions were limited to lobular inflammation and pyknosis in broilers treated with aflatoxins along with Lp299v. The histology of the liver tissues from the birds on aflatoxin-free diet + probiotic appeared to be normal when compared to the respective controls. Histopathological indices in different experimental groups were corroborated with the liver damage markers namely, serum ALT, AST, LD, and γ-GT. It is concluded that the improvement in the growth performance and prevention of aflatoxin-related liver lesions could be mainly assigned to the probiotic therapy for the entire period of breeding, although the aflatoxin-binding ability of the Lp299v in inactivation of aflatoxins cannot be ruled out.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Aflatoxin-related liver damage progression was inhibited by probiotics in broilers.Aflatoxin inactivation by probiotics can be assessed by liver histopathology.Growth performance in broilers was improved following the intake of probiotics.