Ethics for AI in Plastic Surgery: Guidelines and Review.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to revolutionize medicine, offering vast improvements for plastic surgery. While human physicians are limited to one lifetime of experience, AI is poised to soon surpass human capabilities, as it draws on limitless information and continuous learning abilities. Nevertheless, as AI becomes increasingly prevalent in this domain, it gives rise to critical ethical considerations that must be addressed by professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work reviews the literature referring to the ethical challenges brought on by the ever-expanding use of AI in plastic surgery and offers guidelines for its application. RESULTS: Ethical challenges include the disclosure of use of AI by caregivers, validation of decision-making, data privacy, informed consent and autonomy, potential biases in AI systems, the opaque nature of AI models, questions of liability, and the need for regulations. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of consensus for the ethical use of AI in plastic surgery. Guidelines, such as those presented in this work, are needed within each discipline of medicine to respond to important ethical considerations for the safe use of AI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A Novel Artificial Intelligence Model for Symmetry Evaluation in Breast Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a milestone for human technology. In medicine, AI is set to play an important role as we progress into a new era. In plastic surgery, AI can participate in breast symmetry assessment, which until now has been mainly subjective, allowing for inconsistencies. This study aims to improve this evaluation process by integrating a novel trained neural network with the breast symmetry calculator, BAS-Calc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We combined the BAS-Calc tool with a custom-made neural network trained to automatically detect key features of the breast. This integrated system was tested on 81 images of patients who had undergone breast reconstruction post-breast cancer treatment. Its performance was evaluated against two human observers using statistical analysis. RESULTS: Our model successfully detected 399/405 (98.51%) of landmarks. Spearman and Pearson correlation indicated a strong positive relationship while Cohen's kappa demonstrated moderate to strong agreement between human observers and AI model. Notably, the average calculation time for the AI was 0.92 seconds, 16 times faster than the 14.09 seconds for humans. CONCLUSIONS: Our AI model successfully calculated breast symmetry from images of patients who had undergone reconstructive oncological breast surgery, demonstrating high correlation with human assessments and a markedly reduced processing time. As AI continues to evolve, it is poised to become a pivotal tool in Medicine. Therefore, it is crucial for medical professionals to proactively engage in implementing AI technologies safely and effectively. Further studies are required to broaden our understanding and maximize the potential benefits in this area. Takeaway bullet points Artificial intelligence (AI) is an upcoming force to be reckoned with. AI should find its way into practical applications in plastic surgery. AI can be applied to improve patient care and evaluate aesthetic results. In this work, we present a novel AI model that automatically evaluates breast symmetry. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The potential role of miR-1290 in cancer progression, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment: An oncomiR or onco-suppressor microRNA?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans because of the lack of early diagnosis, distant metastases, and the resistance to adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition to playing an essential role in tumor progression and development, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as a robust biomarker in the early detection of cancer. MiR-1290 was discovered for the first time in human embryonic stem cells, and under typical physiological situations, plays an essential role in neuronal differentiation and neural stem cell proliferation. Its coding sequence is located at the 1p36.13 regions in the first intron of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 4 gene member A1. miR-1290 is out of control in many cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and plays a vital role in their development. Therefore, it is suggested that miR-1290 can be considered as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in many cancers. In addition to the importance of miR-1290 in the noninvasive diagnosis of various cancers, this systematic review study discussed the role of miR-1290 in altering the expression of different genes involved in cancer development and chemo-radiation resistance. Moreover, it considered the regulatory effect of natural products on miR-1290 expression and the interaction of lncRNAs by miR-1290.

Novel N-benzoylimidazolium ionic liquids derived from benzoic and hydroxybenzoic acids as therapeutic alternative against Biofilm-forming bacteria in skin and soft-tissue infections.

The skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) -producing pathogens have acquired resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials, thus it is highly relevant to have new treatment alternatives. In this study, we report the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of three novel series of ionic liquids (ILs) derived from benzoic and hydroxybenzoic acids, with different lengths of the alkyl chain. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were tested in Gram-positive: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes, and Gram-negative: Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli, showing a MIC range of 0.01562-2.0 mM, with the activity varying according to the aromatic ring functionalization and the length of the alkyl chains. Regarding the antibiofilm activity, different efficacy was observed among the different ILs, some of them presenting antibiofilm activities close to 80% as in the case of those derived from syringic acid with an alkyl chain of six carbon atoms against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the cell viability in HaCaT cells was determined, showing a half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values higher than the MIC values. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm results, along with not producing cellular toxicity at the MIC values shows that these ILs could be a promising alternative against SSTIs.

Antimicrobial properties of novel ionic liquids derived from imidazolium cation with phenolic functional groups.

Bacterial infections are nowadays among the major threats to public health worldwide. Thus, there is an urgent and increased need for new antimicrobial agents. As a result, the exploration of the antimicrobial properties of different substances including ionic liquids (ILs) has recently attracted great attention. The present work is aimed at evaluating how the addition of halogens and hydrophobic substituents on alkylimidazolium units of ILs as well as the increase in their chain lengths affects the antimicrobial properties of such ILs. After their synthesis, the antibacterial activities of these compounds against Pseudomona aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus are determined by measuring their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Key features in ILs-membrane interactions are also studied using long-term all-atom molecular dynamics simulations (MDs). The results show that these ILs have good antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, with MIC values range from <7.81 to 62.50 µM. The antimicrobial property of tert-butyl N-methylphenolimidazolium salts (denoted as 8b and 8c) is particularly better with MIC values of < 7.81 µM. The antibacterial efficacy is also found to depend on the alkyl chain length and substituents on the phenolic ring. Finally, MDs done for ILs in a phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayer show key features in the mechanism of IL-induced membrane disruption, where the ILs are inserted as clusters into one side of the bilayer until saturation is reached. This insertion increases "leaflet strain" up to critical threshold, likely triggering the morphological disruption of the membranes in the microbes.

Marine Natural Products: Promising Candidates in the Modulation of Gut-Brain Axis towards Neuroprotection.

In recent decades, several neuroprotective agents have been provided in combating neuronal dysfunctions; however, no effective treatment has been found towards the complete eradication of neurodegenerative diseases. From the pathophysiological point of view, growing studies are indicating a bidirectional relationship between gut and brain termed gut-brain axis in the context of health/disease. Revealing the gut-brain axis has survived new hopes in the prevention, management, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, introducing novel alternative therapies in regulating the gut-brain axis seems to be an emerging concept to pave the road in fighting neurodegenerative diseases. Growing studies have developed marine-derived natural products as hopeful candidates in a simultaneous targeting of gut-brain dysregulated mediators towards neuroprotection. Of marine natural products, carotenoids (e.g., fucoxanthin, and astaxanthin), phytosterols (e.g., fucosterol), polysaccharides (e.g., fucoidan, chitosan, alginate, and laminarin), macrolactins (e.g., macrolactin A), diterpenes (e.g., lobocrasol, excavatolide B, and crassumol E) and sesquiterpenes (e.g., zonarol) have shown to be promising candidates in modulating gut-brain axis. The aforementioned marine natural products are potential regulators of inflammatory, apoptotic, and oxidative stress mediators towards a bidirectional regulation of the gut-brain axis. The present study aims at describing the gut-brain axis, the importance of gut microbiota in neurological diseases, as well as the modulatory role of marine natural products towards neuroprotection.

Targeting Multiple Signal Transduction Pathways of SARS-CoV-2: Approaches to COVID-19 Therapeutic Candidates.

Due to the complicated pathogenic pathways of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), related medicinal therapies have remained a clinical challenge. COVID-19 highlights the urgent need to develop mechanistic pathogenic pathways and effective agents for preventing/treating future epidemics. As a result, the destructive pathways of COVID-19 are in the line with clinical symptoms induced by severe acute coronary syndrome (SARS), including lung failure and pneumonia. Accordingly, revealing the exact signaling pathways, including inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy, as well as relative representative mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Bax/caspases, and Beclin/LC3, respectively, will pave the road for combating COVID-19. Prevailing host factors and multiple steps of SARS-CoV-2 attachment/entry, replication, and assembly/release would be hopeful strategies against COVID-19. This is a comprehensive review of the destructive signaling pathways and host-pathogen interaction of SARS-CoV-2, as well as related therapeutic targets and treatment strategies, including potential natural products-based candidates.

Bioprospecting for Antibacterial Drugs: a Multidisciplinary Perspective on Natural Product Source Material, Bioassay Selection and Avoidable Pitfalls.

Bioprospecting is the exploration, extraction and screening of biological material and sometimes indigenous knowledge to discover and develop new drugs and other products. Most antibiotics in current clinical use (eg. ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides) were discovered using this approach, and there are strong arguments to reprioritize bioprospecting over other strategies in the search for new antibacterial drugs. Academic institutions should be well positioned to lead the early stages of these efforts given their many thousands of locations globally and because they are not constrained by the same commercial considerations as industry. University groups can lack the full complement of knowledge and skills needed though (eg. how to tailor screening strategy to biological source material). In this article, we review three key aspects of the bioprospecting literature (source material and in vitro antibacterial and toxicity testing) and present an integrated multidisciplinary perspective on (a) source material selection, (b) legal, taxonomic and other issues related to source material, (c) cultivation methods, (d) bioassay selection, (e) technical standards available, (f) extract/compound dissolution, (g) use of minimum inhibitory concentration and selectivity index values to identify progressible extracts and compounds, and (h) avoidable pitfalls. The review closes with recommendations for future study design and information on subsequent steps in the bioprospecting process.

Chemical Fingerprinting and Biological Evaluation of the Endemic Chilean Fruit Greigia sphacelata (Ruiz and Pav.) Regel (Bromeliaceae) by UHPLC-PDA-Orbitrap-Mass Spectrometry.

Greigia sphacelata (Ruiz and Pav.) Regel (Bromeliaceae) is a Chilean endemic plant popularly known as "quiscal" and produces an edible fruit consumed by the local Mapuche communities named as "chupón". In this study, several metabolites including phenolic acids, organic acids, sugar derivatives, catechins, proanthocyanidins, fatty acids, iridoids, coumarins, benzophenone, flavonoids, and terpenes were identified in G. sphacelata fruits using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection coupled with a Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-Orbitrap-MS) analysis for the first time. The fruits showed moderate antioxidant capacities (i.e., 487.11 ± 26.22 µmol TE/g dry weight) in the stable radical DPPH assay, 169.08 ± 9.81 TE/g dry weight in the ferric reducing power assay, 190.32 ± 6.23 TE/g dry weight in the ABTS assay, and 76.46 ± 3.18% inhibition in the superoxide anion scavenging assay. The cholinesterase inhibitory potential was evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). From the findings, promising results were observed for pulp and seeds. Our findings suggest that G. sphacelata fruits are a rich source of diverse secondary metabolites with antioxidant capacities. In addition, the inhibitory effects against AChE and BChE suggest that natural products or food supplements derived from G. sphacelata fruits are of interest for their neuroprotective potential.

A Microbiological, Toxicological, and Biochemical Study of the Effects of Fucoxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the Enzymes Implicated in Its Cell Wall: A Link Between Mycobacterial Infection and Autoimmune Diseases.

This study explored the antitubercular properties of fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid, against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Two vital enzymes involved in Mtb cell wall biosynthesis, UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) and arylamine-N-acetyltransferase (TBNAT), were selected as drug targets to reveal the mechanism underlying the antitubercular effect of fucoxanthin. The obtained results showed that fucoxanthin showed a clear bacteriostatic action against the all Mtb strains tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 2.8 to 4.1 µM, along with a good degree of selectivity index (ranging from 6.1 to 8.9) based on cellular toxicity evaluation compared with standard drug isoniazid (INH). The potent inhibitory actions of fucoxanthin and standard uridine-5'-diphosphate against UGM were recorded to be 98.2% and 99.2%, respectively. TBNAT was potently inactivated by fucoxanthin (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 4.8 µM; 99.1% inhibition) as compared to INH (IC50 = 5.9 µM; 97.4% inhibition). Further, molecular docking approaches were achieved to endorse and rationalize the biological findings along with envisaging structure-activity relationships. Since the clinical evidence of the last decade has confirmed the correlation between bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases, in this study we have discussed the linkage between infection with Mtb and autoimmune diseases based on previous clinical observations and animal studies. In conclusion, we propose that fucoxanthin could demonstrate great therapeutic value for the treatment of tuberculosis by acting on multiple targets through a bacteriostatic effect as well as by inhibiting UGM and TBNAT. Such outcomes may lead to avoiding or decreasing the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases associated with Mtb infection in a genetically susceptible host.

Psoromic Acid, a Lichen-Derived Molecule, Inhibits the Replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2, and Inactivates HSV-1 DNA Polymerase: Shedding Light on Antiherpetic Properties.

Psoromic acid (PA), a bioactive lichen-derived compound, was investigated for its inhibitory properties against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), along with the inhibitory effect on HSV-1 DNA polymerase, which is a key enzyme that plays an essential role in HSV-1 replication cycle. PA was found to notably inhibit HSV-1 replication (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50): 1.9 µM; selectivity index (SI): 163.2) compared with the standard drug acyclovir (ACV) (IC50: 2.6 µM; SI: 119.2). The combination of PA with ACV has led to potent inhibitory activity against HSV-1 replication (IC50: 1.1 µM; SI: 281.8) compared with that of ACV. Moreover, PA displayed equivalent inhibitory action against HSV-2 replication (50% effective concentration (EC50): 2.7 µM; SI: 114.8) compared with that of ACV (EC50: 2.8 µM; SI: 110.7). The inhibition potency of PA in combination with ACV against HSV-2 replication was also detected (EC50: 1.8 µM; SI: 172.2). Further, PA was observed to effectively inhibit HSV-1 DNA polymerase (as a non-nucleoside inhibitor) with respect to dTTP incorporation in a competitive inhibition mode (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50): 0.7 µM; inhibition constant (Ki): 0.3 µM) compared with reference drugs aphidicolin (IC50: 0.8 µM; Ki: 0.4 µM) and ACV triphosphate (ACV-TP) (IC50: 0.9 µM; Ki: 0.5 µM). It is noteworthy that the mechanism by which PA-induced anti-HSV-1 activity was related to its inhibitory action against HSV-1 DNA polymerase. Furthermore, the outcomes of in vitro experiments were authenticated using molecular docking analyses, as the molecular interactions of PA with the active sites of HSV-1 DNA polymerase and HSV-2 protease (an essential enzyme required for HSV-2 replication) were revealed. Since this is a first report on the above-mentioned properties, we can conclude that PA might be a future drug for the treatment of HSV infections as well as a promising lead molecule for further anti-HSV drug design.

Hesperidin as a Neuroprotective Agent: A Review of Animal and Clinical Evidence.

Neuroprotection is the preservation of function and networks of neural tissues from damages caused by various agents, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's diseases, and multiple sclerosis. Hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside, is a natural phenolic compound with a wide range of biological effects. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that hesperidin possesses inhibitory effect against development of neurodegenerative diseases. Our review discusses neuropharmacological mechanisms for preventive and therapeutic effects of hesperidin in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the review examines clinical evidence confirming its neuroprotective function. Various cellular and animal models specific to neurodegenerative diseases have been conducted to evaluate the underlying neuropharmacological mechanisms of hesperidin. Neuroprotective potential of this flavonoid is mediated by improvement of neural growth factors and endogenous antioxidant defense functions, diminishing neuro-inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Despite the various preclinical studies on the role of hesperidin in the neurodegenerative diseases, less is known about its definite effect on humans. A limited number of clinical trials showed that hesperidin-enriched dietary supplements can significantly improve cerebral blood flow, cognition, and memory performance. Further clinical trials are also required for confirming neuroprotective efficacy of this natural flavonoid and evaluating its safety profile.

Antifeedant Effects of Essential Oil, Extracts, and Isolated Sesquiterpenes from Pilgerodendron uviferum (D. Don) Florin Heartwood on Red Clover Borer Hylastinus obscurus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The beetle Hylastinus obscurus Marsham (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), endemic to Europe and Northern Africa, is one of the most important red clover pests in Chile. As commercial insecticides are less effective against this pest, plant secondary metabolites have been considered as an alternative for its control. Here, we have investigated the chemical composition of essential oil (EO), petroleum ether extract (PEE), and dichloromethane extract (DCME) from Pilgerodendron uviferum heartwood. Additionally, the effects of EO and extracts on the feeding behavior (% of weight shift) of H. obscurus have been evaluated. The composition of EO, PEE, and DCME were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed the presence of a similar mixture of sesquiterpenes in the essential oil and in both of the extracts, which accounted for circa 60% of the total mixture. Sesquiterpenes were further isolated using chromatographic methods and were structurally characterized by optical rotation, GC⁻MS, FTIR, and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The physicochemical properties of the isolated sesquiterpenes, including lipophilicity and vapor pressure, were also determined. The sesquiterpenes were identified as the following: (-)-trans-calamenene (1), cadalene (2), (-)-cubenol (3), (-)-epi-cubenol (4), (-)-torreyol (5), and (-)-15-copaenol (6). The antifeedant activity of EO, extracts, and isolated sesquiterpenes were evaluated using artificial diets in a non-choice test. Relative to the control, the EO, DCME extract, and the isolated sesquiterpenes, namely, (-)-trans-calamenene (1), cadalene (2), and (5) torreyol, were found to be the most effective treatments against H. obscurus. Our study showed that the compounds occurring in P. uviferum heartwood were effective in reducing the adult growth of H. obscurus. The physicochemical properties of the isolated sesquiterpenes might have been associated with antifeedant effects.

Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Ent-Labdane Derivatives of Salvic Acid (7α-Hydroxy-8(17)-ent-Labden-15-Oic Acid): Effect of Lipophilicity and the Hydrogen Bonding Role in Bacterial Membrane Interaction.

In the present study, the antibacterial activity of several ent-labdane derivatives of salvic acid (7α-hydroxy-8(17)-ent-labden-15-oic acid) was evaluated in vitro against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. For all of the compounds, the antibacterial activity was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in liquid media and minimum inhibitory amount (MIA) in solid media. Structure activity relationships (SAR) were employed to correlate the effect of the calculated lipophilicity parameters (logPow) on the inhibitory activity. Employing a phospholipidic bilayer (POPG) as a bacterial membrane model, ent-labdane-membrane interactions were simulated utilizing docking studies. The results indicate that (i) the presence of a carboxylic acid in the C-15 position, which acted as a hydrogen-bond donor (HBD), was essential for the antibacterial activity of the ent-labdanes; (ii) an increase in the length of the acylated chain at the C-7 position improved the antibacterial activity until an optimum length of five carbon atoms was reached; (iii) an increase in the length of the acylated chain by more than five carbon atoms resulted in a dramatic decrease in activity, which completely disappeared in acyl chains of more than nine carbon atoms; and (iv) the structural factors described above, including one HBD at C-15 and a hexanoyloxi moiety at C-7, had a good fit to a specific lipophilic range and antibacterial activity. The lipophilicity parameter has a predictive characteristic feature on the antibacterial activity of this class of compounds, to be considered in the design of new biologically active molecules.

Structure-Activity and Lipophilicity Relationships of Selected Antibacterial Natural Flavones and Flavanones of Chilean Flora.

In this study, we tested eight naturally-occurring flavonoids-three flavanones and five flavones-for their possible antibacterial properties against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. Flavonoids are known for their antimicrobial properties, and due their structural diversity; these plant-derived compounds are a good model to study potential novel antibacterial mechanisms. The lipophilicity and the interaction of antibacterial compounds with the cell membrane define the success or failure to access its target. Therefore, through the determination of partition coefficients in a non-polar/aqueous phase, lipophilicity estimation and the quantification of the antibacterial activity of different flavonoids, flavanones, and flavones, a relationship between these parameters was assessed. Active flavonoids presented diffusion coefficients between 9.4 × 10-10 and 12.3 × 10-10 m²/s and lipophilicity range between 2.0 to 3.3. Active flavonoids against Gram-negative bacteria showed a narrower range of lipophilicity values, compared to active flavonoids against Gram-positive bacteria, which showed a wide range of lipophilicity and cell lysis. Galangin was the most active flavonoid, whose structural features are the presence of two hydroxyl groups located strategically on ring A and the absence of polar groups on ring B. Methylation of one hydroxyl group decreases the activity in 3-O-methylgalangin, and methylation of both hydroxyl groups caused inactivation, as shown for 3,7-O-dimethylgalangin. In conclusion, the amphipathic features of flavonoids play a crucial role in the antibacterial activity. In these compounds, hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties must be present and could be predicted by lipophilicity analysis.

Identification of Key Breast Features Using a Neural Network: Applications of Machine Learning in the Clinical Setting of Plastic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: In plastic surgery, evaluation of breast symmetry is an important aspect of clinical practice. Computer programs have been developed for this purpose, but most of them require operator input. Artificial intelligence has been introduced into many aspects of medicine. In plastic surgery, automated neural networks for breast evaluation could improve quality of care. In this work, the authors evaluate the identification of breast features with an ad hoc trained neural network. METHODS: An ad hoc convolutional neural network was developed on the YOLOV3 platform to detect key features of the breast that are commonly used in plastic surgery for symmetry evaluation. The program was trained with 200 frontal photographs of patients who underwent breast surgery and was tested on 47 frontal images of patients who underwent breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. RESULTS: The program was able to detect key features in 97.74% of cases (boundaries of the breast in 94 of 94 cases, the nipple-areola complex in 94 of 94 cases, and the suprasternal notch in 41 of 47 cases). Mean time of detection was 0.52 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The ad hoc neural network was successful in localizing key breast features, with a total detection rate of 97.74%. Neural networks and machine learning have the potential to improve the evaluation of breast symmetry in plastic surgery by automated and quick detection of features used by surgeons in practice. More studies and development are needed to further knowledge in this area.

O-Alkyl derivatives of ferulic and syringic acid as lipophilic antioxidants: effect of the length of the alkyl chain on the improvement of the thermo-oxidative stability of sunflower oil.

Lipid oxidation is the major cause of the deterioration of fat-containing foods, especially those containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Antioxidant additives of synthetic origin are added to matrices rich in PUFAs, such as sunflower oil (SO). However, there is controversy regarding their safety, and their low solubility in both water and fat has led to the search for new covalent modifications through lipophilicity. This work presents the synthesis of O-alkyl acid derivatives from ferulic and syringic acids and the study of their antioxidant capacity and effect on the thermoxidative degradation of SO. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by employing ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays in a concentration range of 10-100 µg mL-1. The IC50 values for DPPH scavenging activity ranged from 15.61-90.43 µg mL-1. The results of the FRAP assay for both O-alkyl ferulic (3a-f) and syringic (5a-f) series revealed a "cut-off" effect on antioxidant activity in carbon five (C5). Thermoxidation study of additives 3b-c and 5b-c showed a decrease in the slope of extinction coefficients K 232 and K 270 in comparison with SOcontrol. Furthermore, 3c presented higher antioxidant activity than 3b and 1, with a power to decrease the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) 6 times higher than SOcontrol at 220 °C. Additives 5b-c exerted a protective effect on the thermoxidation of SO. The results suggest that increasing lipophilic and thermal properties of antioxidants through O-alkyl acid derivatization is an effective strategy for accessing lipophilic antioxidant additives with potential use in food matrices.

Fermented formulation of Silybum marianum seeds: Optimization, heavy metal analysis, and hepatoprotective assessment.

BACKGROUND: Fermented formulations are extensively used in Ayurveda due to several benefits like improved palatability, bioavailability, pharmacological potential, and shelf life. These formulations can also quench the heavy metals from the plant material and thus reduce the toxicity. Seeds of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. are widely used for the management of many liver diseases. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In the present study, we developed a novel fermented formulation of S. marianum seeds and evaluated parameters like safety (heavy metal analysis) and effectiveness (hepatoprotective). As the developed formulation's validation is crucial, the critical process variables (time, pH, and sugar concentration) are optimized for alcohol and silybin content using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). RESULTS: The response surface methodology coupled with BBD predicted the optimized conditions (fermentation time (28 days), pH 5.6, and sugar concentration (22.04%)) for the development of a fermented formulation of the selected herb. Moreover, the alcohol content (6.5 ± 0.9%) and silybin concentration (26.1 ± 2.1%) were confirmed in optimized formulation by GC-MS and HPTLC analysis. The optimized formulation was also analyzed for heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, and Cd); their concentration is significantly less than the decoction of herbs. Further, the comparative evaluation of the developed formulation with the marketed formulation also confirmed that the fermented formulation's silybin concentration and percentage release were significantly enhanced. In addition, the developed fermented formulation's percentage recovery of HepG2 cell lines after treatment with CCl4 was significantly improved compared with the marketed formulation. CONCLUSION: It can be summarized that the developed fermented formulation improves safety and effectiveness compared to other market formulations. Finally, it can be concluded that the developed fermented formulation could be further explored as a better alternative for developing Silybum marianum preparation.

Human Beauty according to Artificial Intelligence.

This work explores the upcoming era of artificial intelligence (AI), its potential impact on societal norms and aesthetics, and the biases inherent in AI systems. With the ability to generate realistic human-like art and language, AI entities like DALL·E or Midjourney have significant cultural and economic implications, particularly in creative sectors. However, our study highlights potential biases in AI, demonstrated through a text-to-image model called Craiyon, which was found to generate oversized and sexually suggestive images of breasts when prompted with certain phrases. These results underline the influence of societal norms on AI and the risk of perpetuating harmful stereotypes or unrealistic beauty standards. We emphasize the need for vigilance in monitoring AI's learning processes and potential biases, particularly as AI starts playing a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions of beauty and self. More inclusive and diverse AI models are needed to better represent the complexity of human beauty and to avoid biases.

The pivotal role of JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways in neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanistic approaches to polyphenols and alkaloids.

BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunctionality which results in disability and human life-threatening events. In recent decades, NDDs are on the rise. Besides, conventional drugs have not shown potential effectiveness to attenuate the complications of NDDs. So, exploring novel therapeutic agents is an urgent need to combat such disorders. Accordingly, growing evidence indicates that polyphenols and alkaloids are promising natural candidates, possessing several beneficial pharmacological effects against diseases. Considering the complex pathophysiological mechanisms behind NDDs, Janus kinase (JAK), insulin receptor substrate (IRS), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) seem to play critical roles during neurodegeneration/neuroregeneration. In this line, modulation of the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways and their interconnected mediators by polyphenols/alkaloids could play pivotal roles in combating NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), stroke, aging, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), depression and other neurological disorders. PURPOSE: Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective roles of polyphenols/alkaloids as multi-target natural products against NDDs which are critically passing through the modulation of the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic and comprehensive review was performed to highlight the modulatory roles of polyphenols and alkaloids on the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways in NDDs, according to the PRISMA guideline, using scholarly electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and associated reference lists. RESULTS: In the present study 141 articles were included from a total of 1267 results. The results showed that phenolic compounds such as curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and quercetin, and alkaloids such as berberine could be introduced as new strategies in combating NDDs through JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways. This is the first systematic review that reveals the correlation between the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K axis which is targeted by phytochemicals in NDDs. Hence, this review highlighted promising insights into the neuroprotective potential of polyphenols and alkaloids through the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathway and interconnected mediators toward neuroprotection. CONCLUSION: Amongst natural products, phenolic compounds and alkaloids are multi-targeting agents with the most antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects possessing the potential of combating NDDs with high efficacy and lower toxicity. However, additional reports are needed to prove the efficacy and possible side effects of natural products.