Predicting Atmospheric Water-Soluble Organic Mass Reversibly Partitioned to Aerosol Liquid Water in the Eastern United States.

Water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) formed through aqueous processes contributes substantially to total atmospheric aerosol, however, the impact of water evaporation on particle concentrations is highly uncertain. Herein, we present a novel approach to predict the amount of evaporated organic mass induced by sample drying using multivariate polynomial regression and random forest (RF) machine learning models. The impact of particle drying on fine WSOM was monitored during three consecutive summers in Baltimore, MD (2015, 2016, and 2017). The amount of evaporated organic mass was dependent on relative humidity (RH), WSOM concentrations, isoprene concentrations, and NOx/isoprene ratios. Different models corresponding to each class were fitted (trained and tested) to data from the summers of 2015 and 2016 while model validation was performed using summer 2017 data. Using the coefficient of determination (R2) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE), it was concluded that an RF model with 100 decision trees had the best performance (R2 of 0.81) and the lowest normalized mean error (NME < 1%) leading to low model uncertainties. The relative feature importance for the RF model was calculated to be 0.55, 0.2, 0.15, and 0.1 for WSOM concentrations, RH levels, isoprene concentrations, and NOx/isoprene ratios, respectively. The machine learning model was thus used to predict summertime concentrations of evaporated organics in Yorkville, Georgia, and Centerville, Alabama in 2016 and 2013, respectively. Results presented herein have implications for measurements that rely on sample drying using a machine learning approach for the analysis and interpretation of atmospheric data sets to elucidate their complex behavior.

Silver Nanoparticles Loaded on Chitosan-g-PVA Hydrogel for the Wound-Healing Applications.

Silver nanoparticle composites have abundant biomedical applications due to their unique antibacterial properties. In the current work, green tea leaf extract was used as a natural reducing agent to synthesize AgNPs (AgNPs) using microwave irradiation technology. Furthermore, microwave irradiation has been used for the preparation of AgNPs/chitosan (Ch) grafted polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel samples. To approve the accomplishment of AgNPs hydrogel polymer, UV-spectrum, TEM, and FT-IR spectrum analyses and the release of silver ions, actions were taken. The wound-healing ability of the prepared hydrogel samples was measured via both the in vitro (fibroblast cells) and the in vivo using rat models. It was found that chitosan-grafted polyvinyl alcohol, including AgNPs, exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus using the agar diffusion method. It can be said that microwave irradiation was successful in creating a hydrogel that contained silver nanoparticles. A wound that was still open was successfully treated with these composites.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Estimates of paediatric hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence are needed to aid treatment scaling-up, screening and detection approach in this age range, with the ultimate goal of global HCV eradication. The aim of this study was to gather all of the available information on HCV seroprevalence in children all around the world. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Wiley and EBSCO databases for all studies evaluating HCV seroprevalence in children; however, studies examining seroprevalence in high-risk children or specific groups were excluded. RESULTS: Only 20 articles with 48 963 people met our inclusion criteria, with an overall prevalence of 0.904% and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.543 to 1.355. Seroprevalence was higher in research published prior to 2010 than in those published after 2010 (0.77% vs. 0.53%). CONCLUSION: Few studies were conducted to assess the seroprevalence of HCV in children worldwide. However, the worldwide pooled seroprevalence of HCV in children in these studies is low (less than 1%).

Immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells: Cell origin and cell quality variations.

The immunomodulatory property of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been previously reported. Still it is unclear if this property can be affected by the cell origin and cell quality. Using primary MSCs expanded from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue (AD-MSCs) of mice, we investigated whether the immunomodulatory property of MSCs varied with cell origin and cell quality (early- vs. late-passaged BM-MSCs). BM-MSCs (p1) and AD-MSCs (p1) had a typical spindle shape, but morphological changes were observed in late-passaged BM-MSCs (p6). A pathway-focused array showed that the expression of chemokine/cytokine genes varied with different cell origins and qualities. By co-culturing with spleen mononuclear cells (MNC) for 3 days, the expression of CD4 was suppressed by all types of MSCs. By contrast, the expression of CD8 was suppressed by BM-MSCs and increased by AD-MSCs. The expression ratio of CD206 to CD86 was at a comparable level after co-culture with AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs, but was lower with late-passaged BM-MSCs. AD-MSCs highly induced the release of IL6, IL-10 and TGF-ß in culture medium. Compared with early-passaged BM-MSCs (p1), late-passaged BM-MSCs (p6) released less TGF-ß. Our data suggests that the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs vary with cell origin and cell quality and that BM-MSCs of good quality are likely the optimal source of immunomodulation.

Flurbiprofen-loaded niosomes-in-gel system improves the ocular bioavailability of flurbiprofen in the aqueous humor.

The present work aimed to prolong the contact time of flurbiprofen (FBP) in the ocular tissue to improve the drug anti-inflammatory activity. Different niosome systems were fabricated adopting thin-film hydration technique and using the nonionic surfactant Span 60. The morphology of the prepared niosomes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Physical characterization by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were conducted for the optimized formula (F5) that was selected on the basis of percent entrapment efficiency, vesicular size and total lipid content. F5 was formulated as 1% w/w Carpobol 934 gel. Pharmacokinetic parameters of FBP were investigated following ocular administration of F5-loaded gel system, F5 niosome dispersion or the corresponding FBP ocular drops to albino rabbits dispersion. Anti-inflamatory effect of F5-loaded carbopol gel was investigated by histopathological examination of the corneal tissue before and after the treatment of inflamed rabbit eye with the system. Results showed that cholesterol content, surfactant type. and total lipid contents had an apparent impact on the vesicle size of the formulated niosomes. Physical characterization revealed reduced drug crystallinity and incidence of interaction with other niosome contents. F5-loaded gel showed higher Cmax, area under the curve (AUC0-12), and thus higher ocular bioavailability than those of the corresponding FBP ocular solution. F5-loaded gel showed a promising rapid anti-inflammatory effect in the inflamed rabbit eye. These findings will eradicate the necessity for frequent ocular drug instillation and thus, improve patient compliance.

Drying-Induced Evaporation of Secondary Organic Aerosol during Summer.

This study characterized the effect of drying on the concentration of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Simultaneous measurements of water-soluble organic carbon in the gas (WSOCg) and particle (WSOCp) phases were carried out in Baltimore, MD during the summertime. To investigate the effect of drying on SOA, the WSOCp measurement was alternated through an ambient channel (WSOCp) and a "dried" channel (WSOCp,dry) maintained at ∼35% relative humidity (RH). The average mass ratio between WSOCp,dry and WSOCp was 0.85, showing that significant evaporation of the organic aerosol occurred due to drying. The average amount of evaporated water-soluble organic matter (WSOM = WSOC × 1.95) was 0.6 µg m(-3); however, the maximum evaporated WSOM concentration exceeded 5 µg m(-3), demonstrating the importance of this phenomenon. The systematic difference between ambient and dry channels indicates a significant and persistent source of aqueous SOA formed through reversible uptake processes. The wide-ranging implications of the work are discussed, and include: new insight into atmospheric SOA formation; impacts on particle measurement techniques; a newly identified bias in PM2.5 measurements using the EPA's Federal Reference and Equivalent Methods (FRM and FEM); atmospheric model evaluations; and the challenge in relating ground-based measurements to remote sensing of aerosol properties.

The ameliorative role of Aloe vera-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus induced acute lung injury: Targeting TLR/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe condition distinguished by inflammation and impaired gas exchange in the lungs. Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium, can cause ALI through its virulence factors. Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used to treat a variety of illnesses due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Chitosan nanoparticles are biocompatible and totally biodegradable materials that have shown potential in drug delivery systems. Aim: To explore the antibacterial activity of Aloe vera-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (AV-CS-NPs) against S. aureus in vitro and in vivo with advanced techniques. Methods: The antibacterial efficacy of AV-CS-NPs was evaluated through a broth microdilution assay. In addition, the impact of AV-CS-NPs on S. aureus-induced ALI in rats was examined by analyzing the expression of genes linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Furthermore, rat lung tissue was scanned histologically. The rats were divided into three groups: control, ALI, and treatment with AV-CS-NPs. Results: The AV-CS-NPs that were prepared exhibited clustered semispherical and spherical forms, having an average particle size of approximately 60 nm. These nanoparticles displayed a diverse structure with an uneven distribution of particle sizes. The maximum entrapment efficiency of 95.5% ± 1.25% was achieved. The obtained findings revealed that The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values were determined to be 5 and 10 ug/ml, respectively, indicating the potent bactericidal effect of the NPs. Also, S. aureus infected rats explored upregulation in the mRNA expression of TLR2 and TLR4 compared to healthy control groups. AV-CS-NP treatment reverses the case where there was repression in mRNA expression of TLR2 and TLR4 compared to S. aureus-treated rats. Conclusion: These NPs can serve as potential candidates for the development of alternative antimicrobial agents.

RETRACTED: Aldakheel et al. Employing of Curcumin-Silver Nanoparticle-Incorporated Sodium Alginate-Co-Acacia Gum Film Hydrogels for Wound Dressing. Gels 2023, 9, 780.

The Gels Editorial Office retracts the article, "Employing of Curcumin-Silver Nanoparticle-Incorporated Sodium Alginate-Co-Acacia Gum Film Hydrogels for Wound Dressing" [...].

Aqueous processing of water-soluble organic compounds in the eastern United States during winter.

Aqueous multi-phase processes are significant contributors to organic aerosol (OA) mass in the atmosphere. This study characterizes the formation of water-soluble organic matter during the winter in the eastern United States through simultaneous measurements of water-soluble organic carbon in the gas and particle phases (WSOCg and WSOCp, respectively). The formation of secondary WSOCp occurred primarily through two pathways: (1) absorptive partitioning of oxygenated organics to the bulk OA and (2) aqueous phase processes. WSOCp formation through the former pathway was evident through the relationship between the fraction of total WSOC in the particle phase (Fp) and the total OA concentration. Conversely, evidence for nighttime aqueous WSOCp formation was based upon the strong enhancement in Fp with increasing relative humidity, indicating the uptake of WSOCg to aerosol liquid water (ALW). The Fp-RH relationship was only observed for temperatures between 0-10 °C, suggesting conditions for aqueous multi-phase processes were enhanced during these times. Temperature exhibited an inverse relationship with ALW and a proportional relationship with aerosol potassium. ALW and biomass burning precursors were both abundant in the 0-10 °C temperature range, facilitating aqueous WSOCp formation. To assess the impact of particle drying on the WSOCp concentrations, the particle measurements alternated between ambient and dried channels. No change was observed in the concentration of particles before and after drying, indicating that the WSOCp formed through the uptake of WSOCg into OA and ALW remained in the condensed phase upon particle drying at all temperature ranges. This work contributes to our understanding of sources, pathways, and factors affecting aqueous aerosol formation in the winter.

Enhancing the Toxicity of Cypermethrin and Spinosad against Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Inhibition of Detoxification Enzymes.

The extensive use of wide-ranging insecticides in agricultural activities may develop resistance in insects. The dipping technique was utilized for examining changes in detoxifying enzyme levels in Spodoptera littoralis L. induced by cypermethrin (CYP) and spinosad (SPD) with and without a combination of three enzyme inhibitors: triphenyl phosphate (TPP), diethyl maleate (DEM), and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), at 70 µg/mL. PBO, DEM, and TPP showed 50% mortality against larvae at 236.2, 324.5, and 245.8 µg/mL, respectively. The LC50 value of CYP on S. littoralis larvae reduced from 2.86 µg/mL to 1.58, 2.26, and 1.96 µg/mL, while the LC50 value of SPD declined from 3.27 µg/mL to 2.34, 2.56, and 2.53, with the addition of PBO, DEM, and TPP, respectively, 24 h after treatment. Moreover, the activity of carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (Cyp 450) was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) by TPP, DEM, PBO plus CYP, and SPD in S. littoralis larvae in comparison with tested insecticides alone. These findings suggested that three enzyme inhibitors play a major role in increasing the toxicity of CYP and SPD in S. littoralis and will provide insight into how to overcome insecticide resistance in insects.

Genetic profile of MIF single nucleotide polymorphism (rs755622 G>C) in hepatocellular carcinoma among Egyptian patients.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the role of MIF gene polymorphism rs755622 G>C in occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among a cohort of Egyptian patients. Material and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 50 patients with HCC after chronic viral hepatitis and 50 healthy volunteers, recruited between July 2021 and January 2022. All patients with HCC were evaluated for severity of liver disease using a Child-Pugh score, and TNM and BCLC scoring systems. MIF 173 G>C (rs755622) single nucleotide polymorphism was performed for all participants by polymerase chain reaction using restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (RFLP-PCR). Results: Overall results showed significantly higher frequencies of GG (wild homozygous genotype) and mutant heterozygous genotype GC and G allele (OR = 6.303, 95% CI: 3.374-11.775) among patients with HCC compared to the control group (p = 0.001) for all. Also, significantly higher frequency of genotype GG was detected among patients with advanced Child scores (B and C) (p = 0.039) and TNM stages (III and IV) (p = 0.013). There was significantly higher frequency of the G allele among patients with multiple hepatic focal lesions compared to those with a single focal lesion (p = 0.01). Conclusions: An obvious role of MIF (rs755622) gene polymorphism could have an important role in susceptibility and progression of HCC among patients with chronic viral hepatitis induced liver cirrhosis.

Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Loaded in Polysaccharide Hydrogel Applied to Chronic Wound Healing in Mice Models.

The prevalence of chronic wounds is increasing owing to the expanding population and the growing number of individuals suffering from diabetes. Such a chronic wound continues to be a significant healthcare burden for diabetic patients because it frequently carries a high chance of limb loss due to amputation and reduces survival as a result. Development of innovative wound dressing materials with the potential to stop bacterial infections and accelerate the process of tissue regeneration is needed to increase the effectiveness of diabetic wound healing. In the current study, a co-polymerization process based on a free radical reaction was used to create a hydrogel of polysaccharides blend graft acrylamide (PsB-g-Am). Starch, chitosan, and alginate make up the polysaccharides blend (PsB). The produced hydrogel's structure was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. The antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles synthesized through the green method using garlic bulb (Allium sativum) is reported. The silver nanoparticles' physical characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy analysis, and UV-visible spectroscopy and they were found to range in size from 50 to 100 nm. The agar well diffusion technique is used to investigate the antibacterial characteristics. Inclusion of silver nanoparticles in the hydrogels demonstrated concentration-dependent antibacterial behavior against Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus during antimicrobial testing of the hydrogels. When hydrogels were applied to diabetic mice, the system was examined for its healing abilities, and positive therapeutic results were obtained in as little as 14 days. Thus, it can be inferred that graft copolymer of chitosan-AgNPs hydrogels can promote healing in chronic wounds over time and can be utilized as an alternative to conventional therapies for chronic wounds (such as those brought on by diabetes) in mouse models.

Employing of Curcumin-Silver Nanoparticle-Incorporated Sodium Alginate-Co-Acacia Gum Film Hydrogels for Wound Dressing.

Skin wound healing is time-consuming and frequently accompanied by bacterial infections and the development of scars. The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has sparked a growing interest in naturally occurring bioactive substances, like curcumin, that possess wound-healing capabilities. Silver is a natural antimicrobial agent, and finds extensive use in specialized wound dressings. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using an eco-friendly approach, employing curcumin. The prepared nanoparticles have been characterized using TEM, DLS, and zeta potential. The prepared AgNPs were loaded on sodium alginate-co-gum arabic hydrogel. Two hydrogel samples (with and without AgNPs) have been applied for wound healing. The developed silver nanoparticles that were created exhibited effective action against both types of bacteria, namely Gram-negative and Gram-positive. Alg-co-AG-AgNPs demonstrated faster wound healing rates compared to using the control hydrogel sample. The novel dressings of curcumin-silver nanoparticle-incorporated sodium alginate-co-gum arabic hydrogels (Alg-co-AG-AgNPs) exhibited exceptional biocompatibility and have the potential to serve as a wound dressing that possesses antibacterial properties and reduces scarring.

The Impact of LEP rs7799039 Polymorphism and Obesity on the Severity of Coronavirus Disease-19.

Background and Aims: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been recorded in 230 countries to date. Obesity has a negative impact on one's quality of life and is one of the main causes of mortality globally. Obesity affects the immune system, making the host more susceptible to infectious infections. Also, obesity commonly provokes the severity of respiratory diseases so the correlation of LEP rs7799039 Polymorphism in corpulent patients with COVID-19 infection was clearly investigated in the current study. Methods: A total of 232 patients were recruited, 116 patients were obese with COVID-19 infection, and 116 patients were non obese COVID-19. Fasting blood glucose test (FBG), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), complete blood count (CBC), international normalized ratio (INR), urea, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), D dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were estimated. C.T. scan was performed for each patient, and C.T. severity score was calculated. Genotyping for the leptin rs7799039 SNPs was performed by TaqMan® (Applied Biosystems Step One TM Real-time PCR). Results: Regarding LEP polymorphism, all individuals of non-obese groups significantly had the homozygous allele GG (100%), whereas only 56% of obese groups had GG alleles (P = 0.001). The severity scores significantly (P = 0.001) varied regarding LEP polymorphism regarding Rs7799039, where the largest proportion of those with Grade IV had the homozygous allele AA (57.1%). Conclusion: There was a correlation between the leptin gene allelic discrimination and COVID-19 CT brutality in obese patients. The A allele was considered a risk factor for severity in COVID-19 patients while the G allele contributes to decreasing that risk.

Broadband Optical Properties of Bi2Se3.

Materials with high optical constants are of paramount importance for efficient light manipulation in nanophotonics applications. Recent advances in materials science have revealed that van der Waals (vdW) materials have large optical responses owing to strong in-plane covalent bonding and weak out-of-plane vdW interactions. However, the optical constants of vdW materials depend on numerous factors, e.g., synthesis and transfer method. Here, we demonstrate that in a broad spectral range (290-3300 nm) the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k of Bi2Se3 are almost independent of synthesis technology, with only a ~10% difference in n and k between synthesis approaches, unlike other vdW materials, such as MoS2, which has a ~60% difference between synthesis approaches. As a practical demonstration, we showed, using the examples of biosensors and therapeutic nanoparticles, that this slight difference in optical constants results in reproducible efficiency in Bi2Se3-based photonic devices.

Immunogenicity and Cross-Protective Efficacy Induced by an Inactivated Recombinant Avian Influenza A/H5N1 (Clade 2.3.4.4b) Vaccine against Co-Circulating Influenza A/H5Nx Viruses.

Controlling avian influenza viruses (AIVs) is mainly based on culling of the infected bird flocks or via the implementation of inactivated vaccines in countries where AIVs are considered to be endemic. Over the last decade, several avian influenza virus subtypes, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.2.1.2, H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b and the recent H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, have been reported among poultry populations in Egypt. This demanded the utilization of a nationwide routine vaccination program in the poultry sector. Antigenic differences between available avian influenza vaccines and the currently circulating H5Nx strains were reported, calling for an updated vaccine for homogenous strains. In this study, three H5Nx vaccines were generated by utilizing the reverse genetic system: rgH5N1_2.3.4.4, rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2. Further, the immunogenicity and the cross-reactivity of the generated inactivated vaccines were assessed in the chicken model against a panel of homologous and heterologous H5Nx HPAIVs. Interestingly, the rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 induced high immunogenicity in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken and could efficiently protect immunized chickens against challenge infection with HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4, H5N8_2.3.4.4 and H5N1_2.2.1.2. In parallel, the rgH5N1_2.2.1.2 could partially protect SPF chickens against infection with HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4 and H5N8_2.3.4.4. Conversely, the raised antibodies to rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 could provide full protection against HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4 and HPAIV H5N8_2.3.4.4, and partial protection (60%) against HPAIV H5N1_2.2.1.2. Compared to rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2 vaccines, chickens vaccinated with rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 showed lower viral shedding following challenge infection with the predefined HPAIVs. These data emphasize the superior immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of the rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 in comparison to rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2.

The breathing human infrastructure: Integrating air quality, traffic, and social media indicators.

Outdoor air pollution is a complex system that is responsible for the deaths of millions of people annually, yet the integration of interdisciplinary data necessary to assess air quality's multiple metrics is still lacking. This case study integrates atmospheric indicators (concentrations of criteria pollutants including particulate matter and gaseous pollutants), traffic indicators (permanent traffic monitoring station data), and social indicators (community responses in Twitter archives) representing the interplay of the three critical pillars of the United Nations' Triple Bottom Line: environment, economy, and society. During the watershed moment of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Florida, urban centers demonstrated the gaps and opportunities for understanding the relationships, through correlations rather than causations, between urban air quality, traffic emissions, and public perceptions. The relationship between the perception and the traffic variables were strongly correlated, however no correlation was observed between the perception and actual air quality indicators, except for NO2. These observations might consequently infer that traffic serves as people's proxy for air quality, regardless of actual air quality, suggesting that social media messaging around asthma may be a way to monitor traffic patterns in areas where no infrastructure currently exists or is prohibited to build. It also indicates that people are less likely to be reliable sensors to accurately measure air quality due to bias in their observations of traffic volume and/or confirmation biases in broader social discourse. Results presented herein are of significance in demonstrating the capacity for interdisciplinary studies to consider the predictive capacities of social media and air pollution, its use as both lever and indicator of public support for air quality legislation and clean-air transitions, and its ability to overcome limitations of surface monitoring stations.

Synergistic Antimicrobial Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lawsonia inermis Against Staphylococcus aureus.

PURPOSE: The developed resistance of pathogenic microorganisms towards the currently used antimicrobial agents requires the fast search for newer potent antimicrobials. One of the most important ways to combat the previously mentioned disaster is the use of natural alternatives like medicinal plants. Our study aimed to estimate the anti-inflammatory property, and antibacterial effects of probiotics Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and ethanol extracts of Lawsonia inermis leaves against Staphylococcus aureus when they were used separately or collectively as synergism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experimentally induced infected wound model in mice was created and divided into 10 groups then treated for two days by L. plantarum and L. inermis individually or in combination, followed by biochemical assays. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing activity were evaluated through histopathological sections taken before and after treatment. RESULTS: Our results revealed that L. plantarum and L. inermis mixture could inhibit growth of S. aureus and decrease the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of L. plantarum to 2 mg/mL. The mixture decreased level of both interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interferon-alpha (TNF-α) to a level near the normal uninfected group. Histopathological study showed that animals treated with both L. plantarum and L. inermis had achieved almost 90% healing. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that L. plantarum and L. inermis mixture has synergistic effect on healing of infected wound.

Non-Additive Optical Response in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Heterostructures.

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures pave the way to achieve the desired material properties for a variety of applications. In this way, new scientific and industrial challenges and fundamental questions arise. One of them is whether vdW materials preserve their original optical response when assembled in a heterostructure. Here, we resolve this issue for four exemplary monolayer heterostructures: MoS2/Gr, MoS2/hBN, WS2/Gr, and WS2/hBN. Through joint Raman, ellipsometry, and reflectance spectroscopies, we discovered that heterostructures alter MoS2 and WS2 optical constants. Furthermore, despite the similarity of MoS2 and WS2 monolayers, their behavior in heterostructures is markedly different. While MoS2 has large changes, particularly above 3 eV, WS2 experiences modest changes in optical constants. We also detected a transformation from dark into bright exciton for MoS2/Gr heterostructure. In summary, our findings provide clear evidence that the optical response of heterostructures is not the sum of optical properties of its constituents.

Evaluation of Expressed MicroRNAs as Prospective Biomarkers for Detection of Breast Cancer.

Background: Early detection and screening of breast cancer (BC) might help improve the prognosis of BC patients. This study evaluated the use of serum microRNAs (miRs) as non-invasive biomarkers in BC patients. Methods: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we evaluated the serum expression of four candidate miRs (miR-155, miR-373, miR-10b, and miR-34a) in 99 Egyptian BC patients and 40 healthy subjects (as a control). The miRs expression was correlated with clinicopathological data. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the miRs were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Serum miR-155, miR-373, and miR-10b expression were significantly upregulated (p < 0.001), while serum miR-34a was downregulated (p < 0.00) in nonmetastatic (M0) BC patients compared to the control group. In addition, serum miR-155 and miR-10b were upregulated in BC patients with large tumor sizes and extensive nodal involvement (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 1.0) when the four miRs were combined. Serum miR-373 was significantly upregulated in the human epidermal growth factor 2−negative (p < 0.001), estrogen receptor−positive (p < 0.005), and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive (p < 0.024) in BC patients, and serum miR-155 was significantly upregulated in PR-negative (p < 0.001) BC patients while both serum miR-155 and miR-373 were positively correlated with the tumor grade. Conclusions: Circulating serum miR-155, miR-373, miR-10b, and miR-34a are potential biomarkers for early BC detection in Egyptian patients and their combination shows high sensitivity and specificity.