Background:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver disorders worldwide. In India, its burden is rising fast due to increasing metabolic problems like diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. The disease varies from simple fat accumulation to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. This study aimed to assess the clinical, biochemical and imaging profile of NAFLD patients in a tertiary hospital at Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Methods:
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was done for 12 months in the Department of General Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Ninety-one adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with NAFLD on ultrasonography were included. Patients with alcohol intake, viral hepatitis, or hepatotoxic drug use were excluded. Demographic data, laboratory values, and imaging findings were recorded. Fibrosis was assessed using liver elastography and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS).
Results:
Out of 91 patients, 56 (61.5%) were males, mean age 53.1 ± 11.6 years. All had type 2 diabetes and 73 (80.3%) were diabetic for ≥6 years. Dyslipidemia seen in 57.1% and albuminuria in 60.4%. On ultrasonography, 69 patients (75.8%) had Grade II/III steatosis. Elastography showed significant fibrosis (≥F3) in 31 (34.1%) and NFS showed advanced fibrosis in 16 (17.6%). Mean HbA1c was 9.2% showing poor glycemic control.
Conclusion:
NAFLD patients in north India had high metabolic burden with poor diabetes control, dyslipidemia, and early kidney changes. About one-third already showed significant fibrosis. Early screening and integrated management focusing on metabolic control are essential to prevent disease progression.
A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore whether feeding inclusion procyanidin-rich grape seed powders (GSPs) affected the faba bean-induced muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp. The procyanidin content in the prepared GSP was 10.40 g/100 g. Additionally, one thousand 1-year-old grass carp with an initial weight of 27 g and an initial length of 12 cm were divided into five groups, including the blank control (basal diet); the positive control (faba bean diet); and the low (faba bean diet supplemented 100 mg/kg GSP), middle (faba bean diet supplemented 500 mg/kg GSP), and high (faba bean diet supplemented 1000 mg/kg GSP) GSP-supplemented groups. After feeding for 60 days, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and condition factor were elevated in the high-GSP-supplemented group in comparison with the blank control (<i>p</i> < 0.05), accompanied by a significant decrease in the feeding coefficient (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Meanwhile, a significant increase in muscle ROS content, shear force, gumminess, and chewiness was determined in the high-GSP-supplemented group when compared with the positive group, suggesting that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP facilitated muscle crispness. Moreover, the composition of intestine microbiota was significantly varied between groups with the daily addition of GSP (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among them, <i>Lactococcus chungangensis</i> was identified as the key biomarker of the high-GSP-supplemented group, which was closely related to the increased muscle ROS content, the modifications in muscle nutritional metabolites (Met, C20:2n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, and C22:4n6), and the alterations in muscle texture (gumminess, chewiness, shear force, hardness, and adhesiveness). Based on these results, we believe that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP (1000 mg/kg) facilitated muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp.
Once ordinary chondrites fall on Earth, Fe–Ni minerals and troilite they contain oxidize and transform into iron oxyhydroxides and/or iron oxides, which is expected to modify their magnetic properties. In this study, the effect of long-term terrestrial weathering on the magnetic properties (magnetic susceptibility and hysteresis parameters) of 117 H and L ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert (Chile), a region hosting the oldest meteorite collection in the world, was investigated. The measurements revealed a consistent weathering-induced decrease in the saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of both H and L chondrites. The observed trends indicate a faster initial weathering of Fe–Ni minerals compared to troilite, their transformation into mostly paramagnetic iron oxyhydroxides, as well as the formation of magnetite in the later weathering stages.
Lateefa A. Al-Khateeb, Mohammed Gamal, Mohamed A. Elsayed
et al.
Abstract The growing demand for eco-friendly and cost-effective analytical methods has driven the development of a fast, green, and sensitive GC-MS assay for the simultaneous quantification of paracetamol (PAR) and metoclopramide (MET) in pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma. Separation was achieved in 5 min using a high-polarity 5% Phenyl Methyl Silox column, with detection at *m/z* 109 (PAR) and 86 (MET). The method was fully validated per ICH guidelines, showing excellent linearity (PAR: 0.2–80 µg/mL, r² = 0.9999; MET: 0.3–90 µg/mL, r² = 0.9988) and precision (tablet recovery: 102.87 ± 3.605% PAR, 101.98 ± 3.392% MET; plasma recovery: 92.79 ± 1.521% PAR, 91.99 ± 2.153% MET). Greenness assessment via three metrics, including the BAGI tool (score: 82.5), confirmed its environmental superiority over conventional methods. With high sensitivity, accuracy, and a 5-minute runtime, this approach is ideal for routine quality control and pharmacokinetic studies.
The widespread usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has resulted in their significant accumulation in the environment, necessitating the development of effective methods for their removal. This study primarily isolated a bacterial strain capable of degrading specific NSAIDs and evaluated its potential for eliminating these drugs from contaminated soil through bioaugmentation. The objectives were achieved by assessing the degradation rates of ibuprofen (IBF), diclofenac (DCF), and naproxen (NPX) in liquid media and soil samples inoculated with a newly identified strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MC-1/23. In addition, the effect of natural soil microflora and abiotic conditions on the breakdown of the tested NSAIDs was examined. The findings revealed that strain MC-1/23 could metabolize these compounds in a mineral salt medium, utilizing them as carbon and energy sources, suggesting metabolic degradation. When nonsterile soil was augmented with the P. aeruginosa MC-1/23 strain, the degradation rates of the drugs significantly improved, as evidenced by reductions in t1/2 values by 5.3-, 1.4-, and 5.8-fold for IBF, DCF, and NPX, respectively, compared with soil containing only natural microflora. These results confirm that the introduced strain enhances the catabolic potential of existing microflora. Thus, the strain’s degradation and bioremediation capabilities offer valuable applications for remediating NSAID-contaminated soils.
Abstract Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease that affects the brain and causes a recurrent seizure. This condition affects a lot of people worldwide making it a global neurological disorder. The first line for managing epilepsy, is the use of Anti-epileptic drugs. Herein, a reliable and ecological chromatographic method was developed, verified and validated for the simultaneous determination of three approved drugs that can be co-administered in many treatment protocols for epilepsy management; Piracetam (PIR), Gabapentin (GBP) and Levetiracetam (LEV). The developed method was founded on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC–UV). Separation was accomplished using a 5.0 μm particle size, 250 × 4.6 mm Inertsil ODS-3 C18 column with the UV detection set at 210.0 nm. An isocratic elution system was employed, consisting of a mixture of methanol and water in a ratio of 15:85 (v/v) at ambient temperature. The developed method demonstrated linearity throughout a range of concentration of 30.0–1000.0 µg/mL for GBP and 10.0–100.0 µg/mL for LEV and PIR. The suggested method was optimized and validated following the guidelines stated by the ICH and was utilized for the determination of the aforementioned drugs in their respective pharmaceutical formulation. Moreover, the supremacy of the developed method was further extended for monitoring the in-vitro release profile of the stated drugs and content uniformity of their marketed pharmaceutical formulations. Finally, the ecological impact of the suggested method was monitored, evaluated and compared to the official HPLC ones utilizing newly introduced greenness, blueness and whiteness assessment methods tools.
Prakash Dhanavelu, K. G Nandagopal, N. Sakthi Ganesh
et al.
Objective:
The current study evaluated the osteogenic potential of three commercially available autogenous bone graft materials using primary human osteoblasts.
Materials and Methods:
Primary human osteoblasts were seeded onto the bone graft materials, and their adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression (Runx2 and ALP) were assessed at 4, 8, 3, and 14 days post-seeding. The materials were grouped (Group I: biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), Group II: freeze-dried bone allografts (FDBA), Group III: deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM)) and characterized for particle size and mean projection area. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni’s correction was used for statistical analysis.
Results:
Group I showed the highest osteoblast adhesion and proliferation, with the highest expression of osteogenic markers, followed by Group II and Group III. Group I had the smallest particle size.
Conclusion:
Deproteinized bovine bone mineral may be the most effective bone graft material for promoting osteogenesis, with implications for optimizing bone graft selection in oral surgery.
Background:
Because of the posterior mandible’s shortened vertical bone height, using dental implants, there comes with special difficulties. It has been suggested that using short implants (≤8 mm) would prevent the need for subsequent surgical operations such as bone grafting. In total, 180 implants were inserted into the posterior mandible in 120 individuals who were part of this retrospective cohort research. Ninety patients in the short implant group (implants ≤8 mm) and 90 patients in the standard implant group (implants ≥10 mm) were split into two groups. Expert medical professionals installed all of the implants, and fixed prostheses were used to repair them. Over a 5-year follow-up period, clinical indicators such as implant survival rate, marginal bone loss (MBL), probing depth (PD), and patient satisfaction were evaluated.
Results:
Whereas conventional implants showed a survival rate of 95.6% (P = 0.42), the survival rate of short implants was 92.5%. The standard implant group (mean MBL: 1.0 mm) and the short implant group (mean MBL: 1.3 mm) had somewhat increased bone loss, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15). The two groups’ mean probing depth and patient satisfaction ratings were similar, with 2.6 mm for short implants and 2.4 mm for traditional implants (P = 0.38). Both implant types showed good clinical results overall with little side effects.
Conclusion:
Comparing short implants to standard implants in the posterior mandible, comparable long-term clinical results are shown. Short implants are a good substitute even if they have a little greater bone loss rate. This is especially true when there is a restricted vertical bone height.
Abstract Tulips (Tulipa gesneriana) are one of the most widely cultivated bulbous plants with substantial ornamental value. However, the lack of well-documented reference genomes has limited the research progress and molecular breeding of tulips. In the present study, a full-length transcriptome of a commercial tulip cultivar was obtained using single-molecule long-read sequencing (PacBio Iso-Seq). In total, 244,357 full-length transcripts were identified, which had an average length of 2,044 bp and an N50 value of 3,861; 67,350 of these were annotated to databases. An inaugural integrated analysis of the transcriptome and phytohormone profiles during flower opening and petal senescence was performed using Illumina RNA-seq, coupled with Mfuzz (an R pakage, http://mfuzz.sysbiolab.eu ) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). A total of 16 gene coexpression and six transcription factor (TF) modules were constructed. Additionally, 26 hormone analogs were comprehensively profiled. Finally, a prominently novel gene, Tulipa gesneriana Homeobox12-like (TgHB12-like), which encodes an homeodomain–leucine zipper (HD-zip) TF, was identified as a pivotal regulator of petal senescence. Overall, this work facilitates the identification of hormones and TFs in plants related to flower opening and senescence in tulips. It also provides an important and valuable genetic basis for further research in them.
Philip J. Marriott, Yong Foo Wong, Michelle Amaral
et al.
This research considers a number of molecular structural changes that have been reported in gas chromatography (GC), which take place during the chromatographic separation process of a molecule, and leads to an observation of an elevated baseline between the molecule and its product in a single column (1D) GC analysis. This phenomenon has been termed dynamic gas chromatography (DGC) in the case of interconverting compounds or reaction chromatography for a reaction process (RGC), and has also been referred to as forming a ‘bridge’. This is distinct from the conventional (dynamic) equilibrium process that defines chromatography. In order to observe this effect, the precursor (PRE) and product (PRO) must have resolvable peaks i.e., they must have a sufficient magnitude difference in their retention factors. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) offers particular advantages to examine the nature of this elevated baseline phenomenon in the 2D space of GC×GC, provided the relative retentions of the respective PRE and PRO of the transformation are now resolved in the second dimension. This leads to the observation of what may appear as ‘streaking’ effects in the 2D plot, with theoretical terminal positions due to both the PRE and PRO components. These streaking effects should not be confused with adsorption (e.g., tailing) effects. The elevated baseline may comprise a single species, such as for a decomposition process, PRE → PRO, or may comprise more components such as when a reversible or interconversion process occurs, PRE ⇌ PRO. If degradation occurs in the heated injector, PRO may generate an elevated peak at its characteristic first and second column retention times (1tR and 2tR) as more PRO is produced. Considerations of different shapes arising from the different processes and their kinetics will also be discussed. This review introduces general aspects of dynamic GC, with a range of applications reported for this phenomenon. The manner in which this on-column process may be illustrated in GC×GC analysis to produce certain patterns in the 2D space are highlighted. Two recent examples of rearrangements in essential oil samples and irreversible changes in pyrethrins are considered in more depth, and experimental details are provided for these two cases.
Aniello Falco, Antonio Marín-Sánchez, Florin C. Loghin
et al.
Flexible and thin-film humidity sensors are currently attracting the attention of the scientific community due to their portability and reduced size, which are highly useful traits for use in the Internet o Things (IoT) industry. Furthermore, in order to perform efficient and profitable mass production, it is necessary to develop a cost-effective and reproducible fabrication process and materials. Green fabrication methods and biodegradable materials would also minimize the environmental impact and create a sustainable IoT development. In this paper, flexible humidity sensors based on a common salt (NaCl) sensing layer are reported. Our sensors and the fabrication techniques employed, such as dip and spray coating, provide a biodegradable, low cost, and highly reproducible device. One of the sensors reported presents a typical resistive behaviour from 40% RH up to 85% RH with a sensitivity of −0.21 (Z/%RH). The performance of the sensors obtained with several fabrication techniques is studied and reported at multiple frequencies from 100 Hz to 10 MHz, showcasing its versatility and robustness.
Abstract Phosphorus is one of the most important constituents of human biofilms, in particular lipid bilayer packing, phase transition (gel phase, physiological liquid crystal phase, ripple phase, non-biphasic), lipid head group orientation/mechanics, and pure lipid bilayers. Phosphorus observations in biofilms play an important role in the study of the interaction of many types of proteins and biofilms in the human body. The design and construction of a 1H-31P double resonance probe with a scroll coil for solid-state NMR experiment are introduced. For good efficiency at the relatively high frequency, minimal RF sample heating during the experiment with a lossy sample, and a wide range of tuning frequency, this probe adapted the low inductance of a scroll coil. The 31P NMR spectra obtained on the biological lossy sample were used to demonstrate the possibility for monitoring the protein dynamics on biomembrane mimetic system and phase change of phospholipid.
Edible film coatings are widely used as a protective barrier for the reduction of transpiration and respiration, therefore reducing the ripening process in fruits and vegetables and improving their quality. The influence of chitosan 1% and alginate 3% enriched with olive leaves extract (OLE) on the quality of sweet cherries was studied. Overall, the ripening process and the increase in anthocyanins were found to be delayed with the use of coating particularly those composed of chitosan in combination with OLE. Ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents were recorded with restricted loss at the end of 20 days of storage in both chitosan- and alginate-coated samples enriched with OLE. Higher values of antioxidant activity expressed as the percentage inhibition of DPPH were reported in correlation with phytochemical content. It could be concluded that chitosan and alginate coating enriched with OLE could be efficient for prolonging the shelf life of sweet cherries.
Titus Chukwuemeka Obasi,1 Cornelia Braicu,2 Bogdan Cezar Iacob,1 Ede Bodoki,1 Ancuta Jurj,2 Lajos Raduly,2 Ilioara Oniga,3 Ioana Berindan-Neagoe,2,4,5 Radu Oprean1 1Department of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 3Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 4MEDFUTURE – Research Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu-Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 5Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Introduction: Scientific research is beginning to prove the connection between claims by African traditional medicine and the natural chemical specifics contained in medicinal plant Securidaca longipedunculata. Our previous studies showed that two natural saponin fractions (4A3 and 4A4) identified in the plant as triterpenoid glycosides are capable of activating apoptosis on cervical tumor cell lines. Considering this and some critical roles of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncogene on cervical cells, by promoting carcinogenesis and cell survival, it became necessary to investigate the possible pathways for apoptosis transmission.Methods: Tests conducted on relevant cervical tumor cell lines such as Caski and Bu25TK included the following: MTT assay; scratch assay (to determine cell migration/invasion); fluorescence microscopy with Annexin V–fluorescein isothiocyanate, muscle progenitor cell) and propidium iodide staining; and finally reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for gene analysis.Results: Reduced cell proliferation was observed due to activities of 4A3 and 4A4 fractions, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.03 and 16.39 μg/mL, respectively, on Caski cell line. A significant reduction in cell migration occurred within 48 and 72 hours, respectively, for Caski and Bu25TK cell lines. Late apoptosis was activated by 4A3, staining both Annexin V and PI, in contrast to 4A4’s early apoptosis. RT-qPCR data revealed a fold change (FC) inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins such as MCL-1 and BCL2L1, with diminished level of AKT-3, VEGFA, MALAT1, etc. The expression of p53, proapoptotic BAD, and caspase-8 was nonsignificant.Conclusion: The low expression of AKT-3 and antiapoptotic proteins (MCL-1 and BCL2L1), as well as VEGFA, could simply be an indication for possible suppression of cell survival mechanisms via multiple channels. We therefore conclude that 4A3 and 4A4 fractions mediate activity via the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K)-AKT/mTOR/NF-kB-dependent antiapoptotic stimuli. Further studies are ongoing to reveal the chemical structures and compositions of these two fractions. Keywords: early apoptosis, RT-qPCR gene analysis, AKT-3, MCL-1 and BCL2L1 inhibition, triterpenoid saponins
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Anne Clavreul, Milad Pourbaghi-Masouleh, Emilie Roger
et al.
Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant brain tumor in adults. It is characterized by angiogenesis and a high proliferative and invasive capacity. Standard therapy (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide) is of limited efficacy. Innovative anticancer drugs targeting both tumor cells and angiogenesis are urgently required, together with effective systems for their delivery to the brain. We assessed the ability of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to uptake the multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib (SFN), and to carry this drug to a brain tumor following intranasal administration. Method MSCs were primed with SFN and drug content and release were quantified by analytical chemistry techniques. The ability of SFN-primed MSCs to inhibit the survival of the human U87MG GB cell line and endothelial cells was assessed in in vitro assays. These cells were then administered intranasally to nude mice bearing intracerebral U87MG xenografts. Their effect on tumor growth and angiogenesis was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and immunofluorescence analyses, and was compared with the intranasal administration of unprimed MSCs or SFN alone. Results MSCs took up about 9 pg SFN per cell, with no effect on viability, and were able to release 60% of the primed drug. The cytostatic activity of the released SFN was entirely conserved, resulting in a significant inhibition of U87MG and endothelial cell survival in vitro. Two intranasal administrations of SFN-primed MSCs in U87MG-bearing mice resulted in lower levels of tumor angiogenesis than the injection of unprimed MSCs or SFN alone, but had no effect on tumor volume. We also observed an increase in the proportion of small intratumoral vessels in animals treated with unprimed MSCs; this effect being abolished if the MSCs were primed with SFN. Conclusion We show the potential of MSCs to carry SFN to brain tumors following an intranasal administration. However, the therapeutic effect is modest probably due to the pro-tumorigenic properties of MSCs, which may limit the action of the released SFN. This calls into question the suitability of MSCs for use in GB therapy and renders it necessary to find methods guaranteeing the safety of this cellular vector after drug delivery.
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Zahra Taleat, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza
et al.
A new electrochemical sandwich immunoassay for the ultrasensitive detection of human MUC1 cancer biomarker using protein G-functionalized magnetic beads (MBs) and graphite-based screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) was developed. Magnetic beads were employed as the platforms for the immobilization and immunoreaction process. A pair of primary and secondary antibodies was used to capture the MUC1 protein. After labeling with a third antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the resulting conjugate was trapped at the surface of the graphite-based SPEs and MUC1 determination was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at 0.4 V upon H2O2 addition using acetaminophen (APAP) as the redox mediator. A linear relationship was obtained for the detection of human MUC1 over a range of 0–25 ppb with the lowest detection limit of 1.34 ppb when HRP was applied as a label. Preliminary experiments were performed using disposable electrochemical sensors in order to optimize some parameters (i.e., incubation times, concentrations, and blocking agent).
Ion mobility spectrometry is a well-known technique used to analyze trace gases in ambient air. Typically, it works by employing a radioactive source to provide electrons with high energy to ionize the analytes in a series of chemical reactions. During the past ten years non-radioactive sources have been one of the subjects of interest in ion mobility spectrometry, initially in order to replace radioactive sources as a result of general security and regulatory concerns. Among these non-radioactive sources especially pulsed sources have recently been shown to additionally improve the analytic information provided by ion mobility spectrometers. In this review we will describe the progress regarding the application of pulsed non-radioactive electron sources in ion mobility spectrometry and show the recent analytical advances that have been achieved by using pulsed electron beams.
Md. Atiqur Rahman, , and, Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Abdus Samad
et al.
Oyster shell has tremendous potential as a remediation material for the removal of arsenic from groundwater. A single arsenic removal system was developed with oyster shell for tube well water containing arsenic. The system removes arsenic from water by adsorption through fine oyster shell. Various conditions that affect the adsorption/desorption of arsenic were investigated. Adsorption column methods showed the removal of As(III) under the following conditions: initial As concentration, 100 µg /L; oyster shell amount, 6 g; particle size, <355µm ; treatment flow rate, 1.7 mL/min; and pH 6.5. Arsenic concentration of the treated water were below the Bangladesh drinking water standard of 50 µg/L for As. The desorption efficiencies with 2M of KOH after the treatment of groundwater were in the range of 80-83%. A combination of techniques was used to measure the pH, conductivity, cations and anions. The average concentrations of other inorganic constituents of health concern (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) in treated water were below their respective WHO guideline for drinking. The present study might provide new avenues to achieve the arsenic concentrations required for drinking water recommended by Bangladesh and the World Health Organization (WHO).