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Spent coffee grounds is considered as one of the most common biomass waste globally. The sources of spent coffee grounds being classified as domestic, commercial and industrial. Currently, landfills are the unsuitable destination for the majority of the produced spent coffee grounds and this permits anaerobic breakdown of spent coffee grounds, which produces and releases strong greenhouse gases as a result. Consequently, a wide range of potential uses for discarded coffee grounds and their by-products are being investigated by researchers worldwide, including biofuels, adsorbent, catalysts, cosmetics, composite materials, feed and many more. Spent coffee grounds are rich in carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and minerals. As a result, research focus is on using it in a variety of applications. The review adopts a whole system to summarize up to date knowledge of different methods of thermal breakdown of spent coffee grounds for producing verities of valuable products. Essential processes under this study included, comparative analysis of various thermal decompositions methods, material's behavior and characteristics evaluation based on thermal treatment and its respective applications, which have often been overlooked in prior reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), while generalized vitiligo(GV) is an autoimmune disease that causes the loss of functional melanocytes, resulting in white patches all over the body. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) plays a crucial role in immune response to pathogens. Studies assessing the link between GV and COVID-19 are lacking; therefore, our current study was aimed to establish the association between GV and HLAB27 by genotyping the HLAB27 allele in 150 GV patients and 150 controls from South Gujarat population through polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. Additionally, we assessed the correlation of GV with COVID-19 and the influence of HLAB27 on COVID-19 development. Interestingly, our study suggested that the HLAB27 allele was prevalent in GV patients as compared to controls (52% vs 35.33%; p = 0.0051). Moreover, the occurrence of COVID-19 was significantly lower in GV patients than in controls (10% vs 32.66%; p < 0.0001). Disease activity-based analysis suggested that COVID-19 occurrence was significantly lower in active vitiligo (AV) patients as compared to stable vitiligo (SV) patients(6.87% vs 31.57%; p = 0.0045). Furthermore, COVID-19 development was significantly reduced in HLAB27 positive individuals as compared to HLAB27 negative individuals (p = 0.0025). Overall, our study suggests, for the first time, that HLAB27 allele might be a genetic risk factor for GV susceptibility, and an ongoing immune response in GV patients, more specifically in AV patients, might protect against COVID-19 infection in South Gujarat population. Additionally, our study highlighted the likely role of HLAB27 in protection against COVID-19 development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health concern in India, with exacerbations leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition, may affect COPD outcomes by promoting systemic inflammation. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between periodontal inflammation and the risk of COPD exacerbations in the Indian population. Methods: A total of 2500 participants with established COPD from various regions of India were enrolled and followed for five years. Baseline assessments included comprehensive periodontal evaluations, with measurements of clinical parameters and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6). COPD exacerbations were defined as events requiring medical intervention, such as hospitalization, emergency room visits, or changes in medication. Results: Periodontal inflammation, measured by clinical attachment loss and elevated inflammatory markers, was significantly associated with a higher risk of COPD exacerbations (Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.3, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.7–3.1), even after adjusting for confounders. Specific periodontal parameters and inflammatory markers were identified as strong predictors of future exacerbations. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that periodontal inflammation is an independent and potentially modifiable risk factor for COPD exacerbations in the Indian population. Addressing periodontal health as a part of COPD management may offer a novel approach to reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, thereby improving quality of life and clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) significantly impact quality of life and are linked to systemic inflammation. This study explores the potential connection between oral and respiratory health by investigating the benefits of integrating periodontal therapy into pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for CRD patients. Objective: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed the impact of periodontal therapy combined with PR on lung function, quality of life, and systemic inflammation in CRD patients. Methods: 2500 adults with CRDs and moderate to severe periodontal disease were randomized to receive standard PR or PR plus periodontal therapy. The primary outcome was the change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Secondary outcomes included quality of life, inflammatory markers, and periodontal health parameters. Results: The combined therapy group showed significantly greater improvements in FEV1 (P < 0.001), quality of life (P < 0.05), and inflammatory markers (P < 0.01) compared to the PR-only group. Significant improvements were also observed in all periodontal health parameters in the combined therapy group. Conclusion: Integrating periodontal therapy into PR programs provides additional benefits for CRD patients, suggesting a potential mechanism through which addressing periodontal inflammation positively impacts overall health. These findings support the inclusion of periodontal therapy as an adjunctive treatment strategy in CRD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Oral cancer represents a significant global health burden, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in developing countries like India. Urban slums, characterized by socioeconomic challenges and limited access to healthcare, are particularly susceptible. This study aimed to examine the association between tobacco use, a well-established risk factor, and the incidence of oral cancer among women residing in these underserved communities. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, involving 300 women from urban slums: 150 cases diagnosed with oral cancer within the past year and 150 controls without a history of the disease. Data were collected through structured interviews, encompassing tobacco use habits (type, frequency, and duration), sociodemographic factors, and oral hygiene practices. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and logistic regression, were employed to assess the association between tobacco use and oral cancer risk. Results: The study revealed a strong association between tobacco use and oral cancer among women in urban slums. The prevalence of tobacco use, particularly smokeless tobacco, was significantly higher in cases compared to controls. Smokeless tobacco use and smoking emerged as independent risk factors for oral cancer. Lower educational attainment was also identified as an independent risk factor, underscoring the influence of socioeconomic disadvantages on disease susceptibility. Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence linking tobacco use to a heightened risk of oral cancer among women in urban slums. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including health education, access to cessation programs, and addressing socioeconomic disparities, to mitigate the burden of oral cancer in this vulnerable population. The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and effective preventive measures to combat oral cancer in underserved communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symmetries of the gravitational scattering are intimately tied to the symmetries which preserve asymptotic flatness at null infinity. In Penrose’s definition of asymptotic flatness, a central role is played by the notion of asymptotic simplicity and the ensuing peeling behavior which dictates the decay rate of the Weyl tensor. However, there is now accumulating evidence that in a generic gravitational scattering the peeling property is broken, so that the spacetime is not asymptotically-flat in the usual sense. These obstructions to peeling can be traced back to the existence of universal radiative low frequency observables called “tails to the displacement memory”. As shown by Saha, Sahoo and Sen, these observables are uniquely fixed by the initial and final momenta of the scattering objects, and are independent of the details of the scattering. The universality of these tail modes is the statement of the classical logarithmic soft graviton theorem. Four-dimensional gravitation scattering therefore exhibits a rich infrared interplay between tail to the memory, loss of peeling, and universal logarithmic soft theorems. In this paper we study the solution space and the asymptotic symmetries for logarithmically-asymptotically-flat spacetimes. These are defined by a polyhomogeneous expansion of the Bondi metric which gives rise to a loss of peeling, and represent the classical arena which can accommodate a generic gravitational scattering containing tails to the memory. We show that while the codimension-two generalized BMS charges are sensitive to the loss of peeling at I +, the flux is insensitive to the fate of peeling. Due to the tail to the memory, the soft superrotation flux contains a logarithmic divergence whose coefficient is the quantity which is conserved in the scattering by virtue of the logarithmic soft theorem. In our analysis we also exhibit new logarithmic evolution equations and flux-balance laws, whose presence suggests the existence of an infinite tower of subleading logarithmic soft graviton theorems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of residual agricultural solid waste into an efficient value-added carbon product has been an ongoing strategy for solid waste management and a sustainable economy. Meanwhile, the upsurgence of antibiotic contamination in water bodies due to their inadvertent use poses a serious threat to human health and leads to antimicrobial resistance. Hence, to neutralize two evils in one stroke simultaneously, a simple, easy, and cost-effective pea shell–based magnetic photocatalyst (PSMC) has been synthesized and characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy techniques. Batch experimental studies revealed that PSMC efficiently eliminates norfloxacin (91.3%) within 180 min from wastewater and mineralizes it into innocuous products at optimum parameters of norfloxacin concentration of 20 mg/L, catalyst dosage of 15 mg, and pH 3.5. Additionally, statistical parameters for the photodegradation of NX obtained from ANOVA by applying the Box-Behnken design are in close agreement with batch experiment parameters. PSMC has surplus advantages of facile recovery for recycling up to seven consecutive cycles by an external magnet and efficacy in natural solar light, making it cost-effective and economical. Radical scavenging studies revealed that O2•– and OH• were the potent reactive species in the photocatalytic degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leading cause of death worldwide is cancer. Although there are various therapies available to treat cancer, finding a successful one can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Immunotherapy appears to be one of those needles in the haystack of cancer treatment. Immunotherapeutic agents enhance the immune response of the patient's body to tumor cells. One of the immunotherapeutic targets, Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47), releases the "don't eat me" signal when it binds to its receptor, Signal Regulatory Protein (SIRPα). Tumor cells use this signal to circumvent the immune system, rendering it ineffective. To stop tumor cells from releasing the "don't eat me" signal, the CD47–SIRPα interaction is specifically targeted in this study. To do so, in silico peptides were designed based on the structural analysis of the interaction between two proteins using point mutations on the interacting residues with the other amino acids. The peptide library was designed and docked on SIRPα using computational tools. Later on, after analyzing the docked complex, the best of them was selected for MD simulation studies of 100 ns. Further analysis after MD studies was carried out to determine the possible potential anti-SIRPα peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background: Dental implants have become a standard solution for the replacement of missing teeth, significantly influencing patient satisfaction and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate patient satisfaction and quality of life outcomes following dental implant placement. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients who received dental implants were included in this study. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a validated questionnaire covering various aspects such as esthetics, function, and comfort. Quality of life was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Data were collected at baseline (prior to implant placement) and at a 6-month follow-up. Results: Of the 150 patients, 135 (90%) completed the 6-month follow-up. The overall patient satisfaction score improved significantly from a baseline mean of 3.5 (SD = 1.2) to 8.2 (SD = 1.1) at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Similarly, the OHIP-14 score showed a significant reduction, indicating improved quality of life, from a baseline mean of 32.0 (SD = 5.3) to 14.5 (SD = 4.2) at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Subscales for pain, psychological discomfort, and social disability showed marked improvements. Conclusion: Dental implant placement leads to a significant increase in patient satisfaction and quality of life. These findings underscore the importance of dental implants as a viable option for the restoration of missing teeth and the enhancement of overall oral health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Smoking remains a significant public health challenge worldwide, with numerous adverse health effects and social consequences. Despite efforts to curb smoking rates through various campaigns and interventions, the battle against smoking continues. In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the effectiveness of antismoking campaigns. This review paper examines the current landscape of AI applications in campaigns against smoking, highlighting its potential benefits, challenges, and future directions. Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature and case studies, this paper provides insights into how AI can be leveraged to design and implement more targeted, personalized, and impactful antismoking initiatives. Additionally, it discusses the ethical considerations and potential limitations associated with AI-driven approaches in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathy is the most common disorder comprising peripheral nerve damage in diabetic patients. Prolonged hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress cause metabolic imbalance and are the key reasons for the development of diabetic neuropathy. Daidzein, a soy isoflavone possesses potent anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidant activity. The present study aims to check the protective effect of Daidzein in diabetic neuropathy in rats. The experimental animal model involved induction of diabetes in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Following confirmation of diabetes, the diabetic rats were subjected to oral treatment with varying doses of Daidzein (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and pregabalin (30 mg/kg) for a duration of 4 weeks, initiated 6 weeks after diabetes induction. Results indicated that Daidzein treatment led to a significant reduction in plasma glucose levels and an improvement in body weight among diabetic animals. Moreover, Daidzein demonstrated a positive impact on sensory functions, as evidenced by the effect on tail withdrawal and response latency. Mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia, common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, were also significantly reduced with both Daidzein and pregabalin treatment. Notably, nerve conduction velocities exhibited improvement following the administration of Daidzein and pregabalin. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms revealed that Daidzein treatment resulted in a notable enhancement of antioxidant enzyme levels and a reduction in the overexpression of NOX-4 in the sciatic nerve. This suggests that Daidzein's therapeutic effect is associated with the inhibition of oxidative stress via NOX-4. In summary, the findings of study suggests that, Daidzein treatment significantly attenuated diabetic neuropathy by inhibiting oxidative stress via NOX-4 inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of cometary surface activity simulations and erosion models of icy moons depends on a good knowledge of the surface layer permeability to gas flow. Therefore, we study various models of the Knudsen diffusion coefficient and the viscous permeability, which are used to describe the flow of rarefied gases through porous materials. Usually, these models are expressed for monodisperse packed beds. In this work, we describe a generalization to polydisperse packed beds and compare them with experimental results. In addition, we analyse non-spherical packings to test how well the recently developed models are applicable. For this purpose, the gas flow parameters of these samples are measured in a dedicated measurement set-up. Special attention had to be paid to biases in measuring the porosity and the pressure drop in the sample, which are discussed in detail. Our measurements confirm that the Knudsen diffusion coefficient is inversely proportional to the specific surface area of the grains and that the viscous permeability is inversely proportional to the specific surface area squared. Further, we were able to identify a relation between the gas flow parameters, represented by a parameter β, which seems to be an indicator of the mean orientation of the grains. The findings give further evidence of the importance of the grain size distribution and the grain shape for rarefied gas flow. In particular, the results show that the standard polydisperse model is not sufficient when a considerable part of the pore space consists of traps or other rarely percolated parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the efficacy of the Replenish range of gummies developed under Caim by arelang intending to support the body's natural functioning. These gummies contain potent herbal extracts that boost fibroblast function and enhance glutathione synthesis. The study was conducted over 90 days on 96 voluntary participants. Each participant consumed 2 gummies of Replenish with Greens and 2 gummies of Replenish with Phytos daily. Key outcomes assessed included energy levels, digestion, stress and mood, hair growth, hair fall, nail health, and skin texture. Results showed significant improvements across multiple parameters: 86.46% of participants reported increased energy levels within 2 weeks. Hair-related benefits were notable, with 81.25% experiencing new hair growth, particularly around the hairline, and reduced hair fall. Skin texture improvements were reported by 77.08% of participants, including reductions in pigmentation and wrinkles (84.08%). Digestive function and bowel movement improvements were noted by 71.88% of participants. Mood enhancement and stress reduction were observed in 60.42% of participants, while 65.63% reported enhanced nail health. These findings suggest that regular consumption of Replenish gummies may contribute positively to energy levels, hair and skin health, digestive function, mood, and nail strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital dentistry has revolutionized the traditional practice of dentistry, offering new tools and technologies that enhance diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. This comprehensive review explores the evolution of digital dentistry, its role in modern dental practice, and the advantages, limitations, and future prospects. By examining the current state of digital dentistry, this review aims to provide insights into its transformative impact on dental healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp revascularization is an emerging treatment modality in endodontics aimed at preserving the vitality and function of immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of pulp revascularization, encompassing its rationale, clinical procedures, indications, contraindications, advantages, limitations, and potential future prospects. By critically analyzing the existing literature and clinical experiences, this review aims to offer insights into the efficacy, challenges, and potential advancements in the field of pulp revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco use is a significant risk factor for periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of the teeth. Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing the progression of periodontal disease and its associated complications. This review paper explores recent innovations in the screening and diagnosis of periodontal disease, with a focus on advancements in technology and methodologies for assessing periodontal health in tobacco users. By examining the latest research findings and technological developments, this paper aims to highlight the potential of novel approaches to improve the early detection and management of periodontal disease in this high‑risk population. In addition, it discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing these innovations in clinical practice and public health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, pose significant challenges to public health worldwide. Mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between respiratory health and oral health, with periodontal disease emerging as a potential risk factor for the development and exacerbation of respiratory conditions. This review paper explores the complex interplay between periodontal disease and chronic respiratory illness, highlighting the importance of oral health maintenance in promoting respiratory well‑being. By examining recent advancements in the prevention and diagnosis of periodontal disease, particularly in the context of chronic respiratory conditions, this paper aims to elucidate novel solutions and strategies for improving oral health outcomes and respiratory outcomes simultaneously. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature and emerging research trends, this review sheds light on the potential benefits and challenges of integrating oral health into the management of chronic respiratory illnesses and identifies opportunities for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a pervasive metabolic disorder that notably impacts various body systems, including oral health. One of the critical manifestations of diabetes in oral health is its exacerbating effect on periodontal diseases. Recent advancements in the prevention, screening, and treatment of periodontal diseases have become increasingly significant due to the bidirectional link between periodontal health and diabetes management. This review explores contemporary strategies and technological innovations in the comprehensive management of periodontal diseases among diabetic patients. It highlights the integration of digital dentistry tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and teledentistry in enhancing diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes. Preventive measures, including new pharmacological formulations and lifestyle interventions tailored for diabetic individuals, are discussed. Additionally, the review underscores the importance of routine screening protocols that incorporate glycemic control status to refine treatment plans for periodontal therapies. Furthermore, advancements in regenerative therapies, including the application of growth factors and stem cell therapy, are examined for their potential to restore periodontal tissue integrity, offering promising directions for future research and clinical practice. Through a synthesis of recent literature, this review aims to provide insights into effective periodontal disease management strategies that are critical for improving the overall health and quality of life of individuals with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal diseases are prevalent worldwide and pose a significant public health burden. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been growing interest in leveraging AI technologies to improve diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of periodontal conditions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of AI in periodontics, including its potential benefits, challenges, and future directions. Fifteen relevant studies were analyzed to explore the role of AI in periodontal disease detection, risk assessment, treatment planning, and patient management. The findings highlight the promising role of AI in enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and personalized care delivery in periodontics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of water flossing to traditional flossing in lowering the bleeding on probing (BOP) index around dental implants. Methods and Materials: This single-center, examiner-masked research enrolled patients with implants and randomly allocated them to one of two groups. The research analyzed the effectiveness of manual toothbrushes when used with either string floss or a water flosser. Results: After 30 days, the main result was a decrease in BOP occurrence. At the outset, neither group had noticeably higher rates of bleeding than the other. While only six of 20 implants in the floss group demonstrated a decrease in BOP after 30 days, 18 of 20 implants in the water flosser group did. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the use of water flossers was associated with much less bleeding than that of string floss. The researchers think that water flossing might be a useful addition to the maintenance of dental implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fungal infections are the primary cause of skin diseases. Topical application of antifungal drugs is the most preferred treatment which is associated with key limitations viz. need for high doses and frequency of application. By considering the limitations of current topical treatment, the present study involves the formulation and characterization of luliconazole nanogel. Materials and Methods: The luliconazole nanoparticles were prepared by using biodegradable polymer PLGA 50:50 and dispersed in polymeric dispersion prepared by Carbopol 940 and HPMC K4M. For optimization of nanoparticles as well as their polymeric dispersion a factor-three level (32) design was implemented. Optimized nanoparticles were characterized for various parameters viz. particle size, PDI, entrapment efficiency, XRD, SEM, whereas the nanogel was investigated for viscosity, cumulative drug release, spreadability, extrudability, skin irritation test, and antifungal activity. Results: The nine batches of nanoparticles as well as nanogel were prepared. Nanoparticles prepared by using 100 mg PLGA at 6 HPH cycles showed size, PDI, and % entrapment as 406 nm and 87% respectively was the desired batch. The XRD and SEM study ensured the encapsulation of drug with satisfactory surface morphology. Nano-gel formulated with 0.3% Carbopol and 1.0% HPMC was selected as optimized; it showed viscosity and % cumulative drug release as 3650 cP and 54% respectively. Nanogel showed significant sustained luliconazole release (54.12%) in comparison to simple nanoparticles (65.22%). The formulation showed improved antifungal activity than standard treatment without any skin irritation signs. Conclusion: Prepared nano-gel is a promising alternative to the current treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas flow through layers of porous materials plays a crucial role in technical applications, geology, petrochemistry, and space sciences (e.g., fuel cells, catalysis, shale gas production, and outgassing of volatiles from comets). In many applications the Knudsen regime is predominant, where the pore size is small compared to the mean free path between intermolecular collisions. In this context common parameters to describe the gas percolation through layers of porous media are the probability of gas molecule transmission and the Knudsen diffusion coefficient of the medium. We show how probabilistic considerations on layer partitions lead to the analytical description of the permeability of a porous medium to gas flow as a function of layer thickness. The derivations are made on the preconditions that the molecule reflection at pore surfaces is diffuse and that the pore structure is homogenous on a scale much larger than the pore size. By applying a bi-hemispherical Maxwell distribution, relations between the layer transmission probability, the half-transmission thickness, and the Knudsen diffusion coefficient are obtained. For packings of spheres, expressions of these parameters in terms of porosity and grain size are derived and compared with former standard models. A verification of the derived equations is given by means of numerical simulations, also providing evidence that our analytical model for sphere packing is more accurate than the former classical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a huge interest in medicinally active constituents isolated from plants. β-Amyrin is a member of the class of pentacyclic triterpenoids and it is oleanane substituted at the 3 β-position by a hydroxyl group and containing a double bond between positions 12 and 13. These triterpenoids are generally found in many medicinal plants. The β-amyrin is generally extracted and isolated from leaves and oleo-resin (latex) exudates by bark incisions of the plant sources from many plant species. The β-amyrin isolation described in this article was by a novel method developed for isolation. Triterpenoids are constituents that have shown a great interest in recent years due to their pharmacological potential, with numerous therapeutic activities, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diuretic, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory. Due to the wide range of activities of β-amyrin, research has been undertaken to isolate it in a simple way. The isolated β-amyrin was characterized, and confirmed by multiple analytical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion of gas through porous material is important to understand the physical processes underlying cometary activity. We study the diffusion of a rarefied gas (Knudsen regime) through a packed bed of monodisperse spheres via experiments and numerical modelling, providing an absolute value of the diffusion coefficient and compare it to published analytical models. The experiments are designed to be directly comparable to numerical simulations, by using precision steel beads, simple geometries, and a trade-off of the sample size between small boundary effects and efficient computation. For direct comparison, the diffusion coefficient is determined in Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) simulations, yielding a good match with experiments. This model is further-on used on a microscopic scale, which cannot be studied in experiments, to determine the mean path of gas molecules and its distribution, and compare it against an analytical model. Scaling with sample properties (particle size and porosity) and gas properties (molecular mass and temperature) is consistent with analytical models. As predicted by these, results are very sensitive on sample porosity and we find that a tortuosity q (ε) depending linearly on the porosity ε can well reconcile the analytical model with experiments and simulations. Mean paths of molecules are close to those described in the literature, but their distribution deviates from the expectation for small path lengths. The provided diffusion coefficients and scaling laws are directly applicable to thermophysical models of idealized cometary material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a multifactorial endocrine disorder impacting women of reproductive age. Variations within the FTO gene have been linked to both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Given that PCOS is frequently associated with obesity and compromised glucose tolerance, we investigated the prevalence of the rs9939609 variant within the FTO gene among women diagnosed with PCOS and a control group. Our aim is to uncover potential correlations between this genetic variant, metabolic attributes, and endocrine markers within the Gujarat province of India. Method: We enrolled a total of 114 participants, (62 individuals diagnosed with PCOS and 52 healthy controls). DNA extraction from venous blood was conducted for all participants. The rs9939609 polymorphism was investigated through tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we performed biochemical assessments to quantify levels of estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total testosterone, prolactin (PRL), and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Statistical analyses were carried out utilizing SPSS version 21 (IBM, USA). Results: The present study did not reveal any noteworthy association between cases and controls. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles within the cohorts displayed no statistically significant differences (p = 0.25, p = 0.68, and p = 0.78, respectively). The dominant model indicated a modest risk (OR:1.13, 95%CI: 0.55 to 2.38) toward PCOS development. There was a noticeable statistical difference observed in the levels of total testosterone, DHEAS, and BMI between the case and control groups (p < 0.002, p < 0.0002, p < 0.0008). However, no variations in clinical variables were observed among genotypes within the PCOS group. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the association of FTO gene polymorphism and PCOS in Gujarati population. Our study findings indicate that the FTO gene variant is not directly linked to the onset of PCOS. However, it appears to exert an influence on metabolic factors such as obesity and insulin resistance. Notably, our results suggest that insulin resistance is more frequently observed among PCOS patients who are obese, as compared to those with non-obese PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibbs sampling, also known as Coordinate Hit-and-Run (CHAR), is a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for sampling from high-dimensional distributions. In each step, the algorithm selects a random coordinate and re-samples that coordinate from the distribution induced by fixing all the other coordinates. While this algorithm has become widely used over the past half-century, guarantees of efficient convergence have been elusive. We show that the Coordinate Hit-and-Run algorithm for sampling from a convex body K in R n mixes in O ∗ (n 9 R 2 / r 2) steps, where K contains a ball of radius r and R is the average distance of a point of K from its centroid. We also give an upper bound on the conductance of Coordinate Hit-and-Run, showing that it is strictly worse than Hit-and-Run or the Ball Walk in the worst case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gingival recession is defined as the apical migration of gingival margin to the cementoenamel junction. Recently, amnion membrane, the third-generation membrane which is a placental-derived tissue, has been introduced. Materials and Methods: Study included 45 subjects with age group of 20--60 years of both genders. Patients with Miller's Class I and Class II gingival recession were selected for the study. The progress was assessed at baseline one, three, and six months observation interval through clinical parameters RD, RW, PD, and CAL at the end of six months. Results: Recession depths in the first, third, and sixth month were 1.82 ± 0.442, 1.31 ± 0.47 mm, and 0.91 ± 0.29, respectively, which showed a significant reduction from the baseline. Recession widths in the first, second, and third weeks were 3.04 ± 0.442 mm, 1.31 ± 0.47 mm, and 1.49 ± 0.59 mm, respectively. There was a statistically significant reduction (P > 0.005) when compared to the baseline. Pocket depths in the first, third, and sixth month were 0.93 ± 0.447, 0.42 ± 0.50, and 0.24 ± 0.43 (P > 0.005) which is significant when compared to baseline. Clinical attachment levels in the first, third, and sixth month were 2.73 ± 0.751, 1.78 ± 0.70, and 1.18 ± 0.53 (P > 0.005) which is significant compared to six months. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, the data obtained by periodic assessment of the clinical parameters indicate the use of amnion membrane and hyaluronic acid, and proper technique may thus be the panacea for root coverage procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Planning the surgical operation, choosing the type of implant, and the effectiveness of the implant all heavily rely on the quantity and quality of the accessible bone. This study's goal was to determine how promptly inserted dental implants affected postoperative changes in bone density and crestal bone level by Cone bean computed tomography (CBCT) gray-scale value during a follow-up of three to six months. Method: A prospective clinical-radiographic investigation was conducted. Twenty participants with a partly edentulous arch who were also systemically healthy were chosen from the OPD of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology. Each patient's oral hygiene status was noted, and a preoperative CBCT was performed to assess bone density. The following clinical parameters were noted before surgical procedures: plaque index (PI) (Silness and Loe, 1964), gingival index (GI) (Loe and Sillness, 1964), probing pocket depth (PPD), and primary stability. Result: A weak connection between Hounsfield unit (HU) in three months and six months was found. Moreover, a slender positive connection between baseline primary stability and three months was found. PI was shown to have a statistically significant difference between the means at several follow-ups (P value of 0.0001). PI and probing depth were not statistically different between baseline and six months (P values = 0.0001) or between three months and six months (P values = 0.050), respectively. Conclusion: The main outcome of this study shows that insertion torque is directly proportional to bone density and crestal bone level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daidzein, 7‐hydroxy‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one is a naturally occurring compound present in leguminous plants, especially in soybeans. Chemically it belongs to the isoflavone class and possesses high nutritive value. Daidzein acts on estrogen receptor and is non‐steroidal in nature hence it can also be called as non‐steroidal phytoestrogenic compound. Daidzein has been studied by many researchers for its pharmacological activities. Daidzein metabolites were also studied in detail for their health benefits. Researchers have developed novel formulations of daidzein in the past few years to improve its aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Self‐emulsified daidzein, poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid daidzein nanoparticles, nanoemulsion, nanoemulsion gel, and co‐crystals are a few of them. The present review provides detailed information on the chemistry, drug development aspects, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of daidzein. A literature search was performed using various datasets like PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest Scopus, and selected websites including the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization. Daidzein has a wide range of pharmacodynamic properties in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiac disorders, diabetes and its complication, osteoporosis, and skin disorders. The pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics, and drug development aspects of daidzein will help researchers to design further research work on daidzein in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) affects thousands of lives worldwide each year. Typically, DTC is a treatable disease with a good prognosis. Yet, some patients are subjected to partial or total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy to prevent local disease recurrence and metastasis. Unfortunately, thyroidectomy and/or radioiodine therapy often worsen(s) quality of life and might be unnecessary in indolent DTC cases. On the other hand, the lack of biomarkers indicating a potential metastatic thyroid cancer imposes an additional challenge to managing and treating patients with this disease. Aim: The presented clinical setting highlights the unmet need for a precise molecular diagnosis of DTC and potential metastatic disease, which should dictate appropriate therapy. Materials and methods: In this article, we present a differential multi‐omics model approach, including metabolomics, genomics, and bioinformatic models, to distinguish normal glands from thyroid tumours. Additionally, we are proposing biomarkers that could indicate potential metastatic diseases in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), a sub‐class of DTC. Results: Normal and tumour thyroid tissue from DTC patients had a distinct yet well‐defined metabolic profile with high levels of anabolic metabolites and/or other metabolites associated with the energy maintenance of tumour cells. The consistency of the DTC metabolic profile allowed us to build a bioinformatic classification model capable of clearly distinguishing normal from tumor thyroid tissues, which might help diagnose thyroid cancer. Moreover, based on PTC patient samples, our data suggest that elevated nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutational burden, intra‐tumour heterogeneity, shortened telomere length, and altered metabolic profile reflect the potential for metastatic disease. Discussion: Altogether, this work indicates that a differential and integrated multi‐omics approach might improve DTC management, perhaps preventing unnecessary thyroid gland removal and/or radioiodine therapy. Conclusions: Well‐designed, prospective translational clinical trials will ultimately show the value of this integrated multi‐omics approach and early diagnosis of DTC and potential metastatic PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Peutz--Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant disease presenting with hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and hyperpigmented macules on lips and oral mucosa. The incidence of this syndrome is approximately 1 in 1,20,000 births. Materials and Methods: In this article, we are presenting 11 cases of PJS which were misdiagnosed and patients were compelled to visit hospital repeatedly. All these cases were diagnosed based on clinical suspicion, family history, and histopathological examination of specimens. Most of the cases presented with intussusception and required emergency surgical management. Results: PJS can be diagnosed by the presence of microscopically confirmed hamartomatous polyps and a minimum of two of the following clinical criteria: Family history, mucocutaneous melanotic spots, and small bowel polyps with bleeding per rectally. The diagnosis can be missed if the melanotic spots on the face are missed. Routine investigations, imaging, and endoscopy were done in all cases. PJS patients need regular follow-up due to chance of recurrence of symptoms and susceptibility to cancer. Conclusion: PJS needs a high index of suspicion for diagnosis in cases of recurrent abdominal pain with bleeding per rectum. Proper family history and meticulous clinical examination for melanosis are very important to prevent the misdiagnosis of these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and rapid high‐performance thin‐layer chromatographic method for quantification of gallic acid and ellagic acid in dried fruits of Terminalia chebula, Phyllanthus emblica, and Quercus infectoria has been developed. The chromatographic development was carried out on precoated silica gel 60 F254 plates in a mixture of toluene:ethyl acetate:chloroform:formic acid (4:8:1:3 v/v/v/v). The plate was scanned densitometrically at a wavelength of 280 nm. The retention factor value of gallic acid and ellagic acid was found to be 0.63 ± 0.2 and 0.53 ± 0.1, respectively. The developed method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, sensitivity, robustness, specificity and stability as per the international conference of harmonization guidelines. The method showed good linear relationship over a range of 100–600 ng/band (gallic acid) and 100–500 ng/band (ellagic acid) with a regression coefficient (r2) of 0.997 (gallic acid) and 0.996 (ellagic acid). The method showed high accuracy (99.65%–100.85%). The percentage relative standard deviation of intra‐day and inter‐day precision studies was not more than 2%. The method is highly robust and has displayed high specificity. The developed method is new, simple, and accurate and can be successfully employed in routine analysis of raw materials and formulations containing gallic acid and ellagic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asian countries, Centella asiatica is exploited for abundant types of pharmacological activities due to the presence of opulent phytochemicals. Asiaticoside, madecassoside, and their sapogenin triterpene acids such as asiatic acid and madecassic acid are the most noticeable triterpenes present in C. asiatica. To date, numerous techniques/methods are used to extract and isolate the different kinds of phytoconstituents from C. asiatica. Still, most methods require some special requirements, and some procedures are monotonous and time-consuming. Meanwhile, previously reported methods used for the extraction and isolation were not validated for large-scale production, yield, and purity. The study's primary goal is to develop the methodology for extracting and isolating the Asiaticoside and asiatic acid from C. asiatica at the minimum time with the highest yield and purity. Asiaticoside and asiatic acid extraction and isolation involved the acid hydrolysis method and recovered in alcohol. The Reverse Phase-High Performace Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated as per ICH guidelines for quantifying both compounds. The obtained results indicate that the developed method produces asiaticoside and asiatic acid with good purity. As per the ICH guidelines, the RP-HPLC was developed and validated. The proposed method can be used to isolate the asiaticoside and asiatic acid from C. asiatica. Some modification in this method leads to the large-scale production of highly pure asiatic acid and asiaticoside for their versatile application in the area of cosmetics and phytopharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the growing recognition of the connection between dentistry and medicine in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between medical and dental professionals for comprehensive patient care. It highlights how conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease are linked to oral health, and the challenges in integrating these two fields due to educational differences and limited communication. The editorial calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, shared electronic health records, and interprofessional education to bridge the gap and improve patient outcomes by treating oral and systemic health holistically. [Extracted from the article]

The present study precisely conveys the methodology of developing a three-dimensional (3D) architectural model of a villa with its walk-through and displaying the model in virtual reality, which as a result, be used by the clients to spectate, customize and buy the real estate property. Additionally, the case study highlights the advancement in architecture, as certain specifications of each element of a 3D model can be viewed in a virtual environment. Virtual reality is a transpiring platform, and in addition to that, the real-estate sector shows its incorporation in designing, marketing, and selling projects. The teaching and learning process can be eased out by intervening it with technology that generates an enhanced visualization environment. These technologies, when used constructively, save time and energy and also hoard economic standards ensuing lucrative benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ayurvedic system, a traditional medicinal system has mentioned a preparation Bruhat Vata Chintamani Rasa (Suvarnayukta) for management of heart diseases. Hrudroga Chintamani Rasa (HCR) is a formulation containing Bruhat Vata Chintamani Rasa and a few additional ingredients having beneficial effects in heart diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective activity of the Hrudroga Chintamani Rasa in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with HCR at a dose of 56.16 and 112.32 mg/kg for 30 days. Animals received ISO (85 mg/kg. s.c.) on 28th and 29th day at an interval of 24 h. Result: Disease control animals treated with HCR at a dose of 56.16 mg/kg and 112.32 mg/kg to rats showed a significant reduction in elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase MB (CK-MB), and prevented loss of depleted antioxidant enzymes from the cardiac tissue. ISO-altered electrocardiogram pattern and haemodynamic parameters were also brought about to normal by treatment with HCR. HCR treatment also improved the levels of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) which have potent role in antioxidant defence mechanism. Histopathological findings also showed HCR treatment prevented cardiac tissue from damage. Conclusion: HCR treatment showed a significant cardioprotective effect in ISO-induced cardiotoxicity in rats probably because of the potent antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stability of the marker compound is important so as to ensure claimed bioactivity and it also helps to predict the shelf life of the drug/formulation with respect to the active constituents. Eclipta alba (Asteraceae) is an important ingredient in various polyherbal/ayurvedic formulations. Wedelolactone is the important bioactive marker responsible for the hepatoprotective, analgesic, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activity of E. alba. In the present study, accelerated stability studies have been carried out for wedelolactone content in a polyherbal formulation containing E. alba as one of the major ingredients. The formulation was kept in a thermostability chamber at 40 °C temperature and 75 % relative humidity for six months as per ICH guidelines. The samples were periodically taken out and analyzed for wedelolactone content by high-performance liquid chromatography method. The change in the wedelolactone content was found to be less than 5 % w/w, indicating the stable nature of wedelolactone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we investigate the implications of classical soft theorems for the formalism developed by Kosower, Maybee and O’Connell (KMOC) to derive classical observables in gauge theory and gravity from scattering amplitudes. In particular, we show that the radiative electro-magnetic field at leading order in the soft expansion imposes an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of the family of observables generated by monomials of linear impulse. We perform an explicit check on these constraints at next to leading order (NLO) in the coupling and as a corollary show how up to NLO, soft radiation obtained from quantum amplitudes is consistent with the (leading) classical soft photon theorem. We also argue that in 4 dimensions the classical log soft theorem derived by Saha, Sahoo and Sen generates an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of operators which are products of one angular momentum and an arbitrary number of linear momenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Editorial: Molecular aspects of natural products in diabetic complications," discusses the global challenge of diabetes and its complications. It highlights the physiological consequences of prolonged hyperglycemia, including microvascular impairments and macrovascular complications. The article emphasizes the urgent need for effective management and prevention strategies for diabetic complications. It also explores the potential of natural products in the treatment of diabetes and its complications, noting the reduced toxicity and minimal side effects associated with these products. The article concludes by summarizing specific contributions to the research topic, which provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of diabetes and potential therapeutic approaches for its complications. [Extracted from the article]

The goal of the study was to determine how much lupeol was present in different Bauhinia acuminata samples. Lupeol was analyzed using a unique (verified) high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. Separation of various compounds was achieved on silica gel (66 F 254) plates with toluene and methanol (99:1) as the mobile phase, followed by derivatization with Liebermann–Burchard reagent (r2 = 0.996). The proposed approach demonstrated a satisfactory linear relationship in the concentration range of 4–8 μg/mL. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 63.84 ng/spot and 208.57 ng/spot, respectively. The proposed method was a simple and precise procedure that provided good resolution with other constituents of extracts. The validated HPTLC method described was simple, dependable, and practical and could be useful for standardizing and evaluating the quality of herbal material and formulations containing various Bauhinia species. The leaf, stem, unsaponified matter leaf, and stem petroleum ether extract had good amounts of lupeol (25.75, 38.25, 1.65, and 1.75, respectively). This research will be helpful for the quantitative determination of lupeol from herbal formulations as well as useful for further studies in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CoPhyLab (Cometary Physics Laboratory) project is designed to study the physics of comets through a series of earth-based experiments. For these experiments, a dust analogue was created with physical properties comparable to those of the non-volatile dust found on comets. This 'CoPhyLab dust' is planned to be mixed with water and CO2 ice and placed under cometary conditions in vacuum chambers to study the physical processes taking place on the nuclei of comets. In order to develop this dust analogue, we mixed two components representative for the non-volatile materials present in cometary nuclei. We chose silica dust as a representative for the mineral phase and charcoal for the organic phase, which also acts as a darkening agent. In this paper, we provide an overview of known cometary analogues before presenting measurements of eight physical properties of different mixtures of the two materials and a comparison of these measurements with known cometary values. The physical properties of interest are particle size, density, gas permeability, spectrophotometry, and mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. We found that the analogue dust that matches the highest number of physical properties of cometary materials consists of a mixture of either 60 per cent/40 per cent or 70 per cent/30 per cent of silica dust/charcoal by mass. These best-fit dust analogue will be used in future CoPhyLab experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest threat to global health is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To prevent COVID-19, recognizing and isolating the infected patients is an essential step. The primary diagnosis method is Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. However, the sensitivity of this test is not satisfactory to successfully control the COVID-19 outbreak. Although there exist many datasets of chest X-rays (CXR) images, but few COVID-19 CXRs are presently accessible owing to privacy of patients. Thus, many researchers have utilized data augmentation techniques to augment the datasets. But, it may cause over-fitting issues, as the existing data augmentation techniques include small modifications to CXRs. Therefore, in this paper, an efficient deep convolutional generative adversarial network and convolutional neural network (DGCNN) is designed to diagnose COVID-19 suspected subjects. Deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DGAN) consists of two networks trained adversarially such that one generates fake images and the other differentiates between them. Thereafter, convolutional neural network (CNN) is utilized for classification purpose. Extensive experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed DGCNN. Performance analysis demonstrates that DGCNN can highly improves the diagnosis performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunlight active blue emissive zirconium, nitrogen, and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (Zr-N-S-CDs) have been synthesized by microwave-induced pyrolysis for achieving efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutant malachite green dye (MG) in water. Surface morphology studies using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of spherical-shaped CDs with an absorbance peak at 350 nm and emission peak at 437 nm in UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. Surface functional groups, elemental composition, and metal/non-metal co-doping were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. To understand the photocatalytic performance of Zr-N-S-CDs, various parameters, such as the source of energy, concentration of dye, catalyst dosage, and change in pH, were investigated. MG dye (20 ppm) at a pH 7 with 0.5 mg/mL of Zr-N-S-CDs could be photodegraded efficiently in 90 min under sunlight (99%) compared to dark and artificial light conditions. Moreover, real-time analysis of degradation rate could be conveniently calculated by integrating the colorimetric responses of MG dye with RGB values obtained by the "Color Picker" app of a smartphone. The degradation rate obtained using a smartphone (97.89%) was found to be in agreement with the UV–vis spectroscopy (99%), thus, providing a new, handy, and instrument-free route for speedy and quantitative estimation of the degradation of hazardous MG dye by Zr-N-S-CDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared. Being highly contagious and with no effective treatment available, the only solution was to detect and isolate infected patients to further break the chain of infection. The shortage of test kits and other drawbacks of lab tests motivated researchers to build an automated diagnosis system using chest X-rays and CT scanning. The reviewed works in this study use AI coupled with the radiological image processing of raw chest X-rays and CT images to train various CNN models. They use transfer learning and numerous types of binary and multi-class classifications. The models are trained and validated on several datasets, the attributes of which are also discussed. The obtained results of various algorithms are later compared using performance metrics such as accuracy, F1 score, and AUC. Major challenges faced in this research domain are the limited availability of COVID image data and the high accuracy of the prediction of the severity of patients using deep learning compared to well-known methods of COVID-19 detection such as PCR tests. These automated detection systems using CXR technology are reliable enough to help radiologists in the initial screening and in the immediate diagnosis of infected individuals. They are preferred because of their low cost, availability, and fast results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species via NADPH oxidase (NOX) activation are involved in the pathogenesis of many disease conditions such as diabetes and its complications. In the present study, we have examined the effect of daidzein in the management of diabetic cystopathy. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 55 mg/kg. After 6 weeks of diabetes induction, animals were treated with daidzein orally at a dose of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Diabetic animals showed increase (p < 0.001) in bladder capacity (4.32 ± 0.43 mL) and residual volume (2.53 ± 0.19 mL) when compared with normal control animals (2.10 ± 0.40 mL and 0.51 ± 0.12 mL res). Treatment with daidzein at dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the elevated bladder capacity (2.91 ± 0.11 mL, p < 0.01 and 2.65 ± 1.13 mL, p < 0.001) and residual volume (1.40 ± 0.15 mL, p < 0.001 and 1.15 ± 0.05 mL, p < 0.001). Daidzein-treated animals also showed improvement in voiding efficiency. Elevated threshold and baseline pressure were also found to be reduced in diabetic animals after 4 weeks of daidzein treatment. Daidzein treatment also prevented the loss of antioxidant enzymes in the urinary bladder and also reduced the expression of NOX-4 and RAC-1 in the bladder. From the results, it can be concluded that daidzein showed a beneficial effect on urinary bladder dysfunction in diabetic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]