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Over decades, nanozyme has served as a better replacement of bioenzymes and fulfills most of the shortcomings and intrinsic disadvantages of bioenzymes. Recently, manganese-based nanomaterials have been highly noticed for redox-modulated multienzyme mimicking activity and wide applications in biosensing and biomedical science. The redox-modulated multienzyme mimicking activity was highly in tune with their size, surface functionalization, and charge on the surface and phases. On the subject of calcination temperature to Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs), its phase has been transformed to Mn 2 O 3 NPs and Mn 5 O 8 NPs upon different calcination temperatures. Assigning precise structure-property connections is made easier by preparing the various manganese oxides in a single step. The present study has focused on the variation of multienzyme mimicking activity with different phases of Mn 3 O 4 NPs, so that they can be equipped for multifunctional activity with greater potential. Herein, spherical Mn 3 O 4 NPs have been synthesized via a one-step coprecipitation method, and other phases are obtained by direct calcination. The calcination temperature varies to 100, 200, 400, and 600 °C and the corresponding manganese oxide NPs are named M-100, M-200, M-400, and M-600, respectively. The phase transformation and crystalline structure are evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction and selected-area electron diffraction analysis. The different surface morphologies are easily navigated by Fourier transform infrared, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis. Fortunately, for the mixed valence state of Mn 3 O 4 NPs, all phases of manganese oxide NPs showed multienzyme mimicking activity including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, oxidase (OD), and peroxidase; therefore, it offers a synergistic antioxidant ability to overexpose reactive oxygen species. Mn 3 O 4 NPs exhibited good SOD-like enzyme activity, which allowed it to effectively remove the active oxygen (O 2 •- ) from cigarette smoke. A sensitive colorimetric sensor with a low detection limit and a promising linear range has been designed to detect two isomeric phenolic pollutants, hydroquinone (H 2 Q) and catechol (CA), by utilizing optimized OD activity. The current probe has outstanding sensitivity and selectivity as well as the ability to visually detect two isomers with the unaided eye.

Background: Asthma is a widespread chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant public health challenge. The current study investigated the associations between air pollution and asthma severity among individuals residing near the Sohar industrial port (SIP) in Oman. Despite the presence of multiple major industrial complexes in Oman, limited knowledge regarding their impact on respiratory health is accredited. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the respiratory health consequences of industrial air pollution in Al Batinah North., Methods: The state health clinics' records for patient visits related to asthma were collected for the timeframe spanning 2014 to 2022. Exposure was defined as the distance from the SIP, Majan Industerial Area (MIA), and Sohar Industerial Zone (SIZ) to determine high-, intermediate-, and low-exposure zones (<6 km, 6-12 km and >12 km, respectively). Exposure effect modifications by age, gender, and smoking status were also examined., Results: The conducted cross-sectional study of 410 patients (46.1% males and 53.9% females) living in over 17 areas around SIP revealed that 73.2% of asthmatics were under 50 years old, with severity significantly associated with closeness to the port. Risk ratios were estimated to be (RR:2.42; CI95%: 1.01-5.78), (RR:1.91; CI95%: 1.01-3.6), and (RR:1.68; CI95%: 0.92-3.09) for SIP, MIP, and SIZ areas, respectively, compared to the control area. Falaj Al Qabail (6.4 km) and Majees (6 km) had the highest number of asthma patients ( N 69 and N 72) and highest percentages of severe asthma cases among these patients (28% and 24%) with significant risk ratios (RR:2.97; CI95%: 1.19-7.45 and RR:2.55; CI95%: 1.00-6.48), correspondingly. Moreover, severe asthma prevalence peaked in the 25-50 age group (RR:2.05; CI95%: 1.26-3.33), and this linkage between asthma and age was much more pronounced in males than females. Smoking and exposure to certain contaminants (dust and smoke) also increased the risk of severe asthma symptoms, but their effects were less important in the high-risk zone, suggesting much more important risk factors. A neural network model accurately predicted asthma risk (94.8% accuracy), with proximity to SIP as the most influential predictor., Conclusions: This study highlights the high asthma burden near SIP, linked to port proximity, smoking, and wind direction as major risk factors. These findings inform vital public health policies to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory health in the region, prompting national policy review.

Here, spherical Mn 2 O 3 nanozymes were synthesized via a one-step green method using different green precursors, and their physicochemical properties and biological activities were monitored with various green precursors. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) was performed to determine the crystalline properties and phases involved in the formation of cubic Mn 2 O 3 nanozymes. The synthesized nanozymes were spherical and examined by SEM and FESEM studies. All of the samples synthesized using different green precursors exhibited different sizes but similar spherical shapes. Moreover, all green-synthesized nanozymes catalyzed the oxidation reaction of the chromogenic substrate 3,3'5,5' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the absence of H 2 O 2 , and A2 (lemon-mediated Mn 2 O 3 nanozymes), which the followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, showed the best activity. Therefore, A2 (lemon-mediated nanozyme) showed oxidase-mimicking activity with distinct K m and V max values calculated by the Lineweaver-Burk plot. Furthermore, the current nanozymes demonstrated a significant ability to kill both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as effectively destroy biofilms under physiological conditions. Moreover, the green-mediated nanozymes also displayed ROS-scavenging activity. Our nanozymes exhibited scavenging activity toward OH and O 2 -• radicals and metal chelation activity, which were investigated colorimetrically. Therefore, these nanozymes might be used as effective antibacterial agents and also for the consumption of reactive oxygen species.

Having powerful antibacterial and antioxidant effects, zinc oxide and manganese oxide nanomaterials are of great interest. Here we have synthesized manganese oxide decorated zinc oxide (MZO) nanocomposites by co-precipitation method, calcined at different temperatures (300-750 °C) and studied various properties. Here the crystalline structure of the nanocomposite and phase change of the manganese oxide are observed with calcination temperature. The average crystalline size increases and the dislocation density and microstrain decrease with the increase in calcined temperature for the same structural features. The formation of composites was confirmed by XRD pattern and SEM images. EDAX spectra proved the high purity of the composites. Here, different biological properties change with the calcination temperature for different shapes, sizes and structures of the nanocomposite. Nanomaterial calcined at 750 °C provides the best anti-microbial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri (gram-negative), Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium (gram-positive) bacterial strain at 300 µg/mL concentration. The nanomaterial with calcination temperatures of 300 °C and 450 °C provided better antioxidant properties., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Anemia among adolescents (ages 10-19 years) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and carries long-term health and economic consequences. To address the issue, policymakers and programmers require evidence of the burden of anemia among adolescents in specific contexts, as well as an understanding of the factors associated with anemia in this population., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey as a baseline assessment to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in secondary school students, as part of a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial testing different micronutrient supplementation strategies in addressing anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar. Between March 7th to 25th, 2022 the survey was conducted on 2,479 school-going adolescents aged 10-17 years from 42 schools on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. Hemoglobin concentration was measured along with the collection of socio-demographics, health, food frequency, and water, sanitation and hygiene data., Results: Based on the World Health Organization cutoffs for anemia, 53.3% of the sample had anemia (mild, moderate, or severe). Using chi-square tests and logistic regressions, we determined that females had higher odds of anemia than males (Adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.74), those in the highest wealth quintile had lower odds of anemia than those in the lowest wealth quintile (Adjusted OR = 0.7; CI: 0.54, 0.91), stunted adolescents had higher odds of anemia than non-stunted students (Adjusted OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06,1.81), and those who used shared toilets had higher odds of moderate or severe anemia than those with private toilet access (Adjusted OR = 1.68; CI: 1.07, 2.64)., Conclusions: The high prevalence of anemia in this sample indicates an urgent need to address anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar, and the factors associated with anemia point to the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in addition to dietary and nutritional support., Trial Registration: NCT05104554, registered 03/11/2021., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

BACKGROUND Conservative management of blunt trauma to the liver is commonly used when there are no immediate signs of rupture or hemorrhage, but requires patient monitoring. The rate of failure for non-operative management ranges is 3-15%. This report is of a 21-year-old man with a previous history of gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, and biliary stenting with failed non-operative management of blunt trauma to the liver following a motor vehicle crash, due to traumatic stent perforation. CASE REPORT The patient reported abdominal pain and had positive FAST for fluid in the hepatorenal space. CT abdomen showed grade 3 hepatic injury and a common bile duct stent. He was resuscitated and admitted to the ICU. He developed escalating abdominal pain and tachycardia without hypotension. Repeat CT demonstrated a paraduodenal gas bubble. He underwent exploratory laparotomy, during which the following were found: hemoperitoneum, no active bleeding, a 3-cm blue stent exiting the left hepatic duct surrounded by a fibrous tract, and bile spilling from around the stent. The protruding portion of the stent was resected, the was tract oversewn, and the abdomen was closed. Once stabilized, the patient underwent ERCP with removal of the remaining stent segment. The postoperative course was complicated by surgical wound infection and fascial dehiscence managed operatively and with local wound care, and deep-space infections managed by interventional radiology drainage. CONCLUSIONS Blunt trauma injury of the liver can be successfully managed conservatively. However, this case highlights the importance of knowledge of the patient's medical history and the presence of biliary stents, which can result in traumatic biliary perforation with an intact liver.

A biosensor comprising crystalline CuS nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized via a one-step simple coprecipitation route without involvement of a surfactant. The powder X-ray diffraction method has been used to evaluate the crystalline nature and different phases consist of the formation of CuS NPs. Mainly hexagonal unit cells consist of the formation of CuS NP unit cells. Most of the surfaces are covered with rhombohedral microparticles with a smooth exterior and surface clustering, examined by SEM images, and the shape of NPs was spherical, having an average size of 23 nm, as confirmed by TEM analysis. This study has focused on the peroxidase-mimicking activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimicking activity, and chemosensor-based colorimetric determination and detection of epinephrine (EP) neurotransmitters with excellent selectivity. The CuS NPs catalyzed the oxidation of the oxidase substrate 3, 3-5, 5 tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) with the help of supplementary H 2 O 2 that followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with excellent K m and V max values calculated by the Lineweaver-Burk plot. Taking advantage of the drop in absorbance upon introduction of EP for the CuS NPs-TMB/H 2 O 2 system, a colorimetric route has been developed for selective and real-time detection of EP. The sensitivity of the new colorimetric probe was vibrant, having a linear range of 0-16 μM, and achieved a low limit of detection of 457 nM. Moreover, the present nanosystem exhibited appreciable SOD-mimicking activity which could effectively remove O 2 •- from commercial cigarette smoke, along with it acting as a potential radical scavenger as well. The new nanosystem effectively scavenged • OH, O 2 .- , and metal chelation which were investigated calorimetrically.

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of graphene quantum dots (GQD) and its nanocomposites on germination, growth, biochemical, histological, and major ROS detoxifying antioxidant enzyme activities involved in salinity stress tolerance of wheat. Seedlings were grown on nutrient-free sand and treatment solutions were applied through solid matrix priming and by foliar spray. Control seedlings under salinity stress exhibited a reduction in photosynthetic pigment, sugar content, growth, increased electrolyte leakage, and lipid peroxidation, whereas iron-manganese nanocomposites doped GQD (FM&#95;GQD) treated seedlings were well adapted and performed better compared to control. Enzymatic antioxidants like catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase and NADPH oxidase were noted to increase by 40.5, 103.2, 130.19, and 141.23% respectively by application of FM&#95;GQD. Histological evidence confirmed a lower extent of lipid peroxidation and safeguarding the plasma membrane integrity through osmolyte accumulation and redox homeostasis. All of these interactive phenomena lead to an increment in wheat seedling growth by 28.06% through FM&#95;GQD application. These findings highlight that micronutrient like iron, manganese doped GQD can be a promising nano-fertilizer for plant growth and this article will serve as a reference as it is the very first report regarding the ameliorative role of GQD in salt stress mitigation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The aim of the present study was to determine the content of phenolics, flavonoids and tannins, as well as the biological functions of propolis extracts from the stingless bee ( Heterotrigona itama ). The raw propolis was extracted via maceration with ultrasonic pretreatment in 100% water and 20% ethanol. The yield of ethanolic propolis extracts was about 1% higher than its aqueous counterpart. The colorimetric assays showed that the ethanolic propolis extract had about two times higher phenolics (17.043 mg GAE/g) and tannins (5.411 mg GAE/g), and four times higher flavonoids (0.83 mg QE/g). The higher phenolic content had enhanced the antiradical and antibacterial capacities of the ethanolic extract. The propolis extracts significantly exhibited higher antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus ) than gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ). However, aqueous extract was found to have a higher anticancer property based on the viability of lung cancer cells. No cytotoxic effect was observed on normal lung cells as the cell viability was maintained >50%, even the concentration of propolis extracts were increased up to 800 µg/mL. Different chemical compositions of propolis extract would show different bioactivities depending upon the individual applications. The high content of phenolics suggests that the propolis extract could be a natural source of bioactive ingredients for the development of innovative and functional foods.

The use of natural ingredients to preserve the quality of fresh fruits is a promising approach to healthier products and a more sustainable industry. The present study was carried out to assess the effect of lactic acid (LA) and guava leaf extract (GLE) as natural preservatives on the quality parameters of Khalal Barhi dates. Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, color parameters, firmness, sensory properties, and yeast and mold counts of date fruits were evaluated during five weeks of storage at 4 ± 1 °C. The bioactive compounds in GLE were estimated by HPLC, which exhibited that GLE contains significant amounts of bioactive compounds, mainly, phenolics and flavonoids. With prolonged storage, the moisture content decreased, while the total soluble solids (TSS) increased in all samples. Similarly, a slight decrease in the pH with a concomitant increase in titratable acidity (TA) was observed throughout the storage. Generally, the samples treated with natural preservatives revealed lower changes in moisture content, TSS, pH, and TA than the control. The results exhibited decreased total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity for all samples with extended storage. The GLE and LA + GLE treatments significantly ( p < 0.05) increased TPC and antioxidant activity on day 0 and preserved higher values of both during storage. Additionally, a decrease in the L* and b* values with an increase in the a* values of all samples was observed with advancement of storage. The LA + GLE treatment minimized the changes in color parameters and maintained higher firmness values during storage. Similarly, the sensory properties of all samples decreased with prolonged storage, but insignificant ( p > 0.05) differences were found among the samples. Dipping treatments inhibited microbial growth over time, with the lowest yeast and mold counts achieved by the LA + GLE treatment. It can be concluded that the LA + GLE treatment has a protective effect on Khalal Barhi dates by minimizing post-harvest changes and decreasing the microbial load.

The use of natural preservatives in the storage of fresh fruits is a promising approach to healthier and more sustainable food processing. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and lactic acid (LA) as natural preservatives on the shelf life of Khalal Barhi date fruits. Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, color parameters, texture profile, sensory characteristics, and microbiological quality of date fruits were evaluated during six weeks of cold storage (4 ± 1 °C). The bioactive compounds in PPE were determined by HPLC analysis, which showed that PPE is a rich source of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolics and flavonoids. The results exhibited decreased moisture content (from 68.36-68.43 to 62.13-63.11%) and an increased soluble solids content (from 27.16-27.24 to 31.45-33.91%) in all samples with prolonged storage. Likewise, a slight decrease in the pH (from 6.00-6.28 to 4.89-5.29) with an increase in acidity (from 0.12-0.14 to 0.23-0.27%) during storage was observed. Generally, treated samples showed lower changes in moisture content, soluble solids content, pH, and acidity than the control. A decrease in total phenolic content (TPC) (from 8.22-12.36 to 3.19-5.17 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (from 44.11-68.26 to 23.84-38.52%) of all samples was observed with progressed storage, meanwhile, the treatment with PPE significantly ( p < 0.05) increased TPC with a concomitant increase in antioxidant activity and maintained higher values of both throughout storage. The results exhibited a decrease in L* (from 54.87-55.92 to 41.68-45.68) and b* (from 36.25-37.09 to 23.59-25.42) values of all samples, while the a* value of all samples increased (from 1.29-1.40 to 2.22-2.43) with storage. Dipping treatment in PPE solution improved the color, exhibited the lowest change in color parameters, and maintained better texture properties during storage. Similarly, sensory properties decreased (from 8.21-8.66 to 6.71-7.21) during storage with insignificant ( p > 0.05) differences among samples. Dipping treatments inhibited the growth of yeasts and molds over time, with the lowest microbial count recorded in the PPE-treated samples. It can be concluded that PPE was found to have protective effects on Khalal Barhi date fruit quality by controlling post-harvest changes and lowering the microbial load.

Herein, in order to improve the bioavailability of a non-biodegradable pollutant, inclusion complexation procedures had been used to develop better formulations of this pollutant, Bisphenol A (BPA). In our research, an inclusion complex (IC) of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with BPA was formed to investigate the effect of β-CD on the water solubility, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial activity, toxicity, and thermal stability of BPA. UV-Vis and other spectrometric methods such as NMR, FTIR, and XRD indicated the molecular mechanism of interactions between β-CD and BPA, which was further hypothesized using molecular modeling to confirm preliminary results. Studies of TGA and DSC demonstrated that encapsulation boosted the thermal stability of BPA. This research also makes predictions about BPA's release behavior when CT-DNA is present. In vitro testing of the IC's antibacterial activities showed that it outperformed pure BPA. The in silico study was found to have a considerable decrease in toxicity level for IC compared to pure BPA. Therefore, β-CD-encapsulated BPA can lessen toxicity by raising antioxidant levels. Additionally, as its antibacterial activity increases, it may be employed therapeutically. Thus, this discovery of creating BPA formulations with controlled release and/or protective properties allows for a more logical application of BPA by reducing its hazardous effects through boosting its efficacy., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical time for growth and development, but this age group is often neglected in research and development of nutrition interventions. Despite recommendations from the WHO to provide nutrient supplements to adolescents, evidence remains scarce on the most effective supplementation strategy. This study aims to compare weekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation with daily multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) in prevention of anaemia and improvement of school outcomes among adolescents in Burkina Faso and Tanzania., Methods and Analysis: A three-arm cluster-randomised, school-based supplementation trial will be conducted among 84 schools (42 schools per site) and roughly 4500 students aged 10-17. Schools will be matched on three characteristics: number of students, school ranking profile, distance to main road (Tanzania) or distance to city council (Burkina Faso). Each school will be randomised to receive either weekly IFA, daily MMSs or serve as a control. Supplements will be delivered to students by teachers, who will provide monitoring data to the study team. Baseline and endline surveys will be conducted prior to and after each supplementation cycle (12 weeks in Burkina Faso; 1 year in Tanzania) to assess haemoglobin, anthropometry and sociodemographic variables. The primary outcome of haemoglobin will be analysed continuously using linear regression, and anaemia status will be analysed using logistic or multinomial regression, depending on categorisation level of the outcome. Secondary analyses of school performance indicators will also be conducted with either logistic or linear regression., Ethics and Dissemination: This protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (IRB20-1108) and the Research Ethics Committees for the Ministries of Health in Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Burkina Faso. Results will be disseminated during meetings with the Ministries of Health and the participating communities as well as through peer-reviewed publications., Trial Registration Number: NCT04657640; NCT05104554., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at http://www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest/ and declare that all authors had financial support from an anonymous donor for the submitted work and received donation of multiple micronutrient supplements from Kirk Humanitarian; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

In our present work, we synthesized a new encapsulated complex denoted as RIBO-TSC4X, which was derived from an important vitamin riboflavin (RIBO) and p -sulfonatothiacalix[4]arene(TSC4X). The synthesized complex RIBO-TSC4X was then characterized by utilizing several spectroscopic techniques such as 1 H-NMR, FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, and TGA. Job's plot has been employed to show the encapsulation of RIBO (guest) with TSC4X (host) having a 1:1 molar ratio. The molecular association constant of the complex entity (RIBO-TSC4X) was found to be 3116.29 ± 0.17 M -1 , suggesting the formation of a stable complex. The augment in aqueous solubility of the RIBO-TSC4X complex compared to pure RIBO was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, and it was viewed that the newly synthesized complex has almost 30 times enhanced solubility over pure RIBO. The enhancement of thermal stability upto 440 °C for the RIBO-TSC4X complex was examined by TG analysis. This research also forecasts RIBO's release behavior in the presence of CT-DNA, and at the same time, BSA binding study was also carried out. The synthesized RIBO-TSC4X complex exhibited comparatively better free radical scavenging activity, thereby minimizing oxidative injury of the cell as evident from a series of antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation assay. Furthermore, the RIBO-TSC4X complex showed peroxidase-like biomimetic activity, which is very useful for several enzyme catalyst reactions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In recent decades, studies have focused on inorganic nanozymes to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of bioenzymes due to the demands of improving the reaction conditions and lack of robustness to harsh environmental factors. Many biochemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes require light activation. Light-activated nanozymes have distinct advantages, including being regulated by light stimuli, activating the molecular oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) without interfering supplementary oxidants, and often showing a synergistic effect to catalyze some challenging reactions. Only a few studies have been done on this connection. Therefore, it is still a big challenge to develop a nanozyme regulated by light activation. Herein, we uncovered the light-activated oxidase mimicking activity of a conducting polymer polyaniline nanofibers (PANI-NFs). PANI-NFs exhibit intrinsic light-activated brilliant oxidase-like activity, can catalyze the colorless tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) to produce a blue product TMBox, and have a distinct K m = 0.087 mM and a high V max = 2.32 μM min -1 value, measured by using Hanes-Woolf kinetics. We also report the light-activated oxidase activity of some other renowned carbocatalysts graphene oxide and graphitic carbon nitride and compare them with PANI-NFs. This type of property shown by the conductive polymer is amazing. The density functional theory is used to verify the stability and the mode of adsorption of the PANI NFs-TMB composite, which corroborates the experimental results. Furthermore, the current nanozyme demonstrated a significant ability to kill both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as effectively destroy biofilms under physiological conditions. We believe that this work provides the motivation to create a link between optoelectronics and biological activity in the near future.

The goal of this study is to fabricate bioinspired metal oxide nanocubes from lemon peel extract in an environmentally friendly manner and evaluate its impact on environmental remediation. In neutral pH, the degradation kinetics of methylene blue dye (MB) in the aqueous phase was investigated using iron oxide nanoparticles as a catalyst. The obtained results revealed that under optimum conditions, synthesized Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (IONPs) offered ultrafast dark Fenton-like reaction to degrade MB. The size, morphological structures, and stability were confirmed through dynamic light scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ζ potential analysis. The overall environmental impact of the process was assessed by growing wheat plants with treated wastewater and evaluating their biochemical attributes. Antibacterial activity was investigated against Gram-positive ( Bacillus megaterium , Bacillus subtilis ) and Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium ) aerobics and Gram-positive cocci ( Staphylococcus aureus ). The antifungal activity was measured against Fusarium solani by spore germination inhibition and zone inhibition of fungal pathogens for different nanocube concentrations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The co-evaporation approach was used to examine the host-guest interaction and to explore the cytotoxic and antibacterial properties of an important anti-cancer medication, 6-mercaptopurine monohydrate (6-MP) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The UV-Vis investigation confirmed the inclusion complex's (IC) 1 : 1 stoichiometry and was also utilized to oversee the viability of this inclusion process. FTIR, NMR, and XRD, among other spectrometric techniques, revealed the mechanism of molecular interactions between β-CD and 6-MP which was further hypothesized by DFT to verify tentative outcomes. TGA and DSC studies revealed that 6-MP's thermal stability increased after encapsulation. Because of the protection of drug 6-MP by β-CD, the formed IC was found to have higher photostability. This work also predicts the release behavior of 6-MP in the presence of CT-DNA without any chemical changes. An evaluation of the complex's antibacterial activity in vitro revealed that it was more effective than pure 6-MP. The in vitro cytotoxic activity against the human kidney cancer cell line (ACHN) was also found to be significant for the IC (IC 50 = 4.18 μM) compared to that of pure 6-MP (IC 50 = 5.49 μM). These findings suggest that 6-MP incorporation via β-CD may result in 6-MP stability and effective presentation of its solubility, cytotoxic and antibacterial properties., Competing Interests: There were no known financial or personal conflicts of interest amongst the authors that could have influenced the work provided in this publication., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Obesity is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases and is interlinked with incidences of various diseases. By modulating lifestyle and food quality, obesity can be preventable. The present study investigated the ability of a novel functional beverage based on orange juice and beetroot leaf and stem juice in preventing obesity-associated health issues. To achieve this purpose, we determined the nutritive value of juices and tested their ability to prevent the effect of a high-fat diet on a rat model. Adding leaf and stem juice to orange juice increased the total soluble solids/total titratable acidity ratio, which reflects the high acceptability of the blends, and enhanced their nutritive value. All minerals increased in the blends by increasing the leaf and stem juice percentage. Copper was detected only in the juices containing 10-20% leaf and stem juice (0.01-0.11 mg/100 g). Total flavonoids and betalain increased in the blends, reaching 142.02 µg/mL and 1680 µg/mL, respectively. The mixing process synergized the blends' radicals scavenging activity. The synergic antioxidant effect of orange enriched with 20% leaf and stem juice attenuated the oxidative stress induced by the high-fat diet by recovering catalase and glutathione peroxidase values. It also enhanced liver enzymes and lipid profile. Consequently, enriching orange with leaf and stem juice results in a functional and nutritious beverage that protects against obesity and its associated health issues.

The myth of inactivity of inorganic materials in a biological system breaks down by the discovery of nanozymes. From this time, the nanozyme has attracted huge attention for its high durability, cost-effective production, and easy storage over the natural enzyme. Moreover, the multienzyme-mimicking activity of nanozymes can regulate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an intercellular system. ROS can be generated by peroxidase (POD), oxidase (OD), and Fenton-like catalytic reaction by a nanozyme which kills the cancer cells by oxidative stress; therefore, it is important in CDT (chemo dynamic therapy). Our current study designed to investigate the enzyme mimicking behavior and anticancer ability of cerium-based nanomaterials because the cerium-based materials offer a high redox ability while maintaining nontoxicity and high stability. Our group synthesized CeZrO 4 nanoparticles by a green method using β-cyclodextrin as a stabilizer and neem leaf extract as a reducing agent, exhibiting POD- and OD-like dual enzyme activities. The best enzyme catalytic activity is shown in pH = 4, indicating the high ROS generation in an acidic medium (tumor microenvironment) which is also supported by the Fenton-like behavior of CeZrO 4 nanoparticles. Inspired by the high ROS generation in vitro method, we investigated the disruption of human kidney cells by this nanoparticle, successfully verified by the MTT assay. The harmful effect of ROS in a normal cell is also investigated by the in vitro MTT assay. The results suggested that the appreciable anticancer activity with minimal side effects by this synthesized nanomaterial., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The routes of uptake and efflux should be considered when developing new drugs so that they can effectively address their intracellular targets. As a general rule, drugs appear to enter cells via protein carriers that normally carry nutrients or metabolites. A previously developed pipeline that searched for drug transporters using Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants carrying single-gene deletions identified import routes for most compounds tested. However, due to the redundancy of transporter functions, we propose that this methodology can be improved by utilizing double mutant strains in both low- and high-throughput screens. We constructed a library of over 14,000 strains harboring double deletions of genes encoding 122 nonessential plasma membrane transporters and performed low- and high-throughput screens identifying possible drug import routes for 23 compounds. In addition, the high-throughput assay enabled the identification of putative efflux routes for 21 compounds. Focusing on azole antifungals, we were able to identify the involvement of the myo- inositol transporter, Itr1p, in the uptake of these molecules and to confirm the role of Pdr5p in their export. IMPORTANCE Our library of double transporter deletion strains is a powerful tool for rapid identification of potential drug import and export routes, which can aid in determining the chemical groups necessary for transport via specific carriers. This information may be translated into a better design of drugs for optimal absorption by target tissues and the development of drugs whose utility is less likely to be compromised by the selection of resistant mutants.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the prevalence of HIV in pregnant women and the maternal, obstetrical, and neonatal outcomes over 13 years (2005-2017) at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Muscat, Oman., Methods: Our study design was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study of HIV-positive women in the department of obstetrics and gynecology. We had an unlimited sample size due to the rarity of the disease. We aimed to include all pregnant Omani women who tested positive for HIV in their antenatal screening from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2017. The patient records were reviewed using the hospital information system service., Results: There were a total of 13 688 women with 104 281 pregnancies over the study period. The prevalence of Omani pregnant women with HIV was 0.1% (1:1000) with 0.03% of seropositive pregnancies (3:10 000). Of these seropositive pregnancies, 78.6% were known HIV carriers, while 21.4% were newly diagnosed cases. The live birth rate was 90.3%, with 9.7% resulting in miscarriage. All the miscarriages were to known HIV-positive mothers who were managed in accordance with international guidelines. Of the live births, 10.7% were unknown HIV-positive mothers with a mean gestational age of 39.67 weeks and a mean birth weight of 3.2 kg. The rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in this group was 33.3%. In contrast, 89.3% of the live births to known HIV-positive mothers delivered neonates with a mean gestational age of 37.4 weeks and a mean birth weight of 2.6 kg with 0.0% MTCT. Modes of delivery, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum complications as well as long-term neonatal outcomes were analyzed according to the status of the mother at first presentation., Conclusions: Strategies have been placed by programs in Oman to focus on the wellbeing of pregnant women and the protection of newborns against HIV infection. Strict implementations on preventing MTCT allowed preventing HIV in children possible. Antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces vertical transmission of HIV, in addition to abstinence of breastfeeding. More importantly, all HIV-positive pregnant women should follow the prevention of MTCT programs set out by the Ministry of Health., (The OMJ is Published Bimonthly and Copyrighted 2021 by the OMSB.)

Purpose: To assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of dentists (dental students, dental school graduates/interns, postgraduate dentists) of the role of robotics (R) and artificial intelligence (AI) in oral health and preventive dentistry. The null hypothesis was that dentists would not be aware of R and AI use in dentistry and would not be ready to accept them in oral health and preventive dentistry for dental care management and training., Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study in which data was collected from a representative population in Saudi Arabia. 570 participants answered 26 closed-ended questions. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were evaluated for vetting and remarks. The questionnaire collected demographic data of participants and their knowledge, perception and attitude about R and AI. Questions were to be answered with 'yes', 'no' and 'I don't know'. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the control chart technique and the chi-squared test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05., Results: The majority of the participants (n = 313; 54.6%) were males. Dental students, dentist school graduates/interns, and postgraduate dentists comprised of 58.8%, 18.2%, and 23.0% respectively. Most of the respondents gave affirmative answers for knowledge, attitude and perception of R and AI (58.3%, 67.4%, and 60.3%, respectively). Participants agreed that R and AI is beneficial in dentistry and would provide better results. Most (83.3%) would be willing to be treated using R/AI and would recommend (84.5%) treatment with R/AI, as shown in the control chart by affirmative answers. These were significantly above the overall affirmative answers, as the corresponding point lies above 95% UCL (upper confidence limit)., Conclusion: Most dentists were unacquainted with R and AI. Dentists had a positive attitude towards R/AI, but due to inadequate knowledge and understanding, its use and applications were very limited. There is significant need in the near future to increase awareness of this concept, as it may increase treatment efficiency and effectiveness.

Objective: Reconstruction of oral and facial defects often necessitate replacement of missing soft tissue. The purpose of tissue expanders is to grow healthy supplementary tissue under a controlled force. This study investigates the inflammatory responses associated with the force generated from the use of anisotropic hydrogel tissue expanders., Methods: Sprague Dawley rats (n = 7, body weight = 300 g ± 50 g) were grouped randomly into two groups-control (n = 3) and expanded (n = 4). Anisotropic hydrogel tissue expanders were inserted into the frontal maxillofacial region of the rats in the expanded group. The rats were sacrificed, and skin samples were harvested, fixed in formalin, and embedded in paraffin wax for histological investigation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to detect histological changes between the two groups and to investigate the inflammatory response in the expanded samples. Three inflammatory markers, namely interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were analyzed by immunohistochemistry., Result: IL-1-α expression was only observed in the expanded tissue samples compared to the controls. In contrast, there was no significant difference in IL-6, and TNF-α production. Histological analysis showed the absence of inflammatory response in expanded tissues, and a negative non-significant correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient) between IL-1-α immune-positive cells and the inflammatory cells (r = -0.500). In conclusion, tissues that are expanded and stabilized using an anisotropic self-inflating hydrogel tissue expander might be useful for tissue replacement and engraftment as the expanded tissue does not show any sign of inflammatory responses. Detection of IL-1-α in the expanded tissues warrants further investigation for its involvement without any visible inflammatory response.

Rivaroxaban (RIVA) inhibits factor Xa and exhibits antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting several cellular signaling molecules. Sunitinib (SUN) is FDA approved first-line drug for metastatic renal cancers and advanced cancerous states of gastrointestinal tract. Present hypothesis was aimed to examine the nephroprotective potential of RIVA in SUN-induced nephrotoxicity, mediated through the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and inflammation, via the TNF-α/NFk-B signaling pathways. Wistar rats 200-250 g were selected and divided randomely in 5 groups (n = 6): Group 1 kept as normal control; Group 2 as disease control and exposed to SUN 50 mg/kg thrice-weekly upto 21 days; Groups 3 and 4, were treatment groups and administered SUN 50 mg/kg thrice-weekly as of group 2 and treated with RIVA 5 and 10 mg/kg/daily for 21 days, respectively; and Group 5 fed with RIVA alone (10 mg/kg/daily for 21 days). Serum was separated from blood to estimate serum biochemical parameters and kidney tissues were collected to estimate antioxidant enzyme, mRNA and protein expression. SUN exposure significantly elevated levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, and bilirubin, and decreased serum magnesium and iron levels. Malondialdehyde and catalase levels were significantly increased and glutathione and glutathione reductase levels were significantly decreased. Intracellular levels of caspase-3 and TNF-α were significantly increased; RIVA treatment restored the altered levels. In SUN-exposed animals, western blotting revealed significantly elevated NFk-B, IL-17, and MCP-1 expression, and IKBα levels were significantly downregulated; RIVA restored these levels to normal values.RIVA treatment significantly restored the apoptotic and inflammatory parameters in SUN-damaged renal tissues.

The effect of extrusion feed moisture (FM) on the microstructure, pasting, physico-functional properties and in vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) of corn and potato starches was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry and a rapid visco-analyser. Starches were extruded at 14, 18 and 22% FM with an extrusion temperature of 100 °C and a screw speed of 100 rpm. Extruded starches showed lower L* (lightness) values and higher a* and b* values than native starches. An increase in FM increased the L* values and decreased the a* and b* values of extruded starches. Extrusion resulted in complete destruction and reduced crystallinity of the starch structure. Extruded starches showed a lower water absorption index (WAI), peak viscosity (PV), final viscosity (FV), breakdown viscosity (BDV) and setback viscosity (SBV) with a higher water solubility index (WSI) and IVSD than native starches. FM showed a negative correlation with the WSI and IVSD and a positive correlation with the WAI, PV, FV, BDV and SBV of extruded starches.

Eurycoma longifolia is a popular folk medicine in South East Asia. This study was focused on saccharide-containing compounds including saponins, mainly because of their medical potentials. Different organic solvents such as ethyl acetate, butanol, and chloroform were used to fractionate the phytochemical groups, which were consequently precipitated in cold acetone. Solvent fractionation was found to increase the total saponin content based on colorimetric assay using vanillin and sulfuric acid. Ethyl acetate fraction and its precipitate were showed to have the highest crude saponins after acetone precipitation. The samples were shown to have anti-proliferative activity comparable with tamoxifen (IC 50 = 110.6 µg/mL) against human breast cancer cells. The anti-proliferative activities of the samples were significantly improved from crude extract (IC 50 = 616.3 µg/mL) to ethyl acetate fraction (IC 50 = 185.4 µg/mL) and its precipitate (IC 50 = 153.4 µg/mL). LC-DAD-MS/MS analysis revealed that the saccharide-containing compounds such as m / z 497, 610, 723, 836, and 949 were abundant in the samples, and they could be ionized in negative ion mode. The compounds consisted of 226 amu monomers with UV-absorbing property at 254 nm, and were tentatively identified as formylated hexoses. To conclude, solvent fractionation and acetone precipitation could produce saccharide-containing compounds including saponins with higher anti-proliferative activity than crude extract against MCF-7 cells. This is the first study to use non-toxic solvents for fractionation of bioactive compounds from highly complex plant extract of E. longifolia .

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in Pemba and Zanzibar islands, Methods: We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire that consisted of pre-coded and open-ended questions consisting of 29 items. The questionnaire was developed in English and translated into Swahili language before use. The questionnaire was pilot tested and modified before use. A total of 30 Shehias were randomly selected for the survey out of a total of 248 Shehias. A Shehia is the smallest government administrative unit in Pemba and Zanzibar that consists of two to three villages. The study sample was obtained through cluster random sampling of 76 households from each Shehia. Informed consent was sought from the Head of household and from each potential eligible participant. Eligibililty criteria included all persons aged 12 years and above who slept overnight in the selected household at the time of the study. Exclusion criteria included non-residents of Zanzibar and Pemba such as tourists, Informed consent from persons below the age of 18 years were witnessed and ratified by their parents, guardians, caretakers or neighbours. All consenting participants were included in the study sample. Blood sports were collected using filters and tested for HIV-1 using ELISA test at the Zanzibar Reference Laboratory. Samples found positive for ELISA were subjected to a 2nd ELISA test., Results: The total number of persons who participated in the survey was 5852 out of 5868 eligible persons giving the overall response rate of 99.7%. Of the 5852 persons who participated in the survey, 41% (N = 2414) were males and 59% N = 3455) were females. The overall mean age of the study population was 30.4 years with age ranging from 12-65 years. The overall prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 0.6% with more women being significantly affected than men (0.9% versus 0.2%; adjusted OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.16-7.12). Of the 5852 persons who participated in the survey, 5.7% admitted having had casual partner in the past 6 months and of these 19.6% reported having used a condom during the most recent casual sex., Conclusion: We conclude that HIV-1 infection in Zanzibar is still low and women are more affected than men.