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Cinnamic acids are aromatic acids primarily found in plants and plant-derived food. Phenolic cinnamic acids, with one or more hydroxyl groups in the aromatic ring, often contribute to the biological activities attributed to these compounds. The presence of hydroxyl groups and a carboxyl group makes cinnamic acids very hydrophilic, preventing them from crossing biological membranes and exerting their biological activities. To alleviate this condition, a panel of synthetic modifications have been made leading to a diverse set of phenolic cinnamic structures. In this review, an overview of the natural phenolic cinnamic acid derivatives and their plant sources (more than 200) is described. The synthetic approaches to obtain the referred derivatives (more than 200) namely esters and amides are reviewed. Further, their anti-inflammatory activity (more than 70 compounds) is scrutinized. Finally, future directions will be indicated to translate the research on phenolic cinnamic derivatives into potentially effective anti-inflammatory drugs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Metacaspases are a distinct class of cysteine proteases predominantly found in plants, fungi, and protozoa, crucial for regulating programmed cell death (PCD). They possess unique structural features and differ markedly from caspases in their activation mechanisms and substrate specificities, with a notable preference for binding basic residues in substrates. In this study, we introduced vanillin-derived oximic compounds to explore their pharmaceutical potential. We evaluated these compounds for their inhibitory effects on TbMCA2, a metacaspase in Trypanosoma brucei, identifying AO-7, AO-12, and EO-20 as promising inhibitors. AO-12 showed significant potential as a non-competitive inhibitor with notable IC 50 values. Molecular docking studies were also conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of these compounds for TbMCA2. This research is particularly relevant given the urgent need for more effective and less toxic treatments for trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trypanosomes. The absence of available vaccines and the limitations imposed by drug toxicity underscore the importance of these findings. Our study represents a significant advancement in developing therapeutic agents targeting metacaspases in trypanosomatids and highlights the necessity of understanding metacaspase regulation across various species. It provides valuable insights into inhibitor sensitivity and potential species-specific therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, this research opens promising avenues for novel therapeutic agents targeting metacaspases in trypanosomatids, addressing a critical gap in combating neglected diseases associated with these pathogens. Further research is essential to refine the efficacy and safety profiles of these compounds, aiming to deliver more accessible and effective therapeutic solutions to populations afflicted by these debilitating diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Celastrol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, is considered as one of the top-five natural medicinal compounds with high antioxidant property. However, celastrol has poor aqueous solubility and thereby low bioavailability, restricting its clinical application as drug. To overcome this problem, we nanonized celastrol by entrapping it within hydrophilic nanocarrier - calcium phosphate nanoparticle. The synthesized calcium phosphate celastrol nanoparticle (CPCN) had average size of 35 nm, spherical shape, significant stability with (-) 37 mV zeta potential, celastrol entrapment efficiency around 75 % and low celastrol release kinetics spanning over 7 days, as measured by different techniques like FESEM, AFM, DLS, and spectrophotometry. Studies on the antioxidant potency of CPCN by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy depicted that the toxicity developed in human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y by treatment with the selective neurotoxin MPP + iodide (N-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide) got reduced by pretreatment of the cells with CPCN. Determination of cellular ROS content, depolarization level of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle analysis and nuclear damage in MPP + -exposed cells demonstrated that CPCN had about 65 % more antioxidant efficacy over that of bulk celastrol. Thus, the nanonization process transformed hydrophobic celastrol into hydrophilic CPCN, having high potentiality to be developed as an effective antioxidant drug., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Prof. Tarakdas Basu has patent A PROCESS FOR SYNTHESIS OF CELASTROL-LOADED CALCIUM PHOSPHATE NANOPARTICLE AS A POTENT ANTIOXIDANT pending to UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wildland firefighters are exposed to metal(loid)s released during wildfires through vegetation combustion, which also promotes remobilization of accumulated anthropogenic metal(loid)s. Studies biomonitoring metal(loid)s exposure promoted exclusively by wildfire suppression activities are lacking. This work aimed to characterize, for the first time, the impact of real-life wildland firefighting operations on urinary levels of priority pollutant metal(loid)s [14 included in ATSDR, 11 in USEPA, and 4 in Human Biomonitoring for Europe Initiative priority lists] in firefighters. Spot urines were sampled pre-exposure (105 non-smokers, 76 smokers) and post-exposure to firefighting activities (20 non-smokers, 25 smokers); among those, paired samples were collected from 14 non-smoking and 24 smoking firefighters. Smokers displayed significantly higher baseline levels of zinc (28 %), lithium (29 %), cadmium (55 %), rubidium (13 %), and copper (20 %) than non-smokers. Following wildfire suppression, the concentration of the WHO potentially toxic metal(loid)s rose from 2 % to 3 % in smokers and 2 % to 5 % in non-smokers (up to 4 % for all firefighters and up to 5 % in paired samples). Levels of nickel (33-53 %), antimony (45-56 %), and cesium (40-47 %) increased significantly post-exposure in non-smokers (in all firefighters and in paired samples), whose urinary concentrations were generally more impacted by wildfire emissions than those of smokers. Arsenic (80 %) displayed the only significant increase post-exposure in smokers, being the best discriminant of exposure to wildfire emissions in these subjects. Significant positive correlations were found for age and/or career length with cadmium, lead, barium, strontium, and mercury, and for body mass index with arsenic. The reference/guidance values were exceeded for arsenic, zinc, cesium, nickel, antimony, cadmium, lead, thallium, mercury, copper, and cobalt in 1-90 % of firefighters suggesting augmented health risks due to wildfire combating and emphasizing the need of mitigation strategies. This study also provides biomonitoring data to help setting reference values for the occupationally exposed part of population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Discarded fishing nets, a major source of marine litter, significantly threaten the marine environment and contribute to plastic pollution due to the synthetic polymers they contain. Though Bangladesh is a maritime country with 0.5 million of fishers dependent on coastal and marine fishing, there have been no studies to date on the plastic pollution impact of fishing nets. This study demonstrates the fishing nets associated with marine litter in two coastal locations of Bangladesh, Charfesson and Cox's Bazar. Fishing net samples were collected from local net shops and semi-structured interviews were taken of the shop owners to gather information about available fishing nets. This was complemented by photo-quadrat surveys to document waste fishing net materials on the shore in both locations. Among the 17 net samples, there were 12 types of gill nets, which showed a wide range of variation in price, material types, and longevity. Through the FTIR analysis, we identified the presence of Nylon 6, Polyethylene, Polyvinyl chloride, Polypropylene and Polyethylene terephthalate in the collected fishing net samples. Photoquadrat surveys found that fishing nets are related to plastic pollution in coastal areas. This study addressed the knowledge gap regarding the diversity and chemical characteristics of fishing nets and the resulting litter in Bangladesh., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have an impact on patient quality of life at some point. Alternatives such as pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen supplementation, yoga, and mindfulness practices can help in the care of patients with ILD. The current study was designed to explore the perceptions of gratitude by patients with various ILDs during an MBI. This was a qualitative study involving 50 patients with ILDs. Data were collected through transcription of expressions of gratitude during weekly sessions. A six-phase thematic analysis was used to evaluate the data qualitatively. The results obtained allowed the construction of five thematic categories of gratitude: Religious belief: recognition of the existence of a God being evident in the statements of several patients, who relied on it as a strategy for coping with the disease; the possibility of autonomy: perceived in the importance placed upon being able to perform simple, routine tasks; the presence of family and friends, the assurance of treatment by the health care team and the treatment itself; and the changes achieved through the mindfulness training. Despite the severity and limitations imposed by the disease, the participants were able to perceive the importance and meaning of the presence of family and friends, spirituality, the medical team, and mindfulness in their lives., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors have not declared a specific grants or contracts from any entity, royalties or licenses and Consulting fees. A preprint has previously been published/ (Miranda et al., 2023). Ethics Approval Ethics approval was obtained by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Reference no. 33842520.1.0000.5149); and all participating patients gave written informed consent. Consent to Participate All participating patients gave written informed consent. The participants were free to withdraw at any time before the start of data analysis and no incentives were offered for participation. Consent for Publication The authors provide our consent for publication of this data, text, and images., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Portal hypertension, a common sequela of chronic liver disease, is complicated by variceal hemorrhage, one of its most serious complications. Evidence-based approaches to managing variceal hemorrhage are limited by the scarcity of data related to this rare entity. Multicenter international registries are increasingly utilized to garner critical information about rare diseases. The International Multicenter Pediatric Portal Hypertension Registry (IMPPHR) was developed to acquire pediatric data about the mortality of first variceal hemorrhage and approaches to primary and second prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage with a goal of improving outcomes in children with portal hypertension. IMPPHR evolved from pediatric portal hypertension symposia at the Baveno V and VI meetings in 2010 and 2015, with a formal executive committee initiating the development of IMPPHR in 2019. The registry opened in 2020, with data closure in 2024, including information from 44 centers and >700 subjects. The complexities and approaches to developing IMPPHR are described., (© 2024 European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Control of individual micromotors within a group would allow for improved efficiency, greater ability to accomplish complex tasks, higher throughput, and increased adaptability. However, independent control of micromotors remains a significant challenge. Typical actuation techniques, such as chemical and magnetic, are uniform over the workspace and therefore cannot control one micromotor independently of the others. To address this challenge, we demonstrate a novel control method of applying a localized region of UV light that activates a single light-responsive TiO 2 micromotor at a time. To achieve this, a digital micromirror device (DMD) was employed which is capable of highly precise localized illumination. To demonstrate this precise user-defined control, patterns of micromotors were created via selective actuation and magnetic steering. In addition, a closed-loop system was also developed which automates the guidance of individual micromotors to specified locations, illustrating the potential for more efficient and precise control of the micromotors.

L-Proline (L-Pro) is a non-essential amino acid which, in high concentrations, can cause neurological problems including seizures, although the causative mechanism for this is unclear. Here, we studied the impact of physiological levels of proline on brain energy metabolism and investigated the metabolism of L-Pro itself, using the cortical brain tissue slice and stable isotope labelling from [1- 13  C]glucose and [1,2- 13  C]acetate detected by NMR spectroscopy and LCMS. L-Pro was actively taken up by the slices and significantly reduced the total metabolic pools of all measured metabolites with glutamine the least affected, while reducing net flux of 13 C into glycolytic byproducts (lactate and alanine). Conversely, net flux into Krebs cycle intermediates was increased, suggesting that L-Pro at lower concentrations was driving increased mitochondrial activity in both neurons and glia at the expense of glycolysis and metabolic pool sizes. As there was no evidence of metabolism of [1- 13  C] L-Pro in slices under normo-glycemic conditions, the effect of proline on metabolism was not due to displacement of metabolites by added L-Pro. Comparison of the metabolic fingerprint generated by L-Pro in slices metabolizing [3- 13  C]pyruvate with that generated by ligands active in the GABAergic system suggested that L-Pro may engender effects similar to that of the inhibitory neurotransmitter and metabolite γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in line with previous suggestions that L-Pro may be a GABA mimetic in addition to its role as a modulator of mitochondrial metabolism., Competing Interests: Declarations Disclosures The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure Caio Augusto Lima de Araujo has no disclosures to declare that may be relevant to the contents of this article.

This review highlights important research on anion coordination chemistry for materials applications over the last decade. This field has numerous applications in various areas, such as the environment, industry, and medicine. Despite its enormous potential, real-world applicability is still pending. However, there has been a new trajectory in the field recently, with rapid advancement in designing sophisticated molecular systems for various materials applications. To keep track of this dynamic advancement, we have discussed some outstanding research work with enormous potential for materials applications in the near future., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Dynamic interactions between large-scale brain networks underpin human cognitive processes, but their electrophysiological mechanisms remain elusive. The triple network model, encompassing the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and frontoparietal network (FPN), provides a framework for understanding these interactions. We analyzed intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 177 participants across four diverse episodic memory experiments, each involving encoding as well as recall phases. Phase transfer entropy analysis revealed consistently higher directed information flow from the anterior insula (AI), a key SN node, to both DMN and FPN nodes. This directed influence was significantly stronger during memory tasks compared to resting state, highlighting the AI's task-specific role in coordinating large-scale network interactions. This pattern persisted across externally driven memory encoding and internally governed free recall. Control analyses using the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) showed an inverse pattern, with DMN and FPN exerting higher influence on IFG, underscoring the AI's unique role. We observed task-specific suppression of high-gamma power in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus node of the DMN during memory encoding, but not recall. Crucially, these results were replicated across all four experiments spanning verbal and spatial memory domains with high Bayes replication factors. Our findings advance understanding of how coordinated neural network interactions support memory processes, highlighting the AI's critical role in orchestrating large-scale brain network dynamics during both memory encoding and retrieval. By elucidating the electrophysiological basis of triple network interactions in episodic memory, our study provides insights into neural circuit dynamics underlying memory function and offer a framework for investigating network disruptions in memory-related disorders., Competing Interests: AD, VM No competing interests declared, (© 2024, Das and Menon.)

Harnessing the potential of hydrogel-based localized drug delivery systems holds immense promise for mitigating the systemic side effects associated with conventional cancer therapies. However, the development of such systems demands the fulfillment of multiple stringent criteria, including injectability, biocompatibility, and controlled release. Herein, we present an ultra-small peptide-based hydrogel for the sustained and targeted delivery of doxorubicin in a murine model of breast cancer. The hydrogel evades dissolution and remains stable in biological fluids, serving as a reliable drug reservoir. However, it specifically reacts to the high levels of glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment and releases drugs in a controlled manner over time for consistent therapeutic benefits. Remarkably, administration of a single dose of doxorubicin-loaded hydrogel elicited superior tumor regression (approximately 75% within 18 days) compared to conventional doxorubicin treatment alone. Furthermore, the persistent presence of the drug-loaded hydrogel near the tumor site for up to 18 days after administration highlights its enduring effectiveness. There is great clinical potential for this localized delivery strategy because of the minimal off-target effects on healthy tissues. Our findings underscore the efficacy of this smart peptide-hydrogel platform and pave the way for developing next-generation localized drug delivery systems with enhanced therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment.

Importance: Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is an increasingly recognized fibroinflammatory condition that can involve multiple organs, including the pachymeninges. The understanding of IgG4-related pachymeningitis (IgG4-RP) remains limited because of its rarity and the predominance of knowledge derived from case reports and case series., Objective: To systematically review and synthesize the clinical presentation, investigation findings, and prognosis of IgG4-RP to better understand its diagnosis and management., Evidence Review: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched from their inception until May 30, 2023, using terms related to IgG4-related disease and pachymeningitis without language or publication restrictions. Case reports and series that met the 2020 Revised Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria or the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria were included. Data on clinical presentations, investigation findings, and treatment outcomes were extracted and summarized., Findings: A total of 148 case reports contributed data from 208 patients. Their median (IQR) age was 52 (39-62) years; 132 patients were male (63.5%) and 76 female (36.5%). Headache and cranial nerve dysfunctions were the most common neurological manifestations. Systemic involvement was identified in nearly half of the patients. Diagnostic imaging often showed preferential involvement of cavernous sinus and middle fossa. Laboratory results highlighted elevated serum IgG4 levels in 97 of 147 patients (65%) of patients and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in 43 of 82 patients (52%). Storiform fibrosis or obliterating phlebitis were uncommon pathological findings. Mortality was below 1% (1/134; 0.7%), but only a third of patients presented complete clinical improvement, and the recurrence rate was 60 patients (40%) in a median (IQR) follow-up time of 9 (1-20) months. Glucocorticoids were the most commonly prescribed treatment, in 143 of 169 patients (85%); rituximab was prescribed as maintenance therapy in 53 of 169 patients (31%)., Conclusions and Relevance: IgG4-RP commonly presents with headaches and cranial nerve dysfunction, posing diagnostic challenges due to the significant absence of systemic manifestations, low IgG4 serum levels, and atypical pathological findings. Current treatment outcomes are limited by incomplete recovery and frequent relapses underscoring the necessity for new treatment strategies.

Treatment of critical-size osteochondral (OC) injuries at load-bearing sites has remained a major clinical challenge in orthopedic surgery. This is due to the anisotropic characteristics of OC tissue and the stratified structure of the cartilage. Here, we developed a multilayered OC scaffold by employing cryogelation technology. Gelatin, chitosan, and chondroitin sulfate were utilized for designing three distinct, 2425 ± 120 μm thick layers of cartilage having different alignments, while nanohydroxyapatite and gelatin were used for the subchondral bone layer. Exosomes derived from articular chondrocytes in the range of 60-110 nm were used to promote chondrogenesis. The biocompatibility and cartilage formation potential of the scaffold and exosomes were initially evaluated in rat OC defects. The application of exosome-loaded scaffolds was then investigated in a critical-size OC injury (8 × 10 mm) created in the goat knee. Artificial synovial fluid was designed and utilized as a carrier for exosomes for a booster dose administered as an intra-articular injection. X-ray imaging and micro-CT analysis revealed that the treatment resulted in improved subchondral bone regeneration. The defect region exhibited healthy hyaline cartilage formation, as detected by MRI imaging. Moreover, histological examination revealed that the treatment group showed augmented cell proliferation, matrix deposition, secretion of proteoglycans, and the formation of stratified hyaline cartilage over a long-term (6 and 12 months), whereas the control group demonstrated the formation of fibrocartilage. Treatment-induced upregulation of collagen II, aggrecan, and SOX 9 genes (∼10 fold) further provided evidence that the cartilage phenotype was well preserved. Hence, the proposed treatment has significant translational potential for treating adverse OC clinical injuries.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is recognized as a major aggressive subtype of breast cancer due to its expeditious worsening growth, extensive metastatic capability, and recalcitrance to standard current treatments. Hesperetin (HSP), a natural bioflavonoid from citrus fruits, demonstrates pronounced anticancer efficacy, but its hydrophobicity limits its clinical development. The present study reports the fabrication of a biocompatible and pH-responsive transferrin (TF) receptor-targeted HSP-loaded poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanobioconjugate (PLGA-HSP-TF NPs) and the exploration of its in vitro and in vivo antineoplastic potential. PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), PLGA-HSP NPs, and PLGA-HSP-TF NPs were synthesized and characterized by DLS, FTIR, FE-SEM, and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The stability and in vitro release profile of nanoparticles were inspected, and anticancer efficacy was scrutinized in terms of in vitro cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis biomarkers, and cell cycle arrest. In vivo tumor regression and host survival studies were executed in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell-bearing Swiss albino mice. The drug uptake of highly stable PLGA-HSP-TF NPs was accomplished effectively in MDA-MB-231 cells and showed the pH-dependent intracellular release of HSP, which generated excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) that led to oxidative assault to the TNBC cells. This elevated ROS dropped the mitochondrial membrane potential and triggered apoptosis-mediated cell death by arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, PLGA-HSP-TF NPs unveiled significant in vivo Ehrlich ascites carcinoma regression and host survival compared to free HSP with minimum toxicity at a minimum dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. The study divulges that PLGA-HSP-TF NPs may be an astounding anticancer nanocandidate for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer therapy.

Exothermic, spontaneous inner-sphere complexation of trivalent lanthanides with N , N , N ', N ', N ″, N ″-hexaalkyl-substituted nitrilotriacetamides (HRNTAs) into 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (C 6 mim NTf 2 ) is reported with a predominant presence of ML and ML 2 complexes having complexation constants, β 1 Eu 3.10 ± 0.02 ,β 1 Nd 2.67 ± 0.03 and β 2 Eu 5.22 ± 0.04, β 2 Nd 4.95 ± 0.02, respectively, for the n -butyl-substituted HRNTA (HBNTA); while those for the n -hexyl derivative (HHNTA) are β 1 Eu 4.27 ± 0.03, β 1 Nd 3.71 ± 0.03 and β 2 Eu 7.70 ± 0.03, β 2 Nd 7.18 ± 0.04, respectively. HHNTA shows better complexing ability; whereas the stronger complexation of the Nd 3+ over Eu 3+ is attributed to the lanthanide contraction. Furthermore, the nature of the ionic liquid also influences the extent of complexation with the trend: C 4 mim NTf 2 > C 6 mim NTf 2 > C 8 mim NTf 2 , which follows the order of their dielectric constants. Judd-Ofelt parameters were calculated from photoluminescence data to get an idea about the symmetry of the Eu 3+ complexes. Electrochemical investigations give diffusion coefficient values of 1.17 × 10 -7 and 8.26 × 10 -8 cm 2 /s for the Eu 3+ complexes of HBNTA and HHNTA, respectively. Changes in the spectral characteristics and peak positions are evidenced in the FTIR spectra on the complexation of Eu 3+ with the HRNTA ligands in C 6 mim NTf 2 . Structure optimization for the complexes was performed by DFT computations.

Lung adenocarcinoma is considered to be one of the primary causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy taken together, have not significantly lowered mortality rates. Repositioning of authorized anticancer medications supported by nanotechnology has therefore emerged as an effective strategy to close such gaps. In this context, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were biosynthesized from cucumber peels and were loaded with doxorubicin, a common anticancer drug to form doxorubicin-bound mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs). The study addresses a sustainable method for turning waste materials into MSNs, which can be used to create multifunctional nanosystems. The therapeutic module (DMSNs) was designed specifically to target 2D monolayer cells and 3D tumor spheroids of lung adenocarcinoma cancer. The DMSNs demonstrated notable antiproliferative activity and effective intracellular localization in addition to being biocompatible and innately fluorescent. Subsequent investigations revealed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcal infection, which is primarily prevalent in lung cancer patients. Thus, the developed MSNs held promising potential for anticancer drug delivery systems and have antibacterial potential to treat bacterial infections in patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, the cucumber peel-mediated synthesis of MSNs could also aid in the management of food waste and promote the adoption of the waste-to-health paradigm for sustainable solutions.

The first enantioselective Friedel-Crafts (FC) allenylation reaction for the creation of central chirality is developed under cooperative Ir(I)/(phosphoramidite,olefin) and Lewis acid catalysis. This enantioconvergent reaction utilizes racemic allenylic alcohol as the electrophile and shows compatibility with a variety of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes. The resulting highly enantioenriched (up to >99.5 : 0.5 e.r.) 1,1-disubstituted allenylic methanes, bearing a benzylic carbon stereocenter, are obtained with complete regiocontrol - both on (hetero)arenes as well as on the allenylic fragment. This protocol allows for the enantioselective formal introduction of a 4-carbon alkyl chain into (hetero)arenes, along with the creation of a benzylic stereocenter. Judicious synthetic elaborations not only lead to formal enantioselective FC alkylation products of less electron-rich arenes but also of substituted arenes in ortho- and even meta-selective fashion. An intramolecular version of this FC allenylation is shown to proceed with promising enantioselectivity under the same catalytic conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed the involvement of dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DyKAT) of racemic allenylic alcohols in this reaction., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) is causing economically important diseases in leguminous crops worldwide. In this study, BCMV isolates from country bean (CB; Lablab purpureus ), yard-long bean (YLB; Vigna unguiculata ), and rajma bean (RB; Phaseolus vulgaris ) collected from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Cambodia were characterized. Samples that tested positive for BCMV in serological assays were subjected to high-throughput sequencing to generate near-full-length genome sequences. In pairwise comparisons of the polyprotein open reading frame, 13 BCMV isolates from Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal showed sequence identity of 92.1 to 98.8% at the nucleotide and 94.2 to 99% at the amino acid level among themselves and with corresponding sequences of BCMV reported previously. In phylogenetic analyses using the global BCMV sequences, they segregated into five distinct lineages, with RB isolates from Nepal clustering with US1/NL1-clade of common bean isolates from different countries, YLB isolates aligning with blackeye cowpea strain sequences reported from China, and CB isolates from Nepal and Bangladesh clustering with soybean isolates from China. One YLB isolate from Nepal was identified as a putative recombinant. None of the BCMV sequences aligned with isolates representing the RU1 or PStV clades. In grow-out tests, seed samples from local markets showed a 14.3 to 38.1% transmission efficiency rate of BCMV with CB seed lots and 9.5 to 33.3% with YLB seed lots., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an important biochemical tool to diagnose and monitor growth hormone (GH)-related disorders. However, ethnicity-specific Indian data, following consensus criteria for the establishment of normative data, are not available. Our objective was to generate chronological age (CA)-, bone age (BA)- and Tanner stage-specific normative data for IGF-1 in healthy Indian children and adolescents., Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in schools and the community, which enrolled apparently healthy children and adolescents with robust exclusion criteria. The outcome measure was serum IGF-1 assessed using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The 2.5th, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97.5th centiles for IGF-1 were estimated using generalized additive models., Results: We recruited 2226 apparently healthy participants and following exclusion, 1948 (1006 boys, 942 girls) were included in the final analysis. Girls had median IGF-1 peak at CA of 13 years (321.7 ng/mL), BA of 14 years (350.2 ng/mL) and Tanner stage IV (345 ng/mL), while boys had median IGF-1 peak at CA of 15 years (318.9 ng/mL) BA of 15 years (340.6 ng/mL) and Tanner stage III (304.8 ng/mL). Girls had earlier rise, earlier peak, and higher IGF-1 values. The reference interval (2.5th to 97.5th percentile) was broader during peripubertal ages, indicating a higher physiological variability., Conclusion: This study provides ethnicity-specific normative data on serum IGF-1 and will improve the diagnostic utility of IGF-1 in the evaluation and management of growth disorders in Indian children and adolescents., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms.)

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, emerge in the brain during early embryonic development and persist throughout life. They play essential roles in brain homeostasis, and their dysfunction contributes to neuroinflammation and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have uncovered an intricate relationship between microglia functions and metabolic processes, offering fresh perspectives on disease mechanisms and possible treatments. Despite these advancements, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of how metabolic dysregulation affects microglial phenotypes in these disorders. This review aims to address these gaps, laying the groundwork for future research on the topic. We specifically examine how metabolic shifts in microglia, such as the transition from oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial metabolism to heightened glycolysis during proinflammatory states, impact the disease progression in Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. Additionally, we explore the role of iron, fatty and amino acid metabolism in microglial homeostasis and repair. Identifying both distinct and shared metabolic adaptations in microglia across neurodegenerative diseases could reveal common therapeutic targets and provide a deeper understanding of disease-specific mechanisms underlying multiple CNS disorders., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Achieving a defined abdomen through traditional surgical methods like liposuction and abdominoplasty involves risks and significant downtime. Hyaluronic acid (HA) body filling has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative, offering immediate results with reduced recovery periods., Patients and Methods: The high-definition abdomen through HA technique (HHD) was implemented on young men with BMI < 24.9, excluding those with obesity or excessive skin laxity. HA gel with large particle sizes (800-1800 μm) and high G prime was chosen based on subcutaneous thickness. Injections were guided by ultrasound into the lamellar fat layer between Camper's fascia and Scarpa's fascia, targeting abdominal metameres for enhancement. Participants completed the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale., Results: The technique produced satisfactory outcomes, enhancing abdominal metamere definition. Mild post-procedural hematomas and transient discomfort were noted. At 10 months, 71.4% of patients reported "much improved," and 28.6% reported "improved," per the GAIS questionnaire., Discussion: Customizing HA characteristics and employing ultrasound guidance ensured safe and precise injections, minimizing vascular risks. Limitations such as HA's temporary nature and exclusions for surgical candidates were acknowledged., Conclusion: HHD using large particle HA proved effective in achieving aesthetic abdominal enhancements with minimal risks and downtime. This technique not only provided immediate results but also contributed to enhanced patient satisfaction and self-esteem. Further research is needed to explore broader applications and refine outcomes across diverse patient groups., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The aberrant aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) in cells leads to the pathogenesis of multiple fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Decoding the proposed initial transition between its functional dimeric and aggregation-prone monomeric states can potentially design a viable therapeutic strategy, which is presently limited by the lack of structural detail of the full-length TDP-43. To achieve a complete understanding of such a delicate phase space, we employed a multiscale simulation approach that unearths numerous crucial features, broadly summarized in two categories: (1) state-independent features that involve inherent chain collapsibility, rugged polymorphic landscape dictated by the terminal domains, high β-sheet propensity, structural integrity preserved by backbone-based intrachain hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces, the prominence of the C-terminal domain in the intrachain cross-domain interfaces, and equal participation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic (charged and polar) residues in cross-domain interfaces; and (2) dimerization-modulated characteristics that encompass slower collapsing dynamics, restricted polymorphic landscape, the dominance of side chains in interchain hydrogen bonds, the appearance of the N-terminal domain in the dimer interface, and the prominence of hydrophilic (specifically polar) residues in interchain homo- and cross-domain interfaces. In our work, the ill-known C-terminal domain appears as the most crucial structure-dictating domain, which preferably populates a compact conformation with a high β-sheet propensity in its isolated state stabilized by intrabackbone hydrogen bonds, and these signatures are comparatively faded in its integrated form. Validation of our simulated observables by a complementary spectroscopic approach on multiple counts ensures the robustness of the computationally predicted features of the TDP-43 aggregation landscape.

Shifting cultivation, an age-old agricultural practice, is a major factor in forest cover change across Southeast Asia, where repeated cycles of vegetation disturbance and regrowth lead to far-reaching environmental and socio-economic impacts. The present study aims to assess the spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation disturbance and regrowth caused by shifting cultivation in Tripura state of India, over the past three decades, utilizing temporal segmentation of time-series Landsat data. The study analyzed vegetation disturbance and regrowth patterns in a shifting cultivation landscape from 1991 to 2020 using normalized burn ratio trends through LandTrendr, validated by the TimeSync tool. Six land use and land cover classes, viz., forests and trees outside forests, rubber plantation, shifting cultivation, water bodies, agriculture, and settlements, were mapped with an accuracy of 83.08% using a random forest classifier. This classification enabled the identification of the effective study area, which included forest areas with shifting cultivation patches. The analysis revealed that 2533.96 km 2 of the study area remained undisturbed, 568.43 km 2 experienced low-magnitude disturbance, 1501.11 km 2 were moderately disturbed, and 184.82 km 2 were highly disturbed. The shifting cultivation cycles in the study area show considerable variation. Low-magnitude disturbance indicates a single slash-and-burn event in the past three decades, moderate-magnitude disturbance involves fallow periods of over 10 years, and high-magnitude disturbance occurs with fallow periods of less than 8 years. The study revealed a shift from traditional shifting cultivation to more permanent agricultural practices in parts of Tripura. In response to incentives for commercial crops, cultivators are increasingly adopting long-term cultivation, including the growing of pineapple, areca nut, and rubber, as well as intercropping with papaya, banana, lemon, tapioca, pepper, and ginger. These plots are, however, abandoned if the yields become economically unviable. The expansion of monoculture cultivation significantly reduces the available area for shifting cultivation, thereby compelling jhum cultivators to revisit their jhum patches more frequently. This study is a first-of-its-kind attempt in the Indian context and sheds light on changing patterns in an age-old agricultural practice., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Forskolin, a diterpenoid found in the roots of Coleus forskohlii, has generated significant interest in the medical field due to its various therapeutic uses. This study aimed to establish an effective system for regenerating C. forskohlii plants, ensuring a year-round supply of plant material and forskolin production. We tested different concentrations of cytokinins, either alone or combined with auxin, to see their impact on shoot multiplication and growth. We found that a medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L -1 of meta-topolin (mT) resulted in the highest number of shoots (~ 12.66) and leaves (~ 20) within about 5 days. When mT (1 mg L -1 ) was combined with a low amount of auxin (0.05 mg L -1 NAA), we obtained an even greater number of leaves (~ 23). The shoot regeneration capacity was consistent over five subculture passages, showing minimal variation in mean shoot length and number. During acclimatization, around 91% of the plantlets grown in vermiculite + sand survived. The photosynthetic pigment concentration in the plantlets modestly increased in the first 10 days and reached its highest level after 30 days. Genetic fidelity assays using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) confirmed the similarity between the in vitro derived plantlets and the mother plant. Micro-morphological features of in vitro and ex-vitro acclimated plantlets also matched those of the mother plant, further confirming genetic accuracy. Histochemical staining with vanillin confirmed the presence of forskolin in the in vitro roots, indicated by the violet coloration in the cells. Forskolin quantification was also validated by HPLC where in vitro derived roots were documented to undergo an almost ~ 1.8-fold in comparison to that of the mother plant. This established protocol can effectively address resource scarcity for commercial-scale forskolin production and sustainable conservation techniques., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethical approval This article does not contain any experiments with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Cervical cancer remains a significant health burden worldwide, emphasizing the need for early detection and intervention. DNA replication is perturbed in cancer cells, and the minichromosome maintenance protein 10 plays an important role in origin firing. By analyzing the MCM10 mRNA expression in healthy controls, precancerous lesions, and cervical cancer using qRT-PCR, we can infer if it can be considered a biomarker. We collected cervical smear samples from patients and performed MCM10 expression analysis to set up thresholds for risk stratification. We also investigated the HPV status among the patient samples with precancerous lesions and cervical cancer and found 70 % of them to be positive. Our results demonstrated a significant upregulation of MCM10 mRNA expression in tumor samples (n = 40, 7.83 ± 1.2) and precancerous lesions (n = 54, 5.69 ± 1.4) compared to normal (n = 50, 4.27 ± 0.80) with a R 2 value of 0.59, confirming its role in the progression and development of cervical cancer. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the potential role of MCM10 as a biomarker. Our study would improve early detection rates, and we propose MCM10-based community screening for risk stratification, prevention, and prognosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the possible reversibility of PAH to a normopressoric state in SLE after induction immunosuppressive (IS) and predictors of response., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all SLE-PAH patients who underwent IS therapy at our center. PAH reversion was defined as the normalization of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), either by the presence of systolic PAP <40 mmHg on echocardiogram or mean PAP <20 mmHg on right heart catheterization (RHC). SLE patients were divided in Reversion and No-Reversion of SLE-PAH groups for comparative analysis at baseline and after IS., Results: Among 2,074 SLE patients, 28 SLE-PAH received IS therapy (1.3%). Ten patients (35.7%) achieved SLE-PAH reversion. Demographic data, disease duration, SLEDAI-2K, and SDI Damage scores were similar between Reversion and No-Reversion of SLE-PAH groups ( p > 0.05). At baseline, Reversion of SLE-PAH had lower sPAP ( p = 0.032), lower right ventricle dilatation ( p = 0.003) and hypokinesia ( p = 0.017) frequencies on echocardiogram, and also lower BNP levels ( p = 0.041) and risk stratification score ( p = 0.014). Hemodynamic parameters were similar among groups ( p > 0.05). After IS, a significant decrease in CRP levels was identified only in Reversion of SLE-PAH ( p = 0.013), although both groups had a significant reduction in SLEDAI-2K ( p < 0.05). Both groups had significant improvement in risk stratification score ( p = 0.009 and p < 0.001) with a better survival rate in Reversion of SLE-PAH ( p = 0.047)., Conclusion: This is the first study that identified that more than one third of SLE-PAH had a complete reversion of PAH after IS therapy with a significant impact on their survival. These findings strongly support the notion of an underlying inflammatory etiology of this condition, which reinforces the use of immunosuppressive treatment for all SLE patients at PAH onset., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Extended oral antibiotic (EOA) prophylaxis has been shown to reduce rates of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in high-risk patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although national societies' recommendations against their use and clinical efficacy remain controversial, the increase in the literature surrounding EOA prophylaxis suggests a potential change in practice patterns that may warrant the creation of national guidelines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in the utilization of EOA prophylaxis following TKA from 2010 to 2022., Methods: Patients who underwent primary or aseptic revision TKA between 2010 and 2022 were identified in a national administrative claims database. Temporal trends in EOA usage following primary or revision TKA were calculated, and secondary analysis examined rates of utilization across demographics, including patients considered at high-risk for infection. In total, 1,258,759 primary and 91,530 aseptic revision TKA patients were included in this study., Results: From 2010 to 2022, EOA prescriptions increased by 321 and 368% following primary and revision TKA, respectively. Rates of utilization among high-risk individuals were similar to those of the general population., Discussion: The use of EOA prophylaxis after TKA has increased significantly since 2010. Given their increasing usage and variation in prescription patterns among patients at high risk of infection, guidelines surrounding their use are necessary to promote antibiotic stewardship while preventing rates of infection., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate the cardiac involvement in patients with Still's disease with a focus on myocarditis included in the multicenter AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) network Still's disease registry. To exploit the predictive factors for myocarditis in deriving a clinical risk patient profile for this severe manifestation., Methods: A multicenter observational study was built up assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the cardiac involvement among those included in the AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry. The cardiac involvement was defined according to the presence of pericarditis, tamponade, myocarditis, and/or aseptic endocarditis., Results: In total, 73 patients with Still's disease and cardiac involvement were assessed (mean age 36.3±19.9 years, 42.5% male sex); out of them, 21.9% were children. The most common cardiac manifestation was the pericarditis in 90.4% of patients, 26.0% presented with myocarditis, and less frequently endocarditis (2.7%) and tamponade (1.4%). Comparing clinical features of patients with myocarditis than others, significantly increased frequencies of skin rash, and pleuritis as well as higher values of systemic score were recognised. Furthermore, an enhanced mortality rate was registered in patients with myocarditis. In regression models, the skin rash and the systemic score independently predicted the myocarditis., Conclusion: The characteristics of patients with Still's disease and cardiac involvement were assessed in the AIDA network. The most common feature was the pericarditis but also a more severe clinical picture was reported in patients with myocarditis. The latter was associated with increased mortality rate and with higher systemic score, identifying patients to be carefully managed.

Surface modification through the formation of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) can effectively engineer the physicochemical properties of the surface/material. However, the precise design of multifunctional SAMs at the molecular level is still a major challenge. Here, we jointly use N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and thiols to form multifunctional hetero-SAM systems that demonstrate excellent chemical stability, electrical conductivity, and, in silico, catalytic activity. This synergistic effect is facilitated by the high surface mobility and electron-rich nature of NHCs, combined with the strong binding strength of thiols. Scanning tunneling microscopy, electrical conductivity, and scanning electron microscope measurements, as well as density functional theory calculations, were employed to explore the synergistic interactions in the supramolecular SAMs. The van der Waals integration of ballbot-type NHCs and thiols enables the SAMs to exhibit both superior surface anticorrosion properties (attributing to the shift in the d -band center) and low surface resistance originating from the band alignment. Moreover, we find that the deposition sequence of flat-lying NHCs and thiols results in SAMs with different configurations, which can further tune the mechanistic pathway in silico in the acetylene hydrogenation process. Our results provide essential molecular insights into the local electronic control of the new SAM/metal interface and the high stability of the emergent multifunctionality (NHC/thiol)-SAMs forming self-assembled lamellae structures in the nanometer regime.

Introduction: In Brazil, the emergence of feline sporotrichosis, a neglected subcutaneous mycosis primarily transmitted by cats and caused by the fungus Sporothrix brasiliensis, has been monitored via molecular tools. This approach underscores the geographic expansion of this disease and highlights the critical role of molecular surveillance in understanding its epidemiology and guiding public health interventions., Methods: We investigated three domestic cats (Felis catus) with multiple skin lesions in Picos, Piauí, Brazil. The cats were examined, and samples were collected for laboratory diagnosis, including cytological evaluation, fungal culture, and molecular characterisation. The molecular analysis involved a one-tube multiplex probe-based qPCR assay for the diagnosis of Sporothrix species, mating-type determination, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP, EcoRI-GA/MseI-AG) to assess genetic similarity and potential origin., Results: All three cats were diagnosed with sporotrichosis caused by the hypervirulent S. brasiliensis. A probable case of zoonotic transmission has been reported in a 12-year-old girl who developed Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome after contact with one of the cats with sporotrichosis. The molecular analysis revealed that the cat isolates were MAT 1-2 and formed a single cluster according to the AFLP analysis, suggesting direct transmission (cat-cat) and a potential founder effect. The isolates were also closely related to strains from Pernambuco and Southeast Brazil, indicating a possible introduction from these regions., Conclusions: Identifying S. brasiliensis in Piauí emphasises the need for increased awareness and control measures to prevent further spread. The predominance of the MAT1-2 idiomorphs and the genetic similarity among outbreak isolates suggest clonal expansion, which could have significant implications for public health and veterinary practices. Considering its zoonotic potential and environmental adaptability, a One Health approach is crucial for managing and controlling the spread of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The role of tumor microenvironment (TME)-associated inadequate protein modification and trafficking due to insufficiency in Golgi function, leading to Golgi stress, in the regulation of T cell function is largely unknown. Here, we show that disruption of Golgi architecture under TME stress, identified by the decreased expression of GM130, was reverted upon treatment with hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) donor GYY4137 or overexpressing cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of endogenous H 2 S, which also promoted stemness, antioxidant capacity, and increased protein translation, mediated in part by endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi shuttling of Peroxiredoxin-4. In in vivo models of melanoma and lymphoma, antitumor T cells conditioned ex vivo with exogenous H 2 S or overexpressing CBS demonstrated superior tumor control upon adoptive transfer. Further, T cells with high Golgi content exhibited unique metabolic and glycation signatures with enhanced antitumor capacity. These data suggest that strategies to mitigate Golgi network stress or using Golgi hi tumor-reactive T cells can improve tumor control upon adoptive transfer.

Dimethyldichlorosilane (DMDCS), an efficient silane coupling reagent appearing between the -OH groups of silica gel (SG) and picric acid, instantaneously produces a derivative enriched with nitro groups. The nitro group acting as an end-cap terminates the reaction and subsequently was converted into diazo to couple tyrosine's phenol ring via its O -carbon, the inert center to immobilize horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in a multipoint mode. It maintains the status quo of the native enzyme's protein folding and the entire protein groups' chemistry. The molecular formula of the synthesized material was verified and appeared as {Si(OSi) 4 (H 2 O) x } n {-O-Si(CH 3 ) 2 -O-C 6 H 2 (N + ≡N) 3 (HRP)} 4 · y H 2 O; the parameters were evaluated as x = 0.5, n = 1158, and y = 752. The immobilized biocatalyst's activity in organic solvents was 1.5 times better than that in an aqueous medium; it worked smoothly, wherein the activity in both solvents stabilized at six months and continued up to nine months at 63 ± 3% compared to the initial.

Introduction: The 1985 Hames Consortium convened family medicine researchers to identify outstanding questions in their practice., Method: In this descriptive review, we collected, codified, and analyzed available literature to describe the availability of evidence to answer these questions., Results: Of 136 total questions, researchers rated 33 questions as not at all answered (24.2%), 49 questions as somewhat answered (36.0%), 37 as mostly answered (27.2%), and 17 as fully answered - will implement in practice (12.5%). Notably, 2 of the categories with the highest number of total questions, community oriented primary care and the value of comprehensive care, had the highest percentage of unanswered questions., Discussion: The Hames 100 questions and categories themselves demonstrate the values and purpose of family medicine research and can serve as a powerful tool to discuss the future of family medicine research. The varied questions illustrate the broad scope of interest of family physicians in 1985, which remains just as relevant today. Our findings indicate that relatively few questions were fully answered, with even fewer questions answered in family medicine journals., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: CJWL and DAS are editors of the JABFM, and JB is editing Fellow., (© Copyright by the American Board of Family Medicine.)

We have studied the electronic and optical properties of three low-symmetry graphene quantum dots (GQDs), with point-group symmetries C 2 v and C 2 h . For the calculations of linear optical absorption spectra, we employed both first-principles time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) and the electron-correlated Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) model coupled with the configuration-interaction (CI) approach. In the PPP-CI approach, calculations were performed using both screened and standard parameters, along with efficiently incorporating electron correlation effects using multireference singles-doubles CI for both ground and excited states. We assume that the GQDs are saturated by hydrogen atoms at the edges, making them effectively polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) dibenzo[ bc , ef ]coronene (also known as benzo(1,14)bisanthene, C 30 H 14 ) and two isomeric compounds, dinaphtho[8,1,2 abc ;2',1',8' klm ]coronene and dinaphtho[8,1,2 abc ;2',1',8' jkl ]coronene with the chemical formula C 36 H 16 . The two isomers have different point group symmetries; therefore, this study will also help us understand the influence of symmetry on the optical properties. A common feature of the absorption spectra of the three GQDs is that the first peak representing the optical gap is of low to moderate intensity, while the intense peaks appear at higher energies. For each GQD, PPP model calculations performed with the screened parameters agree well with the experimental results of the corresponding PAH and also with the TDDFT calculations. To further quantify the influence of electron-correlation effects, we also computed the singlet-triplet gap (spin gap) of the three GQDs, and we found them to be significant.

Description: Nonampullary duodenal polyps are found in up to 5% of all upper endoscopies; the vast majority are identified incidentally in asymptomatic patients. Although most are benign, adenomas are estimated to account for 10%-20% of these lesions. Most international guidelines recommend that all duodenal adenomas should be considered for endoscopic resection; this may be associated with a near 15% adverse event rate (predominantly bleeding and perforation) in prospective studies, with substantial local recurrence on surveillance. The aim of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update Expert Review was to describe how individuals should be evaluated and risk-stratified for duodenal polyps, the best approaches to endoscopic resection and surveillance, and management of complications, highlighting opportunities for future research to fill gaps in the existing literature., Methods: This expert review was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership, and underwent internal peer review by the Clinical Practice Updates Committee and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. These Best Practice Advice statements were drawn from a review of the published literature and from expert opinion. Because systematic reviews were not performed, these Best Practice Advice statements do not carry formal ratings regarding the quality of evidence or strength of the presented considerations. Best Practice Advice Statements BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1: Non-neoplastic duodenal lesions (eg, metaplastic foveolar epithelium and gastric heterotopia) may mimic neoplastic adenomatous pathology. Careful optical evaluation and pathologic correlation may be necessary to exclude dysplasia. Nondysplastic lesions do not require endoscopic resection unless they are symptomatic or bleeding. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2: Ideal duodenal endoscopic inspection includes identification of the major and minor papilla with photodocumentation to ensure no involvement by the lesion. Adding a clear distal attachment device to a forward-viewing gastroscope improves visualization of the papilla and the medial wall. A side-viewing duodenoscope should be used when the major and minor papilla are not visible with the gastroscope and for most lesions on the medial wall of the duodenum within 5 cm of the ampulla. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3: All duodenal polyps should be described according to their size, Paris morphology, suspected histologic layer of origin (mucosal lesion or subepithelial lesion), duodenal location (D1-4) and orientation (anterior, posterior, medial, or lateral wall), and proximity/relationship to the major papilla to facilitate therapeutic planning and subsequent surveillance. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 4: Given the high frequency of concomitant colonic adenomas in patients with duodenal adenomas, on identification of a duodenal adenoma, a colonoscopy should be performed if a high-quality examination has not been performed in the last 3 years. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 5: Routine small bowel investigation (ie, capsule endoscopy) is not advised in patients with sporadic and nonsporadic duodenal adenomas. Periodic small bowel inspection with capsule endoscopy may be of benefit in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 6: Definitive treatment of duodenal adenomas by endoscopic resection is less morbid, resource-intensive, and expensive than surgery and is therefore the preferred treatment option. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 7: Due to the risk of malignant transformation, all sporadic duodenal adenomas should be considered for endoscopic resection. However, in comparison with colonic adenomas, the time course to malignant transformation may be more prolonged, and the risk of resection-related morbidity much greater. Therefore, the comorbidities and anticipated longevity of the patient must be carefully factored into the decision-making process. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 8: The approach to endoscopic duodenal resection (ie, hot vs cold and conventional vs underwater endoscopic mucosal resection) should be individualized to reduce bleeding risk, based on lesion size, morphology, patient comorbidities, and endoscopist comfort level with specific techniques. Piecemeal cold snare resection for flat duodenal adenomas mitigates postprocedural bleeding risk and, for lesions <20 mm, is effective and carries a minimal risk of recurrence. In patients with comorbidities with flat nonbulky lesions measuring < 20 mm, cold snare resection can be considered. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 9: Currently, duodenal adenomas >20 mm or with large Paris subtype Is components should be removed by conventional hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection. Thermal ablation of the post-endoscopic mucosal resection margin to mitigate the risk of recurrence to <2%-5% is safe and effective and should be considered. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 10: Endoscopists performing duodenal polyp resection should be aware of the increased risk of postprocedural bleeding (compared with elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract), which usually occurs in the first 48 hours after the procedure, with the risk proportional to the lesion size. For lesions >3 cm, bleeding risk is >25% and may be life-threatening and associated with hemodynamic compromise; however, after resuscitation, endoscopic hemostasis is generally effective. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 11: Evaluation of the postpolypectomy/endoscopic mucosal resection defect is critical to identify concerns for postprocedural duodenal perforation, which, if unrecognized and left untreated, may be life-threatening and often mandates surgery. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 12: Initial endoscopic surveillance for a completely resected duodenal adenoma should be undertaken at an interval of 6 months. Although usually diminutive, recurrence is often scarred and not amenable to conventional snare resection and may require avulsion techniques to achieve cure. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 13: Nonampullary duodenal adenomas associated with familial adenomatous polyposis should be considered for endoscopic resection based on size (≥1 cm), morphologic characteristics, advanced histology (ie, high-grade dysplasia), and/or based on Spiegelman criteria., (Copyright © 2024 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The dependability of nodes in an Industrial Wireless Sensor Network (IWSN) is vital for precise decision-making and the overall functioning of the network. Unreliable nodes have the potential to result in incorrect data, which can undermine the reliability of monitoring and control systems. Inaccurate decision-making in IWSNs can result in operational failures, safety risks, inadequate resource utilization, elevated energy consumption, and susceptibility to security vulnerabilities. Trust models tackle these challenges by recognizing and reducing the impact of unreliable nodes, improving the precision of data, and strengthening the security of the IWSNs. To overcome these challenges, this research work introduces a "Novel approach for Trust Utilization and Reliability Enhancement" (NATURE) in IWSNs. The unique approach employed in proposed NATURE model is distinguished by its multi-level clustered model, which improves attack mitigation, reduces communication overhead, and enhances overall network efficiency. This model is particularly effective in industrial environments where the network structure and the nature of data traffic are highly dynamic. The use of a multifactor trust estimation framework allows NATURE to assess the trustworthiness of SNs based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including behavior patterns, energy consumption, and communication reliability. By operating on multiple levels, NATURE can dynamically adjust trust functions to accurately distinguish between trustworthy and faulty SNs, thereby improving network reliability. Moreover, NATURE employs the temporal decay factor to prioritize recent node behaviors, ensuring that obsolete actions have minimal impact. Additionally, it uses the dynamic adjustment factor to balance the influence of negative interactions, encouraging reliable and responsive trust evaluations. Additionally, NATURE integrates a dynamically adjustable logical time window to enhance monitoring precision and adaptability, outperforming fixed-length windows in anomaly detection. NATURE integrates an Optimal Lead Node Election Algorithm (OLNEA) to improve cluster leader selection process. OLNEA considers network density, link quality, and Lead Node (LN), battery life, ensuring competent data aggregation and load balancing. By periodically selecting robust LNs and seamlessly switching to alternatives, NATURE promotes reliability and mitigates the impact of low LN battery levels. Additionally, NATURE employs a trust-based attacks detection algorithm to fortify IWSN security. This algorithm employs keen methods to verify data integrity, monitor energy levels, and ensure message authenticity, effectively safeguarding the IWSN from malevolent attacks and ensuring the safe transmission of data. Experimental results highlight NATURE's exceptional performance across significant metrics when compared to existing trust schemes. In a WSN of 500 SNs with 30% being malicious, NATURE detects malicious behavior with a 97% accuracy, outperforming other models. Even with 50% malicious SNs, NATURE maintains a high detection accuracy of 91%, again surpassing alternative approaches. Additionally, NATURE significantly reduces energy consumption while achieving efficient throughput rates, underscoring its effectiveness in challenging network conditions., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Cancer outcome is dependent on multiple predetermining factors including cancer, type of cancer and its related factors. This study aims to investigate the association between COVID-19 & cancer/cancer types, focusing on risk of in-hospital mortality within 30 days of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients with cancer., Materials and Methods: We did a registry (National Clinical Registry for COVID-19) based retrospective observational study including 51,544 patients, of whom 976 were patients with cancer, admitted with COVID-19 between August 2020 and August 2023 across 42 hospitals of India., Results: Out of 51,544 patients, 976 (1.8%) had cancer. Hematological malignancies made up 15.06% (147 cases), while solid cancers accounted for 29.5% (288 cases), with genitourinary (18.4%, 80 cases), gastrointestinal (15.2%, 49 cases), and lung cancers (10.1%, 34 cases) being the most common. Solid cancers had the highest in-hospital mortality rate at 25%. Survival analysis showed that cancer-related hazards were highest at admission but decreased to levels comparable with other morbidities within nine to ten days. For each cancer type, the hazard was significantly elevated compared to that of the cancer-free (Other Comorbidities and No Comorbiditiy) groups during the initial period of hospitalization. The use of Remdesivir, steroids, and anticoagulants reduced mortality risk, and prior COVID-19 vaccination was protective against mortality across all cancer types., Conclusion: This study shows that both cancer in general and specific cancer types significantly increase the risk of severe outcomes among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, especially immediately after hospitalization. The findings highlight the need for close monitoring and personalized interventions for COVID-19 patients with cancer for at least 10 days post-hospitalization, with a more specific high-risk period ranging from 7 to 18 days depending on the type of cancer., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of photobiomodulation and radiofrequency on the healing of pressure injuries in mice. A total of 70 animals were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups. A pressure injury was induced in the dorsal region of the mice by the application of two magnets. The photobiomodulation treatment was administered at a dosage of 3.6 J per session. In the radiofrequency group, the treatment time was four minutes and the power was 22 watts. The analyses included the lesion area, infrared thermography, and the collection of material for cytokine, histological, and histochemical analyses following euthanasia. In the macroscopic analyses, the 660 nm photobiomodulation group demonstrated superior outcomes in comparison to the control group. With regard to the microscopic analyses, the greatest difference between the groups was observed when TNF-α was evaluated in the photobiomodulation group. It can be observed that the groups irradiated by electrophysical means (i.e., a combination of radiofrequency with PBM 830 nm-660 nm) exhibited a positive influence on the repair process, with the greatest impact observed in the group irradiated by a combination of radiofrequency and 660 nm photobiomodulation., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

In the realm of organic synthesis, reagents can serve not only as solvents but also as synthons. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is recognized for its efficiency in this dual capacity, enabling diverse chemical transformations. DMSO can generate various synthons, including methyl, methylene, methine, oxygen, and methyl sulfoxide, broadening the accessible compound repertoire. Activation of DMSO as a reagent relies heavily on synergies with secondary agents like peroxide, persulfate, or iodine. Recent years have witnessed a surge in innovative synthetic techniques harnessing the synergistic interplay of DMSO and peroxide, leading to environmentally friendly and cost-effective reactions with mild conditions. This review highlights the synergistic effects of DMSO and peroxides (up to 2023), detailing their activation mechanisms and the generation of various synthons, along with numerous reported derivatives. Although this topic has received considerable attention in recent years, there are numerous discrepancies and a plethora of possibilities yet to be explored. We anticipate that this review will significantly support researchers in advancing their innovations to a greater extent in the future., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Dr. Seehusen is an Editor for JABFM.

Here, we present a pleiotropic nanomedicine-a smart, functionalized redox buffering nanoparticle-that may be used to treat hematological diseases, associated splenic hyperplasia, and issues related to restricted erythropoiesis. With a diameter of 5-7 nm, the spherical nanomaterial is made of manganese oxide and citrate. Here, we have produced the novel nanomaterial and, using cutting-edge electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, extensively assessed its redox buffering potential in vitrowith its structural integrity. Using an appropriate animal model (phenyl hydrazine, PHz, intoxicated C57BL/6J mice), we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the redox buffering nanomedicine in the treatment of anemia and related consequences. We have further investigated the intricate molecular mechanism of the nanomedicine and its therapeutic impact, which includes increased erythropoiesis and G6PDH production, decreased inflammatory responses, mitigation of splenic hyperplasia, and synergistic intracellular redox-buffering. To the best of our knowledge, our studies would find relevance in the innovative management of anemia, decreased erythropoiesis, and splenic hyperplasia., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels causing sometimes impairment of the body's ability to repair itself. Promising treatments for tissue repair have included photobiomodulation therapy and heterologous fibrin biopolymer (HFB). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation therapy by LED, both as a standalone treatment and in conjunction with heterologous fibrin biopolymer in treatment of skin lesions of diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced using alloxan. Full-thickness skin wounds were induced on the backs of 56 Wistar rats, which were randomly allocated into four groups: control group, heterologous fibrin biopolymer group, photobiomodulation therapy by LED group, and photobiomodulation therapy by LED combined with heterologous fibrin biopolymer group. The treatments spanned two experimental periods, lasting 7 and 14 days. Notably, the HFB group exhibited results similar to those of the LED group concerning wound regression, while demonstrating superior resistance to healing. Interestingly, the LED + HFB group showed greater skin damage at 7 days, but an improved repair process at 14 days compared to the control group. The findings indicate that combining photobiomodulation by LED with HFB did not enhance wound healing in diabetic rats beyond the effects of each treatment alone. Both treatments were effective individually, with HFB showing particular strength in promoting collagen maturation and improving tissue biomechanical properties. This study contributes to the ongoing body of research on skin repair with this innovative HFB. Future clinical trials will be essential to validate this proposition., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animal under number 0298/2019 and conducted according to the international norms of ethics on animal experimentation (National Research Council, 1996). Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Despite the identification of numerous genetic variants affecting SBP in European populations, their applicability in admixed populations remains unclear. This study evaluates the predictive efficacy of a systolic blood pressure (SBP) polygenic risk score (PRS), derived from the UK Biobank data, in two Brazilian cohorts. We analyzed 944 K genetic variants consistent across an independent UK Biobank dataset, Brazilian cohorts, and HapMap database. Results show a significant association between increased PRS and SBP, as well as hypertension, in each study groups analyzed. An increase of one standard deviation in the PRS showed a significant association with SBP (β [95% CI] (mmHg) = 5.2 [5.1-5.3], 2.8 [2.1-3.5] and 2.6 [2.2-3.0]) and hypertension (odds ratio (OR) [95% CI] = 1.56 [1.54-1.56], 1.28 [1.2-1.4] and 1.47 [1.3-1.6]) in an independent UKB dataset, Baependi, and Pelotas, respectively. The associations were weaker in the Brazilian samples and the reduced association was noticeable in the Pelotas vs. the UK comparison for hypertension stages 1 and 2 (OR [95% CI] = 2.1 [1.5-3.1] and 3.0 [1.9-4.7] vs. 2.5 [2.2-2.8] and 4.9 [4.4-5.6]), whereas the Baependi data showed no significance for stage 1 hypertension. This trend mirrors findings in homogeneous African and Asian populations with diverse genetic architecture, highlighting the limitations of European-based PRS also in admixed populations. These insights are crucial for developing tailored disease prevention and management strategies in ethnically diverse groups., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The author(s) declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by University of São Paulo Medical School ethical committee (CAAE number 37534720.0.0000.0068) and was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained for all subjects involved in the study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)