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This study aimed to utilise cheap and abundantly available date palm fibre (DPF) wastes for the remediation of methylene blue (MLB) dye-contaminated groundwater. The DPF adsorbents were first prepared, followed by various characterisation analyses, including surface morphology, functional groups, and material structure. Subsequently, the DPF adsorbents were applied in the batch and continuous adsorption studies to assess the MLB dye removal from aqueous environments. The batch adsorption study achieved 98% maximum removal efficiency with a contact time, adsorbents dosage, initial pH, temperature, particle size, initial dye concentration, and agitation speed of 105 min, 3 g/L, 7.0, 45 °C, 0.075 mm, 50 mg/L, and 150 rpm, respectively. Langmuir was the best-fitted isotherm model depending on a higher correlation coefficient (R 2  = 0.985), with a maximum monolayer dye adsorption capacity (q max ) of 54.204 mg/g. Additionally, the second order was the best-fitted kinetic model (R 2  = 0.990), indicating that MLB dye was removed through chemisorption. Besides, the positive enthalpy change (ΔH°) and negative Gibb's free energy (ΔG°) values verified the endothermic process and spontaneous adsorption. According to the impact analysis of initial dye concentrations and flow rates on the permeable reactive barrier (PRB) performance in the continuous adsorption study using the Thomas, Belter, and Yan models, the experimental results and predicted breakthrough curves reflected an excellent agreement (R 2  ≥ 0.8767) and a sum of squared errors (SSE) ≤ 0.4834. In short, the results demonstrated DPF as an effective adsorbent material in PRB technology., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in the world. Numerous studies have shown that the risk of metastatic disease increases with tumor volume. In this context, it is useful to assess whether the regular practice of formal breast self-examination (BSE) as opposed to breast awareness has an impact on the number of cancers diagnosed, their stage, the treatments used and mortality., Design: The Commission of Senology (CS) of the Collège National de Gynécologie et Obstétrique Français (CNGOF) respected and followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation method to assess the quality of the evidence on which the recommendations were based., Methods: The CS studied 16 questions individualizing four groups of women (general population, women aged over 75, high-risk women, and women previously treated for breast cancer). For each situation, it was determined whether the practice of BSE versus abstention from this examination led to detection of more breast cancers and/or recurrences and/or reduced treatment and/or increased survival., Results: BSE should not be recommended for women in the general population, who otherwise benefit from clinical breast examination by practitioners from the age of 25, and from organized screening from 50 to 74 (strong recommendation). In the absence of data on the benefits of BSE in patients aged over 75, for those at high risk and those previously treated for breast cancer, the CS was unable to issue recommendations. Thus, if women in these categories wish to undergo BSE, information on the benefits and risks observed in the general population must be given, notably that BSE is associated with a higher number of referrals, biopsies, and a reduced quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The members of the steering committee, the redactors and the reviewers declare that they have no link of interest that could interfere with this work., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a global public health concern. Despite ESGO recommendations and FIGO classification changes, management of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) remains debated in France. Our study aimed to review LACC treatment practices and assess adherence to ESGO recommendations among different practitioners., Methods: From February 2021 to August 2022, we conducted a survey among gynecologic oncology surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists practicing in France and managing LACC (FIGO stages IB3-IVA) according to the 2018 FIGO classification. We analyzed responses against the 2018 ESGO recommendations as a "gold standard.", Results: Among 115 respondents (56% radiation oncologists, 30% surgeons, 13% medical oncologists), 48.6% of gynecologic surgeons didn't perform para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) with significant radiologic pelvic involvement. PAL, when indicated by PET-CT, was more common in university hospitals (66.7% of surgeons). Surgeons in university hospitals also followed ESGO recommendations more closely. Overall, compliance with all ESGO recommendations was low: 5.7% of surgeons, 21.5% of radiation oncologists, and 60% of medical oncologists. Prophylactic para-aortic irradiation, per ESGO, was more frequent in comprehensive cancer centers (52% of radiation oncologists)., Conclusion: Adherence to ESGO recommendations for LACC treatment appears low in France, particularly in surgery, with limited PAL in cases of lymph node negativity on PET-CT. However, these recommendations are more often followed by surgeons in university hospitals and radiation oncologists in cancer centers. Adherence to these recommendations may impact patient survival and warrants evaluation of care quality, justifying the organization of LACC management in expert centers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) adsorption from aqueous solution was examined using a novel adsorbent made from rice husk powder coated with CuO nanoparticles (CRH). Advanced analyses of FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDSwere used to identify the classification parameters of a CRH-like surface morphology, configuration, and functional groups. The rice husk was coated with CuO nanoparticles, allowing it to create large surface area materials with significantly improved textural qualities with regard to functional use and adsorption performance, according to a detailed characterization of the synthesized materials. The adsorption process was applied successfully with elimination effectiveness of 100% which can be kept up to 61.3%. The parameters of adsorption were affecting the adsorption process significantly. Thermodynamic data stated that the process of adsorption was endothermic, spontaneous, chemisorption and the molecules of EE2 show affinity with the CRH. It was discovered that the adsorption process controlled by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model demonstrates that the chemisorption process was controlling EE2 removal. The Sips model is regarded as optimal for representing this practice, exhibiting a significantly high determination coefficient of 0.948. This coefficient implies that the adsorption mechanism indicates the occurrence of both heterogeneous and homogeneous adsorption. According to the findings, biomass can serve as a cheap, operative sorbent to remove estrogen from liquified solutions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Amyloidosis is a rare disorder characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins in extracellular tissues, resulting in the dysfunction of vital organs and, eventually, death. The occurrence of amyloidosis due to primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is a rare finding. This study describes a rare case of pSS complicated by amyloid-associated amyloidosis., Case Presentation: A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and secondary amyloidosis caused by pSS. He had microscopic hematuria, a creatinine level of 6.59 mg/dl, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 107 mm/hrs. Furthermore, investigations of antinuclear antibodies, antimitochondrial antibodies, SSA, SSA native, and Ro-52 recombinant as well as rheumatoid factor showed positive results. After establishing the diagnosis of pSS through clinical, physical, and laboratory assessments, a renal biopsy was performed, which revealed the occurrence of secondary amyloidosis., Clinical Discussion: The risk of developing secondary amyloidosis depends on the extent of elevated serum amyloid levels as well as persistent subclinical inflammation. The definitive diagnosis of amyloidosis requires histological confirmation of amyloid fibril deposition in tissue., Conclusion: Secondary renal amyloidosis is an unusual condition in patients with pSS. Still, it should be regarded in the differential diagnosis of patients with proteinuria and/or renal failure, and a renal biopsy should be performed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Health care systems worldwide have been battling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lymphocytes and CRP have been reported as markers of interest. We chose to investigate the prognostic value of the LCR ratio as a marker of severity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate and severe coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), all of whom were hospitalized after being admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). We conducted our study in six major hospitals of northeast France, one of the outbreak's epicenters in Europe. A total of 1035 patients with COVID-19 were included in our study. Around three-quarters of them (76.2%) presented a moderate form of the disease, while the remaining quarter (23.8%) presented a severe form requiring admission to the ICU. At ED admission, the median LCR was significantly lower in the group presenting severe disease compared to that with moderate disease (versus 6.24 (3.24-12) versus 12.63 ((6.05-31.67)), p < 0.001). However, LCR was neither associated with disease severity (OR: 0.99, CI 95% (0.99-1)), p = 0.476) nor mortality (OR: 0.99, CI 95% (0.99-1)). In the ED, LCR, although modest, with a threshold of 12.63, was a predictive marker for severe forms of COVID-19.

(1) Introduction: In the present study, we investigate the prognostic value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a marker of severity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. (2) Methods: Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate to severe coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), all of whom were hospitalized after being admitted to the emergency department (ED). (3) Results: A total of 1035 patients were included in our study. Neither lymphocytes, platelets or PLR were associated with disease severity. Lymphocyte count was significantly lower and PLR values were significantly higher in the group of patients who died, and both were associated with mortality in the univariate analysis (OR: 0.524, 95% CI: (0.336−0.815), p = 0.004) and (OR: 1.001, 95% CI: (1.000−1.001), p = 0.042), respectively. However, the only biological parameter significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis was platelet count (OR: 0.996, 95% CI: (0.996−1.000), p = 0.027). The best PLR value for predicting mortality in COVID-19 was 356.6 (OR: 3.793, 95% CI: (1.946−7.394), p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: A high PLR value is however associated with excess mortality.

Purpose of Review: The bone marrow is home to hematopoietic stem cells responsible for lifelong blood production, alongside mesenchymal stem cells required for skeletal regeneration. In the bone marrow, a unique combination of signals derived from a multitude of cell types results in the establishment of so-called niches that regulate stem-cell maintenance and differentiation. Recently, single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics technologies have been utilized to characterize the murine bone marrow microenvironment during homeostasis, stress and upon cancer-induced remodeling. In this review, we summarize the major findings of these studies., Recent Findings: Single-cell technologies applied to bone marrow provided the first systematic and label-free identification of bone marrow cell types, enabled their molecular and spatial characterization, and clarified the cellular sources of key prohematopoietic factors. Large transcriptional heterogeneity and novel subpopulations were observed in compartments previously thought to be homogenous. For example, Lepr Cxcl12-abundant reticular cells were shown to constitute the major source of prohematopoietic factors, but consist of subpopulations differing in their adipogenic versus osteogenic priming, morphology and localization. These subpopulations were suggested to act as professional cytokine secreting cells, thereby establishing distinct bone marrow niches., Summary: Single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics approaches have clarified the molecular identity and localization of bone marrow-resident cell types, paving the road for a deeper exploration of bone marrow niches in the mouse and humans.

The bone marrow constitutes the primary site for life-long blood production and skeletal regeneration. However, its cellular and spatial organization remains controversial. Here, we combine single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics to systematically map the molecular, cellular and spatial composition of distinct bone marrow niches. This allowed us to transcriptionally profile all major bone-marrow-resident cell types, determine their localization and clarify sources of pro-haematopoietic factors. Our data demonstrate that Cxcl12-abundant-reticular (CAR) cell subsets (Adipo-CAR and Osteo-CAR) differentially localize to sinusoidal and arteriolar surfaces, act locally as 'professional cytokine-secreting cells' and thereby establish peri-vascular micro-niches. Importantly, the three-dimensional bone-marrow organization can be accurately inferred from single-cell transcriptome data using the RNA-Magnet algorithm described here. Together, our study reveals the cellular and spatial organization of bone marrow niches and offers a systematic approach to dissect the complex organization of whole organs.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the primary enzyme of the vasoprotective axis of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). We tested the hypothesis that loss of ACE2 would exacerbate diabetic retinopathy by promoting bone marrow dysfunction. ACE2 -/y were crossed with Akita mice, a model of type 1 diabetes. When comparing the bone marrow of the ACE2 -/y -Akita mice to that of Akita mice, we observed a reduction of both short-term and long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells, a shift of hematopoiesis toward myelopoiesis, and an impairment of lineage - c-kit + hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HS/PC) migration and proliferation. Migratory and proliferative dysfunction of these cells was corrected by exposure to angiotensin-1-7 (Ang-1-7), the protective peptide generated by ACE2. Over the duration of diabetes examined, ACE2 deficiency led to progressive reduction in electrical responses assessed by electroretinography and to increases in neural infarcts observed by fundus photography. Compared with Akita mice, ACE2 -/y -Akita at 9-months of diabetes showed an increased number of acellular capillaries indicative of more severe diabetic retinopathy. In diabetic and control human subjects, CD34 + cells, a key bone marrow HS/PC population, were assessed for changes in mRNA levels for MAS, the receptor for Ang-1-7. Levels were highest in CD34 + cells from diabetics without retinopathy. Higher serum Ang-1-7 levels predicted protection from development of retinopathy in diabetics. Treatment with Ang-1-7 or alamandine restored the impaired migration function of CD34 + cells from subjects with retinopathy. These data support that activation of the protective RAS within HS/PCs may represents a therapeutic strategy for prevention of diabetic retinopathy. Stem Cells 2018;36:1430-1440., (© AlphaMed Press 2018.)

Distinctive bioactivities possessed by luteolin (3', 4', 5, 7-tetrahydroxy-flavone) are advantageous for sundry practical applications. This paper reports the in vitro selection and characterization of single stranded-DNA (ssDNA) aptamers, specific for luteolin (LUT). 76-mer library containing 1015 randomized ssDNA were screened via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The recovered ssDNA pool from the 8th round was amplified with unlabeled primers and cloned into PSTBlue-1 vector prior to sequencing. 22 of LUT-binding aptamer variants were further classified into one of the seven groups based on their N40 random sequence regions, wherein one representative from each group was characterized. The dissociation constant of aptamers designated as LUT#28, LUT#20 and LUT#3 was discerned to be 107, 214 and 109 nM, respectively with high binding affinity towards LUT. Prediction analysis of the secondary structure suggested discrete features with typical loop and stem motifs. Furthermore, LUT#3 displayed higher specificity with insignificant binding toward kaempferol and quercetin despite its structural and functional similarity compared to LUT#28 and LUT#20. Further LUT#3 can detect free luteolin within 0.2-1 mM in solution. It was suggested that LUT#3 aptamer were the most suitable for LUT recognition tool at laboratory scale based on the condition tested., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Period 2-mutant mice (Per2m/m), which possess a circadian dysfunction, recapitulate the retinal vascular phenotype similar to diabetic retinopathy (DR). The vascular dysfunction in Per2m/m is associated with an increase in connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2). At the molecular level, CTGF gene expression is dependent on the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The nuclear binding of β-catenin to a transcription factor, lymphoid enhancer binding protein (Lef)/ T-cell factor (TCF/LEF), leads to downstream activation of CTGF. For this study, we hypothesized that the silencing of Per2 results in nuclear translocation and subsequent transactivation of the CTGF gene. To test this hypothesis, we performed immunofluorescence labeling for CTGF in retinal sections from wild-type (WT) and Per2m/m mice. Human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) were transfected with siRNA for Per2, and the protein expression of CTGF and β-catenin was evaluated. The TCF/LEF luciferase reporter (TOPflash) assay was performed to validate the involvement of β-catenin in the activation of CTGF. Per2m/m retinas exhibited an increased CTGF immunostaining in ganglion cell layer and retinal endothelium. Silencing of Per2 using siRNA resulted in an upregulation of CTGF and β-catenin. The TOPflash assay revealed an increase in luminescence for HRECs transfected with Per2 siRNA. Our studies show that loss of Per2 results in an activation of CTGF via nuclear entry of β-catenin. Our study provides novel insight into the understanding of microvascular dysfunction in Per2m/m mice., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background and Objective: Vitiligo is an autoimmune polygenic disorder, characterized by loss of pigmentation due to melanocyte destruction. Multiple genes and environmental triggers are thought to play a role in inducing vitiligo. These genes and environmental factors differ across different populations. In this study, we investigated vitiligo patients in Jordan for patient characteristics and analyzed the association of the 1858C/T (rs2476601, R620W) variant of the PTPN22 gene with vitiligo in our patients., Methods: Fifty-five patients with generalized vitiligo and 85 matched normal control subjects who did not have vitiligo or any apparent autoimmune disorder were recruited and interviewed for clinical and demographic characteristics. DNA samples were obtained from patients and controls and genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism for the 1858C/T variant. Fifty-three percent of our patients (29 of 55 overall) were female, the average age at onset was 19.2 years, 84.3% of patients (43 of 51 reported) had changing size of depigmented patches, 3.8% (2 of 53 reported) had other autoimmune disease, and 19.2% (5 of 26 reported) had a family history of vitiligo., Results: The allelic frequency of 1858T (620W) was 1.9% in patients as opposed to 2.9% in controls (p = 0.5). No PTPN22 1858 TT homozygotes were observed among patients or controls; 3.8% of vitiligo patients were 1858 CT heterozygotes compared with 5.9% of controls (p = 0.7). Consequently, no significant association was observed between the 1858C/T functional variant and vitiligo patients., Conclusion: Although the PTPN22 1858C/T variant has been reported to play a role in increasing the risk of vitiligo in Caucasian patients, it does not appear to play a similar role in the Jordanian population, though a larger cohort of patients might be needed to confirm such a conclusion.

Although serum albumin is the major protein component of the aqueous humor and vitreous humor, its possible physiological role(s) in lens metabolism has not yet been determined. BODIPY fatty acid, a fluorescent analogue of a C(12) long chain fatty acid, was bound to serum albumin, then incubated with lenses in culture. After various times of incubation, the lenses were homogenized, lipids extracted, and the extracted lipids resolved by thin layer chromatography. Fluorescence analyses demonstrated that the BODIPY fatty acid--albumin complex was translocated into the lens, where the BODIPY fatty acid was incorporated in a time dependent manner into numerous lipids, including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin. Together, the results strongly suggest that serum albumin in the aqueous humor and/or vitreous humor facilitates the translocation of long chain fatty acids into the lens, where they are used for the biosynthesis of lens lipids.

This study evaluated the effect of organic acids and spices, alone or combined, on Clostridium perfringens growth in cooked ground beef during alternative cooling procedures. Ground beef was inoculated with a three-strain cocktail of C. perfringens (ATCC 10388, NCTC 8238, and NCTC 8239) at 2 log spores per g and prepared following an industrial recipe (10% water, 1.5% sodium chloride, and 0.5% sodium triphosphate [wt/wt]). Treatments consisted of the base meat plus combinations of commercial solutions of sodium lactate or sodium citrate (0 or 2%, wt/wt) with chili, garlic and herbs, curry, oregano, or clove in commercial powder form (0 or 1%, wt/wt). Untreated meat was used as a control. Vacuum-packaged samples of each treatment were cooked (75 degrees C for 20 min) and cooled from 54.4 to 7.2 degrees C in 15, 18, or 21 h. Spore counts were estimated after inoculation, cooking, and cooling. All treatments containing sodium citrate reduced the population of C. perfringens about 0.38 to 1.14 log units during each of the three cooling procedures. No sodium citrate and spice treatment combinations showed antagonisms or synergisms. Regardless of the cooling time, the control ground beef or treatments with any of the five spices alone supported C. perfringens growth above the U.S. Department of Agriculture stabilization guidelines of 1 log unit. Except for the 21-h cooling period, addition of sodium lactate prevented C. perfringens growth over 1 log unit. Depending on the cooling time and spice, some combinations of sodium lactate and spice kept C. perfringens growth below 1 log unit.

This study was conducted to determine how well Clostridium perfringens spores germinate and grow in restructured roast beef treated with different commercial organic salts during an alternative chilling procedure. The meat was prepared according to an industrial recipe (10% water, 1.5% sodium chloride, and 0.5% sodium triphosphate). The base meat was treated with sodium citrate at 2 or 4.8% (wt/wt), buffered to a pH of 5.6, 5.0, or 4.4 (six treatments); a 60% (wt/wt) solution of sodium lactate at 2 or 4.8% (wt/wt); sodium acetate at 0.25% (wt/wt); or sodium diacetate at 0.25% (wt/wt). Untreated meat was used as a control. Meat samples were inoculated with a three-strain cocktail of C. perfringens spores (strains ATCC 10388, NCTC 8238, and NCTC 8239). Meat was vacuum packaged in bags and cooked in a stirred water bath to an internal temperature of 75 degrees C for 20 min, and then the bags were cooled from 54.4 to 4.4 degrees C within 18 h. Samples were taken after inoculation, after cooking, and after chilling. Spore and vegetative cell counts were obtained after incubation at 37 degrees C for 8 to 10 h in Fung's Double Tubes containing tryptose sulfite agar without egg yolk enrichment. Cooking was not sufficient to eliminate C. perfringens spores. Over the 18-h cooling period, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, and sodium diacetate reduced the growth of C. perfringens to < 1 log unit, a growth level that meets U.S. Department of Agriculture performance standards. The use of sodium citrate or sodium lactate at a concentration of > or = 2% (wt/wt) inhibited C. perfringens growth over the 18-h cooling period.

Samples of muscle, heart, liver and lung were tested for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii using mice as a biologic detector and the carbon immunoassay (CIA) for immunological diagnosis. In positive tissues the percentage of samples positive ranged from 10 to 50% which indicates the importance of cattle in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma in Costa Rica. We discuss these findings in relation to the transmission of the parasite in Costa Rica.