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Kamiş, O, Gürses, VV, Şendur, HN, Altunsoy, M, Pekel, HA, Yıldırım, E, and Aydos, L. Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction vs. high-load resistance exercise on hamstring muscle adaptations in recreationally trained men. J Strength Cond Res38(10): e541–e552, 2024—Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR-RE) has been suggested as a viable alternative exercise for traditional high-load resistance exercise (HL-RE). However, very little is known about hamstring muscle thickness, stiffness, and strength after BFR-RE. This study aimed to compare the effects of 6 weeks of BFR-RE and HL-RE on hamstring muscle thickness, stiffness, and strength. Twenty-nine recreationally trained men were pair matched and randomly assigned to the BFR-RE (n= 15) and HL-RE (n= 14) groups. The BFR-RE groups performed bilateral lying leg curl exercise (30-15-15-15 reps, 30-second rest between the sets, 30% 1RM) with BFR cuffs (60% of limb occlusion pressure), whereas HL-RE performed the same exercise (3 × 12 reps, 90-second rest between the sets, 70% 1RM) without BFR cuffs. Hamstring muscle thickness, muscle stiffness, isokinetic muscle strength, and 1RM were assessed at baseline and follow-up after completing a 6-week resistance exercise program (3× a week). Hamstring muscle thickness was assessed by ultrasonography, whereas muscle stiffness was evaluated by shear wave elastography. Isokinetic dynamometry and a 1RM strength test were used to determine muscular strength before and after the exercise program. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. No significant effect was found for hamstring muscle strength, thickness, and stiffness for group and group × time interaction, and only a significant main effect of time (p< 0.001) was observed for all outcomes. Both groups experienced significant improvements for all outcomes from baseline to follow-up without any between-group differences. In conclusion, results revealed that BFR-RE can provide similar hamstring muscle strength, thickness, and stiffness compared with HL-RE.

In the current study, Hibiscus sabdariffahas been extracted by microwave-assisted extraction (MAEX). Citric acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been specially designed, where a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) (glycerol and ethylene glycol) and a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) (citric acid) with a certain molar ratio (1/4) were used. After the best DES (citric acid/ethylene glycol) has been decided to extract the bioactive ingredients, operation conditions (power of microwave, volume of solvent water and content in the DES) of the MAEX for the relevant plant material have been optimized through Box-Behnken design (BBD) of response surface approach (RSA). The maximum yields of total phenolics (TP), total anthocyanins (TAA) and antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) have been found as 31.897 mg-GAE/g-DH, 2.961 mg-C3G/g-DH and 95.887% under the optimal conditions (35 mL DES including 50% water (v/v) at 550 W power of microwave). The differences between the experimental and estimated findings were lower than 2%. Three replicate test results obtained by in vitro experiments were also statistically analysed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

Graphical abstract:

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate iris alterations in diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods: Sixty-nine eyes of 69 patients were recruited and three groups of patients were examined: proliferative DR (n= 25), non-proliferative DR (n= 21) and healthy controls (n= 23). Macular optical coherence tomography (OCT), anterior segment iris OCT, and slit lamp digital camera photographs were taken. The thicknesses of the iris at a distance of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm from pupil margin were measured via iris OCT. Iris crypt count, furrow extent, color tone and collarette/diameter ratio were measured by means of anterior segment photography. Visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure, and numbers of intravitreal injections were also recorded.Results: The iris thickness measurements at 1 mm from pupil margin were significantly correlated with the macular thickness measurements (r= 0.32, p= 0.016). In the proliferative DR group, total number of injections were significantly correlated with the iris thickness measurements at 1 mm (r= 0.25, p= 0.04). The iris thickness measurements at distances 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm from the pupil margin were similar in all of the groups (p> 0.05). Iris thickness did not correlate with age, intra-ocular pressure and collarette iris ratio in all the participants (p> 0.05).Conclusion: Iris thickness is similar in diabetic patients and healthy controls. Meanwhile, iris thickness near the pupillary margin is positively correlated with macular thickness.

Sonication-assisted extraction has been used to extract bioactive substance from Hibiscus sabdariffa. Deep eutectic solvent was specially designed by mixing and heating citric acid (hydrogen bond acceptor) and ethylene glycol (hydrogen bond donor). The process conditions (amplitude of the ultrasound, extraction time, and water level in the solvent) of the sonication-assisted extraction were optimized by a statistical experimental design (Box-Behnken) through response surface method. Total polyphenol amount was the dependent variable, where its maximum yield has been calculated to be 22.77 mg gallic acid equivalent per dried matter under the optimum conditions (≈ 32% of amplitude, ≈ 43 min of extraction time, and ≈ 50% (v/v) water in deep eutectic solvent). The most effective parameter was found to be water content. Furthermore, the kinetic study of the extraction process has been also carried out by using second-order and film theory models. Effective diffusivity (Deff) under various conditions was also evaluated. The last but not the least, the products obtained by using the current advanced solvent were stored at different stresses in order to monitor the stability of polyphenol profile.

AbstractCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was firstly reported in Wuhan, China, towards the end of 2019, and emerged as a pandemic. The spread and lethality rates of the COVID-19 have ignited studies that focus on the development of therapeutics for either treatment or prophylaxis purposes. In parallel, drug repurposing studies have also come into prominence. Herein, we aimed at having a holistic understanding of conformational and dynamical changes induced by an experimentally characterized inhibitor on main protease (Mpro) which would enable the discovery of novel inhibitors. To this end, we performed molecular dynamics simulations using crystal structures of apoand α-ketoamide 13b-bound Mprohomodimer. Analysis of trajectories pertaining to apoMprorevealed a new target site, which is located at the homodimer interface, next to the catalytic dyad. Thereafter, we performed ensemble-based virtual screening by exploiting the ZINC and DrugBank databases and identified three candidate molecules, namely eluxadoline, diosmin, and ZINC02948810 that could invoke local and global conformational rearrangements which were also elicited by α-ketoamide 13b on the catalytic dyad of Mpro.Furthermore, ZINC23881687 stably interacted with catalytically important residues Glu166 and Ser1 and the target site throughout the simulation. However, it gave positive binding energy, presumably, due to displaying higher flexibility that might dominate the entropic term, which is not included in the MM-PBSA method. Finally, ZINC20425029, whose mode of action was different, modulated dynamical properties of catalytically important residue, Ala285. As such, this study presents valuable findings that might be used in the development of novel therapeutics against Mpro.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

In the current study, carboxylic acid-based deep eutectic solvent including a hydrogen bond donor (acetic acid) and a hydrogen bond acceptor (menthol) has been synthesized and applied for the removal of diclofenac from its aqueous medium. Physical properties (acidity, density, viscosity, and refractive index) of the synthesized liquids were determined quantitatively. The designed deep eutectic solvent was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method. The removal of diclofenac has been reached to ≈ 80% through the proposed solvent system of reactive liquid extraction. Initial DIC concentration (9.87, 20.29, 29.44, 38.83, and 48.28 mg L−1), deep eutectic solvent level (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80%) in diethyl succinate, and the temperature (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15 K) have affected the extraction efficiency. Ionic concentration in extraction medium leads to drop the diclofenac removal. Effects of fluorine and chlorine on the removal of diclofenac have been also investigated. Thermodynamics of the diclofenac transfer from aqueous environment to organic phase containing deep eutectic solvent has been found to be a spontaneous and endothermic process, which is incentivized by entropy.

Menthol-based deep eutectic liquid has been used for the reactive liquid-liquid extraction of the carbamazepine from its aqueous solution after it was synthesized by heating and mixing. Diethyl succinate was used as diluent, while deep eutectic liquid was the extractant. Several deep eutectic liquids containing menthol and carboxylic acids (acetic acid and formic acid) with different molar ratios (1/1 and 1/2) were composed. pH, density, viscosity, and refractive index values of the designed deep eutectic liquids were measured. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method was also applied into the deep eutectic liquids for characterization. Deep eutectic liquid increased the extraction performance of the diluent from 11 to 36% comparing to the untreated one. The proposed system (menthol/acetic acid with 1/1 of molar ratio) has extracted more than 90% of the target pharmaceutical compound from its aqueous solution in 30 min. The concentration of extractant in the diluent, initial carbamazepine content in aqueous media, and ionic intensity have influenced the reactive liquid-liquid extraction. Depending on the thermodynamics outcome, the transfer process of carbamazepine from aqueous phase into hydrophobic phase is an endothermic and spontaneous in nature. It has been also observed to be a separation process with a structure that tends to be irregular.

Objective: To assess the course of neurodegeneration based on retinal layer thickness and integrity analysis in diabetic patients without retinopathy and to evaluate its association with inner retinal reflectivity. Methods: This retrospective case–control study included 80 eyes of 80 patients with DM without retinopathy and 40 eyes of 40 healthy subjects with a follow-up of ≥1 year. SD-OCT was used for assessment of retinal reflectivity and macular layer thicknesses. Optical intensity ratios (OIRs) were defined as the mean OCT reflectivity of ganglion cell and inner nuclear layer to the mean reflectivity of RPE. Results: After Bonferroni correction, thinning in pericentral, superior and nasal sectors in total retina, superior ganglion cell, pericentral and nasal inner plexiform, and superior inner retinal layers, as well as thickening in inferior and pericentral outer plexiform layer remained significant in the study group (p&lt; 0.0125). Ganglion cell layer OIR significantly correlated with the changes in superior retina (r= 0.278, p= 0.013), central inner retina (r= 0.247, p= 0.027), and pericentral retinal thickness (r= 0.240, p= 0.032), and no eyes had disruption of retinal layers in the study group initially or finally. Conclusion: Ganglion cell layer reflectivity significantly correlated with the amount of pericentral retinal thinning during the time course in the diabetic group, which was more prominent in the inner retinal layers.

Decolorization is a significant process in the production of food products. Bleaching process for the removal of colored pigments such as β-carotene from vegetable oils has been gaining interest by using many materials as adsorbents to purify the product from colored components. In this study, the adsorption mechanism of β-carotene from chloroform was studied with different macroporous resins (Amberlite XAD-2, XAD-7, XAD-4 and XAD-16). The maximum adsorption capacity was determined to be 1570 µg per gram Amberlite XAD-2. The performance of XAD-2 was followed by XAD-4 (1200 µg/g), XAD-7 (1198 µg/g), and XAD-16 (1002 µg/g), respectively. The adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the process were investigated depending on the selected resins. In this context, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms were tested, where the current system has been found to have a physical adsorption based on the Temkin isotherm constant (< 8 kJ mol−1). Pseudo-first order model (R2> 0.72) has been more suitable to describe the kinetic data comparing to pseudo-second-order model, whereas all coefficients of variation (except for Amberlite XAD-16) of intraparticle diffusion model are close to 1 (> 0.95). It was also determined that the adsorption process did not occur spontaneously (∆G > 0). It was endothermic (∆H > 0) and progressed towards disorder (∆S > 0).

AbstractThis study aimed at determining the impact of dietary soy hulls (SH) addition on growth performance, digestive tract attributes, and apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen, and phosphorus (P) in broiler chickens. Male broilers (Ross 308, n = 224) were assigned to one of four diets, including 0, 20, 40, or 60 g/kg SH, with eight replications per treatment from 0 to 21 d of age in a completely randomised design. Dietary chromic oxide was the indigestible marker for determining the apparent ileal digestibility. Data were subjected to orthogonal polynomial contrasts using the Proc GLM of SAS. Growth performance and small intestine weight and length, and gizzard content pH were not influenced (p > .05) by increasing levels of dietary SH. Increasing the dietary SH level resulted in a linear increase (p < .01) in absolute empty gizzard weight. Relative gizzard weight was greater (p < .05) in birds fed on 60 g/kg SH diet compared to birds fed on 40 g/kg SH diet. Apparent ileal digestibility of nitrogen was not affected (p > .05) by dietary SH inclusion. However, apparent ileal digestibility of DM and P increased linearly (p < .01) with increasing dietary SH levels. In conclusion, the addition of SH up to 60 g/kg improved the ileal digestibility of DM and P and increased gizzard weight without affecting the proportionate small intestine morphology and live performance of broiler chickens at 21 d of age.HIGHLIGHTSSoy hulls did not have any effect on growthSoy hulls increased the digestibility of PSoy hulls increased gizzard weight

A 49-day trial was conducted to determine the impact of dietary amino acid (AA) density and stocking density (SD) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and white striping (WS) occurrence in broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty-eight Ross 308 male broilers consisting of 6 replicate cages with 8 broilers per replicate were used. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial and consisted of 3 AA densities (normal, 10, or 20% lower than normal) and 2 different SD (high 35 kg/m2or low 26 kg/m2). Breasts were classified as normal, moderate, and severe for WS. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the GLM procedure. Decreasing AA density decreased overall growth performance, carcass, breast yields, and fillet dimensions linearly, while leg and rib cage yields increased linearly (P < 0.01). High SD decreased hot carcass, breast, wings, and rib cage weights in birds fed normal AA diets (P < 0.05). High SD increased the length of breast fillet (P < 0.05). Cooking loss, breast lightness (L∗), and redness (a∗) at 48 h postmortem increased linearly with decreasing AA density, while ultimate breast pH (pHu) and nitrogen content decreased linearly (P < 0.05). The occurrence of normal, moderate, and severe WS fillets was 45.3, 49.1, and 5.6%, respectively. As the dietary AA density decreased, the occurrence of no WS breast fillets increased linearly, whereas the occurrence of moderate WS fillets and mean WS score decreased linearly (P < 0.05). SD did not affect the occurrence of WS. Severe WS fillets were heavier and had higher cranial thickness, pHu, and fat content and lower yellowness (P < 0.05), but water-holding capacity, nitrogen content, L∗, and a∗ value did not differ among different WS scores. Taken together, WS occurrence and severity increased with higher growth rate. Growth depression created by lowering dietary AA density regardless of SD resulted in a decrease in mean WS score, but it also compromised the growth and meat quality.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical treatment on ocular findings in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).PATIENTS AND METHODS:The authors studied 34 eyes of 34 newly diagnosed OSAS patients. The sleep study was performed before and 6 months after expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP). Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), choroidal thickness (CT), and retinal arteriolar caliber (RAC) analyses were performed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude were performed using the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer.RESULTS:The preoperative and postoperative Apnea Hypopnea Index scores and average oxygen saturation values were significantly different (The preoperative and postoperative Apnea Hypopnea Index scores and average oxygen saturation values were significantly different (P= .0001 and P= .001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative RNFL thicknesses (P> .05). The preoperative subfoveal, nasal, temporal CT, and IOP were significantly different from the postoperative measurements (P= .006, P= .05, P= .036, and P= .0001, respectively).CONCLUSIONS:ESP had a significant influence on CT and IOP in patients with OSAS, maintaining a decrease in CT and IOP 6 months after surgery. The determination of these ocular findings may be useful to show the positive effects of ESP.[[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:35–42.]

Pyridine- and quinoline-stabilized silyl cations have been prepared, and their structure in condensed phases unambiguously assigned using 1H, 13C, 15N, 29Si, and 1H DOSY NMR as well as X-ray diffraction studies. Solid state structures thus show in both cases a stabilization of the cationic silicon center through an N–Si interaction and formation of a highly strained four-membered ring system. Chiral memory at the silicon atom in these heterocycle-stabilized silyl cations was also established, leading to various levels of selectivity depending on the nature of the heterocycle. Lowest energy conformations of the starting silanes obtained through DFT calculations, along with the isolation and characterization of the Si-centered chiral silyl cation intermediates, finally allowed to propose a plausible hypothesis as to the configurational stability of these silyl cations.

ABSTRACTThe taste of food is an essential characteristic for cats and has been shown to affect food selection. However, understanding of food selection by cats using taste characteristics is far from complete. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to summarize the current knowledge on food preference and the role of taste on this selection in domestic cats. Appetite regulation is one of the determinants of palatability in cats and involves a highly complex interplay between hypothalamus, adipose tissue, and digestive tract. However, knowledge on this interplay is scarce in cats. When evaluating different foods for cats, behavioural responses such as facial expressions involving the movements and positions of ears, tongue, and head can provide increased insight into the effectiveness of formulating a more palatable diet. This paper also reviews food additives currently used in industry for enhancing the palatability of cat foods. In summary, a better understanding of the factors that affect the food preference in cats is essential to produce high-quality foods because cats will not eat a food with a flavour they dislike even though it is complete and nutritionally balanced.

Among tick-borne diseases, Ehrlichia canisand Babesiapiroplasm cause important diseases in dogs where the distributions of the pathogen, vector and host overlap. The primary aim of the present study was to detect the prevalence of Babesiaspp. and E. canisusing PCR and reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization assay in a total of 379 samples comprising stray and owned dogs and to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of the two tests. Overall, 41.4% of dogs were infected with B. vogeliand/or E. canisas single (35.4%) and mixed (6.1%) infections. The majority of Babesiapositive dogs (74.1%) were co-infected with E. canis. PCR detected a higher (P= 0.000) number of positivity in some provinces compared to RLB. To the best of our knowledge, these findings provide the first molecular evidence for the existence of B. vogeliin the Aegean Region, Turkey. The present study pinpoints the distribution and prevalence of E. canisand B. vogeliin the Aegean region of Turkey as of 2004 and as such establishes a baseline. This is of pivotal importance for future studies aimed to demonstrate changes in the dynamics of E. canisand B. vogeliinfections in the region.

In this study, a two stage methodology was applied to predict the exit coal moisture content during the drying process. The first stage included a design of experiment (DoE) study which made easy to determine the significance levels of drying parameters. At the end of the DoE stage, it was determined that the most significant parameter was bed height, and the least significant parameter was exit air relative humidity. The second stage included an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) method which was applied to estimate the exit coal moisture content at any time. The experimental studies were conducted with different levels of the parameters (air temperature, air velocity, bed height, particle size, and air relative humidity). At the end of the second stage, the applicability of the ANFIS in the estimation of the exit coal moisture content was showed with satisfying results. R2 value was increased from 0.465 to 0.842. [Received: March 28, 2017; Accepted: November 3, 2017]

The triple airway maneuver insertion technique allowed faster insertion of the LMA. This study compared three different insertion techniques of the laryngeal mask airway-Unique™.

A técnica de inserção com a manobra tripla das vias aéreas permitiu a inserção mais rápida da ML. Este estudo comparou três técnicas de inserção da máscara laríngea Unique™.

Attitude of healthcare providers toward older people is very important in the aging world. Neurologists contact older adults very frequently. We aimed to investigate the attitudes of neurologists toward older adults. We recorded participants age; sex; duration of clinical practice in neurology; existence of older adult relatives; and history of geriatrics education, nursing home visits, older adult patient density in their clinical practice, and participation in voluntary public activities. UCLA Geriatrics Attitude Scale was used to evaluate participants’ attitudes. A total of 100 neurologists participated in this study. Seventy-seven percent had positive, 3 % had neutral, and 20 % had negative attitudes. Twenty-seven percent of the participants had history of geriatrics education, and these participants tended to have a higher rate of positive attitudes. Neurologists with positive attitudes tended to be older than those with negative attitudes. Participants with history of living with older adult relatives had lower rates of positive attitudes. The most common diagnoses of the patients the participants encountered were stroke and dementia. Independent factors associated with positive attitudes were history of geriatrics education and older age. History of living with older relatives tended to have a negative effect. Most of the negative items of the attitude scale were associated with the natural course and behavior of the common diseases in neurology practice. Generalization of geriatrics education may translate into a better understanding and improved care for older patients. Development of instruments and implementation of qualitative studies to assess attitudes of neurologists toward older adults are needed.

A freely available dataset produced from three million Landsat satellite images reveals substantial changes in the distribution of global surface water over the past 32 years and their causes, from climate change to human actions.

Silicone oil barrier sutures were safe and effective in preventing silicone oil entry into the anterior chamber in aphakic eyes with iris defects, unless hypotony was present because of anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. No complications due to barrier sutures were seen. Applying silicone barriers is a relatively cheap and easy procedure.