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Cytokine storm (CS) refers to the spontaneous dysregulated and hyper-activated inflammatory reaction occurring in various clinical conditions, ranging from microbial infection to end-stage organ failure. Recently the novel coronavirus involved in COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has been associated with the pathological phenomenon of CS in critically ill patients. Furthermore, critically ill patients suffering from CS are likely to have a grave prognosis and a higher case fatality rate. Pathologically CS is manifested as hyper-immune activation and is clinically manifested as multiple organ failure. An in-depth understanding of the etiology of CS will enable the discovery of not just disease risk factors of CS but also therapeutic approaches to modulate the immune response and improve outcomes in patients with respiratory diseases having CS in the pathogenic pathway. Owing to the grave consequences of CS in various diseases, this phenomenon has attracted the attention of researchers and clinicians throughout the globe. So in the present manuscript, we have attempted to discuss CS and its ramifications in COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, as well as prospective treatment approaches and biomarkers of the cytokine storm. Furthermore, we have attempted to provide in-depth insight into CS from both a prophylactic and therapeutic point of view. In addition, we have included recent findings of CS in respiratory diseases reported from different parts of the world, which are based on expert opinion, clinical case-control research, experimental research, and a case-controlled cohort approach., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

This study marks a significant stride in enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications through the development of a type II nano-heterojunction comprising HfO 2 and α - Fe 2 O 3 . Fabricated via Physical Vapor Deposition/Radio Frequency (PVD/RF) sputtering, this nano-heterojunction effectively addresses the efficiency limitations inherent in traditional α - Fe 2 O 3 photoanodes. The integration of HfO 2 leads to a substantial increase in photocurrent density, soaring from 62 μA/cm 2 for pure α - Fe 2 O 3 to 1.46 mA cm -2  at 1.23 V versus the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE). This enhancement, a 23-fold increase, is primarily attributed to the improved absorption of photons in the visible range and the facilitation of more efficient charge transfer. The enhanced performance and long-term stability of the HfO 2 /α - Fe 2 O 3 nano-heterojunction, validated through XRD, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, EDS, SEM, EIS, and UPS analyses, demonstrate its potential as a promising and cost-effective solution for PEC water splitting applications, leveraging renewable energy sources., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Mansour Alhabradi reports financial support was provided by Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. Asif Tahir reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100000266Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. 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., (Crown Copyright © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Photoelectrochemical water splitting via solar irradiation has garnered significant interest due to its potential in large-scale renewable hydrogen production. Heterostructure materials have emerged as an effective strategy, demonstrating enhanced performance in photoelectrochemical water-splitting applications compared to individual photocatalysts. In this study, to augment the performance of sprayed TiVO 4 thin films, a hydrothermally prepared WO 3 underlayer was integrated beneath the spray pyrolised TiVO 4 film. The consequent heterostructure demonstrated notable enhancements in optical, structural, microstructural attributes, and photocurrent properties. This improvement is attributed to the strategic deposition of WO 3 underlayer, forming a heterostructure composite electrode. This led to a marked increase in photocurrent density for the WO 3 /TiVO 4 photoanode, reaching a peak of 740 μA/cm 2 at an applied potential of 1.23 V vs RHE, about nine-fold that of standalone TiVO 4 . Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a reduced semicircle for the heterostructure, indicating improved charge transfer compared to bare TiVO 4 . The heterostructure photoelectrode exhibited enhanced charge carrier conductivity at the interface and sustained stability over 3 h. The distinct attributes of heterostructure photoelectrode present significant opportunities for devising highly efficient sunlight-driven water-splitting systems., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Neurodegenerative complications, like Alzheimer's disease (AD) exert adverse effects i.e. psychological and physiological in the central nervous system. The synthetic drugs used for these complications have negative effects on body health and therefore natural remedies are a good and targeted approach to counter such complications. Alternatively, fruits and a variety of biochemicals which are an important source of diet, can be used for remedial purposes. Due to the antioxidant properties of polyphenolic compounds, several companies utilize this property to advertise polyphenol-rich beverages. Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.), is one such fruit that is well known for its medical usage due to its antioxidant properties. In the cuurent study a literature search survey was performed on traditional uses, phytochemicals on pomegranate and their medical applications especaily in neurodegenerative deasese using electronic data bases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct Wikipedia and Springer Nature. Based on previous preclinical and clinical studies, pomegranate juice, extracts, and its bioactive constituents have shown many mitigating properties, including suppression of inflammatory cell signaling, reduction in expression of genes associated with oxidative stress as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines in neurons, decreased production of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. It also decreases the expression of soluble amyloid protein procurer β (sAPPβ), β-secretase and carboxyl terminal fragment β (CTFβ). Similarly, during an in-vivo study on APP/PS1 mice, pomegranate supplementation has been shown to impart cognitive aid by the protection of neurons and triggering neurogenesis through anti-inflammatory signaling pathway. In conclusion, pomegranate supplementation can be a promising source of protection against Alzheimer's disease., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)