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Background: To examine the impact of aging on the response of rats to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induction of epilepsy and the possible role of oxidative stress and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathway in this response. Methods: Forty male albino rats were equally allocated into 4 groups; 1) Young control (YC) group, aged 8-12 weeks, 2) Old control (OC) group, aged 24 months, 3) PTZ-Young group: young rats received PTZ (50 mg/Kg, i.p. every other day) for 2 weeks and 4) PTZ-Old group: as group 3 but rats were old. The seizure score stage and latency to the first jerk were recorded in rats. Redox state markers in brain tissues including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated. Also, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 genes were measured in the brain tissues. Results: Old rats showed an early and a significant rise in the seizure score with PTZ administration and a significant drop in the seizure latency compared to young rats (P <0.01). Also, old rats showed a significantly higher MDA concentration and a significantly lower TAC and catalase activity than young rats (P <0.01). Moreover, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was significantly lowered in old rats compared to young rats with PTZ administration (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Aging increases the vulnerability of rats to PTZ-induced epilepsy. An effect might come down to the up-regulation of oxidative stress and the down regulation of antioxidant pathways including Nrf2 and HO-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) of the donor‐acceptor (D‐A) type show excellent photocatalytic performance in water splitting due to their efficient isolation of light‐induced excitons. The key to this activity lies in the appropriate selection of electron donor and acceptor units. In this paper, we synthesized three D‐A carbazole‐based CMPs and investigated the influence of planarity, electronic structure, crystallinity, and surface area on their photocatalytic efficiency in hydrogen evolution from water. Our CMPs have excellent light collection ability, fast separation rates, and minimal recombination rates for the electron/hole pairs, so an excellent hydrogen evolution rate (HER) was achieved by water reduction. Moreover, the most efficient semiconductor Cz‐4Py CMP, which had the lowest dihedral angle, more suitable LUMO level, semi‐crystalline nature, and largest surface area, showed the best HER up to 8813 μmol g−1 h−1 under visible light with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 4.51 % at λ=420 nm. While the HERs for Cz‐4TPT and Cz‐4TzTz CMPs with higher dihedral angle, amorphous nature, and lower surface area were 1702 and 1541 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively. The efficiencies obtained exceed those of many polymeric materials reported for photocatalytic H2O reduction. This work confirms the importance of the molecular design of CMP photocatalysts to optimize their performance in hydrogen release by water dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide cell electrodes need to display a wide range of combined properties, for example, electronic and ionic conductivities, catalytic activity, chemical compatibility with other parts, thermal expansion match, phase stability, and tolerance to foreign species/contaminants. It is extremely challenging for a single material to meet all these features required. Surface decoration is a remarkably adaptive strategy to provide needed features to the electrodes by introducing functioning materials through various target‐guided methods. This review provides an overview of typical and novel techniques to create surface decoration on the electrodes to abruptly improve the drawbacks of the electrodes of solid oxide cells, including performance enhancement, stability of long‐term operation, and tolerance to poisoning foreign species. It starts with the introduction of surface decoration experimental procedure, proceeds to crucial characterization methods that are particularly effective in identifying the properties of the surface coating, continues with target‐oriented practice in terms of surface decoration materials choice and microstructure manipulation, and ends with the explorations of functioning mechanisms for the resultant behavior. With hope, the review will spark more novel utilizations of surface decoration practice to promote the technical status of the solid oxide cells for widespread commercialization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combined ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric (IIN/IHN) block and transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block are used under ultrasound (USG) visualization for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery. This study compares USG-guided TAP versus IIN/IHN block for post-operative analgesia efficacy in adults undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, among 100 patients randomized into group A received TAP block by using levobupivacaine 0.5% 25 ml and group B received IIN+IHN blocks by using levobupivacaine 0.5% 10 ml before induction of general anesthesia. Results: The mean duration (in minutes) to require rescue analgesia was found to be 1003.2 ± 99.6 (min) in group A and 1317 ± 69 (min) in group B. In a comparison of these two values the difference in the meantime to rescue analgesic requirement was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: USG-guided IIN/IHN block delays the need for rescue analgesia and reduces the postoperative analgesic requirement compared to USG-guided TAP block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new selective molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized for the electrochemical sensing of aminophylline (AMI). The MIP was fabricated via the co-polymerization of different monomers (acrylamide and methacrylic acid) around the template (AMI) in the presence of a cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and an initiator (potassium persulfate). The prepared polymers were characterized by CHN elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. For electrochemical applications, a voltammetric sensor was constructed by dropping MIP on the glassy carbon electrode surface after modification with the graphene oxide. Electrochemical determinations were achieved using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which indicated a wide range (3.7 × 10-11-1 × 10-3 M) of AMI and a low detection limit (2.1 × 10-12 M). Alternatively, MIP was immobilized on a plasticized PVC membrane and deposited as one layer on the GCE to fabricate the potentiometric sensor. In the same context, a potentiometric sensor was constructed and exhibited a linear calibration curve in the concentration range of 2.6 × 10-9 M to 3.1 × 10-3 M, with a detection limit of 1.5 × 10-10 M. Additionally, the developed methods displayed great selectivity for AMI compared to other competing molecules, high repeatability, and stability. In addition, the proposed methods were successfully applied for AMI detection in pharmaceutical drugs with recovery values (98.2-99.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical behavior of rivaroxaban (RIV), a direct Factor Xa inhibitor, was investigated using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The MIP was developed by co-polymerization of different monomers (acrylamide and methacrylic acid) with the cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)) in the presence of initiator (potassium persulphate) and RIV as a template. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for the characterization of the fabricated polymers. To prepare the potentiometric sensor, the MIP was incorporated in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the presence of a plasticizer and coated on the GCE as one layer. While the voltammetric sensor was prepared by drop coating technique, in which the graphene oxide and MIP were deposited on the bare GCE, respectively. Linear response over RIV concentrations in the range of 1.2 × 10−9 – 1 × 10−3 mol L−1 and 5.4 × 10−11 – 3.1 × 10−3 mol L−1 with detection limits of 2.4 × 10−10 mol L−1 and 2.3 × 10−12 mol L−1 were achieved for potentiometric and voltammetric sensors, respectively. Both sensors have high precision, selectivity, and good stability. Due to the abovementioned merits, both sensors were successfully applied for the detection of RIV in different blood samples and in pharmaceutical tablets, and acceptable mean recoveries (99.3–100.3%) were obtained. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel imprinted sensor was synthesized for electrochemical Sorafenib detection using chronopotentiometry and ASDPV. • The sensitivity of the sensor was enhanced by using metal organic frame work. • MIP sensors showed wide linear range (4.2 × 10−11–7.1 × 10−3 mol L−1) and low limit of detection (6.4 × 10−12 mol L−1). • The sensor has been employed to determine Sorafenib in oncology patients. A promising selective and sensitive biosensor was fabricated for the first time to monitor trace amounts of sorafenib (SORF), a multi-target kinase inhibitor, based on the electropolymerization of pyrrole on a carbon paste electrode (CPE). To prepare a modified CPE, the prepared metal organic framework (NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)) was mixed with graphite powder in the presence of an appropriate amount of paraffin oil before it was packed into a plastic tube containing a copper wire. Computational studies appreciate the use of pyrrole as the functional monomer for electropolymerization at the CPE surface using chronopotentiometry in the presence of SORF as a template. After the leaching of SORF, the imprinted sensor was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, and AFM, while NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe) was investigated by XRD, XPS, and SEM analysis. Under optimum conditions, SORF was detected using anodic stripping differential pulse voltammetric and chronopotentiometric techniques. High sensitivity (6.40 × 10−12 mol/L), excellent selectivity, and a wide linear range (4.20 × 10−11–7.10 × 10−3 mol/L) were recorded. Furthermore, the proposed sensor exhibited good repeatability (RSD = 2.40 % for n = 7) and high lifetime stability (∼7 weeks). Based on the above-mentioned merits, the designed electrochemical sensor was properly utilized for SORF determination in different oncology patients with satisfactory results (recovery = 94.40–99.90 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]