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Recent years have witnessed an uptick in research highlighting the gut microbiota's role as a primary determinant of athletes' health, which has piqued interest in the hypothesis that it correlates with athletes' physical performance. Athletes' physical performances could be impacted by the metabolic activity of the assortment of microbes found in their gut. Intestinal microbiota impacts multiple facets of an athlete's physiology, including immune response, gut membrane integrity, macro- and micronutrient absorption, muscle endurance, and the gut–brain axis. Several physiological variables govern the gut microbiota; hence, an intricately tailored and complex framework must be implemented to comprehend the performance–microbiota interaction. Emerging evidence underscores the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and physical fitness, revealing that athletes who engage in regular physical activity exhibit a richer diversity of gut microbes, particularly within the Firmicutes phylum, e.g., Ruminococcaceae genera, compared to their sedentary counterparts. In elite sport, it is challenging to implement an unconventional strategy whilst simultaneously aiding an athlete to accomplish feasible, balanced development. This review compiles the research on the effects of gut microbiota modulation on performance in sports and illustrates how different supplementation strategies for gut microbiota have the ability to improve athletic performance by enhancing physical capacities. In addition to promoting athletes' overall health, this study evaluates the existing literature in an effort to shed light on how interventions involving the gut microbiota can dramatically improve performance on the field. The findings should inform both theoretical and practical developments in the fields of sports nutrition and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the microbiological quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from aquaculture farms located within the "Dolina Słupi" (Slupia Valley) Landscape Park, with a focus on regional sustainability practices. The research aims to evaluate water hygiene, the microbiological quality of feed, the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and their impact on the final quality of the farmed trout. This study seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable aquaculture by highlighting the importance of quality and risk management practices in maintaining food safety and environmental stewardship. Design/methodology/approach: The research employed a comprehensive microbiological analysis of samples collected from trout farms, including external and internal parts of trout, viscera, water, and feed. The study focused on identifying the presence of specific pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. The approach combined field sampling with laboratory testing to assess the hygienic conditions of the aquaculture environment and the quality of the final fish products. The research focuses on evaluating the microbiological quality of trout from aquaculture farms, with particular attention to local practices and their alignment with sustainability goals. Findings: The study revealed that the trout from the examined farms generally met good microbiological quality standards. Specifically, no methicillin-resistant S. aureus or vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and E. faecalis were detected, indicating effective risk management. However, Salmonella spp. were present in 30.5% of water samples, yet their presence did not significantly affect the contamination levels in fish samples. The highest S. aureus count was found on the skin of rainbow trout (1.5±101 cfu/g), while E. coli was detected on brook trout skin and viscera (11%). Enterococcus spp. were found in 17% of feed samples, but at low concentrations (<10 cfu/g). These results suggest that while overall microbiological quality is satisfactory, ongoing monitoring and adherence to good management practices are crucial for maintaining safety and quality in aquaculture. Research limitations/implications: One limitation of the research is the geographical focus on aquaculture farms within the "Dolina Słupi" Landscape Park, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other regions or types of aquaculture systems. Future research could expand the scope to include a broader range of aquaculture environments and examine the long-term impact of sustainability practices on fish quality. Practical implications: The research underscores the critical role of continuous monitoring and rigorous quality management practices in aquaculture. The findings indicate that by implementing effective hygiene protocols and risk management strategies, aquaculture farms can achieve high safety standards for their fish products. These practices not only ensure product quality and consumer safety but also support the sustainability and economic viability of the aquaculture industry. Social implications: The study demonstrates that sustainable aquaculture enhances food security and environmental conservation. By promoting effective practices, it builds public trust in farmed fish, potentially influencing consumer behavior and supporting more sustainable industry practices. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge on sustainable aquaculture by providing empirical evidence on the microbiological quality of trout from farms in a specific regional context. It offers practical insights for industry professionals and consumers on optimizing quality and risk management to ensure safe and sustainable fish production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The most common adverse events (AEs) that occurred in response to targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma were appetite loss (adverse event grade 0/1/2/3 = 97/23/55/12), general fatigue (102/31/44/6), hypertension (120/6/40/17), hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (135/21/24/3), proteinuria (140/13/16/14), and hypothyroidism (148/12/23/0). Among these, appetite loss and general fatigue negatively affect overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Increasing AE grades of hypertension, proteinuria, and hypothyroidism were associated with better OS, whereas hypertension, HFS, and hypothyroidism were associated with better PFS. To assess the impact of adverse event (AE) severity, caused by targeted therapy, on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a total of 183 patients with HCC treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (40), lenvatinib (57), sorafenib (79), cabozantinib (3), ramucirumab (3), and regorafenib (1) were included in this study. Age-, AFP-, and ALBI score-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of AE grades 1 to 3 versus grade 0 for OS and PFS were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. The linear trend of the HRs was assessed by calculating the p values for this trend. The most common AEs were appetite loss (AE grade 0/1/2/3 = 97/23/55/12), general fatigue (102/31/44/6), hypertension (120/6/40/17), hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (135/21/24/3), proteinuria (140/13/16/14), and hypothyroidism (148/12/23/0). The adjusted HRs for OS of these AEs were 0.532–1.450–2.361 (p for trend 0.037), 1.057–1.691–3.364 (p for trend 0.004), 1.176–0.686–0.281 (p for trend 0.002), 0.639–0.759–1.820 (p for trend 0.462), 1.030–0.959–0.147 (p for trend 0.011), and 0.697–0.609 (p for trend 0.119), respectively. Those for PFS of the corresponding AEs were 0.592–1.073–2.811 (p for trend 0.255), 1.161–1.282–4.324 (p for trend 0.03), 0.965–0.781–0.655 (p for trend 0.095), 0.737–0.623–2.147 (p for trend 0.153), 1.061–0.832–0.800 (p for trend 0.391), and 1.412–0.560 (p for trend 0.081), respectively. Appetite loss and general fatigue negatively affected clinical outcomes, whereas hypertension, HFS, proteinuria, and hypothyroidism had positive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat destruction and climate change are reshaping the geographic distribution of plants worldwide. However, we are still unable to map species shifts at high spatial, temporal, and taxonomic resolution. Here, we develop a deep learning model trained using remote sensing images from California paired with half a million citizen science observations that can map the distribution of over 2,000 plant species. Our model--Deepbiosphere--not only outperforms many common species distribution modeling approaches (AUC 0.95 vs. 0.88) but can map species at up to a few meters resolution and finely delineate plant communities with high accuracy, including the pristine and clear-cut forests of Redwood National Park. These fine-scale predictions can further be used to map the intensity of habitat fragmentation and sharp ecosystem transitions across human-altered landscapes. In addition, from frequent collections of remote sensing data, Deepbiosphere can detect the rapid effects of severe wildfire on plant community composition across a 2-y time period. These findings demonstrate that integrating public earth observations and citizen science with deep learning can pave the way toward automated systems for monitoring biodiversity change in real-time worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of targeted therapy has proven to be a highly promising avenue in the realm of drug development research. The human body generates a substantial amount of free radicals during metabolic processes, and if not promptly eliminated, these free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, disrupting homeostasis and potentially contributing to chronic diseases and cancers. Before the development of contemporary medicine with synthetic pharmaceuticals and antioxidants, there was a long-standing practice of employing raw, natural ingredients to cure a variety of illnesses. This practice persisted even after the active antioxidant molecules were known. The ability of natural antioxidants to neutralise excess free radicals in the human body and so prevent and cure a wide range of illnesses. The term "natural antioxidant" refers to compounds derived from plants or other living organisms that have the ability to control the production of free radicals, scavenge them, stop free radical-mediated chain reactions, and prevent lipid peroxidation. These compounds have a strong potential to inhibit oxidative stress. Phytochemicals (antioxidants) derived from plants, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and others, are central to the discussion of natural antioxidants. Not only may these chemicals increase endogenous antioxidant defenses, affect communication cascades, and control gene expression, but they have also shown strong free radical scavenging properties. This study comprehensively summarizes the primary classes of natural antioxidants found in different plant and animal source that contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases. Additionally, it outlines the research progress and outlines future development prospects. These discoveries not only establish a theoretical groundwork for pharmacological development but also present inventive ideas for addressing challenges in medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to elucidate the genetic causes underlying the juvenile parkinsonism (JP) diagnosed in a girl with several family members diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). To achieve this, whole-exome sequencing, analysis of CAG repeats, RNA sequencing analysis on fibroblasts, and metabolite identification were performed. As a result, a homozygous missense mutation SNP T>C (rs2254562) in synaptojamin 1 (SYNJ1), which has been implicated in the regulation of membrane trafficking in the synaptic vesicles, was identified. Additionally, we observed overexpression of L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM), Cdc37, GPX1, and GPX4 and lower expression of ceruloplasmin in the patient compared to the control. We also found changes in sphingolipid, inositol, and inositol phosphate metabolism. These findings help to clarify the mechanisms of JP and suggest that the etiology of JP in the patient may be multifactorial. This is the first report of the rs2254562 mutation in the SYNJ gene identified in a JP patient with seizures and cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional cancer therapy strategies, although centered around killing tumor cells, often lead to severe side effects on surrounding normal tissues, thus compromising the chronic quality of life in cancer survivors. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a secondary signaling molecule that has an array of functions in both tumor and normal cells, including the promotion of cell survival pathways and immune cell modulation in the tumor microenvironment. H2O2 is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) crucial in cellular homeostasis and signaling (at concentrations maintained under nM levels), with increased steady-state levels in tumors relative to their normal tissue counterparts. Increased steady-state levels of H2O2 in tumor cells, make them vulnerable to oxidative stress and ultimately, cell death. Recently, H2O2-producing therapies—namely, pharmacological ascorbate and superoxide dismutase mimetics—have emerged as compelling complementary treatment strategies in cancer. Both pharmacological ascorbate and superoxide dismutase mimetics can generate excess H2O2 to overwhelm the impaired H2O2 removal capacity of cancer cells. This review presents an overview of H2O2 metabolism in the physiological and malignant states, in addition to discussing the anti-tumor and normal tissue-sparing mechanism(s) of, and clinical evidence for, two H2O2-based therapies, pharmacological ascorbate and superoxide dismutase mimetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous single‐cell transcriptomic datasets from identical tissues or cell lines are generated from different laboratories or single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) protocols. The denoising of these datasets to eliminate batch effects is crucial for data integration, ensuring accurate interpretation and comprehensive analysis of biological questions. Although many scRNA‐seq data integration methods exist, most are inefficient and/or not conducive to downstream analysis. Here, DeepBID, a novel deep learning‐based method for batch effect correction, non‐linear dimensionality reduction, embedding, and cell clustering concurrently, is introduced. DeepBID utilizes a negative binomial‐based autoencoder with dual Kullback–Leibler divergence loss functions, aligning cell points from different batches within a consistent low‐dimensional latent space and progressively mitigating batch effects through iterative clustering. Extensive validation on multiple‐batch scRNA‐seq datasets demonstrates that DeepBID surpasses existing tools in removing batch effects and achieving superior clustering accuracy. When integrating multiple scRNA‐seq datasets from patients with Alzheimer's disease, DeepBID significantly improves cell clustering, effectively annotating unidentified cells, and detecting cell‐specific differentially expressed genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents heterogeneous and relapsing intestinal conditions with a severe impact on the quality of life of individuals and a continuously increasing prevalence. In recent years, the development of sequencing technology has provided new means of exploring the complex pathogenesis of IBD. An ideal solution is represented by the approach of precision medicine that investigates multiple cellular and molecular interactions, which are tools that perform a holistic, systematic, and impartial analysis of the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiomics sets. Hence, it has led to the orientation of current research towards the identification of new biomarkers that could be successfully used in the management of IBD patients. Multi-omics explores the dimension of variation in the characteristics of these diseases, offering the advantage of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that affect intestinal homeostasis for a much better prediction of disease development and choice of treatment. This review focuses on the progress made in the field of prognostic and predictive biomarkers, highlighting the limitations, challenges, and also the opportunities associated with the application of genomics and epigenomics technologies in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Respiratory system compliance (Crs) is a simple indicator of lung flexibility. However, it remains unclear whether a low Crs during anesthesia induction (iCrs) is associated with an increased risk of postoperative mechanical ventilation. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted using a local database. All mechanically ventilated postoperative ICU patients were included in this study. The duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and in‐hospital mortality were compared between the low iCrs group (<25% of distribution) and the normal iCrs group. Results: A total of 315 patients were classified into the low iCrs (<39 mL/cmH2O) group (n = 78) or the normal iCrs group (n = 237). Low iCrs was associated with a higher chance of mechanical ventilation in 28 days (log‐rank test, p < 0.001). The duration of hospital stay was similar. Multivariate analysis showed that in‐hospital mortality was higher in the low iCrs group than in the normal iCrs group (adjusted odds ratio, 6.04 [1.13, 32.26]; p = 0.04). Conclusion: Low iCrs was associated with an increased risk of requiring postoperative mechanical ventilation. An additional result of poor survival related to low iCrs may require further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a key crop within the Solanaceae family and ranks as the most significant non-cereal crop globally following major staples such as wheat, rice, and corn. Potatoes can reproduce sexually and asexually via tubers, and plant tissue culture is emerging as an effective method for vegetative propagation, addressing the increasing global demand for agricultural products. Ethylene, a critical plant growth regulator, influences various physiological processes including growth and development. During in vitro culture and due to the wounding of explants, ethylene accumulation can lead to abnormal biological responses, with potato seedlings being susceptible. Thus, investigating the effects of ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors such as pyrazinamide (PZA) and AgNO3 on potato growth in vitro is essential. Material and Methods: In this study, potato seedlings were cultivated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, with concentrations of PZA ranging from 0 to 6 mg L-1 and AgNO3 at 2 mg L-1. After four weeks, the seedlings were harvested and stored at -70°C for later analysis. The growth parameters measured included fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), stem and root lengths, leaf area, and leaf and root number. In addition, biochemical parameters, such as photosynthetic pigment levels, total phenol content (TPC), total reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proline concentration were analyzed. Statistical evaluations were conducted using SPSS and PAST software Results: The results showed that the 2 mg L-1 PZA treatment led to the highest FW and DW and increased leaf numbers; however, it was also correlated with a lower number of rooted plants. Conversely, treatments with 6 mg L-1 PZA promoted longer stem growth, whereas control plants exhibited the largest leaf area, and AgNO3-treated plants produced the longest roots. The accumulation of H2O2 in plants treated with ethylene inhibitors was like controls, but total ROS levels soared by 36% in those treated with 6 mg L-1 PZA compared to controls. This suggests a link between reduced ethylene production, oxidative stress mitigation, and enhanced potato growth. Additionally, total ROS was positively correlated with stem length, but negatively correlated with root length. Plants use several strategies to combat the damaging effects of ROS, such as the production of antioxidant compounds such as phenolics. Although PZA did not significantly alter TPC compared to controls, treatment with AgNO3 caused a 61% reduction in TPC. Therefore, PZA did not appear to significantly affect phenolics production in the potato seedlings. Proline, another critical antioxidant in plants, was found to accumulate significantly in the leaves of plants treated with 6 mg L-1 PZA, which was more than 2.3 times higher than that in controls. This accumulation correlated positively with ROS levels at higher PZA concentrations but showed an inverse relationship with photosynthetic pigment levels. The PCA revealed the relationships between the measured parameters and the applied elicitors. The samples were categorized into four distinct groups: 1. Control group: This group primarily exhibited higher FW, DW, and longer roots compared to the treated plants. 2. Low PZA dose group: These plants displayed elevated levels of photosynthetic pigments, TPC, and leaf area. 3. Medium PZA dose group: Correlations were observed with an increased number of roots. 4. 6 mg L-1 PZA and AgNO3 group: These samples contained elevated levels of total ROS and proline. Conclusion: The study concludes that low concentrations of PZA can stimulate growth while inhibiting ethylene production, resulting in fewer growth abnormalities compared to control plants. However, at elevated PZA concentrations, increased ROS levels may lead to oxidative stress, emphasizing the delicate balance in ethylene's role in plant growth and the necessity for further research to optimize conditions for potato cultivation in vitro. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how ethylene inhibitors can enhance potato propagation and possibly other crops in controlled agricultural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the non-communicable neurological diseases, epilepsy is characterized by abnormal brain activity with several peripheral implications. The role of peripheral inflammation in the relationship between seizure development and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease based on sex difference remains still overlooked. Severe early-life infections lead to increased inflammation that can aggravate epilepsy and hepatic damage progression, both related to increased odds of hospitalization for epileptic patients with liver diseases. Here, we induced a post-natal-day 3 (PND3) infection by LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.) to determine the hepatic damage in a genetic model of young epileptic WAG/Rij rats (PND45). We evaluated intra- and inter-gender differences in systemic and liver inflammation, hepatic lipid dysmetabolism, and oxidative damage related to mitochondrial functional impairment. First, epileptic rats exposed to LPS, regardless of gender, displayed increased serum hepatic enzymes and altered lipid profile. Endotoxin challenge triggered a more severe inflammatory and immune response in male epileptic rats, compared to females in both serum and liver, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and hepatic immune cell recruitment. Conversely, LPS-treated female rats showed significant alterations in systemic and hepatic lipid profiles and reduced mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. The two different sex-dependent mechanisms of LPS-induced liver injury converge in increased ROS production and related mitochondrial oxidative damage in both sexes. Notably, a compensatory increase in antioxidant defense was evidenced only in female rats. Our study with a translational potential demonstrates, for the first time, that early post-natal infections in epileptic rats induced or worsened hepatic disorders in a sex-dependent manner, amplifying inflammation, lipid dysmetabolism, and mitochondrial impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer and oxidative stress are interrelated, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) playing crucial roles in physiological processes and oncogenesis. Excessive ROS levels can induce DNA damage, leading to cancer, and disrupt antioxidant defenses, contributing to diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Antioxidant mechanisms include enzymes and small molecules that mitigate ROS damage. However, cancer cells often exploit oxidative conditions to evade apoptosis and promote tumor growth. Antioxidant therapy has shown mixed results, with timing and cancer-type influencing outcomes. Multifunctional drugs targeting multiple pathways offer a promising approach, reducing side effects and improving efficacy. Recent research focuses on sulfur-nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives for their dual antioxidant and anticancer properties, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy in oncology. The newly synthesized compounds often do not demonstrate both antioxidant and anticancer properties simultaneously. Heterocyclic rings are typically combined with phenyl groups, where hydroxy substitutions enhance antioxidant activity. On the other hand, electron-withdrawing substituents, particularly at the p-position on the phenyl ring, tend to enhance anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the better understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and improved patient survival in recent years, AML therapy still remains a clinical challenge. For this reason, it is important to search for new therapies that will enable the achievement of remission. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved three mutant IDH (mIDH) inhibitors for the treatment of AML. However, the use of mIDH inhibitors in monotherapy usually leads to the development of resistance and the subsequent recurrence of the cancer, despite the initial effectiveness of the therapy. A complete understanding of the mechanisms by which IDH mutations influence the development of leukemia, as well as the processes that enable resistance to mIDH inhibitors, may significantly improve the efficacy of this therapy through the use of an appropriate synergistic approach. The aim of this literature review is to present the role of IDH1/IDH2 mutations in the pathogenesis of AML and the results of clinical trials using mIDH1/IDH2 inhibitors in AML and to discuss the challenges related to the use of mIDH1/IDH2 inhibitors in practice and future prospects related to the potential methods of overcoming resistance to these agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the growing demand for algae in Western countries is due to their richness in nutrients and bioactive compounds, and their use as ingredients for foods, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, fertilizers, biofuels,, etc. Evaluation of the qualitative characteristics of algae involves assessing their physicochemical and nutritional components to determine their suitability for specific end uses, but this assessment is generally performed using destructive, expensive, and time-consuming traditional chemical analyses, and requires sample preparation. The hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique has been successfully applied in food quality assessment and control and has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional biochemical methods. In this study, the nutritional profile (proteins, lipids, and fibers) of seventeen edible macro- and microalgae species widely grown throughout the world were investigated using traditional methods. Moreover, a shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging device and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms were used to develop multi-species models for proteins, lipids, and fibers. The predictive power of the models was characterized by different metrics, which showed very high predictive performances for all nutritional parameters (for example, R2 = 0.9952, 0.9767, 0.9828 for proteins, lipids, and fibers, respectively). Our results demonstrated the ability of SWIR hyperspectral imaging coupled with ANN algorithms in quantifying biomolecules in algal species in a fast and sustainable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While devices in the Internet of Things (hereinafter "IoT") such as smart appliances, smart watches, and pacemakers are intended to make life easier and safer, they sometimes complicate users' lives with system failures and expose them to new risks instead. Users suffer the risks stemming from hastily developed cybersecurity in IoT devices, sometimes with serious consequences and without recourse against manufacturers or cybercriminals. Cybercriminals' ability to exploit gaps in cybersecurity from anywhere makes the IoT especially risk-prone to transnational crime and may make tort claims against multinational manufacturers tenuous on issues of causation and actual harm suffered. Most problematically, the IoT represents an underdeveloped area of law that courts and legislatures in many countries have attempted to address with vastly differing approaches. In turn, this patchwork of underdeveloped IoT jurisprudence leaves manufacturers without clear standards to follow and consumers without adequate paths to pursue remedies. Though ambitious, multilateral international collaboration is necessary to set uniform standards for the ubiquitous issues associated with IoT cybersecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin introduced through the diet with anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and antioxidant activities. Today, this vitamin is integrated into the treatment of many inflammatory pathologies. However, there is increasing evidence of possible use in treating autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. We reviewed the literature to delve deeper into the rationale for using vitamin C in treating this type of pathology. There is much evidence in the literature regarding the beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation for treating autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and neoplasms, particularly hematological neoplastic diseases. Vitamin C integration regulates the cytokines microenvironment, modulates immune response to autoantigens and cancer cells, and regulates oxidative stress. Moreover, integration therapy has an enhanced effect on chemotherapies, ionizing radiation, and target therapy used in treating hematological neoplasm. In the future, integrative therapy will have an increasingly important role in preventing pathologies and as an adjuvant to standard treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decompensated liver disease is complicated by multi‐organ failure and poor prognosis. The prognosis of patients with liver failure often dictates clinical management. Current prognostic models have focused on biomarkers considered as individual isolated units. Network physiology assesses the interactions among multiple physiological systems in health and disease irrespective of anatomical connectivity and defines the influence or dependence of one organ system on another. Indeed, recent applications of network mapping methods to patient data have shown improved prediction of response to therapy or prognosis in cirrhosis. Initially, different physical markers have been used to assess physiological coupling in cirrhosis including heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence, and skin temperature variability measures. Further, the parenclitic network analysis was recently applied showing that organ systems connectivity is impaired in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and can predict mortality in cirrhosis independent of current prognostic models while also providing valuable insights into the associated pathological pathways. Moreover, network mapping also predicts response to intravenous albumin in patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis. Thus, this review highlights the importance of evaluating decompensated cirrhosis through the network physiologic prism. It emphasizes the limitations of current prognostic models and the values of network physiologic techniques in cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging was used to predict the total polyphenol content in low-temperature stressed tomato seedlings for the development of a multispectral image sensor. The spectral data with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 5 nm were merged to obtain FWHMs of 10 nm, 25 nm, and 50 nm using a commercialized bandpass filter. Using the permutation importance method and regression coefficients, we developed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression models by setting the band number to ≥11, ≤10, and ≤5 for each FWHM. The regression model using 56 bands with an FWHM of 5 nm resulted in an R2 of 0.71, an RMSE of 3.99 mg/g, and an RE of 9.04%, whereas the model developed using the spectral data of only 5 bands with a FWHM of 25 nm (at 519.5 nm, 620.1 nm, 660.3 nm, 719.8 nm, and 980.3 nm) provided an R2 of 0.62, an RMSE of 4.54 mg/g, and an RE of 10.3%. These results show that a multispectral image sensor can be developed to predict the total polyphenol content of tomato seedlings subjected to low-temperature stress, paving the way for energy saving and low-temperature stress damage prevention in vegetable seedling production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with biological essentialist beliefs about social groups also tend to endorse biased beliefs about individuals in those groups, including intensified emphasis on the group, stereotypes, and prejudices. These correlations could be due to biological essentialism causing bias, and some experimental studies support this causal direction. Given this prior work, we expected to find that biological essentialism would lead to increased bias compared with a control condition and set out to extend this prior work in a new direction (regarding "value-based" essentialism). But although the manipulation affected essentialist beliefs and essentialist beliefs were correlated with group emphasis (Study 1), stereotyping (Studies 2, 3a, 3b, and 3c), prejudice (Studies 3a), there was no evidence that biological essentialism caused these outcomes (N Total = 1,903). Given these findings, our initial research question became moot. We thus focus on reexamining the relationship between essentialism and bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fight or flight phenomena is of evolutionary origin and responsible for the type of defensive behaviours enacted, when in the face of threat. This review attempts to draw the link between fear and aggression as motivational levers for fight or flight defensive behaviours. Furthermore, this review investigates whether human biological motion is modulated by the affective behaviours associated with the fight or flight phenomenon. It examines how threat informed emotion and motor systems have the potential to result in the modulation of empathetic appraisal. This is of interest to this systematic review, as empathetic modulation is crucial to prosocial drive, which has the potential to alleviate the perceived threat. Hence, this review investigates the role of affective computing in capturing the potential outcome of threat perception and associated empathetic responses. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the affective responses and biological motion evoked from threat scenarios, affective computing methods used to capture these neurophysiological and behavioural responses are discussed. A systematic review using Google Scholar and Web of Science was conducted as of 2023, and findings were supplemented by bibliographies of key articles. A total of 26 studies were analysed from initial web searches to explore the topics of empathy, threat perception, fight or flight, fear, aggression, and human motion. Relationships between affective behaviours (fear, aggression) and corresponding motor defensive behaviours (fight or flight) were examined within threat scenarios, and whether existing affective computing methods are effective in capturing these responses, identifying the varying consensus in the literature, challenges, and limitations of existing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), as essential amino acids, engage in various physiological processes, such as protein synthesis, energy supply, and cellular signaling. The liver is a crucial site for BCAA metabolism, linking the changes in BCAA homeostasis with the pathogenesis of a variety of liver diseases and their complications. Peripheral circulating BCAA levels show complex trends in different liver diseases. This review delineates the alterations of BCAAs in conditions including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatitis C virus infection, and acute liver failure, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying these changes. A significant amount of clinical research has utilized BCAA supplements in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, the efficacy of BCAA supplementation in clinical practice remains uncertain and controversial due to the heterogeneity of studies. This review delves into the complicated relationship between BCAAs and liver diseases and tries to untangle what role BCAAs play in the occurrence, development, and outcomes of liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of metastatic melanoma has been revolutionised by immunotherapy, yet a significant number of patients do not respond, and many experience autoimmune adverse events. Associations have been reported between patient outcome and monocyte subsets, whereas vitamin C (ascorbate) has been shown to mediate changes in cancer-stimulated monocytes in vitro. We therefore investigated the relationship of ascorbate with monocyte subsets and epigenetic modifications in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving immunotherapy. Patients receiving immunotherapy were compared to other cancer cohorts and age-matched healthy controls. Ascorbate levels in plasma and peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocyte subtype and epigenetic markers were measured, and adverse events, tumour response and survival were recorded. A quarter of the immunotherapy cohort had hypovitaminosis C, with plasma and PBMC ascorbate levels significantly lower than those from other cancer patients or healthy controls. PBMCs from the immunotherapy cohort contained similar frequencies of non-classical and classical monocytes. DNA methylation markers and intracellular ascorbate concentration were correlated with monocyte subset frequency in healthy controls, but correlation was lost in immunotherapy patients. No associations between ascorbate status and immune-related adverse events or tumour response or overall survival were apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social scientists have long been interested in how attitudes and values influence fertility intentions and behaviors. The role of political ideology has, on the contrary, been overlooked. Right-wing people tend to be more religious, to hold more traditional views on gender roles and on the importance of the family. Therefore, right-wing people may be more likely to hold positive fertility intentions that individuals with other political orientations. In addition, political ideology may have an effect on fertility intention independent of other attitudes. Using two rounds of the European Social Survey, we show that people that position at the extreme right of the political ideology scale are more likely to intend to have a child during the three years following the interview. This association holds even after accounting for several socio-demographic and economic factors, values and attitudes. Heterogeneity tests show that the association is restricted to younger individuals (aged 20–34), with higher levels of education (at least upper secondary), and individuals in Eastern Europe. In Southern Europe right-wing individuals show significantly higher predicted probabilities of a positive fertility intention compared people that locate themselves in the political center. The statistically significant associations are also sizeable (differences in terms of predicted probabilities vary between 4 and 9 percentage points). These results point to the importance of considering a neglected factor in fertility research and contribute to the growing field of Political Demography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methamphetamine (METH) exposure increases locomotor sensitization. However, no study has explored the occurrence of cardiovascular sensitization. The present study, carried out in mice, analyzed the following: (i) METH sensitization extending to systolic blood pressure (SBP); (ii) a potential correlation between ambulatory and cardiovascular sensitization; and (iii) morphological alterations within meso-striatal, meso-limbic and pontine catecholamine systems including c-fos expression. Locomotor activity, SBP and occurrence of morphological alterations of catecholaminergic neurons were assessed in C57Bl/6J mice following daily i.p. injections of either saline or METH (1, 2 or 5 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days and following 6 days of withdrawal. Reiterated exposure to the lower doses of METH (1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg) produced in mice locomotor sensitization without altering SBP. In contrast, repeated treatment with the highest dose of METH (5 mg/kg) produced sensitization of SBP in the absence of locomotor sensitization. No morphological alterations but increases in c-fos expression within neurons of locus coeruleus and nucleus accumbens were detected. The present data suggest that METH produces plastic changes that extend beyond the motor systems to alter autonomic regulation. This cardiovascular sensitization occurs independently of locomotor sensitization. The persistency of increased blood pressure may underlie specific mechanisms operating in producing hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformer‐based models have revolutionized single cell RNA‐seq (scRNA‐seq) data analysis. However, their applicability is challenged by the complexity and scale of single‐cell multi‐omics data. Here a novel single‐cell multi‐modal/multi‐task transformer (scmFormer) is proposed to fill up the existing blank of integrating single‐cell proteomics with other omics data. Through systematic benchmarking, it is demonstrated that scmFormer excels in integrating large‐scale single‐cell multimodal data and heterogeneous multi‐batch paired multi‐omics data, while preserving shared information across batchs and distinct biological information. scmFormer achieves 54.5% higher average F1 score compared to the second method in transferring cell‐type labels from single‐cell transcriptomics to proteomics data. Using COVID‐19 datasets, it is presented that scmFormer successfully integrates over 1.48 million cells on a personal computer. Moreover, it is also proved that scmFormer performs better than existing methods on generating the unmeasured modality and is well‐suited for spatial multi‐omic data. Thus, scmFormer is a powerful and comprehensive tool for analyzing single‐cell multi‐omics data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC), also known as ascorbic acid, plays a crucial role as a water-soluble nutrient within the human body, contributing to a variety of metabolic processes. Research findings suggest that increased doses of VC demonstrate potential anti-tumor capabilities. This review delves into the mechanisms of VC absorption and its implications for cancer management. Building upon these foundational insights, we explore modern delivery systems for VC, evaluating its use in diverse cancer treatment methods. These include starvation therapy, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT), electrothermal therapy, immunotherapy, cellular reprogramming, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and various combination therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) market has steadily grown due to the increasing demand of health-conscious consumers of products with health-promoting effects. Recently, a growing interest in developing ecological and environmentally friendly extraction methods has led to investigating extraction procedures to obtain a higher extraction yield using a lower amount of solvents and energy. Herein, a new extraction procedure was developed to obtain an enriched pomegranate food supplement by using the peels of pomegranate, cultivar "Dente di Cavallo" and its juice. The extraction was performed through a non-conventional extraction technique like SLDE-Naviglio using ethanol and pomegranate juice as a solvent, and peels as a matrix. The extract was analysed by a combined approach based on LCESI/QExactive/MS/MS and NMR analysis, and its chemical profile was compared with those of pomegranate juice and of the extract obtained from peels by SLDE-Naviglio by using ethanol:H2O. The LC-MS analysis highlighted the presence of hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, ellagic acid and phenol glucoside derivatives, while 1H NMR analysis completed the profile by detecting the primary metabolites. The LC-MS and 1H NMR analysis indicated that the extract obtained by SLDE-Naviglio using ethanol and pomegranate juice was enriched in the bioactives as confirmed by the highest phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University / Ankara Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Ankara Universitesi Ilahiyat Fakultesi Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This report is on the characterization of active Ti center in heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts by Soft X-ray Emission Spectrometry (SXES). Since titanium in the catalyst has various chemical bonds, it is important to grasp the chemical bond state. The outermost shell electrons are very important for understanding the chemical bond state. SXES is the only method that can easily observe outermost shell electrons with current analytical instruments. Here, a co-milled solid of MgCl2, TiCl4, and phthalate was used as a catalyst precursor, and three types of catalysts with significantly different catalytic activity levels were synthesized by changing the subsequent preparation process. The correlation between catalytic activity and the signal shape of Lα,β emission, which is the outermost shell electron of Ti in SXES analysis, was investigated. Lα,β emission was detected as broad signal. It could be observed that the high active catalyst had a relatively strong signal intensity at the high energy side. The shape changes were also checked when the catalyst solids were treated by triethylaluminum. By this treatment, the relative intensity of the high energy side signal enhanced further, suggesting that the triethylaluminum treatment induced the elimination of inactive Ti from the catalyst solid. By comparing with the solid 13C-NMR analyses data of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst described in our previous report, the high energy side signal of Ti Lα,β in SXES results implies the relationship with the NMR results for carbonyl function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Transverse colonic volvulus (TCV) is a serious condition with a mortality rate of up to 33%. It is very rare, especially in children. Despite its rarity, surgeons should have a high index of suspicion and include it in the list of differential diagnoses, especially in patients with developmental delays and associated uncommon syndromes. Resection and anastomosis, whether as a one‐stage or two‐stage procedure, proved to be the best treatment options for children. Since prompt identification and management are vital, this paper presents useful information on the presentation, treatment, and outcome of this case report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignant plasma cell disorder characterized by the infiltration of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow compartment. Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) has emerged as a powerful investigation tool in modern myeloma research enabling the dissection of the molecular background of MM and allowing the identification of gene products that could potentially serve as targets for therapeutic intervention. In this study we investigated shared transcriptomic abnormalities across newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patient cohorts. In total, publicly available transcriptomic data of 7 studies from CD138+ cells from 281 NDMM patients and 44 healthy individuals were integrated and analyzed. Overall, we identified 28 genes that were consistently differentially expressed (DE) between NDMM patients and healthy donors (HD) across various studies. Of those, 9 genes were over/under-expressed in more than 75% of NDMM patients. In addition, we identified 4 genes (MT1F, PURPL, LINC01239 and LINC01480) that were not previously considered to participate in MM pathogenesis. Meanwhile, by mining three drug databases (ChEMBL, IUPHAR/BPS and DrugBank) we identified 31 FDA-approved and 144 experimental drugs that target 8 of these 28 over/underexpressed MM genes. Taken together, our study offers new insights in MM pathogenesis and importantly, it reveals potential new treatment options that need to be further investigated in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The life satisfaction of the elderly in nursing home is the focus of social concern.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of family function and sleep quality on life satisfaction among elderly individuals in nursing homes and examine the mediating effect of sleep quality between family function and life satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.A total of 127 older adults who completed the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSI-A), the Family APGAR Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were recruited from four nursing homes in Chongqing, China. Results: Life satisfaction was positively correlated with family function (r=0.434, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with PSQI (r = -0.514, p<0.01). PSQI was found to be negatively associated with family function (r=-0.387, p<0.01).Family function had a significant effect on PSQI (path a: β=-0.8459, 95% CI=-1.2029, -0.4889), and PSQI had a significant effect on life satisfaction (path b: β=-0.3916, 95% CI=-0.5407, -0.2425). The total effect (path c) and direct effect (path c') of family function on life satisfaction were significant (β=0.8931, 95% CI=0.5626, 1.2235 and β=0.56181, 95% CI=0.2358, 0.8879, respectively). The coefficient for the indirect effect of family function on life satisfaction through PSQI was statistically significant (β=0.3312, 95% CI=0.1628, 0.5588). PSQI played a partial mediating role between family function and life satisfaction, and PSQI mediated 32.58% of the total effect of family function on life satisfaction. Conclusions: Family function and sleep quality were significant predictors of elderly people's life satisfaction in nursing homes. Sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between family function and life satisfaction.The interventions focused on promoting family function and improving sleep quality may be more helpful in improving elderly people's life satisfaction in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) are important signaling proteins that regulate dendritic growth and maintenance in the central nervous system (CNS). After binding of BDNF, TrkB is endocytosed into endosomes and continues signaling within the cell soma, dendrites, and axon. In previous studies, we showed that BDNF signaling initiated in axons triggers long-distance signaling, inducing dendritic arborization in a CREB-dependent manner in cell bodies, processes that depend on axonal dynein and TrkB activities. The binding of BDNF to TrkB triggers the activation of different signaling pathways, including the ERK, PLC-γ and PI3KmTOR pathways, to induce dendritic growth and synaptic plasticity. How TrkB downstream pathways regulate long-distance signaling is unclear. Here, we studied the role of PLC-γ-Ca2+ in BDNF-induced long-distance signaling using compartmentalized microfluidic cultures. We found that dendritic branching and CREB phosphorylation induced by axonal BDNF stimulation require the activation of PLC-γ in the axons of cortical neurons. Locally, in axons, BDNF increases PLC-γ phosphorylation and induces intracellular Ca2+ waves in a PLC-γ-dependent manner. In parallel, we observed that BDNFcontaining signaling endosomes transport to the cell body was dependent on PLC-γ activity and intracellular Ca2+ stores. Furthermore, the activity of PLC-γ is required for BDNF-dependent TrkB endocytosis, suggesting a role for the TrkB/PLC-γ signaling pathway in axonal signaling endosome formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) is a robust method for studying gene expression at the single‐cell level, but accurately quantifying genetic material is often hindered by limited mRNA capture, resulting in many missing expression values. Existing imputation methods rely on strict data assumptions, limiting their broader application, and lack reliable supervision, leading to biased signal recovery. To address these challenges, authors developed Bis, a distribution‐agnostic deep learning model for accurately recovering missing sing‐cell gene expression from multiple platforms. Bis is an optimal transport‐based autoencoder model that can capture the intricate distribution of scRNA‐seq data while addressing the characteristic sparsity by regularizing the cellular embedding space. Additionally, they propose a module using bulk RNA‐seq data to guide reconstruction and ensure expression consistency. Experimental results show Bis outperforms other models across simulated and real datasets, showcasing superiority in various downstream analyses including batch effect removal, clustering, differential expression analysis, and trajectory inference. Moreover, Bis successfully restores gene expression levels in rare cell subsets in a tumor‐matched peripheral blood dataset, revealing developmental characteristics of cytokine‐induced natural killer cells within a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algorithmic bias occurs when algorithms incorporate biases in the human decisions on which they are trained. We find that people see more of their biases (e.g., age, gender, race) in the decisions of algorithms than in their own decisions. Research participants saw more bias in the decisions of algorithms trained on their decisions than in their own decisions, even when those decisions were the same and participants were incentivized to reveal their true beliefs. By contrast, participants saw as much bias in the decisions of algorithms trained on their decisions as in the decisions of other participants and algorithms trained on the decisions of other participants. Cognitive psychological processes and motivated reasoning help explain why people see more of their biases in algorithms. Research participants most susceptible to bias blind spot were most likely to see more bias in algorithms than self. Participants were also more likely to perceive algorithms than themselves to have been influenced by irrelevant biasing attributes (e.g., race) but not by relevant attributes (e.g., user reviews). Because participants saw more of their biases in algorithms than themselves, they were more likely to make debiasing corrections to decisions attributed to an algorithm than to themselves. Our findings show that bias is more readily perceived in algorithms than in self and suggest how to use algorithms to reveal and correct biased human decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Palliative care (PC) utilization remains low among pancreatic cancer patients. This study explores the association of PC with mental health service and pharmacotherapy utilization among pancreatic cancer patients.Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on a sample of patients in the United States with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer using Electronic Health Record data from Optum's Integrated Claims-Clinical data set. Subsequent diagnoses of anxiety and depression and PC consultation encounters were determined using ICD-9/10 codes. Adjusted associations of mental health treatments with PC and patient characteristics were quantified using multiple logistic regression. Results: Among newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patients (n = 4029), those with PC consultations exhibited a higher prevalence of anxiety (33.9% vs. 22.8%) and depression (36.2% vs. 23.2%). Mental health service use and pharmacotherapy varied, with the highest utilization among patients having both anxiety and depression. Treatment pattern was also influenced by age (aOR 1.832 for age <55 vs. 65–70 years). Notably, PC consultations showed no significant effect on the likelihood of documented treatment. Discussion: Our study emphasizes underutilization of PC and MH treatment for pancreatic cancer patients. These findings imply a crucial need for further investigation into palliative care's role in addressing mental health concerns among pancreatic cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut flowers are considered to be one of the most delicate and challenging commercial crops. It is important to take into consideration how to minimize loss during storage and transportation when preserving cut flowers. Many impinging (bad effect) forces can interact to shorten the flowers' vase life. In the flower industry, effective methods need to be developed to extend freshly cut flowers' life. Fresh-cut flowers' vase life can be shortened by a variety of interlocking causes. The flower industry must develop new techniques to extend the flowers' vase lifespan. This review provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on classical, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP) displays. According to this review, a promising packaging technique for fresh flowers can be achieved through smart packaging. A smart package is one that incorporates new technology to increase its functionality. This combines active packaging, nanotechnology, and intelligence. This technology makes it easier to keep an eye on the environmental variables that exist around the packaged flowers to enhance their quality. This article offers a comprehensive overview of creative flower-saving packaging ideas that reduce flower losses and assist growers in handling more effectively their flower inventory. To guarantee the quality of flowers throughout the marketing chain, innovative packaging techniques and advanced packaging technologies should be adopted to understand various package performances. This will provide the consumer with cut flowers of standard quality. Furthermore, sustainable packaging is achieved with circular packaging. We can significantly reduce packaging waste's environmental impact by designing reused or recyclable packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer ranks as the 10th most prevalent cancer globally with an increasing incidence. Radical cystectomy combined with urinary diversion represents the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, offering a range of techniques tailored to patient factors. Overall, urinary diversions are divided into non-continent and continent. Among the first category, cutaneous ureterostomy and ileal conduit represent the most common procedures while in the second category, it could be possible to describe another subclassification which includes ureterosigmoidostomy, continent diversions requiring catheterization and orthotopic voiding pouches and neobladders. In this comprehensive review, urinary diversions are described in their technical aspects, providing a summary of almost all alternatives to urinary diversion post-radical cystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent losses before consumption due to the rapid ripening of bananas, turning unripe bananas into flour and using it in bakery products can both enhance the functional properties of the product and transform bananas into a high-value product. In this study, it is aimed to enhance the functional properties of banana flour through fermentation, thereby investigating its potential use in the production of healthy snack biscuits which are widely consumed, especially by children and busy people. Different proportions (0%, 15%, and 30%) of unripe banana flour (UBF) and fermented unripe banana flour (FUBF) were added to biscuits, evaluating their impact on physical (color, diameter, thickness, spread ratio), textural (hardness), and functional properties (total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, dietary fiber, glycemic index). The effect of FUBF on biscuit spread ratio compared to UBF was positive (p < 0.05). The addition of UBF or FUBF significantly increased total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (p < 0.05), with the highest TPC (1167.88 mg GAE/kg) observed in biscuits containing 30% FUBF (p < 0.05). Fermentation showed no significant effect on antioxidant activity of samples (p > 0.05). The glycemic index (GI) values were notably high across all samples, with the control at 78.59 and the 30% FUBF sample at 72.74 (p < 0.05), indicating all samples fell into the high GI food category. Biscuit hardness decreased significantly with UBF or FUBF addition (p < 0.05), while fermentation had no significant impact on hardness (p > 0.05). This study underscores the potential of UBF or FUBF to contribute to healthier snack options with improved functional characteristics., Competing Interests: Declarations 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.)

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effects of root and sprout samples from Multi-hued Bulk, Black, and Titicaca Quinoa varieties (Chenopodium quinoa willd.) on Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (AGS). These varieties were cultivated using a complete randomized block design with four replications in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran (research field of Yazd University). Root samples were harvested before seed filling from a soil depth of 30 cm. Once the seed germination and filling stages were complete, 100 g of seeds from each variety were randomly selected without hulling to produce sprouts. The total saponins content, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant activity (Ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH free radical inhibition) of the hydroethanolic extract (80:20) (obtained using the Soxhlet method, at 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/mL) were evaluated for root and sprout samples of all three varieties. Based on the results, the highest saponin contents (mg/g dry weight) were observed in the Black root (4.24) and Titicaca root (1.7), while the lowest saponin content (0.6) was found in the Black sprout. The Black and Titicaca sprout extracts at 1000 mg/mL had significantly higher total phenolic (172.68 mgGAE/gDW) and flavonoid (128.17 mgQ/gDW) contents, as well as antioxidant capacity compared to the corresponding samples from the Multi-hued Bulk variety and the root samples of all three varieties. The lowest and highest DPPH IC50 values were observed in the Black sprout and Multi-hued Bulk root extracts at 1000 mg/mL (1.11 and 3.15 mg/mL, respictively). The average cell viability of AGS was observed in the Black sprout extract (33.46) and Titicaca (36.11) varieties at 1000 mg/mL, 72 hours after the treatment, respectively. Findings could contribute to the development and accessibility of this medicinal plant for patients with gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]