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This study investigated the use of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris (EOTV) and its nanoemulsion (NEOTV) as sedatives during the transport of juvenile Colossoma macropomum (30.2 ± 3.90 g and 11.8 ± 0.8 cm). The EOTV was characterized by gas chromatography, while the NEOTV was prepared by sonication and characterized by zeta potential. Six treatments were evaluated: a basal treatment with blood collection from 10 juveniles without transport management, and five treatments with transport, with three replicates each (transport bags), containing the following: 0 (control), 10 mg/L of EOTV, 20 mg/L of EOTV, 10 mg/L of NEOTV and 20 mg/L of NEOTV. The juveniles were transported for 4 h in 10-L plastic bags with 6 L of water and pure oxygen supplementation, at a density of 10 juveniles per bag. Water quality parameters were measured immediately after opening the bags post-transport. Blood samples were collected from 10 juveniles from each treatment immediately at 24 h and 72 h after transport. The EOTV presented p-cymene (47.63%) and carvacrol (30.44%) as major components, and the NEOTV presented particles with an average diameter of less than 100 nm. There was no mortality during the experiment. The water in the bags of juveniles transported with 20 mg/L of EOTV, 10 mg/L of NEOTV, and 20 mg/L of NEOTV presented lower temperatures than the control. In addition, the water in the bags with 20 mg/L of NEOTV presented higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen than the control. Juveniles transported with 20 mg/L of EOTV, 10 mg/L of NEOTV, and 20 mg/L of NEOTV exhibited lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, and glucose levels after transport. It is concluded that, overall, NEOTV is more effective than EOTV. The use of 20 mg/L of NEOTV in the water is recommended to reduce oxygen consumption and avoid hyperglycemia during the transport of juvenile C. macropomum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assimilation of major sugars from lignocellulosic biomasses is pivotal for achieving a feasible oil production by oleaginous yeasts in biorefineries. Papiliotrema laurentii UFV-1 is an oleaginous yeast capable of converting lignocellulosic sugars such as glucose and xylose into lipids; however, glucose is assimilated before xylose, impairing high volumetric lipid productivity. To circumvent this drawback, we hypothesized that random mutagenesis combined with 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) selection would be a suitable strategy for selecting strains of P. laurentii UFV-1 less sensitive to glucose repression. First, we determined the growth kinetics parameters of the wild strain in minimum medium with glucose and/or xylose. Then, the yeast was subjected to mutagenesis by ultraviolet irradiation, and candidate mutants were selected in a culture medium containing 2DG. Among the 24 selected candidate mutants, the M17 strain stood out due to its capacity to achieve a higher cell density at the 2DG inhibitory concentration. Surprisingly, both M17 and wildtype strains presented the same xylose and glucose consumption profile. Although M17 grew faster in xylose and preserved the oleaginous phenotype, it could not co-assimilate glucose and xylose. Interestingly, the tolerant strain grew assimilating 2DG and xylose simultaneously, likely incorporating 2DG into its biomass. Otherwise, the wild strain presented arrested growth and only grew after exporting 2DG back to the media. Since carbon catabolite repression and 2DG response mechanisms are poorly studied and remains elusive in Basidiomycota yeasts, we provided cues to guide future studies that will allow a better understanding of the mechanisms involved with 2DG resistance in these yeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine (a) the association between metabolic factors and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), (b) metabolic predictors of CMP 10 years later, and (c) the association and evolution of metabolic factors across different CMP trajectory groups. Design: Data from the longitudinal Doetinchem Cohort Study were used. We used round 4 (2003–2007), with 4519 participants aged 36–75 years, as the baseline for the present study, with follow-up measurements in round 5 (2008–2012), and 6 (2013–2017), including self-reported pain and metabolic factors, which were measured either via self-report or physical assessment. For the three research aims, (a) generalized linear mixed-effects models, (b) binary logistic regression analyses and (c) linear mixed-effects models were used. Results: (a) Female sex, higher age, presence of diabetes, higher BMI, lower diastolic blood pressure (BP), and elevated cystatin C were significantly associated with CMP in multivariable logistic analyses. (b) Female sex and elevated BMI were predictors of CMP 10 years later. (c) Those pain-free for 10 years had the lowest BMI levels compared to other CMP groups (development, recovery, persistent, and recurrent CMP). BMI was higher in the persistent CMP group than in the development and recovery groups. The pain-free group had higher diastolic BP compared to those in the persistent CMP group. Participants in the persistent CMP group had higher Cystatin C levels than the free, development and recovery CMP groups. Regarding the evolution of metabolic factors over time, BMI, glucose and diastolic BP evolved differently across the CMP trajectory groups. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the importance of metabolic factors, especially BMI, in the onset and progression of CMP. These findings underscore the need to consider metabolic health in the prevention and treatment of CMP. Key Points • Metabolic factors are associated with the presence of chronic musculoskeletal pain. • Female sex and elevated BMI are predictive of musculoskeletal pain (MP) 10 years later. • Metabolic factors evolve differently over time across different pain trajectory groups, with variations in BMI, glucose, and diastolic blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common comorbidity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF have a high prevalence of SDB. In previous studies, some patients with AF had Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR). The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of SDB and the correlates of SDB severity and CSR in AF patients who have undergone PVI. The study was conducted using a single-center observational design. All participants underwent a home sleep apnea test (ApneaLink Air, ResMed, Australia), which could determine the severity of SDB as assessed by the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and the percentage of CSR (%CSR) pattern. 139 AF patients who underwent PVI were included in the study. Overall, 38 (27.3%) patients had no SDB (AHI < 5), 53 (38.1%) had mild SDB (5 ≤ AHI < 15), 33 (23.7%) had moderate SDB (15 ≤ AHI < 30), and 15 (10.8%) had severe SDB (AHI ≥ 30). Correlates of the increased AHI included male sex (β = 0.23, p = 0.004), age (β = 0.19, p = 0.020), high body mass index (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), and β blockers usage (β = 0.18, p = 0.024). Conversely, correlates with the %CSR rate included male sex (β = 0.18, p = 0.020), age (β = 0.19, p = 0.015), non-paroxysmal AF (β = 0.22, p = 0.008), and high glycohemoglobin A1c (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (β = 0.24, p = 0.005) levels. SDB is prevalent in patients with AF who have undergone PVI; predisposing factors for SDB include male sex, older age, and obesity. CSR occurs in patients with AF who have undergone PVI; predisposing factors for CSR include male sex, older age, high left ventricular filling pressure, and abnormal blood glucose level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-Proline (l-Pro) is a non-essential amino acid which, in high concentrations, can cause neurological problems including seizures, although the causative mechanism for this is unclear. Here, we studied the impact of physiological levels of proline on brain energy metabolism and investigated the metabolism of l-Pro itself, using the cortical brain tissue slice and stable isotope labelling from [1-13 C]glucose and [1,2-13 C]acetate detected by NMR spectroscopy and LCMS. l-Pro was actively taken up by the slices and significantly reduced the total metabolic pools of all measured metabolites with glutamine the least affected, while reducing net flux of 13C into glycolytic byproducts (lactate and alanine). Conversely, net flux into Krebs cycle intermediates was increased, suggesting that L-Pro at lower concentrations was driving increased mitochondrial activity in both neurons and glia at the expense of glycolysis and metabolic pool sizes. As there was no evidence of metabolism of [1-13 C] l-Pro in slices under normo-glycemic conditions, the effect of proline on metabolism was not due to displacement of metabolites by added l-Pro. Comparison of the metabolic fingerprint generated by l-Pro in slices metabolizing [3-13 C]pyruvate with that generated by ligands active in the GABAergic system suggested that l-Pro may engender effects similar to that of the inhibitory neurotransmitter and metabolite γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in line with previous suggestions that l-Pro may be a GABA mimetic in addition to its role as a modulator of mitochondrial metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia during early brain injury (EBI) period after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with poor outcome, but the underlying physiopathology is unknown. This study assessed if hyperglycemia during EBI is associated with markers of neuroaxonal injury and whether these biomarkers partially account for the association between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome. Ninety-two SAH patients admitted within 24 h of bleeding onset were prospectively included. Glucose levels were measured at arrival and every 6 h for 72 h. Serum neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels were measured at 72 h. Functional outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days (poor outcome, mRS > 2). The association between glucose metrics, NFL levels, and clinical outcome was assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the potential chain in which NFL may mediate the relationship between glucose and functional outcome. Higher glucose and NFL levels during EBI were associated with poor clinical outcome in adjusted analysis. NFL levels were associated with older age, higher initial severity, and higher glucose levels during EBI period. In adjusted mediation analyses, the association between glucose and clinical outcome was significantly mediated by NFL levels. The mediator NFL explained 25% of the association between glucose during EBI period and poor functional outcome at 90 days. In SAH, the association between glucose levels during EBI and poor clinical outcome might be significantly mediated by NFL levels. The link between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome might be explained in part through secondary neuroaxonal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Regular physical activity and exercise (PA) are cornerstones of diabetes care for individuals with type 1 diabetes. In recent years, the availability of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems has improved the ability of people with type 1 diabetes to achieve the recommended glucose target ranges. PA provide additional health benefits but can cause glucose fluctuations, which challenges current AID systems. While an increasing number of clinical trials and reviews are being published on different AID systems and PA, it seems prudent at this time to collate this information and develop a position statement on the topic. This joint European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)/International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) position statement reviews current evidence on AID systems and provides detailed clinical practice points for managing PA in children, adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes using AID technology. It discusses each commercially available AID system individually and provides guidance on their use in PA. Additionally, it addresses different glucose responses to PA and provides stratified therapy options to maintain glucose levels within the target ranges for these age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: DbChitI-3, Drosera binata's acidic chitinase, peaks at pH 2.5 from 15 °C to 30 °C. Gene expression is stimulated by polysaccharides and suppressed by monosaccharide digestion, implying a feedback loop in its transcriptional regulation. Here, we characterised a novel chitinase gene (DbChitI-3) isolated from the carnivorous plant species Drosera binata with strong homology to other Drosera species' extracellular class I chitinases with a role in digestive processes. The capability to cleave different forms of chitin was tested using recombinantly produced chitinase in Escherichia coli (rDbChitI-3S−His) and subsequent purification. The recombinant protein did not cleave chitin powder, the mono-, di- and tri- N-acetyl-D-glucosamine substrates, but cleaved acetic acid-swollen chitin. Fluorometric assay with acetic acid-swollen FITC-chitin as a substrate revealed the maximum enzyme activity at pH 2.5, spanning from 15 °C to 30 °C. Comparing enzymatic parameters with commercial chitinase from Streptomyces griseus showed rDbChitI-3S-His efficiency reaching 64.3% of S. griseus chitinase under optimal conditions. The highest basal expression of DbChitI-3 was detected in leaf blades. In other organs, the expression was either fivefold lower (petioles) or almost nondetectable (stems, roots and flowers). Application of gelatin, chitin, and pachyman resulted in a 3.9-, 4.6- and 5.7-fold increase in the mRNA transcript abundance of DbChitI-3 in leaves. In contrast, monosaccharides and laminarin decreased transcription of the DbChitI-3 gene by at least 70%, 5 h after treatment. The simultaneous application of suppressor and inducer (glucose and pachyman) indicated the predominant effect of the suppressor, implying that sufficient monosaccharide nutrients prioritize absorption processes in D. binata leaves over further digestion of the potential substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaempferol and quercetin possess various biological activities, making them valuable in food and medicine. However, their production via traditional methods is often inefficient. This study aims to address this gap by engineering the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to achieve high yields of these flavonoids. We designed a kaempferol biosynthetic pathway by integrating multiple-copy fusion enzyme expression modules, F3H-(GGGGS)2-FLS, into the genome with an optimized linker (GGGGS)2 to enhance kaempferol production from naringenin. To synthesize quercetin de novo, we introduced the FMOCPR gene into the kaempferol-synthesizing strain using the optimized pFBAin promoter. Notably, increasing glucose concentration effectively boosted the production of both flavonoids. Our results demonstrated kaempferol and quercetin titers reaching 194.30 ± 7.69 and 278.92 ± 11.58 mg/L, respectively, in shake-flask cultures. These findings suggest that Y. lipolytica is a promising platform for the efficient production of flavonoid-derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose sensing remains a crucial need as diabetes is a worldwide concern. This work reports the application of Nb2CTx—selenium nanoparticle composite material for the nonenzymatic sensing of glucose. The surface morphology of the synthesized composite was analyzed using various microscopic techniques like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and its structural properties were analyzed using diffraction and spectroscopic methods. A gold disc electrode was modified using the nanocomposite and tested for glucose in an alkaline medium. The sensing was based on the oxidation of glucose on the catalytic surface. The glucose was quantified amperometrically at a significantly lower overpotential of 0.16 V. The sensor showed a good detection range from 2 to 30 mM with a sensitivity of 4.15 µA mM−1 cm−2 and a detection limit of 1.1 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, hydrocalumite, a layered double hydroxide with formula Ca2Al(OH)6Cl·2H2O, has been prepared for the first time using flow semi-continuous mechanochemistry with a DYNO®-MILL RESEARCH LAB (Willy A. Bachofen AG, Switzerland), with stoichiometric amount of reactants in water, after only 5 min at 25 °C. Hydrocalumite, before and after thermal treatment, was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG–DTA) and N2 sorption at − 196 °C. Moreover, calcined hydrocalumite has been evaluated as catalyst for the isomerization of glucose to fructose, a catalytic process which has also been performed in the same flow semi-continuous mechanochemical reactor. This mechanochemical system, unlike conventional ball milling, allows working in semi-continuous and/or continuous mode, using solvents and allowing heating control up to temperatures of 80 °C. The isomerization of glucose to fructose was successfully carried out in this reactor, demonstrating that hydrocalumite prepared by mechanochemistry is more active than that prepared by co-precipitation. The optimization of several experimental variables (reaction temperature and time, glucose/catalyst weight ratio and concentration of glucose in water) has resulted in a 23.5% fructose yield, with a glucose conversion of 38.1%, after 1 h of reaction, at 50 °C, with a 17 wt% glucose and a glucose/catalyst weight ratio of 6. However, the highest fructose productivity was reached under similar experimental conditions, but after only 5 min, with a value of 0.50 kgfructose LH2O−1 h−1 (equivalent to 15 kgfructose Kgcat−1 h−1), which is susceptible to be improved by implementing a continuous mode, assisted with a liquid pump, in the mechanochemical reactor. Therefore, this work has evidenced the versatility and potential of this new flow semi-continuous mechanochemical reactor for the synthesis of crystalline layered double hydroxides, under sustainable experimental conditions, and to perform catalytic processes with high performance, using water as solvent and atmospheric conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many environmental, life-history, and physiological predictors of disease in animals, but we need more studies that examine multiple factors simultaneously to better understand comparative risks of infection in wildlife. The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a North American songbird that has served as a model ecological system for assessing avian disease predictors and responses. Among its various diseases is coccidiosis, an intestinal parasitic infection that is more common in urban finches and in males with drab plumage. Here, we examined additional nutritional–physiological predictors of coccidiosis presence and severity in House Finches, with an emphasis on plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble vitamins (retinol, or vitamin A; tocopherol, or vitamin E) as well as blood glucose and ketones. We found that plasma retinol concentration significantly predicted the presence of coccidiosis; coccidia-infected finches had lower levels of retinol than those without coccidiosis. We also found an effect of the sex*retinol level interaction on coccidiosis severity; retinol levels were lower in more-infected females, but no such pattern was found in males. Overall, we demonstrate a unique link between retinol and intestinal disease status in a wild bird species; to date, such a relationship had only been uncovered in domestic chickens. Mechanistically it is possible that, due to the antioxidant and immunosupportive properties of retinol, animals deficient in retinol are more susceptible to coccidial infections, or that, as in poultry, infection directly lowers retinol levels; experimental manipulations are needed to disentangle these possibilities and to understand why the negative relationship between retinol and coccidiosis severity exists in females but not males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent binge drinking is increasingly common. This study investigates the anomalies in glucose, sodium, calcium, potassium, and acid–base homeostasis induced by binge drinking in adolescents. The records of teenagers who sought medical attention for binge drinking (ethanol level ≥ 0.80 g/L) at the Pediatric Emergency Department, Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan (Italy), spanning the years 2013 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. For this analysis, cases were selected if documented blood chemistry encompassed sodium, potassium, total calcium, glucose, acid–base balance, and lactic acid (only for those with metabolic acidosis). Included were 173 adolescents (female-to-male ratio 0.94), 13.2 to 18.4, median 16.4 years of age. Hypoglycemia (≤ 3.3 mmol/L; N = 1, 0.6%), hyponatremia (≤ 134 mmol/L; N = 7, 4.0%), hypernatremia (≥ 146 mmol/L; N = 3, 1.7%), hypocalcemia (≤ 2.19 mmol/L; N = 0) hypercalcemia (≥ 2.61 mmol/L; N = 0), and hyperkalemia (≥ 5.1 mmol/L; N = 0) were infrequent. Acute respiratory acidosis (pCO2 ≥ 46 mm Hg; pH < 7.40; N = 101, 58%) was the most common acid–base imbalance, followed by respiratory alkalosis (pCO2 ≤ 34 mm Hg; pH > 7.40; N = 10, 5.6%), and metabolic acidosis (HCO3- ≤ 19 mmol/L, pH < 7.40; N = 9, 5.2%). The lactic acid level was increased (≥ 2.1 mmol/L) in all cases with metabolic acidosis. Metabolic alkalosis (HCO3- ≥ 28 mmol/L, pH > 7.40) never occurred. Hypokalemia (≤ 3.4 mmol/L; N = 56, 32%) was prevalent, particularly in adolescents with normal acid–base equilibrium or metabolic acidosis, rather than respiratory acidosis or alkalosis. Conclusion: Adolescents who engage in binge drinking often experience a disrupted acid–base balance and hypokalemia, while glucose, sodium and calcium levels are rarely affected. What is known? • Binge drinking is becoming increasingly common among adolescents. • Conflicting data regarding the type and prevalence of biochemical disorders induced by binge drinking are available in this age group. What is new? • Acute respiratory acidosis is prevalent in adolescents with binge drinking, whereas respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and hypoglycemia are uncommon. • Hypokalemia develops frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate continuity properties of the efficient solution map of a parametric nonlinear multiobjective optimal control problem. First, by using the equimeasurability condition of the admissible control set, we obtain the compactness and arcwise connectedness of the feasible solution set. Next, we suggest new concepts of the quasi-arcwise connected integrand and employ them to study the semicontinuity of the efficient solution map of this problem. When the multiobjective function does not satisfy these conditions, we propose an estimation hypothesis for approximate efficient solutions to address lower semicontinuity conditions of the efficient solution map of the reference problem. To illustrate the applicability, we apply the obtained results to two practical models, including Glucose model and Epidemic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are endocrine-disrupting persistent organic pollutants (POPs) used as flame retardants in a wide range of commercial applications. We have previously reported neurobehavioral and metabolic reprogramming produced by developmental PBDEs. PBDEs perturb the microbiome, an influencer of life-long health, while probiotic supplementation with Limosilactobacillus reuteri (LR) can avert neurobehavioral and endocrine disruption. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that perinatal maternal LR supplementation would protect gut microbiome richness and diversity, developmental milestones, adult neurobehavior and metabolic homeostasis in PBDE-exposed offspring. C57BL/6N dams were orally exposed to a commercial penta-mixture of PBDEs, DE-71, at 0.1 mg/kg/day, or corn oil vehicle (VEH/CON) during gestation and lactation. Mice offspring received DE-71 or VEH/CON with or without co-administration of LR (ATCC-PTA-6475) indirectly via their mother from gestational day (GD) 0 until postnatal day (P)21 (Cohort 1), or continued to receive LR directly from P22 through adulthood (Cohort 2). Results of fecal 16S rRNA sequencing indicated age- and sex-dependent effects of DE-71 on gut microbial communities. Maternal LR treatment protected against DE-71-induced reduction in α-diversity in P22 females and against β-diversity alterations in P30 males. In females, DE-71 changed the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa, such as Tenericutes and Cyanobacteria (elevated) and Deferribacterota (reduced). In males, several Firmicutes taxa were elevated, while Proteobacteria, Chlamydiae, and several Bacteroidota taxa were reduced. The number of disrupted taxa normalized by maternal LR supplementation was as follows: 100% in P22 females and 33% in males at P22 and 25% at P30. Maternal LR treatment protected against DE-71-induced delay of postnatal body weight gain in males and ameliorated the abnormal timing of incisor eruption in both sexes. Further, DE-71 produced exaggerated digging in both sexes as well as locomotor hyperactivity in females, effects that were mitigated by maternal LR only in females. Other benefits of LR therapy included normalization of glucose tolerance, insulin-to-glucose ratio and plasma leptin in adult DE-71 females (Cohort 2). This study provides evidence that probiotic supplementation can mitigate POP-induced reprogramming of neurodevelopment, adult neurobehavior, and glucose metabolism in association with modified gut microbial community structure in a sex-dependent manner. Highlights: Maternal Limosilactobacillus reuteri (LR) supplementation sex-dependently normalized DE-71-induced gut dysbiosis in offspring. Maternal DE-71 sex-dependently altered the timing of offspring postnatal developmental benchmarks. Maternal LR ameliorated DE-71-induced delay in male body weight gain. Maternal LR normalized sex-dependent DE-71-induced reprogramming of adult glucose homeostasis. Maternal LR prevented DE-71-induced hyperactivity and repetitive behavior in adult female offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose oxidase can catalyze the reaction of glucose to produce hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide reacts with excess I− anions in dilute sulfuric acid solution to form I3−. The I3− combines with Rhodamine 6G to form association which result in fluorescence quenching. Effect of glucose oxidase on fluorescence of Rhodamine 6G, a new method with high sensitivity and good selectivity for the determination of glucose oxidase activity, was established. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of the method is 1.0 × 10–4–1.0 × 10–1 U/mL, and the detection limit is 9.0 × 10–5 U/mL. This assay was applied to the determination of glucose oxidase activity in the food additives samples with satisfactory results; the recoveries obtained were 96.67–99.00%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosensors and accurate monitoring of glucose levels play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of chronic metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Pertaining to the need of developing a sensitive noninvasive glucose detection system, the aim of this study was to design and fabricate a high-performance nonenzymatic, rapid and affordable glucose monitoring device. To reach that aim, porous Ni–Cu nanosheets were electrodeposited on 3D laser-induced graphene sheet. The Ni–Cu coatings were fabricated using electrolytic bath using different Cu2+:Ni2+ concentration ratios. The developed biosensors were characterized by SEM complemented with EDS, XPS, cyclic voltammetry, EIS and chronoamperometry characterizations techniques. The efficiency of the fabricated electrodes as a wearable biosensor was tested through glucose detection in artificial sweat as a biological fluid that can be used in real-time monitoring. The results revealed excellent sensor analytical performance through exhibiting a wide linear range with a significantly high sensitivity (11,012.73–15,286.66 μA/mM.cm2) and low detection limit (0.0062 μM). The sensor also demonstrated a stable selective response with the presence of interfering compounds. The Ni-Cu-LIG sensor was able to detect the glucose in artificial sweat samples, and hence, they show a great potential to be used as a real-time wearable device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report important steps on the way to non-invasive glucose measuring. Methods: We developed a measurement system composed of a light source, three wavelength specific detectors, and a motor that allows the thickness of the irradiated tissue to be changed in a targeted manner. Results: We achieved very good correlation of glucose concentration in water and transmission ratios; in addition, we could monitor blood flow dependent transmission curves. Conclusions: By "marrying" the two measurements (glucose in water; blood flow dependent transmission curves) as a next and final step we hope to clear the way to non-invasive glucose measuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-invasive monitoring of glucose levels in tears and saliva is crucial for diagnosing and predicting various illnesses, such as diabetic nephropathy. However, the capability of the current glucose detection methods to identify small amounts of glucose with a high sensitivity remains a significant obstacle. This study proposes a simple, visual technique for sensitively detecting glucose levels from tears and saliva using glucose oxidase (GOx) to catalyze glucose and pistol-like DNAzyme (PLDz) to enhance the signal. In particular, the β-D-glucose present in the samples serves as the initial molecule that GOx identifies and catalyzes to generate gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The H2O2 induces the self-cleavage of PLDz, activating the "part b" sequence. This activation initiates catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and releases the DNAzyme section in the H1 probe. The DNAzyme acts as a peroxidase analog, facilitating the catalysis of the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system and resulting in color changes. The proposed method exhibits a broad detection range of six orders of magnitude and a low limit of 0.32 μM for glucose detection. Furthermore, the proposed method was highly effective in detecting glucose in saliva and tears, suggesting that it could potentially diagnose hyperglycemia-related disorders in clinical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic plastics are an environmental hazard due to their resistance to natural degradation leading to environmental pollution and perilous effects on ecosystem. Biodegradable plastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are the potential candidates to replace synthetic plastics. The present study focuses on the extraction and characterization of PHAs from an industrial-wastewater derived Paramecium multimicronucleatum. Paramecium culture was grown in the Bold Basal medium alone (hereafter used as positive control) and with the supplement of glucose (180 g/L) and cadmium chloride (10 g/L) to investigate the PHA production. The highest PHA production 0.28 g/L was achieved in 180 g/L glucose-supplemented medium and 0.12 g/L in positive control, while the lowest PHA production was 0.05 g/L in case of 10 g/L metal-treated samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry-based (GC–MS) characterization showed the PHA to contain 3-hydroxybutyrate as the prime monomer (93.91%). The appearance of other esters such as pentadecanoic acid ethyl ester, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester, and octadecanoic acid ethyl ester indicated the presence of medium-chain length PHAs. This is the first study reporting a ciliate, P.multimicronucleatum as a microbial cell factory producing substantial concentration of PHAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a pandemic disease that causes the loss of control of glucose regulation in the organism, in consequence of dysfunction of insulin production or functionality. In this work, the antidiabetic bioactivity of 182 fractions from 19 cyanobacteria strains derived from the LEGE Culture Collection were analysed using the 2-NBDG assay in zebrafish larvae. From this initial screening, two fractions (57 (06104_D) and 107 (03283_B)) were identified as promising insulin mimetics. These were further characterized by measuring glucose levels in whole larvae, the expression of glucose transporters (GLUT 1–3) using western blot, and the mRNA expression levels of the glut2, pepck, and insa genes using real-time qPCR. Both fractions showed a decrease in free glucose levels. Furthermore, exposure to fraction 06104_D decreased GLUT1 and increased insa mRNA levels. The chemical composition of these fractions was determined using LC-HRESIMS/MS and compared to inactive fractions of the same polarity in order to identify the unique bioactive molecules. The molecular networks constructed using the GNPS platform revealed that fraction 06104_D contained mass clusters primarily composed of chlorins, lipids, and terpenoids, while fraction 03283_B contained xanthophylls, peptides, and terpenoids. To correlate the observed activity with the chemical composition of fraction 06104_D, pheophorbide a was chosen as a representative of chlorophyll derivatives. Exposure to zebrafish larvae at 10 and 20 µM confirmed the increased glucose uptake on the 2-NBDG assay. These findings highlight the bioactivity of chlorophyll derivatives as insulin mimetic compounds, as well as cyanobacteria as a source of potential therapeutic diabetes applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most modern dietary guidelines recommend limiting lard and animal fats due to their potential link to metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, emerging evidence suggests that lard may not significantly contribute to diabetes and that moderate lard intake could even benefit lipid metabolism. This commentary suggests a reevaluation of lard's classification as a "bad actor" in the context of diabetes, urging colleagues to give greater consideration to and empirically validate this intriguing hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glucose analogue 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) has frequently been used as a tool to study cellular glucose uptake and to inhibit glycolysis. Exposure of primary cultured astrocytes to 2DG caused a time- and concentration-dependent cellular accumulation of 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (2DG6P) that was accompanied by a rapid initial decline in cellular ATP content. Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration as well as inhibitors of mitochondrial uptake of pyruvate and activated fatty acids accelerated the ATP loss, demonstrating that mitochondrial ATP regeneration contributes to the partial maintenance of the ATP content in 2DG-treated astrocytes. After a 30 min exposure to 10 mM 2DG the specific content of cellular 2DG6P had accumulated to around 150 nmol/mg, while cellular ATP was lowered by 50% to around 16 nmol/mg. Following such a 2DG6P-loading of astrocytes, glycolytic lactate production from applied glucose was severely impaired during the initial 60 min of incubation, but was reestablished during longer incubation concomitant with a loss in cellular 2DG6P content. In contrast to glycolysis, the glucose-dependent NADPH regeneration via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was only weakly affected in 2DG6P-loaded astrocytes and in cells that were coincubated with glucose in the presence of an excess of 2DG. Additionally, in the presence of 2DG PPP-dependent WST1 reduction was found to have doubled compared to hexose-free control incubations, indicating that cellular 2DG6P can serve as substrate for NADPH regeneration by the astrocytic PPP. The data presented provide new insights on the metabolic consequences of a 2DG exposure on the energy and glucose metabolism of astrocytes and demonstrate the reversibility of the inhibitory potential of a 2DG-treatment on the glucose metabolism of cultured astrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following consumption of a meal, circulating glucose concentrations can rise and then fall briefly below the basal/fasting concentrations. This phenomenon is known as reactive hypoglycaemia but to date no researcher has explored potential inter-individual differences in response to meal consumption. Objective: We conducted a secondary analysis of existing data to examine inter-individual variability of reactive hypoglycaemia in response to breakfast consumption. Methods: Using a replicate crossover design, 12 healthy, physically active men (age: 18–30 y, body mass index: 22.1 to 28.0 kg⋅m− 2) completed two identical control (continued overnight fasting) and two breakfast (444 kcal; 60% carbohydrate, 17% protein, 23% fat) conditions in randomised sequences. Blood glucose and lactate concentrations, serum insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations, whole-body energy expenditure, carbohydrate and fat oxidation rates, and appetite ratings were determined before and 2 h after the interventions. Inter-individual differences were explored using Pearson's product-moment correlations between the first and second replicates of the fasting-adjusted breakfast response. Within-participant covariate-adjusted linear mixed models and a random-effects meta-analytical approach were used to quantify participant-by-condition interactions. Results: Breakfast consumption lowered 2-h blood glucose by 0.44 mmol/L (95%CI: 0.76 to 0.12 mmol/L) and serum NEFA concentrations, whilst increasing blood lactate and serum insulin concentrations (all p < 0.01). Large, positive correlations were observed between the first and second replicates of the fasting-adjusted insulin, lactate, hunger, and satisfaction responses to breakfast consumption (all r > 0.5, 90%CI ranged from 0.03 to 0.91). The participant-by-condition interaction response variability (SD) for serum insulin concentration was 11 pmol/L (95%CI: 5 to 16 pmol/L), which was consistent with the τ-statistic from the random-effects meta-analysis (11.7 pmol/L, 95%CI 7.0 to 22.2 pmol/L) whereas effects were unclear for other outcome variables (e.g., τ-statistic value for glucose: 0 mmol/L, 95%CI 0.0 to 0.5 mmol/L). Conclusions: Despite observing reactive hypoglycaemia at the group level, we were unable to detect any meaningful inter-individual variability of the reactive hypoglycaemia response to breakfast. There was, however, evidence that 2-h insulin responses to breakfast display meaningful inter-individual variability, which may be explained by relative carbohydrate dose ingested and variation in insulin sensitivity of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the use of highly reproducible free-standing 3D Pt nanowire frameworks (3D Pt NFs) to investigate the electrochemical oxidation of glucose. To create this unique Pt NFs, we utilize a lipidic bicontinuous cubic phase as a template. The resulting Pt NFs exhibits a unique 3D single diamond morphology with Fd3m symmetry. This intricate structure provides a large surface area and high electrocatalytic efficiency, making it more sensitive to glucose detection. Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Transmission electron microscopy investigations provided valuable insights into the nanoarchitecture of 3D Pt NFs. It highlights the interconnected nature of the nanowires and showcases the potential for optimized electrochemical performance. Very high current densities are registered for the glucose oxidation reactions at 3D Pt NFs during cyclic voltammetry investigations. This knowledge aids in the design and development of advanced electrocatalytic systems, fuel cells, biosensors, and other devices that leverage the unique characteristics of the 3D Pt framework. This study explores 3D Pt NFs for electrochemical glucose oxidation. Using a phytantriol template with two non-intersecting aqueous channels (A), Pt is electrodeposited in one channel (B), resulting in the formation of 3D Pt NFs after template washing (C). This approach demonstrates the potential for efficient glucose oxidation in the structured nanowire frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of microalgae under different trophic modes is widely considered in the literature. However, the cultivation of some microalgal strains under heterotrophic conditions requires further investigation. Thus, the present study investigated the growth potential of a Brazilian strain of Tetradesmus obliquus (Chlorophyceae, Scenedesmaceae) in terms of heterotrophic metabolism. For this purpose, cultures were generated using different concentrations of glucose (26, 13, and 6.5 g L–1) and sodium nitrate (0.6 g, 0.3, and 0.15 g L–1) in culture media. The growth parameters analysed were the maximum biomass achieved and volumetric productivity. The combination of 26 g L–1 glucose with 0.6 g L–1 sodium nitrate resulted in the greatest increase in dry weight (9.63 ± 0.15 g L–1). Then, T. obliquus cultures under heterotrophic conditions were compared with those under photoautotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. The maximum production in heterotrophic cultivation was similar to what had been obtained, while mixotrophic cultivation presented the best result, 14.77 ± 0.06 g L–1, and photoautotrophic cultivation obtained a maximum biomass of 7.90 ± 0.17 g L–1. The productivity values achieved were 0.52 ± 0.04 g L–1 day–1, 0.98 ± 0.07 g L–1 day–1, and 1.24 ± 0.07 g L–1 day–1 for photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic cultures, respectively. The results indicated that the Brazilian microalga T. obliquus has the potential to be successfully cultivated heterotrophically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixotrophic cultivation of Haematococcus lacustris is one of the most promising strategies to produce natural astaxanthin. During mixotrophic growth, microalgae assimilate and metabolize organic carbon in addition to photosynthetic growth, resulting in increased biomass productivity. Several studies have evaluated the effect of different organic carbon sources on mixotrophic growth in various microalgae species. However, knowledge of detailed growth kinetics as a function of substrate concentration and light intensity is lacking. In this study, the growth kinetics of H. lacustris using four different carbon sources and the effect of light under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic conditions are described. Mixotrophic cultivation showed significant differences in respect to applied substrate and achieved maximum specific growth rates of 0.91 ± 0.13, 0.19 ± 0.05, 0.36 ± 0.05, and 0.23 ± 0.05 day−1, for acetate, methanol, glucose, and glycerol, respectively. Optimal growth at mixotrophic conditions using acetate was 1.8 times higher than the sum of hetero- and photoautotrophic growth. Furthermore, the optimum light intensity was 1.3 times higher for mixotrophic than for autotrophic growth. Thus, mixotrophy increases light intensity tolerance. These results indicate a strong interconnection between carbon metabolism and photosynthetic activity and lay the foundation for more detailed mathematical models describing the mixotrophic growth of H. lacustris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive non-enzymatic absorption-based glucose sensor is introduced that combines ZnO nanorods with the ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX) assay. ZnO nanorods were successfully synthesized on the surface of a copper wire mesh, exhibiting high crystallinity, purity, and a large surface area. The glucose sensor displays a high sensitivity of 0.394 mM−1 in a wide linear detection range (0 − 6 mM), along with a low limit of detection of 0.25 mM. The proposed assay has an excellent selectivity towards glucose compared with other sugars such as sucrose, maltose, and fructose. The potential use of the non-enzymatic absorbance sensor for diabetes monitoring is demonstrated by measuring the glucose concentration in human blood serum, obtaining values that are consistent with clinical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose–fructose syrups were studied for the first time as a carbon source for the biosynthesis of citric acid (CA) by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. The producer Y. lipolytica VKM Y-2373 was selected, and the growth conditions were optimized (syrup concentration, 30 g/L; pH, 6.0; aeration, 20% of saturation). The study found that the concentration of ammonium sulfate in the medium had a significant impact on CA production by Y. lipolytica. The maximum CA production was observed at a concentration of 2 g/L (NH4)2SO4, while concentrations of 1.5 and 3.0 g/L resulted in a decrease of 12 and 30%, respectively. Under the selected conditions, Y. lipolytica VKM Y-2373 produced 36.7 g/L CA in a medium containing glucose–fructose syrup with 52% glucose and 57.7 g/L CA with syrup containing 92% glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyextremophilic red microalgae of the genus Galdieria, which inhabit hot sulfur springs under conditions unusual for eukaryotes, are capable of heterotrophy. Among the dozens of exogenous organic substrates identified for Galdieria, ethanol is not mentioned as a possible energy source. It turned out that ethanol did not alter the growth of the model species Galdieria sulphuraria when grown in the dark. By contrast, the growth of microalgae is activated in the light, despite the known cell stressor effect of ethanol. The effect of ethanol as an oxidative stress factor has been indicated by the increase in cellular respiration observed in the dark and also in the light even before the activation of photosynthesis. The marked acceleration of growth of G. sulphuraria culture in the light is most likely due to the stimulation of respiration by ethanol with generation of CO2 and its use by chloroplasts as an additional carbon substrate during the photosynthetic process. Compared to the classical organic substrate glucose, the light-induced growth of G. sulphuraria culture in the presence of ethanol is less intense. It can be speculated that ethanol stress in light induces a system of two consecutive key enzymes in the primary alcohol metabolism chain (alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase), which then leads to the eventual complete oxidation of ethanol, resulting in accelerated growth of G. sulphuraria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Houttuynia cordata Thunb. belongs to the Saururaceae family and is a well-known medicine and food homologous plant. Herein, the isolation of an α-glucosidase inhibitor from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and characterization of its in vitro and in vivo hypoglycemic bioactivities are reported. We optimized the extraction conditions and isolated neochlorogenic acid (nCGA), which has α-glucosidase inhibitory activity from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. for the first time. nCGA competed with glucose for the α-glucosidase binding site, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.711 mg/mL. In vivo experiments in zebrafish showed that effects of nCGA on blood glucose varied by its concentrations. In particular, 4 mg/L nCGA significantly decreased the blood glucose level and inhibited effects of α-glucosidase in zebrafish. This work provides a theoretical basis for the extraction of hypoglycemic active ingredients from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and a foundation for the development of natural and effective α-glucosidase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homeo-fit-prolactin hypothesis proposes a causal metabolic role for prolactin with hypoprolactinemia and hyperprolactinemia leading to adverse metabolic alterations. However, prolactin within the normal range and up to four times the upper reference limit may be a consequence of metabolic adaption and have a positive metabolic role similar to increased insulin in pre-diabetes. As a consequence, drugs that would increase prolactin levels within this threshold may hold promising effects, particularly for patients with type 2 diabetes. A documented positive metabolic effect of prolactin just above the normal threshold would not just be of benefit to patients with diabetes but assist in the decision to treat mild hyperprolactinemia in other patient groups as well, e.g. drug-induced hyperprolactinemia or idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin receptors are present in the pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue, and pre-clinical studies suggest a positive and causal effect of prolactin on the gluco-insulinemic profile and lipid metabolism. This narrative review examines the evidence for the homeo-fit-prolactin hypothesis with a particular focus on results from human studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Pregnancy is accompanied by maternal metabolic adaptations to ensure fetal growth and development, including insulin resistance, which occurs primarily during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and a decrease in fasting blood sugar levels over the course of pregnancy. Glucose-related traits are regulated by genetic and environmental factors and modulated by physiological variations throughout the life course. We addressed the hypothesis that there are both overlaps and differences between genetic variants associated with glycaemia-related traits during and outside of pregnancy. Methods: Genome-wide SNP data were used to identify genetic variations associated with glycaemia-related traits measured during an OGTT performed at ~28 weeks' gestation in 8067 participants in the Hyperglycaemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study. Associations outside of pregnancy were determined in 3977 individuals who also participated in the HAPO Follow-Up Study at 11–14 years postpartum. A Bayesian classification algorithm was used to determine whether SNPs associated with fasting and 2 h glucose and fasting C-peptide during pregnancy had a pregnancy-predominant effect vs a similar effect during pregnancy and postpartum. Results: SNPs in six loci (GCKR, G6PC2, GCK, PPP1R3B, PCSK1 and MTNR1B) were significantly associated with fasting glucose during pregnancy, while SNPs in CDKAL1 and MTNR1B were associated with 1 h glucose and SNPs in MTNR1B and HKDC1 were associated with 2 h glucose. Variants in CDKAL1 and MTNR1B were associated with insulin secretion during pregnancy. Variants in multiple loci were associated with fasting C-peptide during pregnancy, including GCKR, IQSEC1, PPP1R3B, IGF1 and BACE2. GCKR and BACE2 were associated with 1 h C-peptide and GCKR, IQSEC1 and BACE2 with insulin sensitivity during pregnancy. The associations of MTNR1B with 2 h glucose, BACE2 with fasting and 1 h C-peptide and insulin sensitivity, and IQSEC1 with fasting C-peptide and insulin sensitivity that we identified during pregnancy have not been previously reported in non-pregnancy cohorts. The Bayesian classification algorithm demonstrated that the magnitude of effect of the lead SNP was greater during pregnancy compared with 11–14 years postpartum in PCSK1 and PPP1R3B with fasting glucose, in three loci, including MTNR1B, with 2 h glucose, and in six loci, including IGF1, with fasting C-peptide. Conclusions/interpretation: Our findings support the hypothesis that there are both overlaps and differences between the genetic architecture of glycaemia-related traits during and outside of pregnancy. Genetic variants at several loci, including PCSK1, PPP1R3B, MTNR1B and IGF1, appear to influence glycaemic regulation in a unique fashion during pregnancy. Future studies in larger cohorts will be needed to replicate the present findings, fully characterise the genetics of maternal glycaemia during pregnancy and determine similarities to and differences from the non-gravid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: This review aims to summarize recently published peer reviewed papers on the influence of treatment with Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (InSTI) in people with HIV (HIV) on metabolic health, including weight gain, lipid parameters, glucose homeostasis, and bone health. Recent Findings: InSTI have a mild/moderate effect on weight gain in both antiretroviral (ART) naïve and ART experienced PWH, which is more pronounced in certain groups (i.e. women, people of Black African ethnicity, those with lower socioeconomic status, and older people). The effect on weight is also driven by other components of the ART regimen as well as previous exposure to certain ART. InSTI have a relatively safe profile in terms of lipid parameters and bone health, compared to other ART classes, although some studies suggest a greater risk of insulin resistance and diabetes in PWH using InSTI, especially 2nd generation InSTI. Summary: While there is some evidence suggesting a negative impact of InSTI on some aspects of metabolic health (weight gain and glucose homeostasis), they remain the preferred treatment option for most PWH, due to their high efficacy and tolerability. However, an individualised approach to ART choice in PWH should be used in order to avoid negative outcomes in populations at higher risks of metabolic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cardiometabolic disorders are non-classical complications of hypercalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (HC-PHPT), but whether this risk connotes normocalcemic PHPT (NC-PHPT) remains to be elucidated. We investigated cardiometabolic alterations in both forms of PHPT, looking for their association with indices of disease activity. Methods: Patients with HC-PHPT (n = 17), NC-PHPT (n = 17), and controls (n = 34) matched for age, sex, and BMI were assessed for glucose, lipid, blood pressure alterations, and history of cardiovascular events to perform a case–control study at an ambulatory referral center for Bone Metabolism Diseases. Results: NC-PHPT, in comparison to controls, showed similar glucose (mean ± SD, 88 ± 11 vs 95 ± 22 mg/dl), total cholesterol (199 ± 25 vs 207 ± 36 mg/dl), and systolic blood pressure levels (SBP, 132 ± 23 vs 132 ± 19 mmHg), together with a comparable frequency of glucose alterations (6% vs 9%), lipid disorders (41% vs 50%) and hypertension (53% vs 59%, p = NS for all comparisons). Conversely, all these abnormalities were more prevalent in HC-PHPT vs controls (p < 0.05). When compared to NC-PHPT, HC-PHPT showed higher glucose (113 ± 31 mg/dl), total cholesterol (238 ± 43 mg/dl), and SBP levels (147 ± 15 mmHg) as well as an increased frequency of glucose (41%) and lipid alterations (77%) and a higher number of cardiovascular events (18% vs 0%, p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Among indices of PHPT activity, calcium levels displayed a significant correlation with glucose (R = 0.46) and SBP values (R = 0.60, p < 0.05). Conclusion: NC-PHPT is not associated with cardiovascular alterations. The predominant pathogenetic role of hypercalcemia in the development of cardiometabolic disorders could account for the absence of such alterations in NC-PHPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and epilepsy and the psychological and socio-economic implications that are associated with their treatments can be quite perplexing. Metformin is an antihyperglycemic medication that is used to treat type 2 DM. In addition, metformin elicits protective actions against multiple diseases, including neurodegeneration and epilepsy. Recent studies indicate that metformin alters the resident gut microbiota in favor of species producing agmatine, an arginine metabolite which, in addition to beneficially altering metabolic pathways, is a potent neuroprotectant and neuromodulant. Methods: We first examine the literature for epidemiological and clinical evidences linking DM and epilepsy. Next, basing our analyses on published literature, we propose the possible complementarity of agmatine and metformin in the treatment of DM and epilepsy. Results: Our analyses of the clinical data suggest a significant association between pathogeneses of epilepsy and DM. Further, both agmatine and metformin appear to be multimodal therapeutic agents and have robust antiepileptogenic and antidiabetic properties. Data from animal and clinical studies largely support the use of metformin/agmatine as a double-edged pharmacotherapeutic agent against DM and epilepsy, particularly in their concurrent pathological occurrences. Conclusion: The present review explores the evidences and available data on possible uses of metformin/agmatine as pertinent antidiabetic and antiepileptic agents. Our hope is that this will stimulate further research on the therapeutic actions of these multimodal agents, particularly for subject-specific clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presented research, a 2-D optical structure made of photonic crystals is presented. It is based on 30*28 arrays of silicon in medium made of air. Designed system is made of linear media (no nonlinear rods) for overcoming nonlinearity and gain problems. Applicability of designed system can be studied through extracting photonic band gap and field distribution spectra. Latter diagrams would be obtained by utilizing PWE and FDTD techniques. After applying incident light wave, signal can be propagated along the waveguide reaching outputs 1 or 2 according to the resonant wavelengths. Output1 can be considered for diagnosis of glucose levels in blood with Quality factor (Q): (122.72 – 132.5), Sensitivity (S): 1730 nm/RIU, detection limit (DL): (7.01e-4 – 7.15e-4) RIU and Figure of merit (FOM): (134.4 –142.5) RIU−1. In another case, output2 can be considered for diagnosis of hemoglobin levels in blood with (Q): (106.56 – 112.8), (S): 1154.6 nm/RIU, (DL): (1.1e-3 – 1.2e-3) RIU, (FOM): (84.8–87.5) RIU−1. As a result, designed structure would effectively aid researchers in prognosis of diabetes (Output1) and anemia (Output2). Diagnosis of anemia and diabetes (fast and with high precision) in a simple and applicable configuration (made of only linear rods) with considerable characteristics (sensitivity, DL, FOM and Q-factor) are the most important features of the proposed device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, one-pot and green method is reported for hydrothermal synthesis of highly fluorescent and magnetic carbon dots (CDs) by using D-glucose, as the carbon source. CDs were fully characterized by the UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, DLS, FTIR, TEM, EDS, XRD, and VSM. The nitrogen doping of different diamines significantly improved the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of CDs with the maximum effect obtained by using m-phenylenediamine (mPDA). Temperature and reaction time also affected the QY of CDs with the best results obtained at 150 °C for 3 h. The heteroatom doping by innovative use of different metal sulfates including FeSO4, MnSO4, CuSO4, MgSO4, and ZnSO4, further improved the optical properties of CDs. Interestingly, the magnetic and multicolor CDs with high colloidal stability and QYs of 17.7, 16.5, and 53.9% at 460, 490, and 515 nm, respectively, were synthesized by using 0.1 M of glucose, mPDA and MnSO4. The resulted Mn-, S-, N-doped CDs represented rapid uptake and high-quality fluorescence imaging of the human fibroblast and umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, without significant toxicity. The CDs also displayed high r1 relaxivity of 32.3 mM− 1 s− 1 and were used for high-contrast MR and fluorescence imaging of mouse tumor models, in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the proposed work, a 2-D photonic crystal-based biosensor is designed, and its applications are investigated. Designed system is consisted of 25*21 silicon rods which are positioned in air medium. Basic characteristics of proposed system (operating as biosensor) are investigated through obtaining photonic bandgap (PBG) and electric field spectra. In order to utilize designed system as a biosensor, incident fields with specific wavelengths (in TE PBG region) would be applied to input port. Incident signal will circulate in system reaching outputs 1 or 2 for detection of glucose and cholesterol. Light waves at λ = 1740 nm would be mainly transferred to output1 for diagnosis of glucose concentrations. Remarkable biosensing factors of quality factor (Q): (165.7–171.71), sensitivity (S): 1607 nm/RIU, detection limit (DL): (6.53e-4 − 6.92e-4) RIU and figure of merit (FOM): (159.03–172.8) RIU− 1 would be achieved. Signals with λ = 1250 nm at output2 would be utilized for diagnosis of cholesterol with (Q): (50–62), (S): 1109.3 nm/RIU, (DL): (2.25e-3 − 2.78e-3) RIU and (FOM): (44.37–53.8) RIU− 1. Referring to obtained results, physicians can effectively and precisely diagnose hypercholesterolemia (causing heart diseases) and hyperglycemia (leading to diabetes) in early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting glucose levels is crucial for diabetes patients as it enables timely and effective management, preventing complications and promoting overall health. In this endeavor, we have designed a novel, affordable point-of-care diagnostic device utilizing microfluidic principles, a smartphone camera, and established laboratory colorimetric methods for accurate glucose estimation. Our proposed microfluidic device comprises layers of adhesive poly-vinyl films stacked on a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) base sheet, with micro-channel contours precision-cut using a cutting printer. Employing the gold standard glucose-oxidase/peroxidase reaction on this microfluidic platform, we achieve enzymatic glucose determination. The resulting colored complex, formed by phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide generated during glucose oxidation, is captured at various glucose concentrations using a smartphone camera. Raw images are processed and utilized as input data for a 2-D convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning classifier, demonstrating an impressive 95% overall accuracy against new images. The glucose predictions done by CNN are compared with ISO 15197:2013/2015 gold standard norms. Furthermore, the classifier exhibits outstanding precision, recall, and F1 score of 94%, 93%, and 93%, respectively, as validated through our study, showcasing its exceptional predictive capability. Next, a user-friendly smartphone application named "GLUCOLENS AI" was developed to capture images, perform image processing, and communicate with cloud server containing the CNN classifier. The developed CNN model can be successfully used as a pre-trained model for future glucose concentration predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices provide a considerable amount of data that can be used to predict future values, enabling sustainable control of blood glucose levels to prevent hypo-/hyperglycemic events and associated complications. However, it is a challenging task in diabetes management as the data from CGM are sequential, time-varying, nonlinear, and non-stationary. Due to their ability to deal with these types of data, artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods have emerged as a useful tool. The traditional approach is to implement AI methods in baseline form, which results in exploiting less sequential information from the data, thus reducing the prediction accuracy. To address this issue, we propose a novel glucose prediction approach within the encoder–decoder framework, aimed at improving prediction accuracy despite the complex and non-stationary nature of CGM data. Sequential information is extracted using a convolutional neural network-based encoder, while predictions are generated by a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based decoder. In our approach, the decoder is designed with the multilayer GRU attached to an attention layer to ensure the modulation of the most relevant information so that it leads to a more accurate prediction. The proposed attention-based multilayer GRU approach has been extensively evaluated on the OhioT1DM dataset, and experimental results demonstrate the advantage of our proposed approach over the state-of-the-art approaches. Furthermore, the proposed approach is also integrated with our custom-designed Android application called "GlucoWizard" to perform glucose prediction for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered hepatic glucose fluxes are critical during the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. G protein-coupled receptors represent important regulators of hepatic glucose production. Recent studies have shown that hepatocytes express GPCRs that can couple to G12/13, a subfamily of heterotrimeric G proteins that has attracted relatively little attention in the past. Here we show, by analyzing several mutant mouse strains, that selective activation of hepatocyte G12/13 signaling leads to pronounced hyperglycemia and that this effect involves the stimulation of the ROCK1-JNK signaling cascade. Using both mouse and human hepatocytes, we also show that activation of endogenous sphingosine-1-phosphate type 1 receptors strongly promotes glucose release in a G12/13-dependent fashion. Studies with human liver samples indicate that hepatic GNA12 (encoding Gα12) expression levels positively correlate with indices of insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis, consistent with a potential pathophysiological role of enhanced hepatic G12/13 signaling. Altered hepatic glucose fluxes play a key role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Here, Pittala et al. show that activation of G12/13 signaling in hepatocytes enhances hepatic glucose production, leading to greatly increased blood glucose levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the utility of glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer (glucoCEST) MRI with non-contrast injection in predicting the histological grade of rectal cancer. Methods: This prospective analysis included 60 patients with preoperative rectal cancer who underwent pelvic glucoCEST, amide proton transfer-weighted imaging (APTWI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). In total, 21 low-grade and 39 high-grade cases were confirmed by postoperative pathology. The MTRasym (1.2 ppm), MTRasym (3.5 ppm), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of lesions between the low-grade and high-grade groups were compared. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was generated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each technique. Logistic regression (LR) analysis was applied to determine independent predictors and for multi-parameter combined diagnosis. Results: Elevated MTRasym (1.2 ppm), MTRasym (3.5 ppm) values and lower ADC values were observed in the high-grade group compared with low-grade cases (all p < 0.01). The AUCs of MTRasym (1.2 ppm), MTRasym (3.5 ppm), and ADC for differentiating between low- and high-grade rectal cancer cases were 0.792, 0.839, and 0.855, respectively. The diagnostic performance of the combination of the three indexes was improved (AUC, 0.969; sensitivity, 95.24%; specificity, 87.18%). The good consistency and reliability of the combination of independent predictors were demonstrated by calibration curve analysis and DCA. Conclusion: The glucoCEST MRI without contrast injection, APTWI, and DWI all facilitate the assessment of histological grade in rectal cancer, and the combination of the three can effectively discriminate between high- and low-grade rectal cancer, which is expected to be a promising imaging marker. Critical relevance statement: The glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI method facilitates the assessment of histological grade in rectal cancer and offers additional information to improve the diagnostic performance of amide proton transfer-weighted imaging, and diffusion-weighted imaging. Key Points: Glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging could differentiate histological grade. Amide proton transfer-weighted and diffusion-weighted were associated with histological grade. The combination of different parameters showed the best diagnostic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital decision support and remote patient monitoring may improve outcomes and efficiency, but rarely scale beyond a single institution. Over the last 5 years, the platform Timely Interventions for Diabetes Excellence (TIDE) has been associated with reduced care provider screen time and improved, equitable type 1 diabetes care and outcomes for 268 patients in a heterogeneous population as part of the Teamwork, Targets, Technology, and Tight Control (4T) Study (NCT03968055, NCT04336969). Previous efforts to deploy TIDE at other institutions continue to face delays. In partnership with the diabetes technology non-profit, Tidepool, we developed Tidepool-TIDE, a clinic-agnostic, turnkey solution available to any clinic in the United States. We present how we overcame common technical and operational barriers specific to scaling digital health technology from one site to many. The concepts described are broadly applicable for institutions interested in facilitating broader adoption of digital technology for population-level management of chronic health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a sensitive, fast, efficient, simple, and convenient high-performance liquid chromatography method has been established for quantification of gallic acid, 1,3,6-trigalloyl glucose (TGG), and 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) in acetone extracts of Tibetan medicine Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (T. bellirica) plant fruit. The content of gallic acid, TGG, and PGG in T. bellirica are 1.95 ± 0.02%, 1.09 ± 0.04%, and 1.18 ± 0.03% respectively. According to statistical analysis of the experimental results, the error level in a single random measurement of TGG in T. bellirica with a 95% confidence interval was 4.32%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advantages and disadvantages of the sedimentation method used in pharmaceutical practice for microbiological monitoring of the air environment in clean zones are considered. The effects of various factors on air monitoring results in clean zones using the sedimentation method are proved experimentally. The degree of desiccation of trypticase soy agar and Sabouraud agar with glucose and chloramphenicol was assessed depending on the exposure time of Petri dishes and regulated incubation conditions. The possibility of recovery of inoculated microorganisms S. epidermidis, M. luteus, and A. brasiliensis ATCC 16404 within the acceptance limits from 50 to 200% by keeping Petri dishes under sedimentation conditions for up to4h is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ultrathin CuAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets were successfully deposited on sepiolite clay (SPC) support and used as an effective electrocatalyst for fabrication of a new non-enzymatic glucose sensor. According to a series of electrochemical results, the growth of CuAl LDH on SPC decreases the charge-transfer resistance in the surface of modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). At an optimum potential of + 0.40 V, the CuAl LDH/SPC modified CPE depicted a wide linear range over a concentration of 0.1 to 1450 µM with a detection limit of 0.03 µM (S/N = 3). Significantly, the established assay demonstrated a strong resistance to interference from common substances such as fructose, valine, ascorbic acid, urea, L-cysteine, and uric acid. The suggested assay was successfully employed to detect glucose in sport drinks with satisfactory results. The modified electrode with CuAl LDH/SPC presents improved electro-catalytic properties, operating at a lower working potential. It demonstrates rapid response, high stability, and reproducibility in the oxidation of glucose. These features make it a promising candidate for the development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose syrup is a clear and viscous liquid often produced using starch that is subjected to acid hydrolysis or enzymatic methods. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the potential starch sources to produce glucose syrup using these two methods. The data used were articles retrieved from Scopus and Google Scholar databases based on relevant keywords. The search was conducted by limiting the articles to only English-language journals published between 2013 and 2023. The results show that the starch sources capable of being hydrolyzed into glucose syrup using either enzymatic or acid hydrolysis include sago, cassava, wheat, corn, potato, taro, sorghum, jicama, sweet potato, and rice. The enzymatic method was proven to be more effective in producing high returns compared to acid hydrolysis. Moreover, the key factors to be considered in the process included catalyst concentration which was found to be optimal at 0.02% α-amylase and glucoamylase for enzymatic methods and 150 ml 0.1 M/50 g starch for acid hydrolysis. Another factor was incubation time was observed to be optimal at 2 h for liquefaction and 48 h for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 13 h for acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, the best incubation temperature was reported to be 95 °C for liquefaction and 60 °C for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 95 °C for acid hydrolysis. The results also showed that the optimal pH was 6–6.2 for liquefaction and 4–4.2 for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 1–2 for acid hydrolysis. It was also reported that corn produced the highest yield compared to other materials. The review provided a comprehensive and holistic overview of glucose syrup production from several types of starch and two different methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive non-enzymatic biosensor based on a deposition of silver nanoparticles with Cu2O on TiO2 nanotube arrays has been developed for the detection of glucose. The TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) were fabricated by anodization on a thin plate Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. Subsequently, Cu2O was deposited on the TNTs using the wet chemical bath deposition method, followed by the electro-deposition of Ag nanomaterials. The crystal structure, phases, and morphology of the nanostructure (Ag-Cu2O@TiO2) were examined using energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The addition of Cu2O and Ag to TNTs enhances the electroactive surface area, which results in a faster rate of electron transfer. The electrochemical behavior of Ag-Cu2O@TiO2 was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and amperometry techniques. The Ag-Cu2O@TiO2 exhibited a high level of sensitivity (1010.20 μA mM−1 cm−2), low detection limit of 36 µM, and a rapid response time (2 s). Furthermore, the real-time analysis of glucose in human blood serum demonstrated a high level of accuracy. This work illustrates the deposition of Ag-Cu2O on TNTs for fabrication of excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and remarkable stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]