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This paper explores the impact of encapsulation techniques on bioactive compounds, vitamins, and minerals, which are crucial for delivering bioactive compounds. Due to their instability and reactivity with the environment, encapsulation is often necessary to make these compounds suitable for medical or dietary applications. The evaluation of the kinetic model of bioactives reveals that encapsulation can significantly enhance their stability. However, encapsulation is not without its drawbacks. Incomplete encapsulation can reduce the effectiveness of the bioactives, and complexity of encapsulation processes can hinder widespread adoption. Interactions between the encapsulated materials and the encapsulating agents may also impact the release and bioavailability of the bioactives. It also presents perspectives for future research aimed at overcoming the limitations and enhancing the effectiveness of encapsulation. As research continues to advance, encapsulation is poised to play critical role in improving the delivery and stability of bioactive compounds, benefiting the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThere is no conflict of interest between the authors., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Biomarkers are specific indicators that can be used to authenticate vegetable oils by reflecting unique characteristics such as variety or geographical origin. Biomarkers can originate from the primary components of the vegetable oil itself or from contaminants and trace substances linked to processing methods or adulterants. The review highlights the key findings in the identification of novel biomarkers for vegetable oil authentication. Various analytical techniques have proven effective in distinguishing unique biomarkers associated with specific vegetable oil varieties or geographical origins. The use of biomarkers of vegetable oils and associated contaminants or trace substances offers a comprehensive approach to authentication. However, the identification of novel biomarkers holds immense potential for enhancing food safety, preventing fraud, and safeguarding consumer health in the vegetable oil industry. The ongoing research and advancements in biomarker identification represent a promising avenue for addressing authenticity concerns in vegetable oils., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Microalgae (MA) are the most abundant seaweeds with high nutritional properties. They are accepted as potential biocatalysts for the bioremediation of wastewater. They are widely used in food, feed, and biofuel industries and can potentially be food for future generations. MA-based purification of wastewater technology could be a universal alternative solution for the recovery of resources from wastewater for low-cost biomass feedstock for industry. They provide a wide range of functional components, viz. omega-3 fatty acids, along with a plenteous number of pigments such as ß-carotene, astaxanthin, lutein, phycocyanin, and chlorophyll, which are used extensively as food additives and nutraceuticals. Further, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and carbohydrates are described as nutritional characteristics in MA. They are investigated as single-cell protein, thickening/stabilizing agents, and pigment sources in the food industry. The review emphasizes the production and extraction of nutritional and functional components of algal biomass and the role of microalgal polysaccharides in digestion and nutritional absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Further, the use of MA in the food industry was also investigated along with their potential therapeutic applications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The pandemic has brought attention to the importance of a healthy immune system in preventing infectious diseases. In this in-depth review, the process by which nutritional interventions and fundamental nutrients affect immune function has been discussed with the goal of enhancing the body's natural defenses against viral infections. We explored the complex interplay between diet and immunology, highlighting the essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive substances that are crucial for enhancing immune response. We also investigated the effect of dietary patterns and supplementation methods on immune function. We assessed the effectiveness and potential mechanisms of action of various nutritional therapies in modifying immune responses through a thorough examination of scientific literature. Additionally, we go through the significance of individualized nutrition and highlight possible factors to consider for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with chronic conditions. This review attempts to provide a thorough understanding of the role of diet in boosting immunity by synthesizing available research. It also offers insights into practical methods for enhancing the immune function during the current epidemic and in the future., (© 2024 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Microbial cellulose is a fermented form of very pure cellulose with a fibrous structure. The media rich in glucose or other carbon sources are fermented by bacteria to produce microbial cellulose. The bacteria use the carbon to produce cellulose, which grows as a dense, gel-like mat on the surface of the medium. The product was then collected, cleaned, and reused in various ways. The properties of microbial cellulose, such as water holding capacity, gas permeability, and ability to form a flexible, transparent film make it intriguing for food applications. Non-digestible microbial cellulose has been shown to improve digestive health and may have further advantages. It is also very absorbent, making it a great option for use in wound dressings. The review discusses the generation of microbial cellulose and several potential applications of microbial cellulose in fields including pharmacy, biology, materials research, and the food industry., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The choice of an appropriate packaging materials enhances the shelf life and improves quality of food during transportation, storage, and distribution. Development and innovations in food packaging systems have become essential in the food industry. Most widely used packaging materials are non-biodegradable plastics and are harmful to environment and human health. Thus, food industry is replacing non-biodegradable plastics with biodegradable plastics to reduce environmental pollution, health hazards, and food waste. Edible packaging may reduce food waste and keep perishables fresh. This review article compares edible packaging materials to synthetic ones and discusses their pollution-reducing effects. The several types of food packaging discussed in the review include those produced from polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and composite films. The various characteristics of edible packaging are reviewed, including its barrier qualities, carrier properties, mechanical capabilities, and edibility. The carrier properties describe the capacity to transport and manage the release of active substances, and the edibility indicates acceptance of these items by the customers. Plasticizers, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and emulsifiers were included in the edible packaging to enhance the characteristics of the film. The development and implementation of edible packaging on food products from the laboratory to large-scale industrial levels, as well as their potential industrial applications in the dairy, meat, confectionary, poultry, fish, fruit, and vegetable processing sectors are addressed., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

There are a number of cutting-edge techniques implemented in the germination process, including high pressure processing, ultrasonic, ultraviolet, light, non-thermal plasma, magnetic field, microwave radiation, electrolyzed oxidizing water, and plasma activated water. The influence of these technological advances on seed germination procedure is addressed in this review. The use of these technologies has several benefits, including the enhancement of plant growth rate and the modulation of bioactive chemicals like ABA, protein, and peroxidase concentrations, as well as the suppression of microbial development. Microgreens' positive health effects, such as their antioxidant, anticancer, antiproliferative/pro-oxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties are extensively reviewed. The phytochemical and bioactive components of microgreens were investigated, including the concentrations of vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, micro and macro nutrients, pro-vitamin A, polyphenols, and glucosinolates. Furthermore, the potential commercial uses of microgreens, as well as the current market transformation and prospects for the future are explored., Competing Interests: Competing interestThe authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Aonla, commonly known as Indian gooseberry ( Phyllanthus emblica ), is a plant native to India with various therapeutic and dietary benefits. This review covers the taxonomical, morphological, and species-level classifications of aonla fruit, including its flower biology, maturation, harvesting, and yield metrics. It also discusses the nutritional, physico-chemical, and phytochemical characteristics and the total antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and mineral compositions of several aonla fruit cultivars. Additionally, the health benefits of aonla are reviewed, including its analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, ulcerogenic, chemo-protective, neuroprotective, free radical scavenging, hypoglycaemic, and immunogenic properties, which make it beneficial in the treatment and prevention of various illnesses. Further various forms of fruit extract are also considered to be beneficial for the improvement of plant and animal health. Overall, aonla is a valuable fruit with significant potential for use in improving human health.

Phalsa is a tropical and subtropical fruit that is high in nutritional value and is primarily cultivated for its fruit. As, Phalsa fruit contain high number of vitamins (A and C), minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and iron), and fibre while being low in calories and fat. The fruit and seed of Phalsa contain 18 amino acids, the majority of which are aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and leucine. Based on in vivo and in vitro studies phalsa plant possess high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic properties. However, antioxidant properties are found in the form of vitamin C, total phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, and tannin. The phalsa plant's fruits and leaves have substantial anticancer action against cancer cell lines. Because of the presence of a broad range of physiologically active chemicals, investigations on phalsa plants revealed that some plant parts have radioprotective qualities. The anti-glycosidase and anti-amylase activity of aqueous fresh fruit extract was shown to be substantial. The phalsa plant contains an abundance of biologically active chemicals, allowing it to control microorganisms through a variety of processes. Phalsa methanolic leaf extract was revealed to have antimalarial and antiemetic effects. The hot and cold polysaccharide fractions extracted from the phalsa plant have potent hepatoprotective and therapeutic properties. Therefore, this review is based on the nutritional, bioactive, phytochemicals, and potential pharmacological uses of phalsa. The potential health benefits and economic potential of the phalsa berry's phytochemicals are promising areas for further study., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The number of patients with functional loss of bone and cartilage tissue has shown an increasing trend. Insufficient or inappropriate conventional treatments applied for trauma, orthopedic diseases, or other bone and cartilage-related disorders can lead to bone and cartilage damage. This represents a worldwide public health issue and a significant economic burden. Advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs) proposed promising alternative therapeutic modalities by application of cell-based and tissue engineering approaches. Recently, several ATMPs have been developed to promote bone and cartilage tissue regeneration. Fifteen ATMPs, two related to bone and 13 related to cartilage, have received regulatory approval and marketing authorization. However, four ATMPs were withdrawn from the market for various reasons. However, ATMPs that are still on the market have demonstrated positive results, their broad application faced limitations. The development and standardization of methodologies will be a major challenge in the coming decades. Currently, the number of ATMPs in clinical trials using mesenchymal stromal cells or chondrocytes indicates a growing recognition that current ATMPs can be improved. Research on bone and cartilage tissue regeneration continues to expand. Cell-based therapies are likely to be clinically supported by the new ATMPs, innovative fabrication processes, and enhanced surgical approaches. In this study, we highlighted the available ATMPs that have been used in bone and cartilage defects and discussed their advantages and disadvantages in clinical applications., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objectives: To assess the characteristics of patients with unilateral and bilateral tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA)., Methods: Women diagnosed with TOA during 2003-2017 were included in this retrospective cohort study. TOA was diagnosed using sonography or computerized tomography and clinical criteria, or by surgical diagnosis. Demographics, sonographic data, clinical treatment, surgical treatment, and post-operative information were retrieved., Results: The study cohort included 144 women who met the inclusion criteria, of whom 78 (54.2%) had unilateral TOA and 66 (45.8%) had bilateral TOA. Baseline characteristics were not different between the groups. There was a statistical trend that women with fewer events of previous PID were less likely to have with bilateral TOA (75.3% vs. 64.1%, respectively; p = 0.074). Women diagnosed with bilateral TOA were more likely to undergo surgical treratment for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy compared to unilateral TOA (61.5% vs. 42.3%, respectively; p = 0.04). There was no difference in maximum TOA size between groups., Conclusions: This study detected a trend toward increased need for surgical treatment in women diagnosed with bilateral TOA. These findings may contribute to determining the optimal medical or surgical treatment, potentially leading to a decrease in the duration of hospitalization, antibiotic exposure, and resistance. However, it is important to acknowledge that the results of the current study are limited, and further research is warranted to validate these potential outcomes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is a group of gram-negative bacteria composed of at least 20 different species that cause diseases in plants, animals as well as humans (cystic fibrosis and airway infection). Here, we analyzed the proteomic data of 47 BCC strains by classifying them in three groups. Phylogenetic analyses were performed followed by individual core region identification for each group. Comparative analysis of the three individual core protein fractions resulted in 1766 ortholog/proteins. Non-human homologous proteins from the core region gave 1680 proteins. Essential protein analyses reduced the target list to 37 proteins, which were further compared to a closely related out-group, Burkholderia gladioli ATCC 10,248 strain, resulting in 21 proteins. 3D structure modeling, validation, and druggability step gave six targets that were subjected to further target prioritization parameters which ultimately resulted in two BCC targets. A library of 12,000 ZINC drug-like compounds was screened, where only the top hits were selected for docking orientations. These included ZINC01405842 (against Chorismate synthase aroC) and ZINC06055530 (against Bifunctional N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase/Glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyltransferase glmU). Finally, dynamics simulation (200 ns) was performed for each ligand-receptor complex, followed by ADMET profiling. Of these targets, details of their applicability as drug targets have not yet been elucidated experimentally, hence making our predictions novel and it is suggested that further wet-lab experimentations should be conducted to test the identified BCC targets and ZINC scaffolds to inhibit them., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Purpose: This study evaluated the differences in treatment outcomes between misoprostol and surgical evacuation for the management of incomplete abortion., Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared patients with a clinical diagnosis of incomplete abortion who underwent surgical or pharmaceutical (misoprostol) intervention, 2014-2017. Demographics, sonographic results, treatment follow-up, and post-intervention data on retained products of conception were retrieved. Women with incomplete abortion who underwent surgical versus pharmaceutical intervention were compared., Results: Among 589 spontaneous abortions, 198 were included in the study, of which 123 (62.1%) underwent surgical evacuation and 75 (37.9%) pharmaceutical intervention with misoprostol. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. During 130.8 ± 91.7 days of follow-up, no patient who underwent surgical evacuation had retained products of conception or needed surgical hysteroscopy. Four cases (5.3%) in the misoprostol group had retained products of conception and needed hysteroscopy (p = 0.02). Patients who underwent surgical evacuation had higher hemoglobin levels during follow-up (12.1 mg/dL vs. 11.7 mg/dL, p = 0.05). There were no differences in post-treatment pregnancy rates between groups., Conclusion: Long-term follow-up after incomplete abortion showed that hemodynamically stable patients treated with misoprostol achieved the desired results in 95% of cases without significant differences in pregnancy intervals compared to surgical management. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the outcomes described in this study., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This systematic review and meta-analysis focused on the effectiveness of biomaterials integrated with specific microRNAs (miRNAs) for bone fracture repair treatment. We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, identifying 42 relevant papers up to March 2022. Hydrogel-based scaffolds were the most commonly used, incorporating miRNAs like miR-26a, miR-21, and miR-222, with miR-26a being the most prevalent. The meta-analysis revealed significant benefits of incorporating miRNAs into scaffolds for bone repair, particularly in hydrogel scaffolds. However, some controversies were observed among studies, presenting challenges in selecting appropriate miRNAs for this purpose. The study concludes that incorporating specific miRNAs into bone biomaterials enhances bone regeneration, but further trials comparing different biomaterials and miRNAs are necessary to validate their potential applications for bone tissue regeneration.

New 1,5-diarylpyrazole oxime hybrid derivatives (scaffolds A and B ) were designed, synthesized, and then their purity was verified using a variety of spectroscopic methods. A panel of five cancer cell lines known to express EGFR and JNK-2, including human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line DLD-1, human cervical cancer cell line Hela, human leukemia cell line K562, human pancreatic cell line SUIT-2, and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, were used to biologically evaluate for their in vitro cytotoxicity for all the synthesized compounds 7a - j , 8a - j , 9a - c , and 10a - c . The oxime containing compounds 8a-j and 10a-c were more active as antiproliferative agents than their non-oxime congeners 7a-j and 9a-c. Compounds 8d , 8g , 8i , and 10c inhibited EGFR with IC 50 values ranging from 8 to 21 µM when compared with sorafenib. Compound 8i inhibited JNK-2 as effectively as sorafenib, with an IC 50 of 1.0 µM. Furthermore, compound 8g showed cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in the cell cycle analysis of the Hela cell line, whereas compound 8i showed combined S phase and G2 phase arrest. According to docking studies, oxime hybrid compounds 8d , 8g , 8i , and 10c exhibited binding free energies ranging from -12.98 to 32.30 kcal/mol at the EGFR binding site whereas compounds 8d and 8i had binding free energies ranging from -9.16 to -12.00 kcal/mol at the JNK-2 binding site.

Multiconnectivity allows user equipment/devices to connect to multiple radio access technologies simultaneously, including 5G, 4G (LTE), and WiFi. It is a necessity in meeting the increasing demand for mobile network services for the 5G and beyond wireless networks, while ensuring that mobile operators can still reap the benefits of their present investments. Multipath TCP (MPTCP) has been introduced to allow uninterrupted reliable data transmission over multiconnectivity links. However, energy consumption is a significant issue for multihomed wireless devices since most of them are battery-powered. This paper employs software-defined networking (SDN) and deep neural networks (DNNs) to manage the energy consumption of devices with multiconnectivity running MPTCP. The proposed method involves two lightweight algorithms implemented on an SDN controller, using a real hardware testbed of dual-homed wireless nodes connected to WiFi and cellular networks. The first algorithm determines whether a node should connect to a specific network or both networks. The second algorithm improves the selection made by the first by using a DNN trained on different scenarios, such as various network sizes and MPTCP congestion control algorithms. The results of our extensive experimentation show that this approach effectively reduces energy consumption while providing better network throughput performance compared to using single-path TCP or MPTCP Cubic or BALIA for all nodes.

Sappan wood ( Caesalpinia sappan ) is a tropical hardwood tree found in Southeast Asia. Sappan wood contains a water-soluble compound, which imparts a red color named brazilin. Sappan wood is utilized to produce dye for fabric and coloring agents for food and beverages, such as wine and meat. As a valuable medicinal plant, the tree is also known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It has been observed that sappan wood contains various bioactive compounds, including brazilin, brazilein, sappan chalcone, and protosappanin A. It has also been discovered that these substances have various health advantages; they lower inflammation, enhance blood circulation, and are anti-oxidative in nature. Sappan wood has been used as a medicine to address a range of illnesses, such as gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions. Studies have also suggested that sappan wood may have anticarcinogenic potential as it possesses cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. Based on this, the present review emphasized the different medicinal properties, the role of phytochemicals, their health benefits, and several food and nonfood applications of sappan wood. Overall, sappan wood has demonstrated promising medicinal properties and is an important resource in traditional medicine. The present review has explored the potential role of sappan wood as an essential source of bioactive compounds for drug development.

This review describes the various innovative approaches implemented for naringin extraction as well as the recent developments in the field. Naringin was assessed in terms of its structure, chemical composition, and potential food sources. How naringin works pharmacologically was discussed, including its potential as an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective substance. Citrus flavonoids are crucial herbal additives that have a huge spectrum of organic activities. Naringin is a nutritional flavanone glycoside that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a few chronic disorders associated with ageing. Citrus fruits contain a common flavone glycoside that has specific pharmacological and biological properties. Naringin, a flavone glycoside with a range of intriguing characteristics, is abundant in citrus fruits. Naringin has been shown to have a variety of biological, medicinal, and pharmacological effects. Naringin is hydrolyzed into rhamnose and prunin by the naringinase, which also possesses l-rhamnosidase activity. D-glucosidase subsequently catalyzes the hydrolysis of prunin into glucose and naringenin. Naringin is known for having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tumor-fighting effects. Numerous test animals and cell lines have been used to correlate naringin exposure to asthma, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism, and osteoporosis. This study focused on the many documented actions of naringin in in-vitro and in-vivo experimental and preclinical investigations, as well as its prospective therapeutic advantages, utilizing the information that is presently accessible in the literature. In addition to its pharmacokinetic characteristics, naringin's structure, distribution, different extraction methods, and potential use in the cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical, and animal feed sectors were discussed.

Objectives: Obesity is characterized by local and systemic low-grade inflammatory responses. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) play decisive roles in inflammation, insulin signaling, and various metabolic dysfunctions. Diets enriched with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to improve health and mitigate pathologic conditions. However, the effects of ω-3 PUFA on adipose tissue inflammation, ATM number, and phenotype are poorly defined in human obesity. The aim of this study was to examine differences in expression of metabolic-inflammatory markers in omental, mesenteric, and subcutaneous fat depots of obese women supplemented with ω-3 PUFAs for 4 wk compared with a low-calorie diet before bariatric surgery., Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, inflammatory markers in the abdominal adipose tissue and the systemic response in obese women were studied. Patients were treated with a 2-wk low-calorie diet (LCD) or a 4-wk ω-3 PUFA-enriched diet (920 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 760 mg docosahexaenoic acid daily) before laparoscopic bypass surgery. Omental, mesenteric, and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were collected during surgery and analyzed for quantity and phenotype of ATMs, and profiled for adipokines, cytokines, and signal transduction molecules., Results: The chronic inflammatory state characterized by ATM markers was mostly improved by ω-3 PUFAs in visceral adipose tissue. We observed a decreased expression of CD45, CCL2, and CD68, indicating a lower inflammatory state. In patients with type 2 diabetes, ω-3 PUFAs lowered the expression of Netrin-1., Conclusions: Compared with an LCD, a diet enriched with ω-3 PUFAs influences the inflammatory state in different adipose tissue depots, by affecting markers of adipose tissue inflammation, macrophage phenotype, and retention. However, this was not reflected in clinical parameters such as insulin resistance and inflammatory cytokines. Subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue have different responses to an LCD or a ω-3 PUFA-enriched diet. The presence of diabetes modifies the expression of inflammatory markers., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: For monitoring, providing, and managing COVID-19 pandemic healthcare services, telemedicine holds incredible potential. During this period, there has been a change in the remote services offered to cancer patients. As a result, the purpose of this study was to conduct a mapping review to identify and classify telemedicine applications for providing cancer care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Articles published in scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest up to 2022 were searched for in this systematic mapping study. Identifying keywords, creating a search strategy, and selecting data sources were all part of our search for relevant articles. The articles were chosen in phases based on inclusion and exclusion criteria., Results: A total of 1331 articles were found, with the majority of them (46% of them) taking place in the United States. Telemedicine systems were most commonly developed for breast cancer (11.4%), lung cancer (7.9%), head and neck cancer (6.4%), brain cancer (5.4%), gynecologic cancer (6.0%), urological cancer (5.7%), prostate cancer (5.0%), colorectal cancer (5.0%), biliary tract cancer (5.0%), and skin cancer (5.0%). Teleconsultation was the most common type of telemedicine application, with 60% of it taking place in real time., Conclusion: Because of its emphasis on providing high-quality health care while reducing costs, telemedicine has gained popularity in the majority of countries, with positive economic and social consequences. While telemedicine systems provide a variety of healthcare services, during the COVID-19 era, they do not currently provide many services to all cancer patients worldwide., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12553-023-00762-2., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interestThe authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM) 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The present study was conducted out to develop nutritionally enriched noodles by supplementing wheat flour with mushroom and chickpea starch at different concentrations and its effect on physico-chemical, bioactive, cooking, microbial and sensory properties, morphological and textural properties has been investigated. The prepared noodles contained high levels of protein, and low levels of carbohydrate, energy with the incorporation of mushroom flour and chickpea starch concentration. The lightness (L*) (71.79-53.84) decreased and yellowness (b*) (19.33-31.36) and redness (a*) (1.91-5.35) increased with the incorporation of mushroom flour and chickpea starch. The optimum cooking time decreased while as the water absorption capacity and cooking loss increased with increase in mushroom flour and chickpea starch concentration. The microstructure study and textural properties depicted the clear picture of protein network, with smooth outer surface, and the decrease in hardness with increased concentration of mushroom flour and chickpea starch. XRD and DSC results revealed that the prepared noodles contained more complete crystallites and high fraction of crystalline region and the linear increase in the gelatinization temperature with increase in composite flour concentration. The microbial analysis of noodles showed the decrease in microbial growth with the incorporation of composite flour., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThere is no competing interest between the authors., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Due to growing consumer interest in fitness and wellbeing, foods and beverages with therapeutic and functional qualities are in higher demand. In addition to being significant staple crops and major providers of nutrition and energy, cereals are rich in bioactive phytochemicals with health benefits. Cereal grains offer a lot of promise for processing into functional beverages since these include a wide variety of bioactive phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, dietary fibres, phytosterols, tocols, gamma-oryzanol, and phytic acid. Despite the fact that a wide variety of beverages made from cereal grains are produced globally, they have received very little technological and scientific attention. The beverages confer replacements for milk made from cereal grains, roasted cereal grain teas and fermented non-alcoholic cereal grain drinks. This review emphasizes on the three primary kinds of functional beverages made from cereal grains. Further, the potential applications and directions for the future related to these beverages are discussed with elaborated processing methods, health benefits and product attributes. Cereal grain-based beverages may represent a promising new class of healthy functional beverages in our daily lives as the food industry gets more diverse., Competing Interests: The authors confirm no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: Aberrant expression of lncRNAs in cancer cells can impact their key phenotypes. We aimed to summarize available evidence on clinicopathological and prognostic value of lncRNA TPT1-AS1 in cancer., Methods: A systematic search was performed on Medline and Embase databases using relevant key terms covering lncRNA TPT1-AS1, cancer, and clinical outcomes. The effect size estimates and their 95 % confidence interval (CI) were pooled using random-effects models. Meta- analyses were conducted using STATA 16.0 software., Results: Seventeen articles met our eligibility criteria. Tumor tissue compared to normal tissue showed increased level of lncRNA TPT1-AS1 expression (pooled standardized mean difference (95 % CI): 0.65 (0.52-0.79)). Overexpression of this lncRNA was a significant predictor for poor prognosis (Pooled log-rank test P-value < 0.001); in patients with high-level of lncRNA TPT1-AS1, the risk of death at five years was 1.40 times greater than their counterparts. The pooled Odds ratios for association lncRNA TPT1-AS1 with tumor stage, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were 1.94 (95 % CI: 0.90-4.19, 8 studies, I 2 = 79.6 %), 2.33 (95 % CI: 1.31-4.14, 5 studies, I 2 = 40.0 %), and 1.89 (95 % CI: 1.08-3.36, 5 studies, I 2 = 61.7 %), respectively. Regarding the identified potential mechanisms, lncRNA TPT1-AS1 plays a role in cancer growth mainly by sponging miRNAs and regulating their downstream targets or controlling the expression of key cell cycle regulators., Conclusion: In cancer patients, elevated expression of lncRNA TPT1-AS1 might be associated with a shorter Overall Survival, advanced stages, larger tumor size, and lymph node metastasis., Competing Interests: Conflict of interests Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: About 5-10% of breast cancer cases are attributed to a gene mutation. To perform preventive interventions for women with a gene mutation, genetic screening BRCA tests have recently been implemented in Iran. The present study aimed to determine Iranian women's subjective valuation for screening BRCA tests for early detection of breast cancer to help policymakers to make decisions about genetic screening tests for breast cancer and to know the applicants., Methods: An online survey was completed by women older than 30 years old in Tehran, the capital of Iran in 2021. A hypothetical scenario about genetic screening tests for breast cancer was defined. The subjective valuation for the tests was assessed by a willingness to pay (WTP) using the contingent valuation method (CVM) by payment card. Demographics, history of breast cancers, knowledge, and physiological variables were considered as independent variables, and a logistic regression model assessed the relationship between WTP and the variables., Results: 660 women were included. 88% of participants intended to participate in BRCA genetic screening for breast cancer if it were free. The mean WTP for the tests was about $ 20. Based on the logistic regression, income, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and positive attitude were associated with WTP., Conclusions: Iranian women were willing to intend for genetic screening BRCA tests and pay for them as well. The result of the present study is of great importance for policy makers when it comes to funding and determining co-payments for BRCA genetic screening tests. To achieve a high participation rate of women in breast cancer screening plans, a positive attitude should be promoted as a psychological factor. Educational and informative programs can help., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A method for managing, securing, and validating health data distribution records using a genetic-based hashing algorithm in a decentralized environment is presented in this research report. The rationale for choosing blockchain is to secure the transaction of health data and protect these data from manipulated fraudulent movement and corruption by a contributor to the chain, or any individual. Our approach uses technology that provides an efficient surveillance measure, including transparency of records, immunity from fraud, and protection from tampering, as well as sustaining the order of data. For medical research, the results here provide a genetic-based hashing algorithm for data security, which has lower computational complexity, low space coverage, higher security and integrity, and a high avalanche effect. The simulation will show the validity, immunity, and integrity of the data record. The technique modified in this secure decentralized network is a cryptographic hashing algorithm for 512 bits. In this study, a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to generate a key that must be used in the encryption and decryption of medical data. A GA is a metaheuristic approach inspired by the laws of genetics; and it is generally used to generate high-quality solutions for complex problems. Applications of GAs are possible in medical fields, such as radiology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, surgery, oncology, and radiotherapy in healthcare management., Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflict of interests at this time., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Chronic hunger and malnutrition will eventually result from the population's rapid growth. It is unlikely to succeed in tackling the rising challenges of delivering sustainable food for all people unless high attention is paid on the function of food processing to ensure the supply of stable food. It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing food processing and preservation technologies that can reduce food losses and wastage during surplus seasons. Therefore, sustainable food systems must be developed to provide healthy diets without damaging our world and its resources. The goal is to use various perspectives to confirm why food processing is crucial to future food supply. It is important to show the appropriate utilization of sustainability factors and effect assessments to construct for feeding the globe while staying within planetary limits. There has never been a better time to assure a plentiful food supply to feed the people than right now, when the population is expanding at a worrying rate. The sustainable food project seeks to move the food systems in a long-term, more equitable direction. Food processing, or the conversion of raw materials into functional, edible, and consumer acceptable food, is a critical link in the food value chain between consumption and production. This review looked at various existing and emerging food processing followed by preservation techniques. Food systems must also attempt to reduce food waste and losses, as well as the current and future impacts on the environment and society, to be sustainable., Competing Interests: Competing InterestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis to assess the number of articles published by Iranian researchers in the field of hand and microsurgery over the last four decades., Materials and Methods: An online search was conducted using 685 keywords in the abstract/title sections of articles, including carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist fractures, nerve injury and repair, skin flap and graft in the hand, congenital disorders in the hand and forearm, tumor in the hand and wrist, and infection in the hand and wrist. From February 1976 to May 2021, EndNote software version 8.1 was used to search articles in PubMed and Scopus databases. Articles in which at least one of the authors was affiliated with Iran were chosen. The name of the original institution, field of study, total number of publications, type of study, collaboration rate of Iranian hand surgeons for each year, and annual sharing of Iranian articles in journals with the highest cite scores in the field of hand and microsurgery were all examined in the present study., Results: The total number of publications in the field of hand and microsurgery was 632 (an average of 11 papers per year). Most of the Iranian hand and microsurgery papers were from the capital city, Tehran (38.09%). There was an increasing trend in the number of publications over the years, most which were about carpal tunnel syndrome (21.5%), tendon (9.8%), and nerve (9.6%). In total, 59.6% were descriptive articles, whereas the proportion of clinical trials was relatively small (22.3%)., Conclusions: Iranian hand microsurgeons have continued to increase their scientific output in hand microsurgery and related fields over the last 40 years. The quality of Iranian hand microsurgeons' scientific output, both within and outside their discipline, has greatly improved; however, they still have a long way to go before becoming a hub of science., Level of Evidence: IV, retrospective study without control group., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Background: Dyspnea is common after COVID-19. Though the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown, lung perfusion abnormalities could contribute to lingering dyspnea., Objectives: To detect pulmonary perfusion disturbances in nonhospitalized individuals with the post-COVID condition and persistent dyspnea 4-13 months after the disease onset., Methods: Individuals with dyspnea and matched healthy controls were recruited for dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), a 6-min walk test, and an assessment of dyspnea. The DCE-MRI was quantified using two parametric values: mean time to peak (TTP) and TTP ratio, reflecting the total lung perfusion resistance and the fraction of lung with delayed perfusion, respectively., Results: Twenty-eight persons with persistent dyspnea (mean age 46.5 ± 8.0 years, 75% women) and 22 controls (mean age 44.1 ± 10.8 years, 73% women) were included. There was no systematic sex difference in dyspnea. The post-COVID group had no focal perfusion deficits but had higher mean pulmonary TTP (0.43 ± 0.04 vs. 0.41 ± 0.03, p = 0.011) and TTP ratio (0.096 ± 0.052 vs. 0.068 ± 0.027, p = 0.032). Post-COVID males had the highest mean TTP of 0.47 ± 0.02 and TTP ratio of 0.160 ± 0.039 compared to male controls and post-COVID females (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Correlations between dyspnea and perfusion parameters were demonstrated in males (r = 0.83, p < 0.001 for mean TTP; r = 0.76, p = 0.003 for TTP ratio), but not in females., Conclusions: DCE-MRI demonstrated late contrast bolus arrival in males with post-COVID dyspnea, suggestive of primary vascular lesions or secondary effects of hypoxic vasoconstriction. Since this effect was not regularly observed in female patients, our findings suggest sex differences in the mechanisms underlying post-COVID dyspnea, which warrants further investigation in dedicated trials., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine.)

Naturally occurring phytochemicals with promising biological properties are quercetin and its derivatives. Quercetin has been thoroughly studied for its antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-arthritic, antioxidant, cardiovascular, and wound-healing properties. Anticancer activity of quercetin against cancer cell lines has also recently been revealed. The majority of the Western diet contains quercetin and its derivatives, therefore consuming them as part of a meal or as a food supplement may be sufficient for people to take advantage of their preventive effects. Bioavailability-based drug-delivery systems of quercetin have been heavily studied. Fruits, seeds, vegetables, bracken fern, coffee, tea, and other plants all contain quercetin, as do natural colors. One naturally occurring antioxidant is quercetin, whose anticancer effects have been discussed in detail. It has several properties that could make it an effective anti-cancer agent. Numerous researches have shown that quercetin plays a substantial part in the suppression of cancer cells in the breast, colon, prostate, ovary, endometrial, and lung tumors. The current study includes a concise explanation of quercetin's action mechanism and potential health applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shabir, Kumar Pandey, Shams, Dar, Dash, Khan, Bashir, Jeevarathinam, Rusu, Esatbeyoglu and Pandiselvam.)

In the central nervous system (CNS), calcium homeostasis is a critical determinant of neuronal survival. Calpain, a calcium-dependent neutral protease, is widely expressed in the brain, including substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Though calpain is implicated in human Parkinson's disease (PD) and corresponding animal models, the roles of specific ubiquitous calpain isoforms in PD, calpain-1 and calpain-2, remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that both isoforms are activated in a nigrostriatal pathway with increased phosphorylated synuclein following the administration of rotenone in Lewis rats, but calpain isoforms played different roles in neuronal survival. Although increased expression of calpain-1 and calpain-2 were detected in the SN of rotenone-administered rats, calpain-1 expression was not altered significantly after treatment with calpain inhibitor (calpeptin); this correlated with neuronal survival. By contrast, increased calpain-2 expression in the SN of rotenone rats correlated with neuronal death, and calpeptin treatment significantly attenuated calpain-2 and neuronal death. Calpain inhibition by calpeptin prevented glial (astroglia/microglia) activation in rotenone-treated rats in vivo, promoted M2-type microglia, and protected neurons. These data suggest that enhanced expression of calpain-1 and calpain-2 in PD models differentially affects glial activation and neuronal survival; thus, the attenuation of calpain-2 may be important in reducing SN neuronal loss in PD.

The attenuated total reflection (ATR) apparatus, with an added partial reflection/partial transmission mode, was used to demonstrate a novel way of characterizing water-based substances at 0.7 to 10.0 THz at the Australian Synchrotron THz-far infrared beamline. The technique utilized a diamond-crystal-equipped ATR to track temperature-dependent changes in reflectance. A "crossover flare" feature in the spectral scan was noted, which appeared to be a characteristic of water and water-dominated compounds. A "quiet zone" feature was also seen, where no temperature-dependent variation in reflectance exists. The variation in these spectral features can be used as a signature for the presence of bound and bulk water. The method can also potentially identify the presence of fats and oils in a biological specimen. The technique requires minimal sample preparation and is non-destructive. The presented method has the promise to provide a novel, real-time, low-preparation, analytical method for investigating biological material, which offers avenues for rapid medical diagnosis and industrial analysis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the medical services, particularly cancer diagnosis and treatment, for vulnerable cancer patients. Although lung cancer has a high mortality rate, monitoring and following up of these patients can help to improve disease management during the pandemic. Telemedicine has proven to be an effective method of providing health care to these patients. As a result, the purpose of this study was to identify telemedicine applications in the management of lung cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scoping review, studies published in online scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed between January 1, 2020 and September 1, 2021 were systematically searched and screened. The studies were chosen using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The bibliometric information and technological aspects of included studies were collected using a data extraction form and the data was analyzed using the content analysis approach. A total of 68 articles were found, from which four articles were finally selected based on specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Real-time consultation was one of the most common applications of telemedicine to deliver health-care services to cancer patients. Health-care providers used applications such as Zoom, Facetime, WeChat, and e-mail, as well as devices including PCs, phones, and smartphones to provide real-time consultation to patients via videoconferencing, phone calls, and messaging, as well as store and forward consultation via e-mail. Telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic provides health-care services to lung cancer patients at their homes by enabling physicians and patients to communicate in real time. Several telemedicine services are still unavailable for patients with lung cancer. As a result, health experts, politicians, and entrepreneurs must pay special attention to this issue., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression dysregulations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been studied widely for their diagnostic and prognostic utility. By the use of bioinformatics-based methods, in our previous study, we identified some potential miRNA panels for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer patients from noncancerous controls (the screening stage). In this report, we used 142 plasma samples from people with and without pancreatic cancer (PC) to conduct RT-qPCR differential expression analysis to assess the strength of the first previously proposed diagnostic panel (consisting of miR-125a-3p, miR-4530, and miR-92a-2-5p). As the result, we identified significant upregulation for all the three considered miRNAs in the serum of PC patients. After that, a three-miRNA panel in serum was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for the panel were 0.850, 0.910, and 0.86, respectively, indicating that it had a higher diagnostic value than individual miRNAs. Therefore, we detected a promising three-miRNA panel in the plasma for noninvasive PC diagnosis (miR-125a-3p, miR-4530, and miR-92a-2-5p)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ali Seyed Salehi et al.)

Many studies have demonstrated the use of synthetic preservatives and chemical additives in food is causing poisoning, cancer, and other degenerative disorders. New solutions for food preservation with quality maintenance are currently emerging. As a result, public concern has grown, as they desire to eat healthier products that use natural preservatives and compounds rather than synthetic ones. Clove is a highly prized spice used as a food preservative and for a variety of therapeutic reasons. Clove essential oil and its principal active component, eugenol, indicate antibacterial and antifungal action, aromaticity, and safety as promising and valuable antiseptics in the food sector. Clove essential oil and eugenol are found to have strong inhibition effects on a variety of food-source bacteria, and the mechanisms are linked to lowering migration and adhesion, as well as blocking the creation of biofilm and various virulence factors. This review emphasizes the importance of CEO (clove essential oil) in the food industry and how it can be explored with edible coatings to deliver its functional properties in food preservation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Kumar Pandey, Shams, Singh, Dar, Pandiselvam, Rusu and Trif.)

Significance: The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) are limited by a lack of intraoperative information to accurately target tumors with needles for biopsy and brachytherapy. An innovative image-guidance technique using optical devices could improve the diagnostic yield of biopsy and efficacy of radiotherapy., Aim: To evaluate the performance of multimodal PCa detection using biomolecular features from in-situ Raman spectroscopy (RS) combined with image-based (radiomics) features from multiparametric magnetic resonance images (mpMRI)., Approach: In a prospective pilot clinical study, 18 patients were recruited and underwent high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Multimodality image fusion (preoperative mpMRI with intraoperative transrectal ultrasound) combined with electromagnetic tracking was used to navigate an RS needle in the prostate prior to brachytherapy. This resulting dataset consisted of Raman spectra and co-located radiomics features from mpMRI. Feature selection was performed with the constraint that no more than 10 features were retained overall from a combination of inelastic scattering spectra and radiomics. These features were used to train support vector machine classifiers for PCa detection based on leave-one-patient-out cross-validation., Results: RS along with biopsy samples were acquired from 47 sites along the insertion trajectory of the fiber-optics needle: 26 were confirmed as benign or grade group = 1, and 21 as grade group &gt;1, according to histopathological reports. The combination of the fingerprint region of the RS and radiomics showed an accuracy of 83% (sensitivity = 81 % and a specificity = 85 % ), outperforming by more than 9% models trained with either spectroscopic or mpMRI data alone. An optimal number of features was identified between 6 and 8 features, which have good potential for discriminating grade group ≥1 / grade group &lt;1 (accuracy = 87 % ) or grade group &gt;1 / grade group ≤1 (accuracy = 91 % )., Conclusions: In-situ Raman spectroscopy combined with mpMRI radiomics features can lead to highly accurate PCa detection for improved in-vivo targeting of biopsy sample collection and radiotherapy seed placement.

Significance: The diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and focal treatment by brachytherapy are limited by the lack of precise intraoperative information to target tumors during biopsy collection and radiation seed placement. Image-guidance techniques could improve the safety and diagnostic yield of biopsy collection as well as increase the efficacy of radiotherapy., Aim: To estimate the accuracy of PCa detection using in situ Raman spectroscopy (RS) in a pilot in-human clinical study and assess biochemical differences between in vivo and ex vivo measurements., Approach: A new miniature RS fiber-optics system equipped with an electromagnetic (EM) tracker was guided by trans-rectal ultrasound-guided imaging, fused with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging to acquire 49 spectra in situ (in vivo) from 18 PCa patients. In addition, 179 spectra were acquired ex vivo in fresh prostate samples from 14 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Two machine-learning models were trained to discriminate cancer from normal prostate tissue from both in situ and ex vivo datasets., Results: A support vector machine (SVM) model was trained on the in situ dataset and its performance was evaluated using leave-one-patient-out cross validation from 28 normal prostate measurements and 21 in-tumor measurements. The model performed at 86% sensitivity and 72% specificity. Similarly, an SVM model was trained with the ex vivo dataset from 152 normal prostate measurements and 27 tumor measurements showing reduced cancer detection performance mostly attributable to spatial registration inaccuracies between probe measurements and histology assessment. A qualitative comparison between in situ and ex vivo measurements demonstrated a one-to-one correspondence and similar ratios between the main Raman bands (e.g., amide I-II bands, phenylalanine)., Conclusions: PCa detection can be achieved using RS and machine learning models for image-guidance applications using in situ measurements during prostate biopsy procedures.

Hydrogels are ideal for various food applications because of their softness, elasticity, absorbent nature, flexibility, and hygroscopic nature. Polysaccharide hydrogels are particularly suitable because of the hydrophilic nature, their food compatibility, and their non-immunogenic character. Such hydrogels offer a wide range of successful applications such as food preservation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food packaging. Additionally, polysaccharide hydrogels have proven to play a significant role in the formulation of food flavor carrier systems, thus diversifying the horizons of newer developments in food processing sector. Polysaccharide hydrogels are comprised of natural polymers such as alginate, chitosan, starch, pectin and hyaluronic acid when crosslinked physically or chemically. Hydrogels with interchangeable, antimicrobial and barrier properties are referred to as smart hydrogels. This review brings together the recent and relevant polysaccharide research in these polysaccharide hydrogel applications areas and seeks to point the way forward for future research and interventions. Applications in carrying out the process of flavor carrier system directly through their incorporation in food matrices, broadening the domain for food application innovations. The classification and important features of polysaccharide-based hydrogels in food processing are the topics of the current review study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) as an emerging and developing technology has received much attention in healthcare and trained different medical groups. Implementing specialized training in cardiac surgery is one of the riskiest and most sensitive issues related to clinical training. Studies have been conducted to train cardiac residents using this technology. This study aimed to identify the effects and features of VR technology in cardiology interventions training. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in 2021 by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences scientific databases by combining the related keywords. A data extraction form was used for data gathering. Data analyses were done through the content analysis method, and results were reported based on the study objectives. Results: 21 studies were included; from the 777 articles found in the initial searches, seven (33.33%) were RCT studies. VR-based education studies in cardiology interventions have grown significantly in recent years. The main effects of applying VR include improved user attitude and satisfaction, improved performance after VR training, and improved training and learning. Input devices include tracking devices, point input devices, and controllers. Output devices were three main categories include graphics audios and haptic. Conclusion: The use of new technologies, especially VR, can improve the efficiency of medical training in clinical settings. It recommends that this technology train the necessary skills for heart surgery in cardiac residents before performing real surgery to reduce the potential risks and medical errors., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a cancer with an insidious course. Since disease is often diagnosed at advanced stages, clinical outcome is impaired. Thus identification of biomarkers for this malignancy has importance in enhancement of patients' survival., Methods and Results: In the current study, we assessed expression levels of miR-8073 and miR-642 in the circulation of 50 patients with pancreatic cancer and 50 controls. Plasma levels of miR-8073 and miR-642 were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer compared with controls (P value < 0.0001 and P value = 0.0068, respectively). Plasma levels of miR-642 were inversely correlated with albumin levels (R=-0.28, P value = 0.049), WBC count (R=-0.35, P value = 0.01), as well as CRP level (R=-0.30, P value = 0.035). On the other hand, levels of this miRNA were positively correlated with lipase level (R = 0.29, P value = 0.042). Levels of miR-8073 were not correlated with any of the available parameters. Plasma levels of miR-8073 could separate patients with pancreatic cancer from controls with AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.82, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. miR-642 could differentiate these two groups with AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.63, 0.58 and 0.78, respectively. Combination of these two parameters resulted in AUC, sensitivity and specificity values of 0.79, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively., Conclusions: Taken together, these two miRNAs are suggested as possible blood markers for pancreatic cancer., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In cancer, the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1) is hyperactivated to promote survival under adverse conditions. The kinase activity of mTORC1 is activated by small-GTPase RHEB-GTP. Therefore, a new modality to inhibit mTORC1 activity has emerged, through intercepting RHEB. However, due to the relatively large contact area involved in the interaction between RHEB and mTORC1, facilitating this inhibition through small molecules has been challenging. Here, we report the development of a peptide that can inhibit the RHEB-mTORC1 interaction. The peptide, P1&#95;WT , was designed based on the α-helix (aa 101-115) of the N-heat domain of mTOR to interact with switch II of RHEB. P1&#95;WT bound to RHEB ( K D = 0.14 μM) and inhibited RHEB-mTOR N-heat interaction (IC 50 = 0.33 μM) in vitro. Consequently, P1&#95;WT inhibited mTORC1 activity at a sub-micromolar level (IC 50 ∼ 0.3 μM). P1&#95;WT was predicted to be cell-permeable due to the rich content of arginine (23%), enhancing the intracellular translocation. These results show that P1&#95;WT is a potential compound to further develop inhibitors for mTORC1 by intercepting RHEB from mTORC1., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In this investigation, the effect of different drying techniques, such as freeze-drying and cabinet drying, with two different carrier agents, such as maltodextrin (MD) and soy protein isolate (SPI), at different levels (10, 15, and 20%) on button mushrooms has been revealed. The results showed that the button mushroom powders (BMPs) formulated with SPI as a carrier agent had significantly higher powder yield, hygroscopicity, L * , a * , and b * values, whereas BMP formulated with MD had significantly higher water activity, solubility index, tapped density, bulk density, and flowability. The highest retention of bioactive compounds was reported in freeze-dried mushroom powder compared to cabinet dried powder using SPI as a carrier agent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed that certain additional peaks were produced in the mushroom button powder-containing SPI (1,035-3,271 cm -1 ) and MD (930-3,220 cm -1 ). Thus, the results revealed that SPI showed promising results for formulating the BMP using the freeze-drying technique., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shams, Singh, Dash, Dar, Nayik, Ansari, Hemeg, Ahmed, Shaikh and Kovács.)

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major human pathogenic bacterium that survives in the gastric mucosa. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of the target gene network of miR-155-5p in H. pylori-related gastritis using a combination of public gene expression datasets and web-based platforms. To evaluate the expression of genes related to gastritis, we used two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, we determined the overlaps between the predicted miR-155-5p target genes and gastritis-dysregulated GEO datasets genes; in the next step, we identified the possible miR-155-5p target-DEGs (Target-Differentially Expressed Genes). Also, we performed multiple bioinformatics analyses to identify the most important targets and downstream pathways associated with this miRNA. Using the UCSC cancer genomic browser analysis tool, we investigated the expression of hub genes in relation to gastric cancer and H. pylori infection, as well as the potential role of hub genes in gastritis, inflammation, and cancer. In this regard, 28 differentially expressed target genes of miR-155-5p were identified. Most of the captured target genes were correlated with the host immune response and inflammation. Based on the specific patterns of expression in gastritis and cancer, CD9, MST1R, and ADAM10 were candidates for the most probable targets of miR-155-5p. Although the focus of this study is primarily on bioinformatics, we think that our findings should be experimentally validated before they can be used as potential therapeutic and diagnostic tools., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The most common technique of orthopedic surgical procedure for the correction of deformities is bone lengthening by "distraction osteogenesis," which requires periodic and ongoing bone assessment following surgery. Bone impedance is a noninvasive, quantitative method of assessing bone fracture healing. The purpose of this study was to monitor bone healing and determine when fixation devices should be removed. The left tibia of eight male New Zealand white rabbits (2.4 ± 0.4 kg) undergoing osteotomy was attached with a mini-external fixator. The bone length was increased by 1 cm one week after surgery by distracting it 1 mm per day. Before and after osteotomy, as well as every week after, bone impedance was measured in seven frequency ranges using an EVAL-AD5933EBZ board. Three orthopedic surgeons analyzed the radiographs using the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial (RUST) score. The Kappa Fleiss coefficient was used to determine surgeon agreement, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to find out the relationship between impedance measurements and RUST scores. Finally, the device removal time was calculated by comparing the bone impedance to the preosteotomy impedance. The agreement of three orthopedic surgeons on radiographs had a Fleiss' Kappa coefficient of 49%, indicating a moderate level of agreement. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.43, indicating that impedance and radiographic techniques have a direct relationship. Impedance is expected to be used to monitor fractured or lengthened bones in a noninvasive, low-cost, portable, and straightforward manner. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with other qualitative methods such as radiography, impedance can be useful in determining the precise time of device removal., Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022 Farahnaz Sadoughi et al.)

The impact of smoking on male fertility has been extensively acknowledged. Many studies have shown that smoking reduces sperm production, motility and fertilizing capacity by increasing seminal oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, expression profiles of miRNAs and their predicted target genes, showing dysregulation in smokers and associated with male infertility, were obtained, using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Differentially expressed miRNAs, related to male infertility in sperm samples of smoking and non-smoking men, were picked out using the GEO2R online tool. Then, the target genes of each selected miRNA were predicted by using MiR-DIP. The target genes lists were compared to differentially expressed genes from the smoking and infertile men datasets. Common genes were chosen for further enrichment analysis such as GO, KEGG and PPI network analysis via STRING and MCODE. Then, four miRNAs (miR-26a, miR-32, miR-188-3p and miR-512-3p) which had shown differential expression in male infertility in other studies, and also had differential expression in smoking men compared to non-smokers, were screened out. Moreover, a module consisting of eight genes was identified as hub genes, including APC, NIPBL, ARID4B, TNRC6A, GIGYF2, ELAVL1, RHOF and SRSF1. These were highly correlated with male infertility and impairment of spermatogenesis. This study provides a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of miRNAs and their target genes affecting male infertility in smokers. The results showed a collection of the most relevant genes and effective molecular pathways, which may serve as potential markers for the early detection of spermatogenesis disorders leading to infertility in smokers, after experimental validation.

The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a regulatory protein kinase involved in cell growth and proliferation. mTOR is usually assembled in two different complexes with different regulatory mechanisms, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2, which are involved in different functions such as cell proliferation and cytoskeleton assembly, respectively. In cancer cells, mTOR is hyperactivated in response to metabolic alterations and/or oncogenic signals to overcome the stressful microenvironments. Therefore, recent research progress for mTOR inhibition involves a variety of compounds that have been developed to disturb the metabolic processes of cancer cells through mTOR inhibition. In addition to competitive or allosteric inhibition, a new inhibition strategy that emerged mTOR complexes destabilization has recently been a concern. Here, we review the history of mTOR and its inhibition, along with the timeline of the mTOR inhibitors. We also introduce prospective drug targets to inhibit mTOR by disrupting the complexation of the components with peptides and small molecules., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cancer-specific metabolic alterations hyperactivate the kinase activity of the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) for overcoming stressful environments. Rapalogs, which allosterically inhibit mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), have been approved as anticancer agents. However, the immunosuppressive side effect of these compounds results in the promotion of tumor metastasis, thereby limiting their therapeutic efficacy. We first report a nonrapalog inhibitor, WRX606 , identified by a hybrid strategy of in silico and in cell selections. Our studies showed that WRX606 formed a ternary complex with FK506-binding protein-12 (FKBP12) and FKBP-rapamycin-binding (FRB) domain of mTOR, resulting in the allosteric inhibition of mTORC1. WRX606 inhibited the phosphorylation of not only the ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) but also eIF4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1). Hence, WRX606 efficiently suppressed tumor growth in mice without promotion of metastasis. These results suggest that WRX606 is a potent lead compound for developing anticancer drugs discovered by in silico and in cell methods.

Background and Purpose: Advances in high-dose-rate brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer hinge on improved accuracy in navigation and targeting while optimizing a streamlined workflow. Multimodal image registration and electromagnetic (EM) tracking are two technologies integrated into a prototype system in the early phase of clinical evaluation. We aim to report on the system's accuracy and workflow performance in support of tumor-targeted procedures., Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, we evaluated the system in 43 consecutive procedures after clinical deployment. We measured workflow efficiency and EM catheter reconstruction accuracy. We also evaluated the system's MRI-TRUS registration accuracy with/without deformation, and with/without y-axis rotation for urethral alignment at initialization., Results: The cohort included 32 focal brachytherapy and 11 integrated boost whole-gland implants. Mean procedure time excluding dose delivery was 38 min (range: 21-83) for focal, and 56 min (range: 38-89) for whole-gland implants; stable over time. EM catheter reconstructions achieved a mean difference between computed and measured free-length of 0.8 mm (SD 0.8, no corrections performed), and mean axial manual corrections 1.3 mm (SD 0.7). EM also enabled the clinical use of a non or partially visible catheter in 21% of procedures. Registration accuracy improved with y-axis rotation for urethral alignment at initialization and with the elastic registration (mTRE 3.42 mm, SD 1.49)., Conclusion: The system supported tumor-targeting and was implemented with no demonstrable learning curve. EM reconstruction errors were small, correctable, and improved with calibration and control of external distortion sources; increasing confidence in the use of partially visible catheters. Image registration errors remained despite rotational alignment and deformation, and should be carefully considered., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nanotechnology has proven as progressive technology that enables to contribute, develop several effective and sustainable changes in food products. Incorporating nanomaterials like TiO 2 , SiO 2 , Halloysite nano clay, Copper sulfide, Bentonite nano clay, in carrageenan to develop innovative packaging materials with augmented mechanical and antimicrobial properties along with moisture and gas barrier properties that can produce safe and healthy foods. Intervention of carrageenan-based bio-nanocomposites as food packaging constituents has shown promising results in increasing the shelf stability and food quality by arresting the microbial growth. Nanomaterials can be incorporated within the carrageenan for developing active packaging systems for continuous protection of food products under different storage environments from farm to the fork to ensure quality and safety of foods. Carrageenan based bio nanocomposite packaging materials can be helpful to reduce the environmental concerns due to their high biodegradability index. This review gives insight about the current trends in the applications of carrageenan-based bio nanocomposites for different food packaging applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) is an appropriate method for DNAPL-contaminated aquifer remediation; However, due to the high cost of the SEAR method, finding the optimal remediation scenario is usually essential. Embedding numerical simulation models of DNAPL remediation within the optimization routines are computationally expensive, and in this situation, using surrogate models instead of numerical models is a proper alternative. Ensemble methods are also utilized to enhance the accuracy of surrogate models, and in this study, the Stacking ensemble method was applied and compared with conventional methods. First, Six machine learning methods were used as surrogate models, and various feature scaling techniques were employed, and their impact on the models' performance was evaluated. Also, Bagging and Boosting homogeneous ensemble methods were used to improve the base models' accuracy. A total of six stand-alone surrogate models and 12 homogeneous ensemble models were used as the base input models of the Stacking ensemble model. Due to the large size of the Stacking model, Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization method was used to find its optimal hyper-parameters. The results showed that the Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization method had better performance than common methods such as random search and grid search. The artificial neural network model, whose input data was scaled by the power transformer method, had the best performance with a cross-validation RMSE of 0.065. The Boosting method increased the base models' accuracy more than other homogeneous methods, and the best Boosting model had a test RMSE of 0.039. The Stacking ensemble method significantly increased the base models' accuracy and performed better than other ensemble methods. The best ensemble surrogate model constructed with Stacking had a cross-validation RMSE of 0.016. Finally, a differential evolution optimization model was used by substituting the Stacking ensemble model with the numerical model, and the optimal remediation strategy was obtained at a total cost of $ 72,706., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)