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The enzymatic oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, produces important lipid mediators such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins, which are critical for triggering inflammatory cascades in the body. The enzyme lipoxygenase‐15 (LOX‐15) plays a crucial role in the oxygenation of unsaturated fatty acids. Targeting this enzyme for inhibition is essential for diminishing inflammation and averting numerous potentially fatal diseases. Therefore, the inhibitory activity of a series of isoniazid derivatives, selected from our in‐house library, was assessed against LOX‐15 by employing both in vitro and in silico methods. Among the 23 compounds evaluated, 15 showed activity in vitro. Notably, compound 7 was the most effective, demonstrating an IC50 value of 1.4±0.1 μM while the standard inhibitor, NDGA, showed an inhibition at 9.4±0.6 μM. These compounds were found to competitively inhibit LOX‐15, with Ki values ranging from 1.2–7.1 μM. Molecular docking was utilized to investigate the intermolecular interactions among the active compounds. The thermodynamic stability of the compound 7 and NDGA in complex with LOX‐15 was verified through 100 ns of molecular dynamics simulations. Post‐simulation analyses involved RMSD, RMSF, RoG, free energy landscape, principal component analysis, and dynamic cross‐correlation matrix. Compound 7 and NDGA had MM/GBSA binding energies of −54.14±2.55 kcal/mol and −35.24±3.23 kcal/mol, respectively. The study underscores the significant potential of isoniazid derivatives in LOX‐15 inhibition and their role in managing inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has been expanding and is explored by researchers in various fields. In medical diagnosis, for instance, the field of AI/ML is being explored because if medical diagnostic devices are built and designed with a backend of AI/ML, then the benefits would be unprecedented. Automated diagnostic tools would result in reduced health care costs, diagnosis without human intervention, overcoming human errors, and providing adequate and affordable medical care to a wider portion of the population with portions of the actual cost. One domain where AI/ML can make an immediate impact is medical imaging diagnosis (MID), namely the classification of medical images, where researchers have applied optimization techniques aiming to improve image classification accuracy. In this paper, we provide the research community with a comprehensive review of the most relevant studies to date on the use of deep CNN architecture optimization techniques for MID. As a case study, the application of these techniques to COVID-19 medical images were made. The impacts of the related variables, including datasets and AI/ML techniques, were investigated in detail. Additionally, the significant shortcomings and challenges of the techniques were touched upon. We concluded our work by affirming that the application of AI/ML techniques for MID will continue for many years to come, and the performance of the AI/ML classification techniques will continue to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tarlov cysts are perineural collections of cerebrospinal fluid most often affecting sacral nerve roots, which may cause back pain, extremity paresthesias and weakness, bladder/bowel dysfunction, and/or sexual dysfunction. The most effective treatment of symptomatic Tarlov cysts, with options including non-surgical management, cyst aspiration and injection of fibrin glue, cyst fenestration, and nerve root imbrication, is debated. Methods Retrospective chart review was conducted for 220 patients with Tarlov cysts seen at our institution between 2006 and 2021. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between treatment modality, patient characteristics, and clinical outcome. Results Seventy-two (43.1%) patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts were managed non-surgically. Of the 95 patients managed interventionally, 71 (74.7%) underwent CT-guided aspiration of the cyst with injection of fibrin glue; 17 (17.9%) underwent cyst aspiration alone; 5 (5.3%) underwent blood patching; and 2 (2.1%) underwent more than one of the aforementioned procedures. Sixty-six percent of treated patients saw improvement in one or more symptoms, with the most improvement in patients after aspiration of cyst with injection of fibrin glue; however, this association was not statistically significant on logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Although the subtype of percutaneous treatment was not significantly associated with optimal or suboptimal patient outcomes, cyst aspiration both with and without injection of fibrin glue may serve as a useful diagnostic tool to (1) determine symptom etiology and (2) identify patients who might have achieved temporary improvement between the time of cyst aspiration and refill with cerebrospinal fluid as potential candidates for neurosurgical intervention of cyst fenestration and nerve root imbrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Objective: Antiresorptive drugs are often given to minimize fracture risk for bone metastases, but data regarding optimal time or ability to reduce stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)-induced fracture risk is limited. This study examines the association between antiresorptive use surrounding spinal SBRT and vertebral compression fracture (VCF) incidence to provide information regarding effectiveness and optimal timing of use. Methods: Patients treated with SBRT for spinal metastases at a single institution between 2009-2020 were included. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare cumulative incidence of VCF for those taking antiresorptive drugs pre-SBRT, post-SBRT only, and none at all. Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray competing risk models were used to identify additional factors associated with VCF. Results: Of the 234 patients (410 vertebrae) analyzed, 49 (20.9%) were taking bisphosphonates alone, 42 (17.9%) were taking denosumab alone, and 25 (10.7%) were taking both. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a statistically significant lower VCF incidence for patients initiating antiresorptive drugs before SBRT compared to those taking none at all (4% vs 12% at 1 year post-SBRT, P =.045; and 4% vs 23% at 2 years, P =.008). On multivariate analysis, denosumab duration (HR:.87, P =.378) or dose (HR: 1.00, P =.644) as well as bisphosphonate duration (HR:.98, P =.739) or dose (HR:.99, P =.741) did not have statistical significance on VCF incidence. Conclusion: Initiating antiresorptive agents before SBRT may reduce the risk of treatment-induced VCF. Antiresorptive drugs are underutilized in patients with spine metastases and may represent a useful intervention to minimize toxicity and improve long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of corporate environmental protection efforts on firm‐level operating risk. The importance of environmental protection has gained attention in recent years, as proliferation in ESG rating agencies has significantly increased. As suggested by stakeholder theory, the corporations for their survival are required to take care of the environment in which they operate. We used a sample of 245 non‐financial publicly listed firms of developing economy, Pakistan, from 2007 to 2019, to examine whether firms that engage in environmental protection activities have lower operating risk than firms that do not. We identified four important dimensions based on previous literature, to develop a unique index for measuring the firms' environmental performance. These dimensions included voluntary standardization, product environmental compliance, process environmental compliance, and environmental social drives. Focused on downside operating risk in terms of firm operating income, we used binary codes to distinguish firms that are negatively deviating from their industrial average. Using logistic regression on our hand‐collected environmental performance index data, this study finds that firms maintaining effective environmental protection activities are less likely to experience operational failure compared to peers who do not. This relationship holds true even after controlling for various firm‐specific factors such as firm size, leverage, growth opportunity, and profitability. Our findings have implications for policymakers and corporate managers who seek to improve their firms' environmental and financial performance simultaneously. By highlighting the potential benefits of corporate environmental protection efforts, our study provides valuable insights for firms operating in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of sleep quality and quantity on the academic performance of medical and non-medical students. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Various universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Jun to Aug 2022. Methodology: The study included medical and non-medical students of either gender, aged 18-24 years. A structured, validated questionnaire, comprising two sections, was used. The first part consisted of demographic information. The second part comprised the Pitsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a measure of the quality and patern of sleep. Results: A total of 356 participants were divided into two groups: medical and non-medical. Out of 192 medical students, 98(50.5%) reported excelent sleep, 60(30.9%) reported good sleep, and 36(18.6%) reported poor sleep. Out of 194 medical students, 88(45.4%) were excelent in academics, 60(30.9%) were good, and 46(23.7%) had poor performance. Out of 164 nonmedical students, 62(37.2%) reported excelent sleep, 70(42.7%) reported good sleep, and 32(19.5%) reported poor sleep. Among these 164 non-medical students, 84(51.2%) had excelent, 41(25.0%) had good, and 39(23.8%) had poor academic performance. A significant association (p<0.05) was found between the Pitsburgh Sleep Quality Index score and academic performance. Conclusion: The majority of medical and non-medical students slept for less than 7 hours each night. Students who got excelent sleep performed wel in both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have examined eight new first‐row transition metal complexes (1–8). Mutli‐donor ligands based on barbituric and thiobarbituric acids were used in complexation reactions. The synthesized complexes were analyzed using FT‐IR and UV–vis spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. These complexes exhibited significant urease enzyme inhibition with IC50 values in the range of 13.73 ± 1.08–43.21 ± 1.50 μM. We observed excellent binding orientation of these complexes in the active site of Urease. The molecular docking results correlate well with in vitro observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of new materials with tailored properties is essential for advancing technology. This research focuses on GaXF3 (X = Se, Si) fluoroperovskites, utilizing the density functional theory approach. The study begins by assessing structural properties, revealing stable configurations for both compounds. The results from phonon calculations confirm the thermodynamic stability of the compounds. The relationship between elastic constants, confirms their mechanical stability. Elasticity analysis using the IRelast package indicates their resilience, anisotropic characteristics, and mechanical stability. Electronic properties, including band structure, density of states, and electronic band gaps, show that both materials have a metallic nature. Additionally, optical properties, such as dielectric constants, absorption coefficients, and refractive indices, are explored, providing insights into their interactions with light for optoelectronic applications. Optical property calculations for both GaSeF3 and GaSiF3, indicate their potential suitability for use in optoelectronic devices, particularly LEDs, due to their absorption within the UV–Vis range. These results encompass properties such as reflectivity, refractive index, and absorption coefficients, indicating their relevance to potential applications in optoelectronic devices. These findings enhance our understanding of these materials and lay the groundwork for future advancements in advanced materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]