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Background: Ovarian cancer cells are known to express myeloperoxidase (MPO), an oxidant-producing enzyme with a 150 kDa homodimer, consisting of two identical monomers connected by a disulfide bond. Here, we aim to validate monomeric MPO (mMPO) as a biomarker for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Methods: Human ovarian cancer cells, sera from patients at various stages, sera from non-cancer inflammatory gynecological diseases, and healthy volunteers were used. Monomeric and dimeric MPO were measured by ELISA. Receiver operating curves were used to compare the predictive powers of serum dimeric and monomeric MPO to discriminate between samples. Results: The expression of MPO was unique to ovarian cancer cells. Specifically, mMPO was found to be the only form of MPO in all ovarian cancer cell lines. Intriguingly, mMPO was detected in the sera from all patients with ovarian cancer at various stages, but not from healthy individuals. Serum mMPO discriminated between early-stage ovarian cancer, healthy controls, and benign inflammatory gynecologic disorders. In addition, mMPO discriminated between the early and late stages of the disease. Conclusion: This work highlights mMPO as a potential biomarker for early detection of ovarian cancer, which is critically needed.

Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks ( Anas platyrhynchos ) are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of twenty (20) duck samples were brought up for four months and 13 days on the banks of the river, with no food intake outside the river. When they reached an average weight of 2.41 ± 0.53 kg, all samples were sacrificed, dissected, and transported in an ice box to the laboratory for further analysis. After sample preparation, such as digestion with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), density separation, filtration, and identification, the MP content was counted. A total of 2033 MP particles were recovered from 20 ducks with a mean value of 44.6 ± 15.8 MPs/crop and 57.05 ± 18.7 MPs/gizzard. MPs detected in surface water were 31.2 ± 15.5 MPs/L. The major shape types of MPs recovered were fragments in crop (67%) and gizzard (58%) samples and fibers in surface water (56%). Other types of particles recovered were fibers, sheets, and foams. The majority of these detected MP particles were in the size range of 300-500 µm (63%) in crops, and 50-150 µm (55%) in gizzards, while in water samples the most detected particles were in the range of 150-300 µm (61%). Chemical characterization by FTIR found six types of polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) had the greatest polymer detection rate (39.2%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (28.3%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (22.7%), polystyrene (6.6%), co-polymerized polypropylene (2.5%), and polypropylene homopolymer (0.7%). This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the crops and gizzards of ducks, as well as in river surface water. The results revealed the significant and pervasive occurrence of microplastics in both the avian digestive systems and the surrounding water environment. These findings highlight the potential threat of microplastic pollution to wildlife and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies to address this pressing environmental concern.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of different ratios of taro slices (TS) on the nutritional quality, sensory quality, and shelf life of Chinese pickled and steamed pork belly (CPSPB). The study examined various aspects of CPSPB, including its proximate components, fat oxidation, fatty acid composition, protein hydrolysis, oxidation reaction, and induction period (IP). Additionally, the sensory quality and texture analysis were compared simultaneously. The results showed that the addition of TS to CPSPB significantly improved water and lipid loss ( p  < 0.05), increased the unsaturated/saturated ratio of fatty acids, and reduced lipid and protein oxidation. Additionally, the incorporation of TS extended the IP and enhanced the shelf life of CPSPB. Particularly, the addition of a specific amount of TS (60%) to CPSPB resulted in the highest organoleptic quality. Therefore, these results emphasize the positive impact of TS on the overall quality of CPSPB, highlighting its potential to enhance the nutritional value, sensory attributes, and shelf life., 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 © 2023 Quan, Zhang, Nawaz, Feng and Qin.)

Graphene-based materials have increasingly attracted attention in recent years. It is a material is recognized worldwide due to its numerous applications in several sectors. However, graphene production involves several challenges: scalability, high costs, and high-quality production. This study synthesized graphene-like porous carbon nanosheets (GPCNs) through a thermochemical process under a nitrogen atmosphere using grape bagasse as a precursor. Three temperatures (700, 800, and 900 ºC) of the pyrolysis process were studied. Chemical graphitization and activation were used to form high-specific surface area materials: FeCl 3 .6H 2 O (aq) and ZnCl 2(s) in a simultaneous activation-graphitization (SAG) method. The materials obtained (GPCN700, GPCN800, and GPCN900) were compared to previously produced chars (C700, C800, and C900). A high specific surface area and total pore volume were obtained for GPCN materials, and GPCN900 presented the highest values: 1062.7 m 2 g -1 and 0.635 cm 3  g -1 , respectively. The GPCN and char materials were classified as mesoporous and applied as adsorbents for CO 2(g) . The GPCN800 presented the best CO 2(g) adsorbent, with a CO 2(g) adsorption capacity of 168.71 mg g -1 ., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Grain cultivation and its impacts on the environment have been the focus of many studies, especially due to generated solid waste and the wide use of agrochemicals aiming for greater productivity. In this context, the present study proposes a new and consistent step in constructing self-sustainability in rice farming. The proposed stage includes reusing green silica waste as an adsorbent to treat effluents contaminated by pesticides directly applied to rice cultivation. After nano silica production through the rice husks burning, followed by basic leaching and acid precipitation, a carbonaceous material remains. This material, naturally impregnated by Na 2 SiO 3 , was washed and dried, characterized, and used to remove the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The adsorption essays were performed at 2,4-D at low concentrations (between 1 and 10 mg L -1 ) at different temperatures. The washed and dried porous carbon (WDPC) surface is irregular and presents slit-shaped channels. The FT-IR analysis identified the siloxane, carbonyl, carboxylate, and methylene functional groups available to interact with the pesticide molecules. The washing/drying process eliminated impurities, improving the surface area from 539.67 to 619.67 cm 2  g -1 and pore volume from 0.29 to 0.44 cm 3  g -1 . Concerning the adsorption of 2,4-D on WDPC, the best pH was 6.0, where around 75% of the pesticide was removed from the water. The equilibrium isotherms presented an S-shaped form indicating a multilayer and cooperative adsorption, with maximum adsorption capacities of 7.504 and 7.736 mg g -1 . The estimated ∆G ads , ΔH ads , and ΔS ads values suggested that pesticide adsorption was spontaneous, exothermic, and favorable. Finally, WDPC demonstrated a good potential to uptake 2,4-D from water, contributing to self-sustainability in rice farming., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In the current study, whey protein-based nanofibers were fabricated to encapsulate Lactobacillus rhamnosus . Purposely, different ratios of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) and WPI (whey protein isolate) were blended to fabricate nanofibers. Nanofiber mats were characterized in terms of particle size, diameter, tensile strength, elongation at break, and loading efficiency. Morphological and molecular characterizations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Moreover, in vitro viability under simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and thermal stability were also assessed. The results reveal that by increasing the PVA concentration, the conductivity increased while the viscosity decreased. SEM micrographs showed that probiotics were successfully loaded within the nanofiber. The FTIR spectra show strong bonding between the encapsulating materials with the addition of probiotics. In vitro and thermal analyses revealed that the survival of encapsulated probiotics significantly ( p < 0.05) improved. In a nutshell, PVA-WPI composite nanofibers have promising potential when used to enhance the viability and stability of probiotics under adverse conditions.

This study was intended to valorize a floated sludge of a poultry slaughterhouse using it as a precursor to producing char and activated carbon, which were tested as adsorbents in removing ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium from the water. The addition of zinc chloride or calcium hydroxide was determinant for forming a porous carbonaceous structure with a high surface area in AC-FSP (656.54 m 2 g -1 ), differently from that exhibited by the CHAR-FSP (8.11 m 2 g -1 ). Kinetic and equilibrium studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order and the Sips models were suitable. The AC- FSP maximum adsorption capacity for ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium was 124.98 mg g -1 and 138.32 mg g -1 , respectively. The adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. It was concluded that AC-FSP is a more efficient and promising adsorbent than CHAR-FSP for the adsorption of drugs in contaminated wastewater. In addition, AC-FSP can be reused, maintaining good adsorption levels for about 5 cycles. Therefore, this study is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for global sustainability since converting waste (valueless) into an adsorbent is also directly linked to the circular economy and neutral carbon., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In the current study, apple-pectin-based novel nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and apple pectin (PEC) solution were mixed to obtain an optimized ratio for the preparation of electrospun nanofibers. The obtained nanofibers were characterized for their physiochemical, mechanical and thermal properties. The nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, an assay of the in vitro viability of free and encapsulated probiotics was carried out under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The results of TGA revealed that the PVA/PEC nanofibers had good thermal stability. The probiotics encapsulated by electrospinning showed a high survival rate as compared to free cells under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Furthermore, encapsulated probiotics and free cells showed a 3 log (cfu/mL) and 10 log (cfu/mL) reduction, respectively, from 30 to 120 min of simulated digestion. These findings indicate that the PVA/PEC-based nanofibers have good barrier properties and could potentially be used for the improved viability of probiotics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and in the development of functional foods., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

This study determined the effect of Bacillus XZM extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production on the arsenic adsorption capacity of the Biochar- Bacillus XZM (BCXZM) composite. The Bacillus XZM was immobilized on corn cobs multifunction biochar to generate the BCXZM composite. The arsenic adsorption capacity of BCXZM composite was optimized at different pHs and As(V) concentrations using a central composite design (CCD)2 2 and maximum adsorption capacity (42.3 mg/g) was attained at pH 6.9 and 48.9 mg/L As(V) dose. The BCXZM composite showed a higher arsenic adsorption than biochar alone, which was further confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, EXD graph and elemental overlay as well. The bacterial EPS production was sensitive to the pH, which caused a major shift in the -NH, -OH, -CH, -C=O, -C-N, -SH, -COO and aromatic/-NO 2 peaks of FTIR spectra. Regarding the techno economic analysis, it was revealed that USD 6.24 are required to prepare the BCXZM composite to treat 1000 gallons of drinking water (with 50 µg/L of arsenic). Our findings provide insights (such as adsorbent dose, optimum operating temperature and reaction time, and pollution load) for the potential application of the BCXZM composite as bedding material in fixed-bed bioreactors for the bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated water in future.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of five emulsifiers, including DATEM, DMG, PL, SDS, and SPP, on HA formation in chemical models and roasted chicken patties. UPLC-MS analysis showed that DMG and SPP were the most promising among them. In particular, at 0.15-0.9% (w/w) in roasted chicken patties, they effectively reduced the contents of PhIP (21-43%), MeIQx (26-50%) and 4,8-DiMeIQx (16-43%) relative to the control, whereas DATEM, PL and SDS promoted their formation. Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging analysis revealed that the inhibitory effect of SPP and DMG was partly mediated through their capability to help retain water in the macromolecular structures of the muscle tissue. This favorable effect was also supported by the significantly improved adhesiveness of the SPP and DMG samples relative to other samples. These findings suggest that SPP and DMG are effective additives for attenuation of HA contents in meat-based products., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest 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., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Abelmoschus esculentus plant, better known as okra, is an interesting crop from a nutritional standpoint. The okra plant is native to the African region but can now be found throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. This plant, known for its healing abilities, has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several diseases and external ailments, such as wounds or boils. This article reviews the potential health benefits from okra consumption, as well as the bioactive compounds that are suggested to be responsible. Furthermore, the okra plant and its derivatives have been evaluated in the formulation and manufacture of new functional food products. The latest advances in this direction, which includes characterizing the technical properties of functional foods fortified with okra are also presented in this review. A series of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and catechins have been found in the okra plant, which were associated with numerous biological properties observed in research studies that reported potential anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, and antimicrobial effects, among others, as a result of their consumption. These potential health benefits contribute to the development of new and useful functional foods, with okra (or its derivatives) being used as the highlighted ingredient.

The problem of environmental pollution with plastic is becoming more and more acute every year. Due to the low rate of decomposition of plastic, its particles get into food and harm the human body. This chapter focuses on the potential risks and toxicological effects of both nano and microplastics on human health. The main places of distribution of various toxicants along with the food chain have been established. The effects of some examples of the main sources of micro/nanoplastics on the human body are also emphasised. The processes of entry and accumulation of micro/nanoplastics are described, and the mechanism of accumulation that occurs inside the body is briefly explained. Potential toxic effects reported from studies on various organisms are highlighted as well., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics from food packaging material have risen in number and dispersion in the aquatic system, the terrestrial environment, and the atmosphere in recent decades. Microplastics are of particular concern due to their long-term durability in the environment, their great potential for releasing plastic monomers and additives/chemicals, and their vector-capacity for adsorbing or collecting other pollutants. Consumption of foods containing migrating monomers can lead to accumulation in the body and the build-up of monomers in the body can trigger cancer. The book chapter focuses the commercial plastic food packaging materials and describes their release mechanisms of microplastics from packaging into foods. To prevent the potential risk of microplastics migrated into food products, the factors influencing microplastic to the food products, e.g., high temperatures, ultraviolet and bacteria, have been discussed. Additionally, as many evidences shows that the microplastic components are toxic and carcinogenic, the potential threats and negative effects on human health have also been highlighted. Moreover, future trends is summarized to reduce the microplastic migration by enhancing public awareness as well as improving waste management., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Camel milk is known as the white gold of the desert because it contains within it a variety of nutrients which play a key role in the human diet. The health benefits of camel milk have been described for a variety of diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, hepatitis, etc. including improved overall survival. A major health burden worldwide is liver diseases, and the ninth leading cause of death in Western countries is due to liver cirrhosis. Treatment is mostly ineffective for cirrhosis, fatty liver, and chronic hepatitis which are the most common diseases of the liver; furthermore current treatments carry the risk of side effects, and are often extremely expensive, particularly in the developing world. A systematic review of studies was performed to determine the association of consumption of camel milk on multiple diseases of the liver. The impact of camel milk on the laboratory tests related to the liver disorders, viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were evaluated. The consumption of camel milk was accompanied by modulation of the values of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase in persons who are at risk of liver disease. In the patients with chronic liver disease, it was observed that they have low rates of mortality and low chances of progression to cirrhosis when they consume camel milk. Therefore, in patients with liver diseases, the addition of camel milk to their normal daily diet plan should be encouraged. In this review, camel milk's impact on the different kinds of liver diseases or any disorder associated with liver functioning was evaluated. Camel milk has a therapeutic as well as a preventive role in the maintenance and improving the metabolic regulations of the body., 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 Shakeel, Rabail, Iahtisham-Ul-Haq, Sehar, Nawaz, Manzoor, Walayat, Socol, Maerescu and Aadil.)

Protein oxidation in meat has received immense attention since it significantly affects the quality of meat-based products. This review sheds light on the effects of protein oxidation on the physicochemical properties of meat and meat-based products during processing, and highlights major quality concerns and challenges to the food industry. Protein oxidation is often initiated by oxidative attack by reactive oxygen species and modifications of side chain amino acids, which may result in protein aggregation, carbonylation, alteration of surface hydrophobicity, and perturbation in primary, secondary and tertiary structures. Thus, protein oxidation during processing (especially thermal treatments) has raised serious concerns about the quality of the final products. These adverse consequences usually intensify with increase in processing temperature and time. Protein oxidation may also cause severe deterioration of nutritional value owing to the loss of essential amino acids and resistance of the oxidized protein molecules to the hydrolytic action of digestive enzymes. In addition, it may promote drip loss and decrease water holding capacity that would eventually negatively impact texture. Furthermore, protein oxidation is closely associated with other processing-induced adverse events, in particular lipid oxidation and formation of toxic Maillard reaction products, such as heterocyclic amines and advanced glycation end-products, but the underlying mechanisms have remained unclear. Several strategies including careful choice of processing methods and use of natural agents, such as polyphenols, hydrocolloids and vitamins alone or in combination have been proposed for the attenuation of protein oxidation and its related undesirable reactions through binding with precursors and/or reactive intermediary compounds., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There are two major problems that we are facing currently. Firstly, a growing human population continues to contribute to the increased food demand. Secondly, the volume of organic waste produced will threaten human health and the quality of the environment. Recently, there is an increasing number of efforts placed into farming insect biomass to produce alternative feed ingredients. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens have proven to convert organic waste into high-quality nutrients for pet foods, fish and poultry feeds, as well as residue fertilizer for soil amendment. However, better BSFL feed formulation and feeding approaches are necessary for yielding a higher nutrient content of the insect body, and if performed efficiently, whilst converting waste into higher value biomass. Lastly, this paper reveals that BSFL, in fact, thrives in various ranges of organic matter composition and with simple rearing systems., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Although great advances have been made on large-scale manufacturing of vaccines and antiviral-based drugs, viruses persist as the major cause of human diseases nowadays. The recent pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) mounts a lot of stress on the healthcare sector and the scientific society to search continuously for novel components with antiviral possibility. Herein, we narrated the different tactics of using biopeptides as antiviral molecules that could be used as an interesting alternative to treat COVID-19 patients. The number of peptides with antiviral effects is still low, but such peptides already displayed huge potentials to become pharmaceutically obtainable as antiviral medications. Studies showed that animal venoms, mammals, plant, and artificial sources are the main sources of antiviral peptides, when bioinformatics tools are used. This review spotlights bioactive peptides with antiviral activities against human viruses, especially the coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2 or SARS-nCOV19). We also showed the data about well-recognized peptides that are still under investigations, while presenting the most potent ones that may become medications for clinical use.

Arsenic (As) bioremediation has been an economical and sustainable approach, being practiced widely under several As-contaminated environments. Bioremediation of As involves the use of bacteria, fungi, yeast, plants, and genetically modified organisms for detoxification/removal of As from the contaminated site. The understanding of multi-factorial biological components involved in these approaches is complex and more and more efforts are on their way to make As bioremediation economical and efficient. In this regard, we systematically reviewed the recent literature (n=200) from the last two decades regarding As bioremediation potential of conventional and recent technologies including genetically modified plants for phytoremediation and integrated approaches. Also, the responsible mechanisms behind different approaches have been identified. From the literature, it was found that As bioremediation through biosorption, bioaccumulation, phytoextraction, and volatilization involving As-resistant microbes has proved a very successful technology. However, there are various pathways of As tolerance of which the mechanisms have not been fully understood. Recently, phytosuction separation technology has been introduced and needs further exploration. Also, integrated approaches like phytobial, constructed wetlands using As-resistant bacteria with plant growth-promoting activities have not been extensively studied. It is speculated that the integrated bioremediation approaches with practical applicability and reliability would prove most promising for As remediation. Further technological advancements would help explore the identified research gaps in different approaches and lead us toward sustainability and perfection in As bioremediation.

Type 2 diabetes incidence continues to increase rapidly. This disease is characterized by a breakdown in blood glucose homeostasis. The impairment of glycemic control is linked to the structure of glycogen, a highly branched glucose polymer. Liver glycogen, a major controller of blood sugar, comprises small β particles which can link together to form larger α particles. These degrade to glucose more slowly than β particles, enabling a controlled release of blood glucose. The α particles in diabetic mice are however easily broken down into β particles, which degrade more quickly. Because this may lead to higher blood glucose, understanding this diabetes-associated breakdown of α-particle molecular structure may help in the development of diabetes therapeutics. We review the extraction of liver glycogen, its molecular structure, and how this structure is affected by diabetes and then use this knowledge to make postulates to guide the development of strategies to help mitigate type 2 diabetes., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Coronavirus epidemic 2019 (COVID-19), caused by novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is newly increasing worldwide and elevating global health concerns. Similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the viral key 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease enzyme (3CL Pro ), which controls 2019-nCoV duplications and manages its life cycle, could be pointed as a drug discovery target. Herein, we theoretically studied the binding ability of 10 structurally different anthocyanins with the catalytic dyad residues of 3CL pro of 2019-nCoV using molecular docking modelling. The results revealed that the polyacylated anthocyanins, including phacelianin, gentiodelphin, cyanodelphin, and tecophilin, were found to authentically bind with the receptor binding site and catalytic dyad (Cys145 and His41) of 2019-nCoV-3CL pro . Our analyses revealed that the top four hits might serve as potential anti-2019-nCoV leading molecules for further optimization and drug development process to combat COVID-19. This study unleashed that anthocyanins with specific structure could be used as effective anti-COVID-19 natural components., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In the USA, nearly one in three people will experience herpes zoster (HZ) in their lifetime. Underserved communities may be at even higher risk due to several factors, including access to healthcare, education, and co-morbid conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate current knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KABP) relative to HZ and HZ vaccines in a large urban city., Methods: A cross-sectional KABP survey was conducted via in-person interview among 381 participants aged ≥ 50 years in Detroit, MI, USA, from June to August 2018. Survey results were stratified into two groups [< 60 and ≥ 60 years of age (YO)] for comparison., Results: Of the 381 participants, 373 reported their age (110 < 60 YO and 263 ≥ 60 YO). Overall, the majority of participants reported having heard of HZ and HZ vaccines. In addition, receiving a recommendation from a healthcare provider (37.5%) followed by gaining a better understanding of HZ vaccine (36.7%) and of HZ (29.9%) were leading factors that influenced participants' willingness to receive the vaccine. Of note, 65.5% of participants < 60 YO reported the belief that HZ is preventable versus only 53.2% in those ≥ 60 YO (p = 0.001)., Conclusion: Our findings underscore the need to educate patients in underserved communities about HZ as well as new HZ vaccine recommendations to improve vaccination rates and reduce the incidence of HZ and its associated sequelae.

Echocardiography (EC) plays a major role in diagnosing and monitoring the therapeutic response in infective endocarditis (IE) in routine practice. However in the setting of prosthetic valves or indwelling pacemakers, the EC findings are equivocal necessitating search for other diagnostic modalities. In these patients, (18)F-FDG/PET imaging may prove invaluable as evidenced by the presented case. We herein report a case of an 82 years old male with a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis who presented with a 10 days history of fever and malaise. Optimal interpretation of the EC results was difficult due to the presence of the prosthetic valve. However, (18)F-FDG-PET imaging findings were quite distinctive and revealed abnormally increased metabolic activity represented by two foci of increased (18)F-FDG uptake in the right and left borders of the heart that corresponded to areas of IE.