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Low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation is the medical use of a very low intensity light in the red to near infrared (wavelengths in the range of 630-940 nm). The present work was conducted to explore the effects of both UV and low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on microcirculation using the in vivo model of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The effects were assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity. Cell cytotoxicity, survival and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the CAM were also evaluated. We found that UV irradiation induced alterations of the vessels, leading to bleeding and extravasation. This effect was intensified after 60 min of exposure to UV irradiation, leading to marked edema. UVA irradiation increased cell cytotoxicity as assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release (56.23% of control) and reduced cell viability as assessed by decreased fluorescein diacetate (FDA) fluorescence (56.23% of control). Pretreatment with LLLI prior to UV exposure protected the CAM tissue from UV-mediated cell death. This protective effect was supported by the observation of significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation (from 0.3±0.004 for UV, to 0.177±0.012 after LLLI pretreatment), ROS and O2 -production, as indicated by respective dihydrorhodamine (DHR) and dihydroethidium (DHE) intensities (from 132.78% of control for UVA, to 95.90% of control for L-UV (DHR), and from 127.34% of control for UVA, to 82.03% of control for L-UV (DHE)), and by preventing the increase in oxidative activities. LLLI efficiently protected CAM cells from UV-induced oxidative stress and appeared as a safe protective pretreatment against UV irradiation.

The osmotic dehydration of orange fruit slices in sucrose and prickly pear molasses was studied in order to examine the changes in total mass loss, water loss, and solid gain as well as physical properties (dry matter content, total soluble solid and color parameters) during this process. The contents of total phenolics, ascorbic acid, and sugars, as well as antioxidant capacity and texture parameters of fresh orange slices and these dehydrated in both solutions were also analyzed. The osmotic dehydration was carried out at a temperature of 30°C for 3 h and after this processing time, the total mass loss of orange slices dehydrated in molasses solution was higher (0.18 kg/kg) compared to that treated in a sugar solution (0.16 kg/kg). Throughout the process, higher ratios of water loss to solid gain were noted for orange slices dehydrated in molasses solution than in the sucrose one. No significant difference was found in water activity between orange slices dehydrated in both solutions. Molasses induced more substantial and perceptible color alterations in orange slices compared to sucrose with total color difference values of 9.12 and 3.28, respectively. Immersion in osmotic solutions reduced hardness of orange slices from 0.63 N for fresh slices to 0.52 N and 0.40 N for these dehydrated in sucrose and molasses solutions, respectively. Compression work values of dehydrated orange slices were 0.38 mJ after the treatment in a sucrose solution and 0.36 mJ in the molasses one. The total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity in ABTS assay and ascorbic acid content increased in dehydrated slices compared to fresh material, particularly in the slices processed in molasses (2,197 mg CA/100 g DM, 6.26 mg Trolox/g DM and 50.14 mg/100 g, respectively). Sugar profiles of dehydrated orange slices varied, with molasses favoring glucose (5.47 mg/100 g DM) and reducing fructose (1.80 mg/100 g DM) compared to sucrose. Prickly pear molasses could be incorporated into the preservation of seasonal fruits as a valuable osmotic solution.

Abstract Background The double-blind, 2 × 2 factorial design, placebo-controlled ASCEND randomized trial compared the effects of 100 mg aspirin daily and, separately, 1 g omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) daily on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in 15,480 UK adults with diabetes. We report the effects of these randomized treatment allocations on scores derived from the National Eye Institute’s Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) in a subset of participants involved in the ASCEND-Eye sub-study. Methods Ordinal data from the NEI-VFQ-25 were analyzed using proportional odds regression methods. A common odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to interpret the average effect size of randomization to each study treatment on composite and subdomain scores from the questionnaire. Results Neither randomization to aspirin nor omega-3 FAs for 7.5 years significantly affected composite or subdomain scores from the NEI-VFQ-25. Conclusion Applying the NEI-VFQ-25 in ASCEND-Eye represents one of the largest surveys of vision-targeted health-related quality of life in people with diabetes. Further observational analyses of these data are planned, to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics associated with lower composite and subdomain scores in a diabetic population. Trial registration Eudract No. 2004–000991-15; Multicentre Research Ethics Committee Ref No. 03/8/087 (29th December 2003); ClinicalTrials.gov No. NCT00135226 (24th August 2005); ISRCTN No. ISRCTN60635500 (1st September 2005).

Abstract Background Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Due to the scarcity of epidemiological data in North Africa, we conducted this study to assess the outcomes of PPCM in our region. Materials and methods This monocentric retrospective cohort study involving all patients diagnosed with PPCM was conducted between January 2010 and December 2022. Results Twenty-seven PPCM patients, with a median age of 33 years (Interquartile range (IQR) = 9), were included. 52% of patients were diagnosed during the postpartum period. Dyspnea New York Heart Association III/IV(NYHA III/IV) was the most common functional symptom (85%). The median left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was 30% (IQR = 11%). Atrial fibrillation occurred in 11.1% of patients, thromboembolic complications occurred in 18.5%, Pulmonary edema occurred in 85% of patients and cardiogenic shock occurred in 14.8% of patients, with two patients requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support. The predominant mode of delivery was a cesarean Sect. (82% of patients), and the indication for a cesarean delivery was obstetrical in 59% of patients. Prematurity occurred in 36% of newborns, and intrauterine fetal death occurred in one pregnancy. The median follow-up was 24 months [6–144 months]. LVEF recovery was noted in 67% of patients. Bromocriptine was administered to six patients (22%), and none of these patients died and out of them, five patients recovered their LVEF (83%). The overall mortality rate during the follow-up period was 15%, comprising three in-hospital cardiac deaths and one occurring two years later due to refractory advanced heart failure. No significant differences were observed between LVEF recovery and LVEF non-recovery groups. Factors significantly associated with mortality were multiparity, poor antenatal care (ANC) attendance, thromboembolic events, cardiogenic shock, and Pulmonary edema. Five patients with LV recovery subsequently became pregnant, none experienced a relapse of PPCM. However, one of the descendants of a patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion This study revealed that the diagnosis of PPCM in our hospital is often delayed until symptoms become more advanced, resulting in high morbi-mortality.

Changes in the exchange rate affect many macroeconomic variables, where the depreciation of the exchange rate leads to the effects of economic activity through the rise in the prices of foreign goods, "imports" for domestic goods, which leads to the reluctance of the decimating Local yen for foreign goods, leading to increased international competitiveness of domestic goods, high export volume and reduced imports, all resulting in improved trade deficits. Among other things, the decline in local currency exchange rates can be accompanied by deflationary effects on the gross domestic product (GDP) through a decline in the purchase of export and import prices, which occurs in developing countries such as Algeria. This analysis, which delves into a crucial aspect of international trade, examined the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on imports in Algeria from 1990 to 2021. The methodology used was the self-slope technique, also known as Vector Autoregression (VAR), which relied on two crucial variables: the real exchange rate, which measures the amount of foreign goods needed to buy one unit of domestic goods. Similar to a market research analyst, it is important to consider the impact of imports at the local level. This includes goods and services sourced from foreign countries to meet domestic market and consumers' demands, especially during ongoing local protests. The analysis has found a negative and non-significant relationship between the real exchange rate and imports at a significance level of 5%, which means that the real exchange rate does not affect Algerian imports, as most Algerian imports are basic food commodities. These intermediate and productive goods cannot be dispensed without a local alternative. Hence, it indicates that fluctuations in exchange rates have no impact on Algerian imports.

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/date palm fiber (PP/DPF) composite materials were investigated in this study, using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Different fiber contents and cooling rates, varying from 2.5°C/min to 20°C/min, were considered. The obtained results indicated that the initial crystallization temperature increases with the increase of the DPF content. This was attributed to the nucleating ability of these fibers. Several theoretical models were used to predict the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the materials considered in this study. Basically, it was shown that both the Avrami analysis, modified by Jeziorny, and the method developed by Mo could adequately describe such kinetics. The activation energies required during the overall crystallization process and at different amounts of the relative degree of crystallinity were also evaluated using the Kissinger method and the isoconversional analysis of calorimetric data, respectively. It was shown that the presence of the DPFs in the PP matrix decreases these energies, confirming their nucleating ability during the non-isothermal crystallization process.

Emotional intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy and social skills, holds pivotal importance in the pursuit of excellence for athletes. Meditation, represented by various forms such as mindfulness, loving-kindness, visualization, breath control and relaxation exercises, offers athletes a structured pathway to deepen self-awareness, enhance emotional regulation and foster empathy. In conclusion, meditation emerges not merely as a relaxation technique but as a transformative journey that empowers athletes to master their emotions, excel in sports, and enhance their overall well-being. This narrative literature review highlights the profound impact of meditation on athletes’ emotional intelligence, encouraging further exploration in this evolving intersection of sports and mindfulness. In the demanding world of sports, emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical factor for athletes’ success, encompassing self-regulation, empathy, communication and composure under pressure. Meditation, a transformative tool for deepening self-awareness, emotional regulation and mental resilience, has emerged as a promising avenue for cultivating EI in athletes. This narrative review synthesizes existing research and personal narratives to explore the interplay between meditation and EI in the context of sports. Evidence suggests that meditation can enhance EI through mindfulness, loving-kindness and visualization practices, promoting focus, stress management and emotional resilience. Integration of meditation into athletic training regimens offers athletes a competitive edge, sharpening their mental acuity and fostering supportive team dynamics. While the transformative potential of meditation for EI is substantiated by research, limitations such as the predominance of qualitative studies and case reports warrant further empirical investigations. Overall, this narrative review highlights the promising relationship between meditation, EI, and athletic performance, paving the way for future research and practical applications of mindfulness practices in the sports world.

Background & objectives: Severe cases with neurological manifestations of rickettsiosis have been reported. We aimed to identify the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of central nervous system rickettsial infections and to describe the treatment. Methods: We carried out a retrospective study that included all patients hospitalized with rickettsiosis in the infectious diseases department of Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia between 1993 and 2018. Results: We identified 47 patients with central nervous system rickettsial infections among 440 patients with rickettsial infections (10.7%). Skin rash (31.9% vs 87.8%; p

Chronic and excessive exposure to UV radiation leads to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Adequate protection of the skin against the deleterious effects of UV irradiation is essential. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a light source in the red to near-infrared range that has been accepted in a variety of medical applications. In this study, we explored the effect of LLLT in human face aged skin and the cell viability of HeLa cells exposed to UV radiation. We found that LLLT significantly reduced visible wrinkles and the loss of firmness of facial skin in aging subjects. Additionally, treatment of cultured HeLa cells with LLLT prior to or post UVA or UVB exposure significantly protected cells from UV-mediated cell death. All results showed the beneficial effects of LLLT on relieving signs of skin aging and its prevention and protection of the cell viability against UV-induced damage.