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Recently, plant proteins have received notable attention as food and medicine. Further, plant proteins are used to produce and isolate peptides to treat and prevent diseases in humans and animals. Plant proteins can be extracted from various sources, including industrial waste materials. Conventional and nonconventional methods are used to carry out the protein extraction. This review aims to overview the advanced protein extraction methods and the therapeutic functionalities of plant proteins and peptides. It was observed that the advanced protein extraction methods, i.e., ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted, are more efficient, eco-friendly, and less energy-consuming. The advanced protein extraction methods will help to face the challenges of using protein in food processing. In addition to the food functionality, plant-based proteins and peptides show potential therapeutic activity. It includes antidiabetic activity, anticancer activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. The pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries will likely rely heavily on plant-derived peptides because of their benefits as functional ingredients.

Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable malignancy of B-cells. In this study, bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify possible pathogenic roles of CK2α, which is a protein encoded by CSNK2A1, in the progression and aggressiveness of CLL. Furthermore, various computational tools were used to search for a competent inhibitor of CK2α from fungal metabolites that could be proposed for CLL therapy. In CLL patients, high-expression of CSNK2A1 was associated with early need for therapy (n = 130, p

The present study investigated the molecular changes induced by germination in cowpea cultivars by spectroscopic techniques. The ATR FT-IR, Intrinsic fluorescence, and UV spectroscopic techniques revealed that germination shows alteration in cowpea cultivars. The ATR-FTIR showed slight differences in band intensities corresponding to carbohydrates, lipids, and protein regions at 700 to 4000 cm-1 wavenumbers. Starch order structure understanding their functionality showed a reduction of short-range ordered structures in Black cowpea flour and long ordered starch fraction in White cowpea flour under germination. The study quantified the degree of ordered starch and their alteration in amorphous/crystallinity nature concerning germination and cowpea cultivars. The secondary structures revealed a reduction of β-sheets and α-helix content, representing decreased ordered protein structures and their shifting into random coils and turn structures. The germinated flours showed decreased fluorescence intensities with the shift from 347 to 348, reflecting the redshifts due to decreased concentrations of fluorescent compounds during germination in cowpea flour. UV spectrum revealed a similar spectrum with an increase in absorption of cowpea flour under germination. The electrophoresis showed variations in the intensities of high (25 to 225 kDa) and low (19 to 10 kDa) molecular weight proteins in germinated cowpea cultivars than the native one. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of ATR-FTIR, fluorescence and UV-based spectroscopy as non-destructive techniques to assess the alteration of pulses at the molecular level and structural changes under the germination process.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are at high risk of dyslipidemia, which in turn is associated with macrovascular diseases, such as heart diseases and stroke, and microvascular diseases, such as neuropathy and nephropathy. There are contradictory findings in the literature regarding the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the lipid profile among T2DM patients. This study was performed to investigate the association between HbA1c level and the lipid profile in elderly T2DM patients at a primary care hospital in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Prince Abdul Majeed Healthcare Center (PAMHC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The sociodemographic and clinical data of the T2DM patients who had visited the PAMHC from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021, were collected from the data registry of the PAMHC and analyzed for publication. Results: The study included a total of 988 T2DM patients (53.3% male). Of the participants, 42.9% were aged between 55 and 64 years. Dyslipidemia parameters were presented as high LDL-c (in 60.3% cases), low HDL-c (in 39.8% cases), high triglycerides (in 34.9% cases), and high total cholesterol (in 34.8% cases). The correlation of HbA1c with total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TGs) was positively significant, thereby highlighting the important link between glycemic control and dyslipidemia. A mean increase of 4.88 mg/dL and 3.33 mmHg in TG level and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, was associated with the male gender, in comparison to the female gender. However, the male gender was significantly associated with the reduction in the mean cholesterol level, BMI, HbA1c, HDL-c, and LDL-c by 11.49 mg/dL, 1.39 kg/m2, 0.31%, 7.47 mg/dL, and 5.6 mg/dL, respectively, in comparison to the female gender. Conclusions: The results of this study show that HbA1c was significantly associated with cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the T2DM patients included in the study. Our findings highlight the important relationship between glycemic control and dyslipidemia.

Let R be a commutative ring with identity, and Z(R) be the set of zero-divisors of R. The weakly zero-divisor graph of R denoted by WΓ(R) is an undirected (simple) graph with vertex set Z(R)*, and two distinct vertices x and y are adjacent, if and only if there exist r∈ann(x) and s∈ann(y), such that rs=0. Importantly, it is worth noting that WΓ(R) contains the zero-divisor graph Γ(R) as a subgraph. It is known that graph theory applications play crucial roles in different areas one of which is chemical graph theory that deals with the applications of graph theory to solve molecular problems. Analyzing Zagreb indices in chemical graph theory provides numerical descriptors for molecular structures, aiding in property prediction and drug design. These indices find applications in QSAR modeling and chemical informatics, contributing to efficient compound screening and optimization. They are essential tools for advancing pharmaceutical and material science research. This research article focuses on the basic properties of the weakly zero-divisor graph of the ring Zp×Zt×Zs, denoted by WΓ(Zp×Zt×Zs), where p, t, and s are prime numbers that may not necessarily be distinct and greater than 2. Moreover, this study includes the examination of various indices and coindices such as the first and second Zagreb indices and coindices, as well as the first and second multiplicative Zagreb indices and coindices of WΓ(Zp×Zt×Zs).

Background: The early secreted antigenic target-6 kDa (ESAT-6) being one of the important antigens expressed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has been widely investigated for its strong immunmodulatory effects. We have previously evaluated the immunotherapeutic efficacy of ESAT-6 in the murine model of experimental tuberculosis (TB). Now in the present study, we have evaluated the immunotherapeutic efficacy of N-terminally formylated form of ESAT-6 (f-ESAT-6) in murine TB. Materials and Methods: The production and purification of f-ESAT-6 have been discussed in our earlier report (Mir SA and Sharma S, 2014). In the present study, the MTB H37Rv-infected mice were treated with f-ESAT-6 alone or in combination with anti-TB drugs (ATDs). Four weeks postinitiation of the treatment, the experimental mice were sacrificed, and the colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated in their lungs and spleen as described in “materials and methods” section. Results: The N-terminally formylated ESAT-6 protein (f-ESAT-6) induced a moderate reduction in the bacterial load in the target organs of infected mice. Compared to the dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide treated and untreated groups, the f-ESAT-6 treatment significantly reduced the CFU in the spleen and lungs of infected mice by 0.377 log10 units (P < 0.05) and 0.396 log10 units (P < 0.01), respectively. The administration of f-ESAT-6 in combination with ATDs revealed an additional immunotherapeutic effect and elicited higher therapeutic efficacy over drugs (ATDs) alone. Conclusion: The results of the present study clearly indicate that f-ESAT-6 protein alone as well as in combination with the conventional ATDs induce moderate therapeutic effect against experimental TB.

Background: Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged in 2019 and caused a global pandemic in 2020, manifesting in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The majority of patients exhibit a mild form of the disease with no major complications; however, moderate to severe and fatal cases are of public health concerns. Predicting the potential prognosis of COVID-19 could assist healthcare workers in managing cases and controlling the pandemic in an effective way. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to search for biomarkers associated with COVID-19 mortality and predictors of the overall survival (OS). Methods: Here, clinical data of 6026 adult COVID-19 patients admitted to two large centers in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Hafar Al-Batin cities) between April and June 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Results: More than 23% of the study subjects with available data have died, enabling the prediction of mortality in our cohort. Markers that were significantly associated with mortality in this study were older age, increased d-dimer in the blood, higher counts of WBCs, higher percentage of neutrophil, and a higher chest X-ray (CXR) score. The CXR scores were also positively associated with age, d-dimer, WBC count, and percentage of neutrophil. This supports the utility of CXR scores in the absence of blood testing. Predicting mortality based on Ct values of RT-PCR was not successful, necessitating a more quantitative RT-PCR to determine virus quantity in samples. Our work has also identified age, d-dimer concentration, leukocyte parameters and CXR score to be prognostic markers of the OS of COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Overall, this retrospective study on hospitalised cohort of COVID-19 patients presents that age, haematological, and radiological data at the time of diagnosis are of value and could be used to guide better clinical management of COVID-19 patients.

In this study, three organic acids (citric, lactic, and acetic acid) were pretreated separately on P. rotundifolius starch, and their effects on the structural, functional, and rheological properties of cold water soluble (CWS) starches were investigated. In comparison to native starch, all the modified samples showed granular swelling, and acid pretreatment led to degradation and leaching of the granules. In FT-IR spectra, a peak at 1724 cm−1 confirmed the esterification of organic acids. All the modified starches lost their A-type diffraction pattern and showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in the relative crystallinity. HPG showed a significantly higher cold water swelling power than native (2.13 g/g) starch, and lactic acid pretreatment enhanced the cold water swelling power to 9.91 g/g. Citric acid esterified CWS showed a significant increase in cold water solubility (63.1%) and freeze-thaw stability. Thus, this study found that each organic acid treatment affected CWS P. rotundifolius starch differently and has potential application in a refrigerated, instant, or frozen food products.

4D printing is an additive manufacturing technique and is an extension of 3D printing. 4D food printing is a newly developed area in 4D printing, and it is in the stage of infancy. 4D food printing has gained much attention from the academic and industrial sectors. Compared to other fields of 4D printing, the number of literature reviews available for 4D food printing is scanty. The current article gives an overview of 4D printing with an emphasis on 4D food printing. This review address the effect of various stimuli on the properties such as color, flavor, texture, and shape of 4D printed food samples. Besides, it also covers 4D design development, food printing ink, and various methods used in 4D food printing. Most 4D food printing focuses on microwave treatment or the influence of pH as a stimulating agent in printed food objects. The food properties like color, taste, aroma, texture and the shape of 4D printed food changed under stimuli. Starch, soy protein isolate, potato purees, buckwheat dough, etc., are food materials yet to be explored in 4D printing. The printing ink used in 4D printing consists of a stimulus-responsive material, bringing spontaneous changes in 3D printed structure. Anthocyanine, vanillin powder, and curcumin area few stimulus-responsive materials used in 4D food printing, which will change color in response to pH. The use of multiple stimulus-responsive materials and different stimulating agents like light can be explored.

The aim of this work was to characterize morphological, crystalline property, physicochemical, functional, thermal, pasting, rheological properties, and in vitro digestibility of starch and flour from Plectranthus rotundifolius (Hausa potato). Chemical composition analysis showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the Hausa potato starch and flour, and the amylose content of starch (30.44 %) was substantially greater than that of flour (20.57 %). SEM study showed that Hausa potato starch granule size varies from 3.31 μm to 6.61 μm having a morphology of some truncated circular shapes on a smooth granule surface. Hausa potato starch and flour exhibited a similar FT-IR pattern and A-type crystallinity. Howbeit, the relative crystallinity (obtained from XRD) of starch was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than flour. The functional properties, including water and oil absorption capacity and solubility of flour, were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than starch. RVA analysis observed that Hausa potato starch had a higher value in pasting properties compared to its flour. Enthalpy of gelatinization calculated from DSC showed that Hausa potato starch was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than the flour. Hausa potato flour has a significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) slowly digestible starch and resistant starch value than its starch. The study showed that starch and flour of Hausa potato significantly differed from each other. Better physicochemical and structural properties of Hausa potato starch can be explored as a non-conventional source of starch for various applications, and flour can be used as a useful functional ingredient in the food industry.

Introduction In Saudi Arabia, the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not well studied and is marked by inconsistencies in clinical diagnosis. Therefore, in this study, we explored the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic validity of a prediction score based upon disease markers in orthropedic clinics’ patients in the Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. Method The clinical data for this retrospective cross-sectional study were retrieved from the database registry of orthopedic clinics in selected hospitals of the Medinah province of Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic features, disease markers and the clinical characteristics were collected for a period of 6 months, from December 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. The prediction score was generated from the sum of disease markers, coded as dichotomous variables. Results The total sample size of our study was 401. The prevalence of RA in the study subjects (n = 401) was 14.46% (n = 58). Among RA patients, the majority were females (60.3%). Painful joints (69%) and swollen joints (51.7%) were the most common clinical complaints among RA patients. RA patients suffered from arthritis (51.7%) and experienced fatigue (46.6%), weight loss (44.8%), and loss of appetite (41.4%). Diabetes (55.2%) was the most common comorbidity in the RA patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the prediction score at the criterion score of 2.5 were 67.3% and 63.0%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.69 (95% CI [0.62–0.76]). Conclusion There was a moderately high prevalence of RA in patients visiting the orthropedic clinics of the selected hospitals of Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. The diagnostic validity of the prediction score, though promising, was slightly lower than the acceptable range.

Introduction Knowledge of chemotherapeutic drug (CD) handling, administration, and waste disposal are important among nurses involved in cancer therapy. Inadequate knowledge of the management of CD could cause environmental contamination and potential harm to patients and nurses. To assess the knowledge of safe handling, administration, and waste management of CD among oncology nurses working at Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan. Methods A questionnaire was developed by a team of experts to assess the knowledge in three domains of oncology nursing practice (handling, administration, and disposal). The study involved 78 oncology nurses working in Khartoum Oncology Hospital in Sudan from April 2020. Results The mean CD knowledge score of nurses was 12.7 ± 3.9 out of 26 items in the questionnaire. For each domain, their knowledge showed poor scores related to safe handling (mean = 2.0 ± 1.5 out of eight knowledge items) and good scores for administration (mean = 6.2 ± 1.7 out of 10) and poor scores for waste disposal (mean = 4.4 ± 1.5 out of eight). Simple linear regression indicated that education level (β = 3.715, p = .008) and training (β = 0.969, p = .004) significantly predicted knowledge among nurses. Conclusion There is a significant need to enhance the knowledge and safe handling skills of CD among oncology nurses in Sudan. Implementation of strict guidelines to manage cytotoxic waste to reduce health risks and hospital contamination.

Abstract Through the conventional DFT computation, we have designed new oxide double perovskites Ba2FeNiO6 and Ba2CoNiO6. The structural and thermodynamic stabilities are predicted by optimizing the crystal structure and evaluation of enthalpy of formation, respectively. Then by using the optimized lattice constant, we have explored the different physical properties. The GGA + mBJ electronic band-structure illustrates Ba2FeNiO6 is a half-metal with 100% spin polarization at the Fermi level. While Ba2CoNiO6 shows a ferromagnetic semiconducting nature. The change in the electronic structure when Fe is replaced by Co is explained with the help of the orbital diagram and exchange interaction. The e g -e g hybridization that happens via O-p states is strong because Fe–O–Ni and Co–O–Ni bond angles are strictly 180°. The narrow bandgaps in the semiconducting channels prompted us to analyze the applicability of these materials towards thermoelectric technology. Besides this, we have investigated the dependency of transport properties on electronic band structure. The semiconducting nature in Ba2CoNiO6 results in a significant ZT around 0.8 at room temperature makes it suitable for wasted-energy regeneration

The objective of this meta-analysis was to find out the prevalence of Night Eating Syndrome (NES) associated with psychological disorders among university students. Extensive search of database yielded 1541 articles matching the search keywords, out of which were 1528 were excluded due to difference in population, outcome, and study design. At the end, only 13 articles were retrieved which aligned with the inclusion criteria. Prevalence of NES associated with psychological disorders in 9432 participants was 8.2% (95% CI 4.9: 13.4) but there was high level of heterogeneity. Female university students had a higher prevalence of the disorder (7.2%) with a high degree of heterogeneity (τ2 = 0.687, I2 = 96%, P

The poultry processing industrial wastes are rich sources of gelatin protein, which can be utilized for various industrial sectors. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of freeze-drying (FD) and hot air drying (HAD) on the physicochemical, structural, thermal, and functional characteristics of chicken feet gelatin. The yield (%) of extracted FD and HAD gelatin was 14.7 and 14.5%, respectively. The gelatin samples showed lower percent transmittance in the UV region. The FTIR bands were at 3,410–3,448 cm−1, 1,635 cm−1, 1,527–334 cm−1, and 1,242–871 cm−1 representing amide-A, amide-I, amide-II, and amide-III bands, respectively. The water activity of HAD was higher (0.43) than in FD (0.21) samples and pH were 5.23 and 5.14 for HAD and FD samples, respectively. The flow index (n) of 6.67% gelatin solutions was 0.104 and 0.418 with consistency coefficient (k) of 37.94 and 31.68 for HAD and FD samples, respectively. The HAD sample shows higher gel strength (276 g) than the FD samples (251 g). The foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) of FD samples were 81 and 79.44% compared to 62 and 71.28% for HAD, respectively. The emulsion capacity and emulsion stability of HAD gelatin were higher at 53.47 and 52.66% than FD gelatin. The water holding capacity (WHC) and oil binding capacity (OBC) of FD were lower, that is, 14.3 and 5.34 mL/g compared to HAD gelatin having 14.54 and 6.2 mL/g WHC and OBC, respectively. Hence, the present study indicated that gelatin samples can be utilized in various food products for enhancing functionality and can be used for developing edible packaging materials.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable neoplasm of B-lymphocytes, which accounts for about one-third of all leukemias. Ocimum sanctum, an herbaceous perennial, is considered as one of the important sources of drugs for the treatment of various diseases, including cancers and autoimmune diseases. The present study was designed to screen various phytochemicals of O. sanctum for discovering their potential to inhibit Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), a well-known drug target of CLL. Various phytochemicals of O. sanctum were screened for their potential to inhibit BTK using several in silico protocols. First, the molecular docking approach was used to calculate the docking scores of the selected phytochemicals. Then, the selected top-ranked phytochemicals were screened for their physicochemical characteristics using ADME analysis. Finally, the stability of the selected compounds in their corresponding docking complexes with BTK was analysed using molecular dynamics simulations. Primarily, our observations revealed that, out of the 46 phytochemicals of O. sanctum, six compounds possessed significantly better docking scores (ranging from −9.2 kcal/mol to −10 kcal/mol). Their docking scores were comparable to those of the control inhibitors, acalabrutinib (−10.3 kcal/mol), and ibrutinib (−11.3 kcal/mol). However, after ADME analysis of these top-ranked six compounds, only three compounds (Molludistin, Rosmarinic acid, and Vitexin) possessed drug likeliness characteristics. During the MD analysis, the three compounds Molludistin, Rosmarinic acid, and Vitexin were found to remain stable in the binding pocket in their corresponding docking complexes with BTK. Therefore, among the 46 phytochemicals of O. sanctum tested in this study, the three compounds, Molludistin, Rosmarinic acid, and Vitexin are the best inhibitors of BTK. However, these findings need to be confirmed by biological experiments in the laboratory.

In the present study, non-conventional talipot starch was subjected to single and dual modifications using two non-thermal techniques; ultrasonication and γ-irradiation (1 kGy and 10 kGy). Free radical-mediated low dose γ-irradiation made remarkable changes in the morphological, physicochemical, and functional properties of ultrasonicated talipot starches compared to single modifications. Dual (ultrasonication+γ-irradiation) modification created deep grooves, reduced relative crystallinity and peak intensity of OH and CH2 groups by cavitation and radiolysis. Compared to ultrasonicated and γ-irradiated starches, dual-modified starches showed significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) pH, amylose content, and swelling power, and improved storage stability by lowering the retrogradation tendency. The in vitro digestibility of dual-modified talipot starches was increased by the enhanced action of digestive enzymes with starch. The gelatinization, pasting, and rheological properties significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) with the increasing dose of γ-irradiation in dual-modified talipot starches and represented soft gel possessing shear-thinning stability.

Background Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder affecting health and work among the military population. NSCLBP is a complex disorder with several risk factors contributing to its occurrence. Therefore, the objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence and contribution of risk factors towards NSCLBP among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to January 2021 among the military personnel at Hafar Al-Batin military base, Saudi Arabia. The entire population (n = 62, 000) at the military base were invited to participate in the study. The participants were invited to participate in the study either through direct referral from in-patient and out-patient departments of the military hospital or by invitation through pamphlets, email, and advertisement across the offices and residential areas. Soldiers reporting lower back pain for at least 12 weeks were screened for inclusion criteria at the physical therapy department of the military hospital. Inclusion criteria included pain or discomfort originating from the lower back without any known spinal diseases. Participants with a systemic inflammatory disorder, trauma, neurological symptoms, and recent spinal surgery were excluded. All eligible participants were assessed for demographic variables and risk factors and complete the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and WHO-Five Well-Being Index. Results This study identified a 46.3% prevalence of pain originating from the spine with a 2.7% prevalence of NSCLBP. Spearman’s rho correlation between the severity of disability due to NSCLBP was strongly associated with age (rs = 0.834, p

Introduction: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in December 2019, is a serious health concern throughout the world. Despite massive COVID-19 vaccination on a global scale, there is a rising need to develop more effective vaccines and drugs to curb the spread of coronavirus. Methodology: In this study, we screened the amino acid sequence of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agent of COVID-19) for the identification of B and T cell epitopes using various immunoinformatic tools. These identified potent B and T cell epitopes with high antigenicity scores were linked together to design the multi-epitope vaccine construct. The physicochemical properties, overall quality, and stability of the designed vaccine construct were confirmed by suitable bioinformatic tools. Results: After proper in silico prediction and screening, we identified 3 B cell, 18 CTL, and 10 HTL epitopes from the RdRp protein sequence. The screened epitopes were non-toxic, non-allergenic, and highly antigenic in nature as revealed by appropriate servers. Molecular docking revealed stable interactions of the designed multi-epitope vaccine with human TLR3. Moreover, in silico immune simulations showed a substantial immunogenic response of the designed vaccine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that our designed multi-epitope vaccine possessing intrinsic T cell and B cell epitopes with high antigenicity scores could be considered for the ongoing development of peptide-based novel vaccines against COVID-19. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies need to be performed to confirm our in silico observations.

Obesity is becoming a worldwide epidemic, associated with the increasing risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and certain cancers. With a global increase in the prevalence of obesity, both nutrition and exercise play key roles in its prevention and treatment. Plants have been used in the management of a broad spectrum of metabolic dysfunction including obesity owing to the presence of plant-derived secondary metabolites. Plant-derived secondary metabolites are a rich source of natural active components including flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins. Many studies have screened natural anti-obesity compounds in food by checking for inhibition of adipogenesis-inducing gene expression. Several active components from plants have been shown to prevent obesity, indicating that these components may provide a therapeutic approach for preventing or treating obesity. Consumption of diets containing high amounts of active components is a promising strategy for suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation of obese subjects. Keywords: Active components, Obesity, Adipogenesis, Polyphenols

Effect of different ratios of chestnut flour substitution on brown rice flour based snack was investigated for technological and nutritional properties. Pasting properties significantly varied among the flour ratios and the higher levels of chestnut flour led to the increase in pasting properties. Colour parameters, L∗, a∗ and b∗ values of snacks decreased with increase in chestnut flour level. Expansion ratio of snacks is increased while as hardness decreased with progressive increase of chestnut flour. Mineral analysis showed that snacks were rich in potassium, phosphorus, sulphur and magnesium etc. Scanning electronic microscopy showed the porous structure of fried snack which leads to increase in expansion ratio. Flavour value of snacks was increased with the increase in chestnut flour level in the blend. Based on present study, brown rice-chestnut flour based snacks have good potential for consumer acceptance and are regarded as health promoting functional food, especially for celiac disease patients. Keywords: Snacks, Brown rice, Chestnut flour, Expansion ratio

(1) Background: Inflammation is one of the primary responses of the immune system and plays a key role in the pathophysiology of various diseases. Recent reports suggest that various phytochemicals exhibit promising anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation activities with relatively few undesirable effects, thus offering a viable option to deal with inflammation and associated diseases. The current study evaluates the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of withaferin A (WA) in immune cells extracted from BALB/c mice. (2) Methods: MTT assays were performed to assess the cell viability of splenocytes and anti-inflammatory doses of WA. Under aseptic conditions, the isolation of macrophages and splenocytes from BALB/c mice was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of WA. Analysis of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and associated signaling mediators was performed using proinflammatory assay kits, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunoblotting, while the quantification of B and T cells was performed by flow cytometry. (3) Results: Our results demonstrated that WA exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in LPS-stimulated macrophages and splenocytes derived from BALB/c mice, respectively. Mechanistically, we found that WA promotes an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated macrophages by attenuating the secretion and expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and the inflammation modulator NO, both at the transcriptional and translational level, respectively. Further, WA inhibits LPS-stimulated inflammatory signaling by dephosphorylation of p-Akt-Ser473 and p-ERK1/2. This dephosphorylation does not allow IĸB-kinase activation to disrupt IĸB–NF-ĸB interaction. The consistent interaction of IĸB with NF-ĸB in WA-treated cells attenuates the activation of downstream inflammatory signaling mediators Cox-2 and iNOS expression, which play crucial roles in inflammatory signaling. Additionally, we observed significant immunomodulation of LPS-stimulated spleen-derived lymphocytes by suppression of B (CD19) and T (CD4+/CD8+) cell populations after treatment with WA. (4) Conclusion: WA exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity by modulating Akt/ERK/NF-kB-mediated inflammatory signaling in macrophages and immunosuppression of B (CD19) and T cell (CD4+/CD8+) populations in splenocytes after LPS stimulation. These results suggest that WA could act as a potential anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory molecule and support its use in the field of immunopharmacology to modulate immune system cells.

Excitotoxicity is a type of neurodegenerative disorder. It caused by excessive glutamate receptor activation, which leads to neuronal malfunction and fatality. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are found in glutamatergic neurons, and their excessive activation is primarily responsible for excitotoxicity. They are activated by both glutamate binding and postsynaptic depolarization, facilitating Ca2+ entry upon activation. Therefore, they are now widely acknowledged as being essential targets for excitotoxicity issues. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analyses have demonstrated that nobiletin efficiently targets the binding pocket of the NMDA receptor protein and exhibits stable dynamic behavior at the binding site. In this study, five potential neuroprotectants, nobiletin, silibinin, ononin, ginkgolide B, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were screened against the glutamate NMDA receptors in humans via computational methods. An in silico ADMET study was also performed, to predict the pharmacokinetics and toxicity profile for the expression of good drug-like behavior and a non-toxic nature. It was revealed that nobiletin fulfills the criteria for all of the drug-likeness rules (Veber, Lipinski, Ghose, Muegge, and Egan) and has neither PAINS nor structural alerts (Brenks). In conclusion, nobiletin demonstrated a possible promising neuroprotectant activities compared to other selected phytochemicals. Further, it can be evaluated in the laboratory for promising therapeutic approaches for in vitro and in vivo studies.

Cancer is one of the leading diseases, causing deaths worldwide. Nearly 10 million deaths were reported in 2020 due to cancer alone. Several factors are involved in cancer progressions, such as lifestyle and genetic characteristics. According to a recent report, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in cancer initiation, progression, and therapy failure. EVs can play a major role in intracellular communication, the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and pathogenesis in several types of diseases. In a healthy person, EVs carry different cargoes, such as miRNA, lncRNA etc., to help other body functions. On the other hand, the same EV in a tumor microenvironment carries cargoes such as miRNA, lncRNA, etc., to initiate or help cancer progression at various stages. These stages may include the proliferation of cells and escape from apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell invasion, and metastasis, reprogramming energy metabolism, evasion of the immune response, and transfer of mutations. Tumor-derived EVs manipulate by altering normal functions of the body and affect the epigenetics of normal cells by limiting the genetic makeup through transferring mutations, histone modifications, etc. Tumor-derived EVs also pose therapy resistance through transferring drug efflux pumps and posing multiple drug resistances. Such EVs can also help as biomarkers for different cancer types and stages, which ultimately help with cancer diagnosis at early stages. In this review, we will shed light on EVs’ role in performing normal functions of the body and their position in different hallmarks of cancer, in altering the genetics of a normal cell in a tumor microenvironment, and their role in therapy resistance, as well as the importance of EVs as diagnostic tools.

Background: In open anterior inguinal mesh hernioplasty, the commonly used method for mesh fixation is by polypropylene sutures which involves extensive mesh fixation and placement of sutures into periosteum of pubic symphysis, thereby increasing the operative time with attendant risk of infection of the prosthetic material. An alternative to sutures is the use of staples which are easy to use and quick to apply. We explored the use of staples in securing the mesh in inguinal hernioplasty. Methodology: A prospective comparative study of 400 patients who underwent inguinal mesh hernioplasty with 200 patients selected randomly each in polypropylene suture (PPSG) and staple group (SG) was performed. Postoperatively patients were made ambulatory on the same day of surgery and discharged from hospital on 1st or 2nd day in both the groups. Follow-up was carried out in 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years and the patients were assessed for wound infection, hematomas, local pain, return to work, recurrence if any, and other miscellaneous complications if any. Results: The mean age of patients in our study in polypropylene suture group and staple group was 46.75 years and 46 years, respectively. 80% (160 patients) in polypropylene suture group and 75% (150 patients) in stapler group had indirect hernia. The mean operative time in PPSG and SG group was 59.25 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively (p value0.05). Overall the complication rate was the same in the two groups with no statistically significant differences observed (P value >0.05). There was 0% recurrence rate in 6 months and 1 year of follow-up in both groups. However, in 3-year follow-up 20 patients (10%) in PPSG and 2 patients (1%) in SG had recurrence (P value=0.0001). Conclusion: The technique of mesh fixation with skin staples is as effective as conventional fixation with polypropylene sutures, with an important added advantage of a significant reduction in the operative time and an early return to work. At the same time this technique does not have any additional complications compared to traditional Lichtenstein method. Good tissue penetrance and effective mesh anchorage are achieved when staples are utilized to secure the mesh. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2018; 7(1.000): 7-12]

Background: Hepatitis B and C viral infections, which are the most common cause of liver infection worldwide, are major health issues around the globe. People with chronic hepatitis infections remain at risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, while also being a risk to other diseases. These infections are highly contagious in nature, and the prevention of hepatitis B and C transmission during blood transfusion is a major challenge for healthcare workers. Although epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B and C infections in blood donors in Saudi Arabia have been previously investigated in multiple studies, due to targeted cohorts and the vast geographical distribution of Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of missing data points, which necessitates further investigations. Aim of the study: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections among blood donors in the northern region of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: To determine the given objectives, a retrospective study was performed which included data gathered from serological as well as nucleic acid test (NAT) screening of blood donors. Clinical data of 3733 blood donors were collected for a period of 2 years (from January 2019 to December 2020) at the blood bank of King Khalid General Hospital and the associated blood banks and donation camps in the region. Statistical analysis of the clinical data was performed using SPSS. Results: The blood samples of 3733 donors were analyzed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among the blood donors in the northern region of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Among the total of 3733 blood donors, 3645 (97.65%) were men and 88 (2.36%) were women. Most of the donors were younger than 27 years of age (n = 1494). The most frequent blood group in our study was O-positive (n = 1534), and the least frequent was AB-negative (n = 29). After statistically analyzing the clinical data, we observed that 7 (0.19%), 203 (5.44%) and 260 (6.96%) donor blood samples were positive for the HBV serological markers HBsAgs, HBsAbs and HBcAbs, respectively, and 12 (0.32%) blood samples reacted positively to anti-HCV antibodies. Moreover, 10 (0.27%) and 1 (0.027%) samples were NAT-HBV positive and NAT-HCV positive, respectively. Conclusion: In the current study, low prevalence rates of HBV and HCV were observed in the blood donors. Statistical correlations indicated that both serological tests and NATs are highly effective in screening potential blood donors for HBV and HCV, which, in turn, prevents potential transfusion-transmitted hepatitis.

Background: Stapled hemorrhoidectomy, though significantly less painful, is still in its evolutionary stages, especially in the developing world. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the efficacy, safety and advantages, if any, of the stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Material and Methods: This prospective study was comprised of patients admitted for elective surgery of hemorrhoids over a period of 18 months during the period of January 2014 to June 2015 in various surgical wards of SMHS (Shri Maharaja Hari Singh) Hospital, Srinagar. The patients were randomized into two groups. One group underwent conventional open hemorrhoidectomy and the other group, stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Results: In our study, the mean operating time for stapled hemorrhoidopexy was 35.22±7.23 minutes with an average of 20-50 minutes, while with open hemorrhoidectomy, the mean operating time was 45.67±11.94 minutes (p

Formulation of gluten free crackers based on brown rice flour from two varieties and apple pomace was studied during the present investigation. Pomace flour blends were prepared by incorporating 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% apple pomace in brown rice flour. Viscosity profile showed decrease in pasting properties except pasting temperature which increased with increase in pomace level. The hunter colour value (L∗) and fracture force of crackers are decreased with increase in pomace level. The crackers were investigated and compared for composition, antioxidant properties (DPPH, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, reducing power), minerals and sensory properties. The increased amount of apple pomace in the flour formulation resulted in higher antioxidant properties, total dietary fibre and minerals in the final product. Based on the present study, pomace based rice crackers have good potential for consumer and regarded as health promoting functional food, especially for coeliac disease patients.

Background: There is no information on the pattern of outcomes among burn patients in relation to clinical aspects in India. Hence, the present study was undertaken in a burn unit to determine selected epidemiological variables, assess the clinical aspects (etiology, extent and anatomical location) and finally to analyze the outcomes in cases of burn injury. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was undertaken to analyze the patients admitted to the Burn Unit of Government Medical college Srinagar. The study was carried over a period 2 years from January 2013 to December 2014. Various variables including age and sex distribution, nature of burn injuries, Anatomical location, percentage of total body surface area burnt, depth of burns, Survival of expired patients and mortality were recorded and analyzed. Results: Highest incidence of burns was in the age group between 21 and 40 years; 61% patients were females and 39% were males; majority of our patients had burns in the range of 20 to 40% TBSA (total body surface area); mortality rate in our study was 36.82%; most common site of the burn injury was upper limb(30.19%);among patients who died those with TBSA burn of >60%, 41 to 60% and 31 to 40% succumbed within three, six and nine days respectively. Age ranged from 6 months to 93 years. Mean age of the patients was 31 years. Eighty percent patients belonged to rural areas and 20% belonged to Urban locality. Conclusion: People with low educational qualification should be taught about the proper and safe usage of modern appliances based on electricity, LPG or kerosene. People with psychiatric problems or low intelligence quotient (I.Q) should be helped by their care takers in avoiding the burn injuries and also devices with alarms should be used in their households. Fuel or electric devices should be checked by a trained person regularly (e.g once in month) to avoid usage of faulty devices.

Background: There is no single, universally applicable technique for hypospadias repair and numerous techniques have been practised from time to time. We compare the results of our new technique (Mirs’ technique also called Mush & Shab’s technique) to Snodgross urethroplasty. Mirs’ technique is a modified version of Thiersch-Duplay urethroplasty. Material and Methods: This prospective comparative study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital of Northern India over a period of 3 years from March 2010 to March 2013 and included 120 patients of anterior (distal penile, subcoronal, coronal and glanular) hypospadias without chordee. They underwent either Mirs’ technique (group 1 n = 60) or Snodgrass technique (group 2 n = 60). Follow-up was at 1-week, 1-month, 3 months and 6 months. Results: The mean operative time was 55 min (range: 43-70 min) in group 1 and 71.9 min (range: 60-81 min) in group 2 (P & 0.001). Urethrocutaneous fistula developed in two and four patients in group 1 and 2, respectively. Fistula closure was done at least 3 months postoperatively, and there was no significant difference in success rate between the two groups. Three cases of glanular dehiscence were detected (one in group 1 and two in group 2); the patient from group 1 had a successful repair using the already preserved prepuce. Conclusion: Mirs’ modification of Thiersch-Duplay technique for distal hypospadias is a time saving procedure with a lower overall complication rate. Valuable local tissue is preserved to deal with any complication that may occur. Analgesic requirement was significantly lower in this minimally traumatic technique. As it is less time consuming, simple and easy to learn with a short learning curve, this technique deserves application in cases of distal hypospadias.