Search

Forever and a day, breast cancer has caused significant negative impacts on the quality of lives of number of women, more often than not turning into a fatal disease. The growth in the number of such cases has constantly been a major concern for the community as well as medical experts. To prevent irreversible damages caused by the disease, early identification of breast cancer is essential. Various researches and techniques have been devised in the past as an attempt to achieve this task with appreciable accuracy. As an advancement to these pre-existing algorithms and methods, we have devised a model by exploiting the techniques of nature-inspired metaheuristics in order to efficiently detect breast cancer at an early stage while maintaining acceptable levels of accuracy. In this paper, we propose a hybrid model, namely "hybrid artificial bee colony and black hole with genetic operators (GBHABC)", for the early detection of breast cancer. In the proposed model, we employed a support vector machine (SVM) ensemble technique, optimized using the proposed GBHABC model. This model combines the techniques of two major algorithms, namely artificial bee colony (ABC) and black hole (BH), guided through crossover and mutation genetic operators. Datasets from the well-known UCI breast cancer repository have been used to train the models and evaluate test result. For a fair and accurate evaluation of the model, a number of metrics have been examined including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score and precision. An impeccable accuracy of 99.42% was obtained on the UCI dataset, clearly outperforming any literature in the same field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations today are employing databases on a large scale to store data essential for their functioning. Malicious access and modifications of the databases may lead to adverse financial and legal implications. In recent years, security researchers have focused on detecting abuse of access privileges by employees of an organization. Identifying threats from insiders is hard because they are aware of the organization of the database in addition to having authorised access privileges. To detect insider attacks effectively and efficiently, we present a novel approach to dynamically determine the malicious transactions using historical data. We propose Trust factor-based user behavior analysis using sequential pattern mining for database intrusion detection systems (TFUBID). Since, groups of users access the organizational database for similar purposes, we cluster user behavior vectors using fuzzy clustering and define a class of Integral Data Attributes using sequential pattern mining to model trust factor-based behavioral patterns of employees accessing the database assigning higher weight to critical elements and Directly Correlated Attributes. A comprehensive experimental evaluation on our synthetic dataset adhering to TPC-C standard benchmark revealed that TFUBID achieved an accuracy of 94% for detecting malicious transactions and outperforms competing state-of-the-art techniques on several performance measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Database systems have become imperative for organisations around the world to store and analyse information. However, as one of the ramifications of a massive surge in cloud-based activities and interactions brought forth by the advent of the internet era, the data is exposed to an audience broader than ever and there are a variety of new challenges putting database security in jeopardy. To be able to address the problem of data security, we propose a unique method for Database Intrusion Detection System build on frequent sequential pattern mining and a modified metaheuristic hybrid clustering of Grey Wolf and Whale optimization algorithm to determine malicious transactions in Role Based Access Control and non-RBAC supervised databases. Our proposed approach extracts data dependency rules from the database logs using CM-SPADE mining algorithm to detect outsider threats. It then assigns role profiles to the users based on the previous user activities using the modified metaheuristic clustering to detect insider threats. Thereby, identifying incoming transactions as malicious by matching the role profile of the user and comparing the adherence of the transaction pattern to the generated dependency rules. To evaluate the efficiency of the model we generated a synthetic dataset including malicious and non-malicious transactions adhering to the TPC-C benchmark, and the findings were encouraging, with levels of accuracy of around 97.8 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunscreen lotion is a sort of product that protects against the sun's harmful rays by containing ultraviolet radiation (UV rays), which is divided into two types: ultraviolet radiation A (UVA) and ultraviolet radiation B (UVB). The incorporation of herbal materials into sunscreen is one of the most effective and natural ways to protect against the sun, as measured by the sun protection factor (SPF), as well as the detrimental side effects of toxic chemicals. The present study aimed to develop herbal sunscreens containing turmeric (strong antiseptic property which protects skin from bacteria caused by excess sweat), coconut oil (used as a sun-block agent and helps to protect skin from sun damage), aloe vera (give a cooling effect to the skin and work as skin barrier), lemon (used to protect skin for sunburn) which will be effective for skin and protect skin against harmful sun rays, sunburn, and skin cancer. Prepared herbal sunscreens were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, SPF, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, in vitro mutagenicity, and stability. Results showed that the F5 and F6 herbal sunscreens were of good consistency and viscosity with excellent antioxidant, non-mutagenic, nonirritant, stability activity and possessed 33.50 SPF for normal skin. In comparison to F1 through F4, formulations with a coconut oil base and carrot seed extract (F5 and F6) were shown to be stable and effective, with a high SPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated blood serotonin levels have been observed in patients with heart failure and serotonin has a role in pathological cardiac function. The serotonin receptor system was examined in adult rat isolated cardiac fibroblast and myofibroblast cells. This is one of the first studies that has investigated serotonin receptors and other proteins involved in the serotonin receptor system in rat cardiac fibroblast and myofibroblast cells. Rat primary cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and transformed into myofibroblasts using 5 ng/ml TGF-β1. Transformation of cells to myofibroblasts was confirmed with the presence of α-smooth muscle actin using Western blot. Serotonin metabolism and receptor protein expression was assessed using Western blot techniques and serotonin levels measured using ELISA. The 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors were found to be present in both rat cardiac fibroblasts and myofibroblast cells, however no significance in protein expression between the two cell types was found (P > 0.05). In this study a significant increase in the serotonin transporter (SERT), tryptophan hydroxylase 1 and extracellular serotonin levels was observed in rat cardiac myofibroblasts when compared to fibroblasts (P < 0.05). These results suggest that serotonin levels may rise in parallel with cardiac myofibroblast populations and contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure via serotonin receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present research aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of dietary anthocyanin (ACN) in type 2 diabetic (T2D), T2D-at-risk and healthy individuals. Furthermore, dietary inflammatory index (DII) was used to study the association of diet with biomarkers of inflammation. Research methods: An open-label clinical trial was conducted at Griffith University investigating the efficacy of 320 mg ACN supplementation per day over the course of 4 weeks. Diabetes-associated inflammatory biomarkers and relevant biochemical and physical parameters were tested pre-and post-intervention, and participants' dietary inflammatory potential was estimated. Results: A significant reduction in the pro-inflammatory biomarkers' interleukin-6, interleukin-18, and tumour necrosis factor-α was observed in the T2D group. In addition, some, but not all, biochemical parameters including fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and uric acid were significantly improved in T2D-at-risk group. Moreover, a significant difference was detected between the DII scores of the healthy and T2D groups. DII score for the T2D group was consistent with an anti-inflammatory diet. Conclusion: Anti-inflammatory potential of dietary ACN in T2D participants was evidenced in the present study. Although, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns of T2D participants may have accelerated the anti-inflammatory effect of the ACN capsules supplemented in this trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogenic tailoring of silver nanoparticles using plant extract is becoming an attractive approach in the current scenario. Manilkara zapota (MZ) is well known for its antibacterial, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tussive, anti-fungal, anti-tumour, and free radical scavenging potential. Its plants extract is a rich source of secondary metabolites. Nowadays, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been advocated for a variety of biomedical applications. In present work, silver nanoparticles have been synthesized using an aqueous extract of MZ, physicochemically characterized and finally evaluated for antimicrobial effects, catalytic reduction/degradation of organic dyes and cytotoxicity. The nanosized AgNPs (~ 84 nm) were found to possess prominent antibacterial potential against gram positive and gram negative pathogens (MIC 50 μg/ml) in comparison to native plant extract. Moreover, these particles were found to be non-toxic and efficient eradicators of environmental toxicants via rapid catalytic reduction of toxic chemicals and dyes. Altogether, these results suggest promising potential of these nanoparticles that can be used as multifunctional agents for future biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To identify the underlying genetic defect in a fourth‐generation autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) family. Detailed family history and clinical data were collected from nine members, including three affected, from an arRP family. Methods: Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed on DNA sample of an affected individual IV: 2. Variants obtained by WES were annotated using Ion Reporter Software (ver. 5.2). Potential pathogenic variants detected in an affected member were validated in other affected and unaffected family members by Sanger sequencing. Further 150 ethnically‐matched controls were tested for the variant that co‐segregated completely with disease in the family, so as to exclude it as a polymorphism. Various web‐based bioinformatics tools were also applied to access pathogenic potential of the observed variant. Results: All the three patients had RP with polydactyly of both hands and feet, however, they did not show other symptoms of Bardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) or McKusick‐Kaufmann Syndrome (MKKS). A novel missense mutation, that is, c.518A>C (p.His173Pro) was identified in MKKS/BBS6 that co‐segregated completely with the disease phenotype in all the three affected members and was not observed in six unaffected members of the family. Also the c.518A>C change was not observed in 150 ethnically matched controls (300 chromosomes), hence excluding it as a polymorphism. Conclusions: Present study is the second report of identifying a novel mutation in MKKS/BBS6 that is linked with arRP in association with polydactyly, however, with no other signs of BBS or MKKS. These findings further expand the mutation spectrum of MKKS/BBS6 for arRP with polydactyly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to test the hypothesis that paracetamol (PCM) can precipitate autistic like features when used to counteract vaccine-induced fever using experimental rat pups. The pups were treated with measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria tetanus and pertussis (DPT) vaccines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with subsequent PCM treatment. The pups were evaluated for postnatal growth (weight gain, eye opening) and behavior alterations (swimming performance, olfactory discrimination, negative geotaxis, nociception, and locomotor activity) by performing battery of neurobehavioral test. Significant correlation was observed between social behavioral domains (nociception, anxiety and motor coordination) and pro-inflammatory load in the pups when treated with MMR/LPS along with PCM. A significant change in pro and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) markers were observed in rats treated with PCM, MMR, LPS, DPS alone or in combination with MMR, LPS and DPT (5128.6 ± 0.000, 15,488 ± 0.000***, 9661.1 ± 157.29***a, 15,312 ± 249.29***, 10,471 ± 0.00***a, 16,789 ± 273.34*** and 12,882 ± 0.00***a). Pups were also scrutinized for the markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and histopathologically. All the treatment groups showed significant alteration in the behavioral changes, oxidative markers (TBARS-in control-4.33 ± 0.02, PCM-9.42 ± 0.18***, MMR-5.27 ± 0.15***, MMR + PCM-8.57 ± 0.18*** a, LPS-6.84 ± 0.10***, LPS + PCM-4.51 ± 0.30***a, DPT-5.68 ± 0.12***, DPT + PCM-7.26 ± 0.18***a) and inflammatory markers without following any specific treatment. These observation could be accorded to variable phenotypes of autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombosis as the main complication of coronary heart disease (CHD) represents the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In the course of diabetes mellitus some coagulation abnormalities occur, that may result in a thrombogenic propensity. Aspirin (ASA) as a platelet-inhibiting agent through inactivation of Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) is mostly used for the prevention and treatment of atherothrombotic disorders. ASA inhibits the COX-1 enzyme and therefore blocks platelet thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesis. However, some of the serious vascular events in high-risk vascular patients are attributable to a failure of ASA to suppress platelet aggregation. The consumption of antioxidant or antioxidant rich foods such as vitamin C, E, and polyphenols might impart anti-thrombotic and cardiovascular protective effects via their inhibition of platelet hyper-activation or aggregation similar to the action of aspirin. This review will discuss the risk of thrombosis in diabetes, what aspirin resistance means, and the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy in the prevention and possible treatment of atherothrombotic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Delivery of drugs to brain is a subtle task in the therapy of many severe neurological disorders. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) easily diffuse the blood–brain barrier (BBB) due to their lipophilic nature. Furthermore, ligand conjugation on SLN surface enhances the targeting efficiency. Lactoferin (Lf) conjugated SLN system is first time attempted for effective brain targeting in this study. Purpose:Preparation of Lf-modified docetaxel (DTX)-loaded SLN for proficient delivery of DTX to brain. Methods:DTX-loaded SLN were prepared using emulsification and solvent evaporation method and conjugation of Lf on SLN surface (C-SLN) was attained through carbodiimide chemistry. These lipidic nanoparticles were evaluated by DLS, AFM, FTIR, XRD techniques andin vitrorelease studies. Colloidal stability study was performed in biologically simulated environment (normal saline and serum). These lipidic nanoparticles were further evaluated for its targeting mechanism for uptake in brain tumour cells and brain via receptor saturation studies and distribution studies in brain, respectively. Results:Particle size of lipidic nanoparticles was found to be optimum. Surface morphology (zeta potential, AFM) and surface chemistry (FTIR) confirmed conjugation of Lf on SLN surface. Cytotoxicity studies revealed augmented apoptotic activity of C-SLN than SLN and DTX. Enhanced cytotoxicity was demonstrated by receptor saturation and uptake studies. Brain concentration of DTX was elevated significantly with C-SLN than marketed formulation. Conclusions:It is evident from the cytotoxicity, uptake that SLN has potential to deliver drug to brain than marketed formulation but conjugating Lf on SLN surface (C-SLN) further increased the targeting potential for brain tumour. Moreover, brain distribution studies corroborated the use of C-SLN as a viable vehicle to target drug to brain. Hence, C-SLN was demonstrated to be a promising DTX delivery system to brain as it possessed remarkable biocompatibility, stability and efficacy than other reported delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivering chemotherapeutics by nanoparticles into tumor is impeded majorly by two factors: nonspecific targeting and inefficient penetration. Targeted delivery of anti-cancer agents solely to tumor cells introduces a smart strategy because it enhances the therapeutic index compared with untargeted drugs. The present study was performed to investigate the efficiency of adenosine (ADN) to target solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) to over expressing adenosine receptor cell lines such as human breast cancer and prostate cancer (MCF-7 and DU-145 cells), respectively. SLN were prepared by emulsification and solvent evaporation process using docetaxel (DTX) as drug and were characterized by various techniques like dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimeter and transmission electron microscopy. DTX loaded SLNs were surface modified with ADN, an adenosine receptors ligand using carbodiimide coupling. Conjugation was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy and quantified using phenol–sulfuric acid method. Conjugated SLN were shown to have sustained drug release as compared to unconjugated nanoparticles and drug suspension. Compared with free DTX and unconjugated SLN, ADN conjugated SLN showed significantly higher cytotoxicity of loaded DTX, as evidenced by in vitro cell experiments. The IC50 was 0.41 μg/ml for native DTX, 0.30 μg/ml for unconjugated SLN formulation, and 0.09 μg/ml for ADN conjugated SLN formulation in MCF-7 cell lines. Whereas, in DU-145, there was 2 fold change in IC50 of ADN–SLN as compared to DTX. IC50 was found to be 0.44 μg/ml for free DTX, 0.39 μg/ml for unconjugated SLN and 0.22 μg/ml for ADN–SLN. Annexin assay and cell cycle analysis assay further substantiated the cell cytotoxicity. Fluorescent cell uptake and competitive ligand-receptor binding assay corroborated the receptor mediated endocytosis pathway indicated role of adenosine receptors in internalization of conjugated particles. Pharmacokinetic studies of lipidic formulations depicted significant improvement in pharmacokinetic parameters than marketed formulation. ADN conjugated SLN proved to be an efficient drug delivery vehicle. Hence, ADN can be used as a potential ligand to target breast and prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipidic systems are considered to be the most promising carrier for drug delivery to brain. Metabolic substrates like carbohydrates and amino acids are able to traverse the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by specific carrier-mediated transport systems like glucose transporters present on the both luminal and abluminal side of the BBB. With this objective, the docetaxel (DTX) loaded solid lipidic nanoparticles were formulated and surface modified with a mannose derived ligand p -aminophenyl-α- d -mannopyranoside (MAN) to develop MAN conjugated lipidic nanoparticles for targeting DTX to brain. Lipidic nanoparticles were prepared using emulsification and solvent evaporation method using stearic acid as charge modifying lipid and conjugated with MAN using carbodimide coupling. These lipidic nanoparticles were successfully characterized using various techniques like DLS, TEM, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity and cell uptake unveiled enhanced efficacy of conjugated lipidic nanoparticles. Pharmacokinetic and brain distribution studies demonstrated increased DTX concentrations using lipidic nanoparticles in brain and conjugating MAN on surface of lipidic nanoparticles further augmented the inflow of the drug to brain. Present study revealed the prospective of mannose analog, MAN-conjugated lipidic nanoparticles as efficient vehicle for anticancer drug delivery to brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins have been reported to induce the expression of enzymes involved in both cellular antioxidant defenses and attenuating inflammation-associated pathogenesis. Induction of such enzymes by edible anthocyanin largely accounts for their atherosclerosis chemo-protective activities. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays an essential role in the coordinated induction of those genes encoding redox-responsive and cellular defense antioxidant enzyme termed antioxidant response element (ARE). Current studies have revealed that Nrf2–ARE signaling is involved in attenuating inflammation-associated pathogenesis such as atherosclerosis. Conversely, reduction in Nrf2 signaling leads to enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammatory tissue injuries. The activation of Nrf2–ARE might inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediator including cyclooxygenase-2, chemokines, cytokines, cell adhesion molecules, and induction nitric oxide synthase. This review highlights the gene expression induced by dietary anthocyanin via Nrf2 signaling on redox-regulated transcription factor in atherosclerosis disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilbert's syndrome (GS) is a relatively common condition, inducing a benign, non-hemolytic, unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Gilbert's Syndrome is associated with mutation in the Uridine Glucuronosyl Transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene promoter, reducing UGT1A1 activity, which normally conjugates bilirubin allowing its elimination from the blood. Individuals with GS demonstrate mildly elevated plasma antioxidant capacity caused by elevated levels of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), reduced thiols and glutathione. Interestingly, the development of, and risk of mortality from, cardiovascular disease is remarkably reduced in GS individuals. An explanation for this protection may be explained by bilirubin's ability to inhibit multiple processes that induce platelet hyper-reactivity and thrombosis, thus far under-appreciated in the literature. Reactive oxygen species are produced continuously via metabolic processes and have the potential to oxidatively modify proteins and lipids within cell membranes, which may encourage the development of thrombosis and CVDs. Oxidative stress induced platelet hyper-reactivity significantly increases the risk of thrombosis, which can potentially lead to tissue infarction. Here, we discuss the possible mechanisms by which increased antioxidant status might influence platelet function and link this to cardiovascular protection in GS. In summary, this is the first article to discuss the possible role of bilirubin as an anti-thrombotic agent, which inhibits platelet activation and potentially, organ infarction, which could contribute to the reduced mortality rate in mildly hyperbilirbinemic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work reports distribution of platinum(IV), iridium(III) and rhodium(III) from HCl, H2SO4 and HNO3 (0.1-6 mol L-1) media using Cyanex 471X diluted with toluene. Detailed studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of different variables influencing the extraction such as equilibration time, temperature, diluent and concentration of extractant. An assessment of the loading capacity, regeneration power and stability of extractant has been made. The extraction behaviour of associated metals namely gold, silver, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and copper has been investigated and the conditions for their binary separations involving platinum metals have been optimised. The stoichiometric composition of the extracting platinum and iridium species have been identified. Based on the extraction data separation schemes have been designed to recover platinum, iridium and rhodium from synthetic mixture and real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Platinum group metals find extensive use in automobile catalysts, space materials and cancer therapy. Their natural resources are limited thus their recovery from the secondary sector has assumed a great significance. Liquid–liquid extraction provides an effective methodology for the said purpose. The present paper discusses the extraction behavior of platinum(IV), rhodium(III) and palladium(II) from HCl, H2SO4 and HNO3 (0.10–6.0molL−1) media by toluene solution of Cyanex 923. Detailed studies have been conducted by varying the equilibration time, temperature, diluent and concentration of extractant. An assessment of the loading capacity, regeneration power and stability of extractant has been made. The extraction behavior of associated metals namely gold, silver, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper and aluminum has been investigated and the conditions for the binary separations involving platinum metals have been optimized. The stoichiometric ratio of the extracting species for platinum and palladium has been worked out. Based on the extraction data platinum, palladium and rhodium have been recovered from some spent commercial materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species are associated with the clinical manifestation of insulin resistance. Evidence suggests that antioxidant treatment may reduce this incidence. This study determined whether glucose oxidase (GO)-induced insulin resistance in cultured skeletal muscle cells could be ameliorated by pre-treatment with gamma-tocopherol (GT). Insulin sensitivity in L6 myotubes was assessed by 2-deoxy- d-[3H]-glucose uptake. The phosphorylation of distal insulin signaling proteins Akt and the Akt substrate AS160 were determined by western blot. One hour treatment with 100 mU/ml GO decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (P < 0.001). Pre-treatment with GT either partially (100 µM) or completely (200 µM) restored insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in cells after GO-induced insulin resistance. GO-induced oxidative stress did not impair insulin stimulated phosphorylation of Akt or AS160, but 200 µM GT increased insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of these key signaling proteins ( P < 0.05). High-dose (200 µM) GT treatment ameliorated oxidative stress-induced insulin resistance in cultured rat L6 skeletal muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The antioxidant activity of vitamin E is derived primarily from alpha-tocopherol (α-T) and gamma-tocopherol (γ-T). Results of epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between vitamin E intake and coronary disease. However, the results of clinical trials using α-T are equivocal. We determined the effect of 5 weeks of 100 mg/d or 200 mg/d γ-T supplementation on thrombotic markers such as platelet reactivity, lipid profile and the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods and results: Fourteen healthy subjects consumed 100 mg/day while 13 consumed 200 mg/d of γ-T and 12 received placebo (soybean capsules with less than 5 mg/d γ-T) in a double-blinded parallel study design. Fasting pre and post dose blood samples were analysed. Blood γ-T concentrations increased significantly (p<0.05) relative to dose during the intervention period. Both groups receiving active ingredients showed significantly lower platelet activation after supplementation (p<0.05). Subjects consuming 100 mg/d γ-T had significantly decreased LDL cholesterol, platelet aggregation and mean platelet volume (MPV) (p<0.05). Little effect of γ-T was observed on other parameters. Conclusions: These data suggest that γ-T supplementation may have a permissive role in decreasing the risk of thrombotic events by improving lipid profile and reducing platelet activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present-day organizations continue to expose their critical information infrastructures over the Internet for facilitating accessibility; substantially raising concerns about the security of data from both outsiders and insiders. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for detecting intrusive attacks on databases by assessing the risk for incoming transaction based upon the conflation of multiple behavior-based components for the user. In a database intrusion detection system for a role-based access (RBAC) environment, it is not sufficient to focus on role-based features as every user within the same role has a degree of uniqueness. Moreover, traditional database intrusion detection systems classify the incoming transactions into two classes (Malicious or Non-malicious), taking the same action for all transactions that are labeled as malicious irrespective of the damage it can cause to the system. Our approach, Role and User Behavior-based Risk Assessment (RUBRA) uses both role-behavior and user-behavior based features for detecting an intrusive attack. Further, we also quantify the risk associated with the incoming transaction, streamlining the countermeasure process. Experiments on stochastic datasets show promising results on both detection and labeling of malicious transactions. • A robust algorithm for DIDS which assesses risk associated with incoming transaction and selects the response from a suite of countermeasures. • A novel framework for creating user profiles based upon fingerprinting legitimate transactions for a user. • A novel method for agglomeration of different behavioral checks, i.e combining results of the user, role and temporal analysis as one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes is associated with oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation resulting in endothelial dysfunction (ED). This study determined to explore the protective effects of berry-derived anthocyanins (AC) with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in human diabetic endothelial cells upon oxidative and inflammatory stressors. Cultured healthy human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and diabetic human aortic endothelial cells (D-HAEC) exposed to oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 , 75 μM) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL) as an inflammatory inducer before treatment with AC (50 μl/ml). The results from cytotoxicity assays showed that AC had no significant effects in cell viability (P-value < 0.0001), and exposure to H 2 O 2 75 μM had a less toxic effect (P-value < 0.05). Although, AC significantly decreased H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in both HAEC and D-HAEC cell lines (P-value < 0.0001), no positive impact of AC was found on the GSSG/GSH ratios (P-value < 0.05). Exposure to the LPS increased the production of IL-6 in both HAEC and D-HAEC cell lines (P-value < 0.0001), whereas AC treatment reduced LPS‐induced IL‐6 production in both cell lines with a more robust impact on D-HAEC (P-value < 0.0001). While LPS increased inflammasome assembling and caspase-1 activation, AC treatment inhibited caspase-1 activation in D-HAEC (P ≤ 0.05). This study indicated that berry anthocyanins reduced oxidative stress and inflammation via the inhibition of the NF-ƙB signaling pathway, which contributes to mitigating the diabetes-induced up-regulation of NF-ƙB. • T2DM is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation resulting in ED. • Anthocyanins (AC) decreased H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity in both HAEC & D-HAEC. • AC reduced LPS‐induced IL‐6 production in the diabetic endothelial cell line. • AC treatment inhibited LPS‐induced caspase-1 activation in D-HEAC. • AC protected D-HAECs via anti-inflammatory mechanisms to prevent diabetic ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of nanoparticle- and self-assembled nanomaterial-based therapeutics has become a rapidly growing area in the field of nanotechnology. One of the natural compounds, dopamine, presents as a neurotransmitter in the human brain serving as a messenger and deals with the behavioural responses, has provided an ideal platform through self-polymerization under aerobic conditions leading to the formation of a beneficial organic biopolymer, polydopamine (PDA). This polymer provides sufficient reactive functionalities, which can further be use to attach amine- or thiol-containing ligands to obtain conjugates. In the present study, self-polymerized polydopamine nanoparticles have been synthesized and tethered to aminoglycosides (AGs: Gentamicin, Kanamycin and Neomycin) through amino moieties to obtain PDA-AG nanoconjugates. These nanoconjugates are characterized by physicochemical techniques and evaluated for their antimicrobial potency against various bacterial strains including resistant ones. Simultaneously, cytocompatibility was also assessed for PDA-AG nanoconjugates. Of these three nanoconjugates (PDA-Gentamicin, PDA-Kanamycin and PDA-Neomycin), PDA-Kanamycin (PDA-K) nanoconjugate exhibited the highest activity against potent pathogens, least toxicity in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells and intense toxic effects on human glioblastoma (U87) cells. Together, these results advocate the promising potential of these nanoconjugates to be used as potent antimicrobials in future applications. • Polydopamine nanoparticles have been synthesized by oxidative self-polymerization. • Aminoglycoside-conjugation yielded nanoconjugates. • These exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity with high cyto-compatibility. • Nanoconjugates also showed activity against resistant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed at preparing and evaluating levocetirizine (LCZD) loaded emulgel containing tamanu oil and sericin for atopic dermatitis (AD) therapy. The emulgel envisaged topical delivery of LCZD utilising natural antioxidants for superior therapeutic outcomes when compared with other conventional therapy. Tamanu oil based microemulsion (ME) was optimised utilising Box-Behnken design (BBD). The OPT-ME displayed globule size 379.5 ± 2.33 nm, polydispersity index 0.284, drug loading 0.41 ± 0.01% w/w, entrapment efficiency 94.34 ± 2.11% w/w and drug release 86.24 ± 4.90% respectively over a period of 24 h. The optimised formulation (OPT-ME) was further incorporated into sericin gel to form emulgel (LSE). In vivo pharmacodynamic studies revealed enhanced therapeutic potential of emulgel in terms of reduced scratching frequency and erythema score when compared with conventional gel. The superior therapeutic potential was further witnessed through histopathological and biochemical studies. The emulgel can be an alternative appropriate dosage form for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emulsomes are a type of lipid-based nanoparticle that consists of a solid lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer and have shown promise as drug delivery systems for a variety of applications. The major advantageous aspect of employing lipid-based carriers is their ability to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, mandatorily in case of intranasal drug delivery. These structures have portrayed significant ability to encapsulate drug with poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability, further leading to a completely enhanced drug delivery systems for achieving stability and controlled release of drug. The selection of lipid components and their physiochemical properties can be tailored to optimize drug solubility, blood brain barrier permeability, and enhanced targeting. Intranasal drug delivery systems offer several advantages over other routes of administration. Intranasal delivery of drugs can provide rapid and efficient absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing first-pass metabolism in the liver and potentially reducing the risk of systemic side effects. Nasal mucosa comprises of dense network of blood vessels, that allow much enhanced rapid drug absorption and direct systemic delivery once the medication is being insufflated through the nasal route. Emulsomes can be used to encapsulate a wide range of drugs, including hydrophobic compounds that are difficult to formulate using traditional delivery methods. By incorporating targeting ligands or other components into the emulsome structure, it is possible to create formulations that are highly selective for specific tissues or cells. The characterization parameters majorly particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency play a significant role while demonstrating the effectiveness of emulsome formulation and further its nasal route of administration. Therefore, by assessing and evaluating the parameters, researchers could effectively gain insights into the quality, stability, and enhanced therapeutic effects of emulsome drug carrier, leading to impactful information which would help in future intranasal emulsome preparation preparations, optimization and ensuring the overall effectiveness of the drug delivery systems. Short conclusion: This review discusses the idea of emulsomes drug delivery systems, reviews the effectiveness of emulsomes for the delivery of small molecules, and pays particular attention to its structural and formulation design including benefits of intranasal emulsome delivery with recent advancements, stability aspects, and various considerations related to drug delivery and comprising of future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: High fasting blood glucose (FBG) can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Consuming probiotics or synbiotics may improve FBG. A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials was conducted to clarify the effect of probiotic and synbiotic consumption on FBG levels.Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched for relevant studies based on eligibility criteria. Randomized or non-randomized controlled trials which investigated the efficacy of probiotics or synbiotics on the FBG of adults were included. Studies were excluded if they were review articles and study protocols, or if the supplement dosage was not clearly mentioned.Results: A total of fourteen studies (eighteen trials) were included in the analysis. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for the mean difference in FBG. Overall reduction in FBG observed from consumption of probiotics and synbiotics was borderline statistically significant (−0.18 mmol/L 95 % CI −0.37, 0.00; p = 0.05). Neither probiotic nor synbiotic subgroup analysis revealed a significant reduction in FBG. The result of subgroup analysis for baseline FBG level ≥7 mmol/L showed a reduction in FBG of 0.68 mmol/L (−1.07, −0.29; ρ < 0.01), while trials with multiple species of probiotics showed a more pronounced reduction of 0.31 mmol/L (−0.58, −0.03; ρ = 0.03) compared to single species trials.Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that probiotic and synbiotic supplementation may be beneficial in lowering FBG in adults with high baseline FBG (≥7 mmol/L) and that multispecies probiotics may have more impact on FBG than single species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth is a heritage of plants with an abundance of species, many of which are known among us, but many of them are still unknown for us. There are many traditional plants which have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, and Nagkesar (Mesua ferrea Linn) is one of them, which is grown in many countries like India, Indochina, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and many other countries. It is used to treat diseases like bleeding piles, renal disease, dysentery, fever, and asthma, as well as bacterial and fungal infections. It is known for its medicinal properties but has also been used as an ornamental plant since ancient times. It contains active phytoconstituents like steroids, coumarins and their derivatives, terpenoids, xanthones and their derivatives, flavonoids and pyranoxanthones, which act as precursors of other ailments. The goal of this study is to summarise the all-pharmacological activities of Nagkesar as well as some novel uses of Nagkesar. A thorough bibliographic investigation was launched by examining internationally recognized scientific databases such as Cochrane library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google scholar, and several data sets from Herbalist library. We searched several clinical trial databases of the recent past year and previous systematic reviews from 1980-2022. In this review article, all probable pharmacological effects of the Nagkesar plant, as well as the active components responsible for the biological role, are discussed. Nagkesar is important in the treatment of a variety of ailments. Inflammation, bleeding piles, bronchitis, severe infection, fungal growth, diarrhea, and kidney disease are among conditions that can be treated with the Nagkesar plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zadow, EK, Edwards, KH, Kitic, CM, Fell, JW, Adams, MJ, Singh, I, Kundur, A, Johnstone, ANB, Crilly, J, Bulmer, AC, Halson, SL, and, and Wu, SSX. Compression socks reduce running-induced intestinal damage. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2461–2464, 2022—Exercise is associated with a reduction in splanchnic blood flow that leads to the disruption of intestinal epithelium integrity, contributing to exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. Strategies that promote intestinal blood flow during exercise may reduce intestinal damage, which may be advantageous for subsequent recovery and performance. This study aimed to explore if exercise-associated intestinal damage was influenced by wearing compression garments, which may improve central blood flow. Subjects were randomly allocated to wear compression socks (n = 23) or no compression socks (control, n = 23) during a marathon race. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before and immediately after marathon and analyzed for intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP) concentration as a marker of intestinal damage. The magnitude of increase in postmarathon plasma I-FABP concentration was significantly greater in control group (107%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 72–428%) when compared with runners wearing compression socks (38%; 95% CI, 20–120%; p = 0.046; d = 0.59). Wearing compression socks during a marathon run reduced exercise-associated intestinal damage. Compression socks may prove an effective strategy to minimize the intestinal damage component of exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the severity of the current imbalance between blood donor supply and recipient demand, discarded blood drawn from the routine venesections of haemochromatosis (HFE-HH) patients may serve as a valuable alternative source for blood banks and transfusion. We investigated whether functional or biochemical differences existed between HFE-HH and control blood samples, with particular focus upon the haemorheological properties, to investigate the viability of venesected blood being subsequently harvested for blood products. Methods: Blood samples were collected from HFE-HH patients undergoing venesection treatment (n = 19) and healthy volunteers (n = 8). Moreover, a second experiment investigated the effects of a dose-response of iron (0, 40, 80, 320 mM FeCl3) on haemorheology in healthy blood samples (n = 7). Dependent variables included basic haematology, iron status, haematocrit, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation (native and standardised haematocrit) and “aggregability” (RBC tendency to aggregate in a standard aggregating medium; 0.4 L/L haematocrit in a Dx70), and RBC deformability. Results: Indices of RBC deformability were significantly decreased for HFE-HH when compared with healthy controls: RBC deformability was significantly decreased at 1–7 Pa (p < 0.05), and the shear stress required for half maximal deformability was significantly increased (p < 0.05) for HFE-HH. RBC aggregation in plasma was significantly increased (p < 0.001) for HFE-HH, although when RBC were suspended in plasma-free Dx70 no differences were detected. No differences in RBC deformability or RBC aggregation/aggregability were detected when healthy RBC were incubated with varying dose of FeCl3. Conclusion: HFE-HH impairs the haemorheological properties of blood; however, RBC aggregability was similar between HFE-HH and controls when cells were suspended in a plasma-free medium, indicating that plasma factor(s) may explain the altered haemorheology in HFE-HH patients. Acute exposure to elevated iron levels does not appear (in isolation) to account for these differences. Further consideration is required prior to utilising routine venesection blood for harvesting RBC concentrates due to the potential risk of microvascular disorders arising from impaired haemorheology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelet hyperactivity has a crucial role in initiating vascular thrombosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD).Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of anthocyanins (AC) on platelet aggregation and activation and lipid profile.Study Design: A total of 26 healthy participants consumed 320 mg of AC/day in the form of Medox® capsules for 28 days.Setting: This study was conducted in the laboratories of the School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.Participants: A total of 26 randomly recruited healthy 25- to 75-year-old participants completed this study.Primary Outcome Measures: Fasting blood samples were collected pre- and post-the intervention period to perform platelet activation studies by measuring platelet surface marker expression of CD41a and P-selectin, and platelet-monocyte aggregates in adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulated platelets. Platelet aggregation studies were performed by stimulating platelets with various agonists such as ADP, collagen and arachidonic acid. Full blood examination, coagulation and biochemistry profile analyses were also performed pre- and post-intervention. Flow cytometric analysis showed a significant effect of AC on the expression of P-selectin as measured by the platelet surface expression of CD62p.Results: There was a significant reduction of ADP-stimulated platelet aggregation. Hematologic analysis showed a significant reduction of mean platelet volume, mean cell hemoglobin, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration. Coagulation analysis demonstrated significant attenuation of fibrinogen level in the blood.Conclusion: This study showed inhibition of platelet activity, platelet aggregation and mean platelet volume (MPV). These results suggest that AC has a positive impact on attenuating platelet activity, which might minimize thrombotic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilbert's syndrome (GS) individuals have mildly elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) concentrations and are protected against the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although UCB has antioxidant properties, which could delay atherosclerotic plaque development, evidence suggests UCB might also affect haemostasis, subsequently influencing thrombus formation after atherosclerotic plaque rupture. The aim of this study was to reveal the in-vitro effect of UCB on platelet function and haemostatic factors at physiologically relevant concentrations seen in GS. Blood samples were collected from 16 healthy volunteers (mean age 25 ± 5) for full blood examination. A final concentration of approximately 35 ± 4.0 µmol/L of UCB was obtained by adding 1.25 µL of UCB stock solution to 250 µL of sample, to study its effect on platelet aggregation, coagulation and lipid profile. Collagen induced platelet aggregation was significantly inhibited in platelet rich plasma treated with UCB. Coagulation and lipid profile did not change by the in-vitro addition of UCB. These data are the first to show that mildly (but physiologically) elevated UCB inhibits platelet activity in plasma via a mechanism specifically related to collagen induced platelet activation. These findings support a novel mechanism which might further explain protection from CVD by mildly elevated levels of UCB, thus reducing the risk of thrombus formation by inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)-N-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)acetohydrazide (3a-3g), 2-(benzo [d]thiazol-2-ylthio)-N-(2,4′-dioxospiro[indolin-3,2′-thiazolidin)-3′-yl)acetamide (4a-4g) and 2′-((benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)methyl)spiro[indoline-3,5′-thiazolo[4,3-b][1,3,4]oxadiazol]-2-ones (5a-5g) have been synthesized and screened for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial activities. The most potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compound of this series was compound 5d and most potent analgesic compound was compound 5e. Structures of all the compounds were established by elemental and spectral (IR and ¹H NMR) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The extraction of indium(III) and gallium(III) along with the associated metal ions from hydrochloric acid medium by bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) has been studied. The extraction profiles of indium(III) and gallium(III) have been investigated as a function of type and molarity of the acid, nature of organic diluent and concentration of the metal ion and the extractant. The extracting species have been identified as In(OH)R2, Ga(OH)R2 and H+GaCl4·2R. It has been possible to strip In(III) and Ga(III) from the organic phase by appropriate molarity of HCl. Conditions for a number of binary and ternary separations of analytical interest have been optimized. The developed conditions have been extended to recover pure In(III) from sphalerite and galena and Ga(III) from bottom ash and electronic waste. Loading capacity of the extractant was evaluated and the results reveal that Cyanex 272 can hold indium(III) up to one-fifteenth and gallium(III) up to one-twentieth of its molar concentration. The hydrolytic stability and regeneration capacity of the extractant has been assessed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During labor and child delivery, a wide range of drugs are administered. Most of these medications are high-alert medications, which can cause significant harm to the patient due to its inadvertent use. Errors could be caused due to unfamiliarity with safe dosage ranges, confusion between similar looking drugs, mislabeling of drugs, equipment misuse, or malfunction and communication errors. We report a case of inadvertent infusion of a large dose of magnesium sulphate in a pregnant woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global challenge for atherosclerosis. It was hypothesized that a four-week consumption of anthocyanin supplements by MetS patients who had three or more risk factors linked with metabolic syndrome would have a greater improvement in cardiometabolic biomarkers and would also reduce the risk of thrombosis. A total of 55 participants in two groups of Normal healthy and MetS (age 25-75y) were given 320 mg anthocyanin supplements twice daily for 4 weeks. Platelet coagulant activities, lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured before and after supplementation to evaluate the atheroprotective effects of anthocyanins in the study subjects. Four weeks of anthocyanin supplementation significantly decreased cardiometabolic risk factors including the average serum fasting blood glucose (FBG) (by 13.3%, P <.05) and lipid profiles by significant reduction in triglyceride (by 24.9%, P <.05) and LDL-C (by 33.1%, P <.05) in the MetS group. Anthocyanin supplementation also decreased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level (by 28%, P <.05) in females. However, no significant differences in serum UA (uric acid) and HDL-C were observed between anthocyanin pre- and post-treatment in both groups. Moreover, Anthocyanin supplements decreased ADP-induced platelet activation configuration expressed as P-selectin by 40% (P <.05). There was a positive correlation between decreased hs-CRP values and the levels of LDL-C and FBG in the MetS group (P <.05). These results support the hypothesis that anthocyanin supplementation exerts anti-atherogenicity effects by improving cardiometabolic risk factors and reducing thrombogenicity in the MetS population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased platelet activity plays a significant role in the development of arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Natural antioxidants including anthocyanin (AC) have gained considerable interest due to their hypothesized antithrombotic potential.Primary Study Objective: Our study aimed to examine the in vitro effect of AC compounds on platelet activation and aggregation.Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers (n = 13). A full blood examination was done to exclude any abnormal specimen. Flow cytometer assessed platelet activity by recording platelet surface markers expression of P-selectin (CD62P) and PAC-1. Platelet aggregation studies were performed by stimulating platelets using three different agonists adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and arachidonic acid (AA).Setting: The study was done in the school of Medical Sciences, Griffith University.Participants: Thirteen healthy adult participants were involved for blood collection.Intervention: AC was prepared using hemicellulose capsules sourced from Bilberries and Black Currants.Results: Anthocyanin (50 mg/L) significantly inhibited AA-induced platelet aggregation. Expression of P-selectin was significantly suppressed by 50 mg/L AC as measured by flow cytometer.Conclusions: AC attenuates platelet function by suppressing P-selectin expression and influencing Thromboxane A2 pathway (AA stimulation). These results provide further evidence for the effect of AC and the possible mechanism by which AC reduces platelet aggregation and activation. This study supports future human intervention trials to show that AC may act as a complement to other antiplatelet agents in reducing the risk of thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of gamma irradiation on growth and physiology of Euryale ferox was described in the present investigation. E. ferox is an underutilized aquatic food crop that grows in shallow-water bodies in lower Assam regions and north Bihar of India. The seeds of E. ferox were irradiated with different doses of gamma irradiation ranging from 0 to 500 Gy. It was observed that the germination and survival percentage was inhibited by increasing the irradiation dose. However, plants developed from seed exposed to an irradiation dose beyond 100 Gy did not survive more than 1 month. Further growth parameters (leaf size and number, number of thorns, root number and length, and number of flower and seeds) were also compared with respect to non-irradiated plants. Physiological parameters, viz. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intracellular CO2 content was higher in the irradiation population of E. ferox. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were observed low in irradiated population of E. ferox. The proline and glycine betaine content was enhanced with increasing the irradiation dose. The present investigation explores the potential use of gamma rays in genetic improvement of E. ferox and improves understanding of the physiological responses inflicted by gamma irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an independent precipitating factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in patients with diabetes, mainly due to macrovascular complications, such as atherosclerosis. Although aspirin is a frequently used therapy for the inhibition of platelet hyperactivity, many studies suggest that aspirin resistance is rising. Objective • The study intended to investigate the benefits of anthocyanin (AC) as an antioxidant with inhibitory effects on platelets and, consequently, its potential usefulness as complementary antiplatelet therapy to attenuate the negative effects of atherosclerosis and CVD in patients with diabetes. Design • The research team performed a literature review. The team conducted a database search from 2007 to 2017 using Library of Congress, LISTA, PubMed, and Web of Science Core Collection databases, using the following keywords: anthocyanins, platelet, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Setting • The study took place at the School of Medical Sciences at Griffith University's Gold Coast campus (Southport, Australia). Results • Platelets have a major pathophysiological role of atherosclerosis and consequently CVD in diabetes. Antiplatelet drugs have a potent inhibitory effect of thrombotic and CVD risks in diabetes. Dietary antioxidants including ACs have a potential platelet inhibitory effect. Hence, ACs may act as complementary therapy to reduce CVD in diabetes. Conclusions • Although antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin provide significant action in the management of CVD, aspirin has limited benefits in diabetes. An AC antioxidant has a potential effect as an antiplatelet agent that subsequently can prevent atherosclerosis and CVD and, therefore, AC may be an alternative to other antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin. However, more interventional studies and large-scale clinical trials are necessary to prove the efficiency of AC as an alternative to other platelet-inhibitory drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilbert’s syndrome (GS) is associated with a mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, increased circulating antioxidant capacity, and reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The current study investigated whether mildly elevated circulating unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) is negatively associated with multiple thrombotic risk factors including platelet activity, hemostatic function, and inflammation in individuals with GS. Blood samples were collected from matched GS and control subjects (14 per group). Activation-dependent platelet surface marker expression of PAC-1 (binds to GPIIb/IIIa surface receptors on activated platelets) and CD62P (marker for P-selectin released from activated degranulated platelets) was assessed in adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated platelets using flow cytometry. Exogenous agonists, ADP, collagen, and arachidonic acid (AA), were used to stimulate platelet aggregation. A statistically significant decrease in the expression of P-selectin (P= 0.030) on activated platelets was observed in GS subjects. Collagen and AA-induced platelet aggregation were significantly (P =0.018;P= 0.032 for respective agonists) reduced in GS versus control group. Elevated UCB (P= 0.001) and high density lipoprotein (P= 0.033) in addition to reduced low density lipoprotein (P= 0.024) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (P =0.043) were also observed in GS when compared to the control group. Reduced P-selectin expression suggests decreased platelet activation-dependent degranulation, while reduced platelet aggregation by AA and collagen indicates a quantitative decrease in platelet aggregation consequently targeting the cyclooxygenase-1 and GP VI pathways, respectively. These findings are the first to demonstrate that the activation of platelets is mildly inhibited in individuals with GS, an effect that might contribute to protection from platelet hyperactivation-induced thrombosis and thus cardiovascular mortality in individuals with benign hyperbilirubinemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most commonly identified chronic illnesses in many countries is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM denotes an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart disease is one of the causes of mortality in patients with diabetes, mainly due to the macrovascular complications. One of these macrovascular complications in diabetes is atherosclerosis, which involves a complicated pathophysiological process. Besides hyperglycemia, oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its associated risk of CVD. There are many other factors including molecular, metabolic, lipid, fibrinolytic, and platelet function disorders precipitate to thrombotic and CVD risks in T2DM. Also, Platelets have an increased response to procoagulants in patients with diabetes. Platelet hyperactivity, in the presence of oxidative stress, has a major effect on the progression of thrombotic and CVD events. This review will discuss the impact of the above factors and the potential effects of platelet hyperactivity on thrombotic and cardiovascular risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Heavy vehicle transport workers have a high risk of obesity and obesity-related disorders including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sedentary nature of their work makes a healthy work and lifestyle balance difficult to achieve. Educational interventions that promote behavioral changes have been shown to be effective in various group settings. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors among a population of urban bus drivers; to deliver a 3-month educational intervention specifically tailored for the workplace environment of transport workers; and to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention through quantitative measurements and qualitative feedback.Material and Methods: Thirty-three bus drivers from depots in south Queensland were recruited for the study. Baseline metabolic data were collected through anthropometric measurements, blood collection and diet/lifestyle questionnaires. Metabolic risk factors that were analyzed included: waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, blood triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Three interactive seminars were delivered over a 3-month period. At the end of the period, data collection was repeated.Results: At the commencement of the study, 35% of the participants exhibited ≥ 3 of the metabolic risk factors that characterize metabolic syndrome. This is higher than the reported prevalence in the general Australian population (22.1%). A total 21 of the 33 participants remained committed to the intervention and provided pre and post intervention data. Of these, 28% (N = 6) showed a decrease in one or more of the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. There was a significant increase in the average HDL-C after the intervention. Qualitative feedback indicated that the workers benefited from the program, especially regarding their awareness of the risks associated with their profession.Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that lifestyle education seminars specifically tailored for the workplace can have an impact on the health behaviors of transport workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The extraction of Ga(III) from HCl, HNO3 and H2SO4 media using 0.50 mol/L Cyanex 923 in toluene is investigated. Ga(III) is quantitatively extracted over a wide range of HCl at high concentration while the extraction is poor over the entire concentration range of HNO3 and H2SO4. The extracted Ga(III) is recovered by stripping with 0.10 mol/L HCl. The extracted species is identified as GaCl3.3Cyanex 923. The extraction behaviour of some commonly associated metal ions is also investigated. Based on the partition data, conditions have been identified for attaining some binary and ternary separations involving Ga(III) and V(IV), Al(III), Fe(III), In(III), Ti(IV), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II). The conditions are extended for the recovery of pure gallium from light emitting diode (LED) waste and bottom ash. The extractant is stable towards prolonged acid contact and there is a negligible loss in its extraction efficiency even after recycling ten times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A mutation (C677T) in the gene,MTHFR, is known to increase susceptibility to various multifactorial disorders. In order to assess thissingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as risk factor for idiopathic male infertility, a case–control study was done on an Indian population. DNA from 151 cases of non-obstruction, idiopathic oligo-/azoospermia and 200 fertile males (controls) was polymerase chain reaction amplified using site-specific primers, and analysed for the mutation followingHinfI-digestion. Our results show a significantly increased frequency of CT heterozygotes among infertile patients (pvalue<0.04). More importantly, while there were no T homozygotes in the control population, six of 151 infertile cases were T homozygous. Considering that T allele occurs in very low frequency in the control population, 677T is clearly a risk factor for infertility in the Indian population. We contend that the same could also be true for African and Southeast Asian populations where the frequency of 677T is very low. The lack of similar association in western populations could be because of the overall dietary enrichment of folates, which could nullify or minimize the effect of this polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]