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Emerging adults facing chronic socioeconomic stress, especially depression, lack comprehensive research on resilience factors. This study analyzed digital diary entries (n = 338) from 57 individuals aged 18–24 in a South African township from July 2021 to April 2022. Participants highlighted relational, community, and cultural supports regardless of risk levels. Both high and low-risk groups faced challenges like financial instability, limited education, health threats, and lawlessness. However, institutional resource scarcity disproportionately affected higher-risk individuals, worsening issues like infrastructure deficits and violence exposure. Family and peer support emerged as crucial, especially for higher-risk participants. Individuals living in higher risk emphasized collective action and stranger support during infrastructure failures. These findings suggest that greater risk exposure may reinforce reliance on traditional, community-focused coping mechanisms, indicating the importance of studying differential resilience factors among young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In light of the COVID-19 (Coronovirus Disease 2019) pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment has become essential to reduce viral transmission and maintain public health. Viruses, particularly human coronavirus and influenza, pose significant challenges because of their various transmission routes. UMF Corporation's innovation, Micrillon, aims to address these challenges by creating durable, antiviral technology for textiles without harmful chemicals, reducing viral transmission risks. Materials and Methods The study followed ISO Standard 18184:2019, testing Micrillon textiles against Human Coronavirus OC43 and H1N1 Influenza A virus using MDCK and HCT-8 cell lines. Cell propagation, viral application, TCID50 (Median Tissue Culture Infectious Dose) testing, and maintenance protocols were rigorously implemented to assess antiviral efficacy. Results Micrillon gloves, fabrics, and fibers exhibited high antiviral efficacy against both viruses across various contact times. Gloves demonstrated exceptional antiviral activity against H1N1 (99.88%) and OC43 (99.67%) at 120 minutes. Rolled fabrics showed strong efficacy against H1N1 (99.42% at 30 minutes) and OC43 (>97%) at all time points. Bundled fibers displayed substantial efficacy against H1N1 (99.17% at 120 minutes) and OC43 (>98%) at all time points. Conclusions The study demonstrates that Micrillon technology effectively inhibits viral activity, particularly in gloves, fabrics, and fibers. The innovation not only shows high antiviral efficacy against both Human Coronavirus and Influenza but also promises a reusable, sustainable solution, mitigating environmental impact and reducing the use of harmful chemicals in personal protective equipment. The technology holds promise for widespread use in health care and hospitality, offering a layer of protection while being environmentally conscious. Further development of such technologies can significantly reduce infection risks while minimizing environmental harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several protective factors have been identified for mental health (MH) resilience in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. However, it is unclear if these effects persist into adulthood. Methods: Depressed parents and their offspring (N = 188) from the Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression study were assessed four times (mean offspring ages 12.39, 13.77, 14.82, and 23.41). Mental health resilience was examined using residual scores (better‐than‐expected mood‐, behaviour‐, or anxiety‐related MH at mean age 23 given risk exposure), and categorically as sustained good MH across adolescence and young adulthood. Results: Only 9.2% of young adults demonstrated sustained good MH. Parents of resilient individuals showed lower comorbidity (anxiety, antisocial behaviour and harmful drinking) and higher depression remission. Considering adolescent protective factors, weak evidence was observed of associations of mood‐resilience with adolescent peer‐relationship quality (β = −0.20, 95%CI:−0.36, −0.04); friendship quality (β = −0.14, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02); risk adjustment (β = −0.16, 95%CI:‐0.34, 0.03) and dysfunctional attitudes (β = 0.18, 95%CI:0.01, 0.35). There was weak evidence of behavioural‐resilience association with parent positive expressed emotion (β = −0.15, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02) and offspring exercise (β = −0.37, 95%CI:−0.77, 0.03). No adolescent protective factors showed an association with anxiety‐resilience. For sustained good MH, there was weak evidence of an association with inhibitory control (OR = 0.39, 95%CI:0.14, 1.07). Strong evidence was observed for associations between young adult‐reported peer relationship quality and mood‐resilience (β = −0.35, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.17), behavioural‐resilience (β = −0.33, 95%CI:−0.51, −0.14) and anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.34, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.14), while weak evidence was observed of an association of social activities with anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.51, 95%CI:−0.97, −0.06). Conclusions: We found limited evidence for the long‐lasting effects of adolescent protective factors on adult MH resilience. Social factors remained protective into young adulthood, while family factors did not. Early preventative intervention might not be sufficient to maintain good long‐term MH, and young people will likely require more prolonged support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels and can lead to various serious complications. To this day, DM remains one of the highest noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Indonesia, including in Papua, particularly in Sumberker District, Biak Numfor Regency. Identifying the factors influencing the incidence of DM is crucial for the prevention and management of this disease. This study aims to analyze the risk and protective factors influencing the incidence of DM using a multiple linear regression analysis model. In this research, data were collected from a population of patients diagnosed with DM and a healthy control population in Sumberker District, with 35 cases and 35 controls selected from each population. The dependent variable in this study is DM, while the independent variables consist of 2 risk factors (stress level; packaged drinks) and 2 protective factors (vegetable consumption; fruit consumption). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors contributing to the incidence of DM, both as risk and protective factors in unit measurement. The study found that stress level contributes 1.99 units (P Value= 0.025); packaged drinks 7.47 units (P Value =0.000); vegetable consumption -5.71 units (P Value= 0.03); and fruit consumption -4.90 units (P Value=0.004). The conclusion indicates that stress level and packaged drinks are statistically significant risk factors for DM, while regular consumption of vegetables and fruits has the potential to be statistically significant protective factors against DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the synthesis of a hydrophobic protective coating for concrete based on a silane derivative of fatty acids. The coating was obtained through a thiol-ene click addition reaction using methyl oleate and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of the photoinitiator 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA). This reaction proved to be more efficient compared with other tested (photo)initiators, considering the double bond conversion of oleate. The coating was applied to concrete using two methods: immersion and brushing. Both methods exhibited similar consumption of methyl oleate-based silane (UVMeS) at approximately 20 g/m2. The hydrophobic properties of the coatings were evaluated based on the contact angle, which for the modified surfaces was above 93°, indicating their hydrophobic nature. The penetration depth of the silane solution into the concrete was also studied; it was 5–7 mm for the immersion method and 3–5 mm for the brushing method. The addition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) to the silane solution slightly improved the barrier properties of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sterile α and Toll/IL-1 receptor motif-containing 1 (SARM1) is a central regulator of programmed axon death and a crucial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) hydrolase (NADase) in mammalian tissues, hydrolyzing NAD+ and playing an important role in cellular NAD+ recycling. Abnormal SARM1 expression is linked to axon degeneration, which causes disability and disease progression in many neurodegenerative disorders of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Methods: In this study, we use PC6 assay of hydrolase activity, DRG axon regeneration and CIPN model to screen for potent SARM1 Inhibitors. Results: Two novel SARM1 inhibitors (compound 174 and 331P1) are charcterized for its high potency for SARM1 NADase. In a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) myopathy model, compound 331P1 treatment prevented the decline in neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels caused by axonal injury in a dose-dependent manner, associated with elevated intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) intensity in mouse foot paw tissue, suggesting its functionality in reversing axon degeneration. Conclusions: The newly designed SARM1 inhibitor 331P1 is a promising candidate due to its excellent in vivo efficacy, favorable CYP inhibition properties, and attractive safety profiles. The 331P1 compound possesses the potential to be developed as a novel neuroprotective therapy that can prevent or halt the neurodegenerative process in CIPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serratiopeptidase is a zinc-containing metalloprotease primarily obtained from Serratia marcescens isolated from the silkworm guts. This study aimed to assess the antinociceptive, anti inflammatory, and antipyretic effects of serratiopeptidase in hen chicks. It included 104 hen chicks weighing 70-90 g. The antinociception efficacy was assessed by electricalstimulation and hot water test. Anti-inflammatory efficacy was assessed by formalin test. Assessment of therapeutic and antipyretic efficacy was determined by Baker’s yeast-induced pyrexia test. In the electrical stimulation test, 20 and 40 mg/kg of serratiopeptidase induced an antinociceptive effect in 15% and 18%, respectively. In the hot-water test, this effect was observed in 31 and 82%, respectively. In the first phase of the formalin test, an antinociceptive effect was observed for both doses, whereas in the second stage, an anti-inflammatory effect was observed in 56% and 62%, respectively. Serratiopeptidase produced a novel antipyretic effect for both doses on the Baker’s-yeast test, pre- and post-injection of the yeast. It was concluded that serratiopeptidase had good activity against pain and acute inflammation, and for the first time, it was demonstrated that serratiopeptidase ameliorated and prevented hyperthermia.

Protein-polysaccharide emulsion hydrogel, as an encapsulation system of active substances, has the advantages of high loading capacity, biocompatibility and stability. In this work, Spirulina protein isolate (SPI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were used as emulsifier and gel matrix to prepare SPI emulsions, SPI-HA emulsions, and emulsion hydrogels with various oil phase volume fractions. The microstructure and droplet sizes of the emulsions were characterized. The effect of oil phase volume fractions on the formation of emulsion hydrogel was analyzed, and the protective effect of emulsion hydrogel on β-carotene under high temperature was studied. The results showed that the droplet sizes of SPI emulsion decreased obviously with the introduction of HA. The structure of emulsion hydrogel became much denser with the increase of oil phase volume fraction. When the oil phase volume fraction was 60%, the yield stress, storage modulus and apparent viscosity of emulsion hydrogel were higher than those of SPI emulsion and SPI-HA emulsion. The retention rate of β-carotene after storage at 70°C and 8 h was as high as (78.83 ± 2. 75)%. In summary, SPI-HA emulsion hydrogels had good application in the field of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have proposed that Helicobacter pylori infection may possess a protective effect in terms of future risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), however is poorly evidenced. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain the pooled results regarding the prevalence of H. pylori infection in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and healthy controls. A comprehensive database search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and medRxiv for all relevant literature published from the inception of the databases until the August 1, 2022. The retrieved articles were first screened by title and abstract, followed by full-text screening based on the pre-established eligibility criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Data on the seroprevalence of H. pylori in pwMS and healthy controls was extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed in Review Manager Version 5.4.1. Sub-group analysis was performed in accordance with the geographical distribution (Eastern and Western countries) and the method of detection of H. pylori infection enzyme-linked-immunoassay (ELISA), Immunofluorescence, Immunochromatography). Furthermore, sensitivity analyses and publication bias were determined. The preliminary database search retrieved a total of 822 studies. Seventeen case–control studies with a total of 2721 pwMS and 2245 controls were included as a final sample size for the meta-analysis. The overall risk of bias was moderate. Overall, the rate of H. pylori infection in pwMS was not significantly different than in healthy controls (OR: 0.79 (95% CI = 0.58–1.08); I2 = 79%, p = 0.14). Subgroup analysis revealed that the rate of H. pylori infection among PwMS was not significant in both Eastern and Western countries (OR: 0.75 (95% CI = 0.52–1.08); I2 = 81%, p = 0.12). In contrast, data revealed that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in pwMS was significantly lower than that of control based on studies utilizing ELISA assays detection (OR: 0.71 (95% CI = 0.50–1.00); I2 = 81%, p = 0.05), while no significant difference was seen on studies using other assays than ELISA (OR: 1.19 (95% CI = 0.81–1.77); I2 = 0%, p = 0.38). Our findings of statistically indifferent prevalence of H. pylori infection as compared between pwMS and healthy controls suggested the absence of protective effect for risk of MS following H. pylori infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the therapeutic effects of EDTA application for 14 and 28 days on cadmium (Cd) induced pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758). The sublethal concentration of cadmium (63.4 mg/l Cd) caused tissue damages to the snail after an exposure for 28 days. In the groups treated with EDTA, the concentration of Cd in the foot, mantle and hepatopancreas tissues showed significantly decreased during the recovery period. The curative effects of EDTA on Cd-induced damage were assessed using a scoring system. Cadmium exposure led to histopathological changes including increased mucositis, pigment and protein cells, foot epithelium desquamation, muscle fibril damage, connective tissue cell atrophy, and increased lipid vacuoles in the mantle and hepatopancreas. However, these changes were less severe in snails treated with EDTA (2.00 mL/L for 28 day), indicating that EDTA reduces their susceptibility to heavy metal toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damping and energy-consuming elements can be found in many technical applications. This means these component types can prevent fractures or injuries in the case of products or people, respectively. In the last time, many modern applications and inventions associated with the reduction of the effects of an impact are observed especially in the mode of transportation safety area. The significant development of the automotive industry, increasing popularity of motorbikes, electric bikes and scooters, sports field, etc., require new solutions for personal safety protection. Human head and neck protection, and other body parts protection are typical groups of solutions from biomechanics and mechanical engineering. Authors have investigated LDPE-made pneumatic absorbers under axial impact force. Based on the experimental approach and analytical model, mechanical characteristics are presented. Impact force value, deceleration and damping for different loading conditions are shown. Because safety systems' impact protective features can be matched to impact conditions, results indicated that absorber damping could possibly be a good solution for them, shaping the impact characteristics according to safety requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our skin serves as the primary barrier against external environmental insults, the latter of which can cause oxidative stress within cells, while various bioactive peptides sourced from natural resources hold promise in protecting cells against such oxidative stress. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of a low molecular weight extract from the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus, denoted as Sample-P, in facilitating cell migration and wound healing under oxidative stress conditions in skin cells. The naturally derived compound is a highly complex mix of peptides exhibiting antioxidative properties, as highlighted through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry peptide screening and an in vitro antioxidant assay. Our results demonstrate that Sample-P is capable of promoting cell migration while preventing severe stress responses such as visible through mTOR expression. To further identify the molecular pathways underpinning the overall protective mechanism of Sample-P, we have utilised a proteomics approach. Our data reveal that Sample-P regulates protein expression associated with ribosomal pathways, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which help in preserving DNA integrity and safeguarding cellular organelles, such as mitochondria and the ER, under oxidative stress conditions in skin cells. In summary, in the presence of H2O2, Sample-P exhibits antioxidative properties at both molecular and cellular levels, rendering it a promising candidate for topical skin treatment to wound healing and to address age-related skin conditions.

Abstract Background Several protective factors have been identified for mental health (MH) resilience in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. However, it is unclear if these effects persist into adulthood. Methods Depressed parents and their offspring (N = 188) from the Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression study were assessed four times (mean offspring ages 12.39, 13.77, 14.82, and 23.41). Mental health resilience was examined using residual scores (better‐than‐expected mood‐, behaviour‐, or anxiety‐related MH at mean age 23 given risk exposure), and categorically as sustained good MH across adolescence and young adulthood. Results Only 9.2% of young adults demonstrated sustained good MH. Parents of resilient individuals showed lower comorbidity (anxiety, antisocial behaviour and harmful drinking) and higher depression remission. Considering adolescent protective factors, weak evidence was observed of associations of mood‐resilience with adolescent peer‐relationship quality (β = −0.20, 95%CI:−0.36, −0.04); friendship quality (β = −0.14, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02); risk adjustment (β = −0.16, 95%CI:‐0.34, 0.03) and dysfunctional attitudes (β = 0.18, 95%CI:0.01, 0.35). There was weak evidence of behavioural‐resilience association with parent positive expressed emotion (β = −0.15, 95%CI:−0.31, 0.02) and offspring exercise (β = −0.37, 95%CI:−0.77, 0.03). No adolescent protective factors showed an association with anxiety‐resilience. For sustained good MH, there was weak evidence of an association with inhibitory control (OR = 0.39, 95%CI:0.14, 1.07). Strong evidence was observed for associations between young adult‐reported peer relationship quality and mood‐resilience (β = −0.35, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.17), behavioural‐resilience (β = −0.33, 95%CI:−0.51, −0.14) and anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.34, 95%CI:−0.53, −0.14), while weak evidence was observed of an association of social activities with anxiety‐resilience (β = −0.51, 95%CI:−0.97, −0.06). Conclusions We found limited evidence for the long‐lasting effects of adolescent protective factors on adult MH resilience. Social factors remained protective into young adulthood, while family factors did not. Early preventative intervention might not be sufficient to maintain good long‐term MH, and young people will likely require more prolonged support.

Abstract Nursing leadership continue to grapple with the pre‐existing social, physical, spiritual, and emotional toll experienced by the nursing workforce, further exacerbated by the pandemic. The three‐fold purpose of this current quantitative study was to measure the impact of the pandemic on nurses’ levels of burnout, moral injury, and resilience; measure levels of compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress; and identify protective factors against burnout and moral injury that could bolster resilience. An electronic survey was created using three validated instruments and sent to nurses in one US state. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Survey response rate was 5.5%. Respondents reported high levels of burnout and moral injury, and reduced levels of resilience. Protective factors included age, experience, education, and religion, with the older, more experienced, and educated nurse who identified as Christian being found to represent the most protected group. Multipronged strategies are needed to support, sustain, and recover nurses’ mental health across demographics to meet current and future workforce needs.

We have much to learn from other living organisms when it comes to engineering strategies to combat bacterial infections. This study describes the fabrication of cicada wing-inspired nanotopography on commercially pure (CP) nitrile sheets and nitrile gloves for medical use using the reactive ion etching (RIE) technique. Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa was tested using two different surface morphologies. It was observed that the etched nitrile surfaces effectively minimized bacterial colonization by inducing membrane damage. Our findings demonstrate a single-step dry etching method for creating mechanobactericidal topographies on nitrile-based surfaces. These findings have utility in designing next-generation personal protective gear in the clinical setting and for many other important applications in the age of antimicrobial resistance.

Although social influences have been identified that protect against the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior, there has been no prior research on biological protective factors. This study examines whether high resting heart rate may be one such factor. Resting heart rate was measured in 405 children of parents from a birth cohort, together with antisocial behavior in both the parent and the child. Children who were not antisocial, but had a parent high on antisocial behavior, had higher resting heart rates than all three other parent–child antisocial behavior groupings. Results withstood control for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, and psychosocial adversity. Robustness checks confirmed these results. Findings are the first to identify a biological protective factor against the intergenerational transmission of childhood antisocial behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead and cadmium are foodborne contaminants that threaten human and animal health. It is well known that lead and cadmium produce hepatotoxicity; however, defense mechanisms against the co-toxic effects of lead and cadmium remain unknown. We investigated the mechanism of autophagy (defense mechanism) against the co-induced toxicity of lead and cadmium in rat hepatocytes (BRL-3A cells). Cultured rat liver BRL-3A cell lines were co-cultured with 10, 20, 40 μM lead and 2.5, 5, 10 μM cadmium alone and in co-culture for 12 h and exposed to 5 mM 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), 10 μM rapamycin (Rapa), and 50 nM Beclin1 siRNA to induce cellular autophagy. Our results show that treatment of BRL-3A cells with lead and cadmium significantly decreased the cell viability, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential levels, and induced apoptosis, which are factors leading to liver injury, and cell damage was exacerbated by co-exposure to lead–cadmium. In addition, the results showed that lead and cadmium co-treatment induced autophagy. We further observed that the suppression of autophagy with 3-MA or Beclin1 siRNA promoted lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis, whereas enhancement of autophagy with Rapa suppressed lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrated that co-treatment with lead and cadmium induces apoptosis in BRL-3A cells. Interestingly, the activation of autophagy provides cells with a self-protective mechanism against induced apoptosis. This study provides insights into the role of autophagy in lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis, which may be beneficial for the treatment of lead–cadmium-induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether neoadjuvant chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) induces secondary cancers is controversial. This retrospective cohort study describes the incidence of secondary cancers in LARC patients. We compared 364 LARC patients who received conventional (50.4 Gy) or short course neoadjuvant radiation (25 Gy x 5 fractions) followed by resection to 142 patients with surgically resected rectal cancer who did not receive radiation at a single institution from 2004 to 2018. Secondary cancer was defined as any nonmetastatic noncolorectal malignancy diagnosed via biopsy or definitive imaging criteria at least 6 mo after completion of neoadjuvant therapy or after resection in the comparison group. Among the neoadjuvant radiation group (364 patients, 40% female, age 61 ± 13 y), 32 patients developed 34 (9.3%) secondary cancers. Three cases involved a pelvic organ. Among the comparison group (142 patients, 39% female, age 64 ± 15 y), 15 patients (10.6%) developed a secondary cancer. Five cases involved pelvic organs. Secondary cancer incidence did not differ between groups. Latency period to secondary cancer diagnosis was 6.7 ± 4.3 y. Patients who received radiation underwent longer median follow-up (6.8 versus 4.5 y, P < 0.01) and were significantly less likely to develop a pelvic organ cancer (odds ratio 0.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.83; P = 0.02). No genetic mutations or cancer syndromes were identified among patients with secondary cancers. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is not associated with increased secondary cancer risk in LARC patients and may have a local protective effect on pelvic organs, especially prostate. Ongoing follow-up is critical to continue risk assessment. • Rectal radiation does not increase secondary cancer risk over a 7-y follow-up. • Secondary pelvic cancers, that is prostate, are less likely after rectal radiation. • Rectal radiation may have a local protective effect. • Ongoing follow-up is key to understanding long-term radiation risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic use is a significant risk factor associated with Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) infection (CDI). Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection leading to hospital admission and the use of antibiotics that are highly associated with CDI. It has been proposed that doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, may be protective against CDI. A retrospective analysis was conducted in hospitalized patients in Veterans Affairs Hospitals across the United States to determine if doxycycline was associated with a decreased risk of CDI. The primary outcome was the development of CDI within 30 days of initiation of doxycycline or azithromycin, as part of a standard pneumonia regimen. Approximately 156,107 hospitalized patients who received care at a Veterans Affairs Hospital and were diagnosed with CAP during the study timeframe were included. A 17% decreased risk of CDI was identified with doxycycline compared to azithromycin when used with ceftriaxone for the treatment of pneumonia (P =.03). In patients who had a prior history of CDI, doxycycline decreased the incidence of CDI by 45% (odds ratio 0.55; P =.02). Doxycycline is associated with a lower risk of CDI compared to azithromycin when used for atypical coverage in CAP. Thus, patients who are at such risk may benefit from doxycycline as a first-line agent for atypical coverage, rather than the use of a macrolide antibiotic, if Legionella is not of concern. • Doxycycline is associated with a 17% lower risk of CDI compared to azithromycin. • If prior CDI, doxycycline decreased the incidence of CDI by 45%. • If no concern for legionella, doxycycline may be preferred for atypical coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paracetamol (PCM) overdosing induces hepatotoxicity, which can result in death if the dose is high enough and the patients are not given N-acetyl cysteine. Berberine (BBR) has a variety of biological proprieties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Aim: Assessment of the potential effect of BBR and selenium when used alone or together on the paracetamol–induced acute hepatic toxicity in rats. Methods: This research involved 40 clinically healthy mature adult male albino rats, their weights ranged from 150-200 g and housed in standard conditions. Our study involved evaluating the potential effect of BBR and selenium when used alone or together on the paracetamol–induced acute hepatic toxicity via estimation of the liver function tests, determination of the antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation markers, immune-modulatory effects, liver histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Results: Co-treatment of BBR (150 mg/kg BW) with selenium (5 mg/kg BW) showed significant improvement in the liver function parameters, the antioxidant enzyme activities, reduction in the nitric oxide, lysozyme, malondialdehyde, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels, and marked elevation in the IgM levels. Conclusion: Altogether, BBR, Selenium or both augment antioxidant activity and alleviate the paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(1.000): 292-303]

Background: Sterile α and Toll/IL-1 receptor motif-containing 1 (SARM1) is a central regulator of programmed axon death and a crucial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) hydrolase (NADase) in mammalian tissues, hydrolyzing NAD+ and playing an important role in cellular NAD+ recycling. Abnormal SARM1 expression is linked to axon degeneration, which causes disability and disease progression in many neurodegenerative disorders of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Methods: In this study, we use PC6 assay of hydrolase activity, DRG axon regeneration and CIPN model to screen for potent SARM1 Inhibitors. Results: Two novel SARM1 inhibitors (compound 174 and 331P1) are charcterized for its high potency for SARM1 NADase. In a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) myopathy model, compound 331P1 treatment prevented the decline in neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels caused by axonal injury in a dose-dependent manner, associated with elevated intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) intensity in mouse foot paw tissue, suggesting its functionality in reversing axon degeneration. Conclusions: The newly designed SARM1 inhibitor 331P1 is a promising candidate due to its excellent in vivo efficacy, favorable CYP inhibition properties, and attractive safety profiles. The 331P1 compound possesses the potential to be developed as a novel neuroprotective therapy that can prevent or halt the neurodegenerative process in CIPN.

This article describes the synthesis of a hydrophobic protective coating for concrete based on a silane derivative of fatty acids. The coating was obtained through a thiol-ene click addition reaction using methyl oleate and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of the photoinitiator 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA). This reaction proved to be more efficient compared with other tested (photo)initiators, considering the double bond conversion of oleate. The coating was applied to concrete using two methods: immersion and brushing. Both methods exhibited similar consumption of methyl oleate-based silane (UVMeS) at approximately 20 g/m2. The hydrophobic properties of the coatings were evaluated based on the contact angle, which for the modified surfaces was above 93°, indicating their hydrophobic nature. The penetration depth of the silane solution into the concrete was also studied; it was 5–7 mm for the immersion method and 3–5 mm for the brushing method. The addition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) to the silane solution slightly improved the barrier properties of the coating.

It is unclear if protective childhood experiences (PCEs), like emotional support and economic stability, exert influence on adulthood adjustment. Prior research suggests PCEs can promote childhood resilience through increased social connection. In contrast, research has demonstrated potential life-long negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on psychological health. This study examined the role of PCEs and ACEs in psychological symptoms following potentially traumatic events (PTE) in adults. Participants (N = 128) were adults admitted to two Level 1 Trauma Centers following violence, motor-vehicle crashes, or other accidents. Participants reported childhood experiences and completed assessments of depression, PTSD, and social support at one, four, and nine months post-PTE. Structural Equation Modeling was used to simultaneously model PCEs and ACEs as predictors of psychological symptoms over time, with potential mediation through social support. PCEs overall did not directly affect psychological symptoms nor indirectly through social support. However, the emotional support component of PCEs had an indirect effect on psychological symptoms at baseline through social support. ACEs predicted greater psychological symptoms at baseline and over time. PCEs consisting of childhood emotional support indirectly promote adjustment in adults after PTEs through initial social support, while ACEs exert direct effects on psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paracetamol (PCM) overdosing induces hepatotoxicity, which can result in death if the dose is high enough and the patients are not given N-acetyl cysteine. Berberine (BBR) has a variety of biological proprieties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Aim: Assessment of the potential effect of BBR and selenium when used alone or together on the PCM–induced acute hepatic toxicity in rats. Methods: This research involved 40 clinically healthy mature adult male albino rats, their weights ranged from 150 to 200 g and housed in standard conditions. Our study involved evaluating the potential effect of BBR and selenium when used alone or together on the PCM–induced acute hepatic toxicity via estimation of the liver function tests, determination of the antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation markers, immune-modulatory effects, liver histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies. Results: Co-treatment of BBR (150 mg/kg BW) with selenium (5 mg/kg BW) showed significant improvement in the liver function parameters, the antioxidant enzyme activities, reduction in the nitric oxide (NO), lysozyme, malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels, and marked elevation in the IgM levels. Conclusion: Altogether, BBR, selenium, or both augment antioxidant activity and alleviate PCM-induced hepatic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the protective effect of camellia oil against H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury in rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Methods: CCK8 method was used to detect the cell survival rate of H9C2 cardiomyocytes treated with different concentrations of H2O2. Normal cultured cells were used as the blank control group, and the cells were treated with 200 μmol/L H2O2 for 24 h. An oxidative stress injury model was constructed as the model group. The cells were pretreated with 1%, 0.1% and 0.01% camellia oil for 24 h, and then H2O2 was added for 24 h as the experimental group. The β-galactosidase senescence staining assay, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, EdU cell proliferation staining assay and scratch assay were used to observe the changes of cell senescence, mitochondrial membrane potential, proliferation, apoptosis and migration in each group. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the cells in each group were detected by using the kit. Results: The cell viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes treated with different concentrations of H2O2 was inhibited and positively correlated with the concentration of H2O2 (P<0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the positive rate of cell senescence, MDA content and LDH activity increased in the H2O2 model group (P<0.01); mitochondrial membrane potential, cellular value-added rate, migration rate and SOD activity decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the H2O2 model group, the positive rate of cellular senescence (P<0.01 or P<0.05), MDA content and LDH activity decreased (P< 0.01 or P<0.05); mitochondrial membrane potential increased, cell proliferation rate and migration rate increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the experimental group. Conclusion: Camellia oil can significantly inhibit oxidative stress injury in H9C2 cells and exert cardiomyocyte protective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica is one of the crops sensitive to low copper supply, leading to Alternaria blight. The present study reflects the synthesis of myco-derived copper oxide (M-CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Trichoderma asperellum and investigates their effect against Alternaria blight of Brassica in two soil types, alluvial and calcareous. Foliar applications of different treatments were used to treat plants: T1 (mancozeb@0.2%), T2 (propiconazole@0.05%), T3 (T. asperellum filtrate), T4 (M-CuO NPs), T5 chemically synthesized (C-CuO NPs), and T6 bulk phase (BP-CuO @25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm) of each in twice such as protectant and curative method under pot experiments. M-CuO NPs in two protective sprays exhibit up to 75% disease suppression in alluvial soil, compared to 68.9% suppression in curative spray at 200 ppm. Maximum seed yield and seed number were obtained, 1.95 g/plant and 850 seeds/plant in alluvial soil, but in calcareous soil, seed yield (1.14 g/plant) and seed number 414 seeds/plant were recorded in plants supplemented with M-CuO NPs as a protectant. In both soils, maximum plant height was increased by protective applications of M-CuO NPs at 200 ppm. Thus, the present study suggested that among foliar sprays of copper nanocompounds, protective activity shows better results as compared to curative activity. Among all the treatments, M-CuO NPs were found to be most effective in suppressing disease and improving productivity and growth-promoting effects of Brassica.

The ultraviolet radiation of the sun that reaches the earth is made up of ultraviolet A (95%) and ultraviolet B (5%). Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the main factor in photoaging. Chronic exposure to sunlight acts as an environmental stressor, leading to oxidative damage or stress. Oxidative damage stimulates the accumulation of free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that are responsible for premature skin aging. Photoaged skin is characterized externally by irregular pigmentation, wrinkles, and reduced skin elasticity, and internally by the breakdown of dermal collagen and elastin. Free radicals can be scavenged and the skin can be protected from further oxidative damage by antioxidants. Melatonin is a hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland, as well as many other organs, including the skin. One of the functions of melatonin is exerted by the antioxidative melatoninergic system to prevent ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin photoaging. The aim of this review was to study the protective effect of melatonin on skin photoaging resulting from UVR exposure. The references were tracked using various databases, such as Google Scholar and PubMed with regard to publications in English for the last 5 years (2019-2023). Melatonin inhibits UVR-induced aging in multiple ways, such as protecting skin cells, binding free radicals, accelerating the activity of antioxidant enzymes, preventing increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, and assisting electron transport efficiency in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Exogenous application of melatonin is usually by the oral route, but for localized effects on the skin, topical administration is recommended, with consideration of preparations with a better half-life and bioavailability. Understanding the protective antioxidant function of melatonin in UV-induced skin photoaging helps to optimize its application. The protective properties of melatonin against UVR-oxidative stress-induced photoaging will be further explored in this review.

Background: Constant cellular damage causes a poor prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Accumulating evidence indicates the cytoprotective properties of bilirubin. Here, we investigated the association of UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1), the genetic cause of Gilbert syndrome (GS), a common condition of mild unconjugated bilirubinemia, with HBV infection outcomes. Methods: Patients (n = 2,792) with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were screened for HBV infection and host UGT1A1 variations in Ruijin Hospital from January 2015 to May 2023, and those with confirmed HBV exposure were included. The promoter/exons/adjacent intronic regions of UGT1A1 were sequenced. HBV infection outcomes were compared between hosts with wildtype and variant-type UGT1A1. The effect magnitudes of UGT1A1 variations were evaluated using three classification approaches. Results: In total, 175 patients with confirmed HBV exposure were recruited for final analysis. Age, gender, level of HBV serological markers, and antiviral treatment were comparable between UGT1A1 wild-type and disease-causing variation groups. Five known disease-causing mutations (UGT1A1*28, UGT1A1*6, UGT1A1*27, UGT1A1*63, and UGT1A1*7) were detected. The incidence of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (LC/HCC) was significantly lower in UGT1A1 variant hosts than in UGT1A1 wild-type hosts (13.14% vs. 78.95%, p < 0.0001). The rarer the UGT1A1 variation a patient possessed, the higher the age at which LC/HCC was diagnosed (R = 0.34, p < 0.05). In contrast, patients without cirrhosis achieving HBsAg clearance were identified only in the UGT1A1 variant group (12.32% vs. 0%). Conclusion: The findings of this study provide insights into the association between preexisting genetically mild bilirubin elevation and viral infection outcome. We showed that the accumulation of UGT1A1 variants or the rarity of the variation is associated with a better prognosis, and the effect magnitude correlates with UGT1A1 deficiency. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of host UGT1A1 variations underlying GS against HBV infection outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to find the association between fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentration and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Methods: In this observational, prospective, longitudinal study, a total of 410 preterm infants with <36 gestational weeks and <2.5 kg birth weight, who were attending ROP clinic in a tertiary care hospital of central India for 1 year duration were included. Dilated fundus examination was done as per ROP screening guidelines, and ROP was staged as per international classification for retinopathy of prematurity (ICROP) classification, 2021. HbF (%) was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography, and data was analyzed statistically. The relationship between HbF (%) and ROP was evaluated. Those infants who had ROP were further divided into treatment-requiring and non-treatment-requiring groups and HbF was compared in these groups at the first visit and after 1-month follow-up period. The outcome of ROP was studied with HbF levels. Results: A total of 410 preterm infants were included, out of which 110 infants had ROP (26.8%). Infants with ROP had significantly lower percentage of HbF with gestational age groups and birth weight groups, compared to infants without ROP. Higher percentage of HbF was associated with a lower prevalence of ROP. Higher concentration of HbF was found in the ROP infants who regressed spontaneously without treatment and less concentration was found in those who progressed to a severe disease and those who required treatment. The predictive ability of HbF (%) was 0.976 for ROP. Conclusion: Low fraction of HbF was found to be significantly associated with the development and progression of ROP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium fluoride is a prophylactic agent against dental caries commonly used for water fluoridation, treatment of osteoporosis and as a disinfectant. Adverse effects on various organs were reported following exposure to sodium fluoride. The present study aims to evaluate the histological alterations triggered by administration of sodium fluoride on the testis of Wistar rats and the defensive ability of vitamin E to ameliorate fluoride toxicity. In this study, forty male Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus), were used, their weight ranging from 250 to 350 gm, all animals were acclimatized for one week before the experiment in suitable cages with standard food pellets and fresh water adlibitum. The period lasted for doing the experiment was four weeks. The animals were grouped equally as following: Group I served as control group given normal saline by oral intubation once daily for one month, Group II given 20 mg/kg/day sodium fluoride through oral gavage once daily for one month. Group III was given received vitamin E by oral intubation in a dose of 3 mg/kg/day followed by giving NaF after 24 hours using the same dose of group II daily for one month. Group IV rats received vitamin E alone for one moth with the same dose. Rats were sacrificed after ether inhalation, the specimens of testis were stained with H and E stain and prepared for light microscopic examination. Biochemical assessment of serum Malondialdehyde and Superoxide dismutase as biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and immunohistochemical determination of caspase-3 activity were done and the results obtained were statistically analyzed. Analysis of the recorded data of body weight revealed very high significant reduction in the body weights of rats of group II equated to the control group. In group II, we observed a significantly higher Malondialdehyde with a significantly reduced Superoxide dismutase in comparison to the control group. Conspicuous alterations in the testicular histological architecture were observed in NaF recipient group as thickening of tunica albuginea, vacuolar degeneration of spermatogenic cells. A significant rise in the caspase-3 was observed in rats treated with fluoride alone. Concomitant treatment with vitamin E with fluoride showed a considerable improvement in the histological architecture, biochemical tests, and significantly reduced the caspase-3 activity to near normal. Such finding emphasizes the defensive antioxidant influence of vitamin E against oxidative toxicity induced by fluoride which encourages the use of vitamin E supplementation to minimize the harmful effects of fluorosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Lead and cadmium are foodborne contaminants that threaten human and animal health. It is well known that lead and cadmium produce hepatotoxicity; however, defense mechanisms against the co-toxic effects of lead and cadmium remain unknown. We investigated the mechanism of autophagy (defense mechanism) against the co-induced toxicity of lead and cadmium in rat hepatocytes (BRL-3A cells). Cultured rat liver BRL-3A cell lines were co-cultured with 10, 20, 40 μM lead and 2.5, 5, 10 μM cadmium alone and in co-culture for 12 h and exposed to 5 mM 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), 10 μM rapamycin (Rapa), and 50 nM Beclin1 siRNA to induce cellular autophagy. Our results show that treatment of BRL-3A cells with lead and cadmium significantly decreased the cell viability, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential levels, and induced apoptosis, which are factors leading to liver injury, and cell damage was exacerbated by co-exposure to lead–cadmium. In addition, the results showed that lead and cadmium co-treatment induced autophagy. We further observed that the suppression of autophagy with 3-MA or Beclin1 siRNA promoted lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis, whereas enhancement of autophagy with Rapa suppressed lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrated that co-treatment with lead and cadmium induces apoptosis in BRL-3A cells. Interestingly, the activation of autophagy provides cells with a self-protective mechanism against induced apoptosis. This study provides insights into the role of autophagy in lead–cadmium-induced apoptosis, which may be beneficial for the treatment of lead–cadmium-induced liver injury.

The explosion products, such as shock waves, fragments and heat energy formed by explosion, act on the plate structure, which may cause structural damage, material failure and even phase transformation of material. In this paper, the damage mechanism and protective effect of near-field blast load on sandwich structure based on foam-nickel core material were studied. Firstly, the near-field explosion test was conducted to investigate the blast response of the foam-nickel sandwich structure subjected to blast shock from 8701 explosive at near-field position. The deformation characteristics and stress history of the sandwich structure on the acting location of blast load were carefully investigated via experimental methods. A finite element model of near-field explosion was established for effective numerical modelling of the dynamic behaviour of the sandwich structure using the explicit dynamics software ANSYS/LS-DYNA for more comprehensive investigations of the blast shock response of the sandwich structure. The finite element model is reasonable and validated by mesh independence verification and comparing the simulated response behaviour to that from the experimental results for the sandwich structure subjected to near-field blast load. On this basis, the damage mechanism and protection effect of the near-field explosion impact on foam-nickel cores with different density and porosity are simulated more systematically. The investigated results from the experiments and a series of numerical simulations show the large deformation effect due to the extensive energy absorption, which suggests that the sandwich structure based on foam-nickel core material may be expected to become a new choice of protective structure under near-field blast load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aflatoxin (AF), a metabolite of Aspergillus flavus, is injurious to vital body organs. The bacterial defense against such mycotoxins has attracted significant attention. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to ameliorate AF toxicity. Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into six groups (five each) to perform the experiments. The control (Co) group was fed a basal diet and water. Each of the following periods lasted 21 days: the milk (MK) group orally received milk (500 µL); LAB suspension (500 µL) containing 107 cfu/mL was orally provided to the LAB group; AF (0.5 mg/kg) was orally given to the AF group; and a combination of AF and LAB was administered to the AF + LAB group. The AF/LAB group was initially given AF for 21 days, followed by LAB for the same period. Finally, the rats were dissected to retrieve blood and tissue samples for hematological, biochemical, and histological studies. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in RBCs, lymphocytes, total proteins, eosinophil count, albumin, and uric acid, whereas the levels of WBCs, monocytes, neutrophils, creatinine, urea, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatinine kinase significantly increased in the AF group in comparison to the control group. The histological examination of the AF group revealed necrosis and apoptosis of the kidney's glomeruli and renal tubules, nuclei vacuolization and apoptosis of hepatocytes, congestion of the liver's dilated portal vein, lymphoid depletion in the white pulp, localized hemorrhages, hemosiderin pigment deposition in the spleen, and vacuolization of seminiferous tubules with a complete loss of testis spermatogenic cells. Meanwhile, protective and therapeutic LAB administration in AF-treated rats improved the hematological, biochemical, and histological changes. Conclusions: The study revealed LAB-based amelioration to AFB1-induced disruptions of the kidney, liver, spleen, and testis by inhibiting tissue damage. The therapeutic effects of LAB were comparatively more pronounced than the protective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body image, body change behaviours, and risk and protective factors for body esteem, were documented by sexual orientation in young adults aged 18–25 years. Cross-sectional data from My World Survey 2 Post Second Level (MWS2-PSL) were used. The sample consisted of 1,975 heterosexual, 256 gay, 169 bisexual, 89 questioning men and 4,521 heterosexual, 167 lesbian, 781 bisexual, 356 questioning and 121 pansexual women. Body esteem, body dissatisfaction and body change behaviours as well as sexual minority stress risk (discrimination) and protective factors (resilience) were analysed across groups using Chi Square Tests and Analyses of Covariance. Multiple regressions identified relationships between body esteem, body change behaviours and risk and protective factors. Heterosexual men exhibited higher body esteem and body satisfaction than sexual minority men. Bisexual women demonstrated the lowest body esteem, while pansexual women exhibited lower body satisfaction versus heterosexual, lesbian and questioning women. Body change behaviours did not differ among women, but weight loss attempts were elevated in gay and bisexual men. Comfort with sexuality, resilience and social support were positively associated with body esteem. Risk and protective factors for body esteem varied by sexual orientation, highlighting the importance of examining these constructs separately across sexual minority subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pain is a disturbing condition that may increase postoperative patient complains. Moderate to severe postoperative pain require the use of more potent analgesics such as Nefopam, a centrally acting non-opioid analgesic. Despite its common use, the effect of nefopam on the histology of lung, kidney and heart is not well documented. Aim of the Work: The goal of this work is to explore the changes induced by nefopam on the lung, kidney, and heart tissues and investigate the protective role of black seed oil (Nigella sativa oil) on these tissues. Material and Methods: Eighteen adult healthy albino rats of both sexes were randomly divided into three groups, 6 rats in each. Group I considered as a control group. Group II received intraperitoneal Nefopam (10 mg/kg body weight) for one month. Group III received black seed oil orally (0.2 ml/kg) through oral gavage one day preceding each intraperitoneal injection of Nefopam for one month period. Lung, kidney and heart of the three groups were removed and prepared for histological examination by light microscope. Morphometric measurements were done to compare some parameters among the groups. Results: Compared to control, several pathological changes were seen in Nefopam treated rats. Sections of lungs revealed inflammatory cell infiltration as well as emphysematous dilatation of the alveoli. Shrinkage of the glomerular tuft with widening of the urinary spaces was seen in kidney sections. On the other hand, heart section showed sever congestion and haemorrhage of the blood vessels and oedema in between the cardiac muscle fibers. Pretreatment with black seed oil efficiently alleviate the changes induced by Nefopam on the lung, kidney and heart tissue and reverts the abnormal structure to become near normal. Conclusion: Nefopam induces marked structural changes in the lung, kidney and heart of albino rats. These changes were effectively reversed by pretreatment with black seed oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was to know whether there are differences in parental educational styles depending on gender in athletes and parents, the level of sports success (local successes, national successes and international successes) and the competition level (local competition, national competition and international competition). The sample was made up of 357 Spanish athletes. An ad hoc sociodemographic questionnaire, the Multifactor Self-Assessment Test of Child Adjustment (TAMAI) and the Oviedo Scale of Infrequency of Response (INF-OV), were used to measure the different variables. Results showed that women athletes perceived more protective fathers and men perceived more authoritarian mothers. MANOVA analyses revealed that no gender differences were found depending on the competition level and the level of success. In conclusion, fathers should be aware that they unconsciously can be more protective with girls, otherwise, mothers can be more authoritarian with boys. Thus, these results should be considered by practitioners to create programs to intervene with parents depending on athlete's gender differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ImportanceThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proven to be highly infectious, putting health care professionals around the world at increased risk. Furthermore, there are widespread shortages of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) for these individuals. Filtering facepiece respirators, such as the N95 respirator, intended for single use, can be reused in times of need. We explore the evidence for decontamination or sterilization of N95 respirators for health care systems seeking to conserve PPE while maintaining the health of their workforce.ObservationsThe filtration properties and fit of N95 respirators must be preserved to function adequately over multiple uses. Studies have shown that chemical sterilization using soap and water, alcohols, and bleach render the respirator nonfunctional. Decontamination with microwave heat and high dry heat also result in degradation of respirator material. UV light, steam, low-dry heat, and commercial sterilization methods with ethylene oxide or vaporized hydrogen peroxide appear to be viable options for successful decontamination. Furthermore, since the surface viability of the novel coronavirus is presumed to be 72 hours, rotating N95 respirator use and allowing time decontamination of the respirators is also a reasonable option. We describe a protocol and best practice recommendations for redoffing decontaminated N95 and rotating N95 respirator use.Conclusions and relevanceCOVID-19 presents a high risk for health care professionals, particularly otolaryngologists, owing to the nature of viral transmission, including possible airborne transmission and high viral load in the upper respiratory tract. Proper PPE is effective when used correctly, but in times of scarce resources, institutions may turn to alternative methods of preserving and reusing filtering facepiece respirators. Based on studies conducted on the decontamination of N95 respirators after prior outbreaks, there are several options for institutions to consider for both immediate and large-scale implementation.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to find the association between fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentration and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Methods: In this observational, prospective, longitudinal study, a total of 410 preterm infants with

Traditional herbal drugs are widely used for the treatment of various diseases. Ellagic acid (EA) as an herbal polyphenol metabolite exists in many medicinal plants. EA has an important role against natural and chemical toxicities due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For this review, several search engines or databases such as PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used, and the most relevant published papers till February 2022 were included.The protective effects of EA against natural and chemical compounds are mediated through molecular mechanisms including scavenging of free radicals, modulation of proinflammatory cytokine synthesis, and reduction of lipid peroxidation. These properties make EA a highly fascinating compound that may contribute to different aspects of health; whereas, more studies are needed, especially on the pharmacokinetic profile of EA. In this review, we selected articles that include the protective effect of EA against several synthetic and natural toxins such as aflatoxin, lipopolysaccharide, acrylamide, and rotenone.

Textile auxetic materials with negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) have potential applications in protective textile, filtration, and energy absorbance. However, cotton core-spun based auxetic textile is rarely investigated. In this study, cotton core-spun (Lycra)-based helical auxetic yarn (HAY) was developed, and the effects of core filament linear density on the auxetic behavior were studied. Core-spun cotton yarns of 8/1 Nec containing core filament (180, 260, and 420 D) were developed. Then, these core-spun yarns were wrapped with 50 D Dyneema filament at 393 twist/m to make the HAY. The diameter, NPR, and tensile strength of HAY were increased with increasing linear density of Lycra filament. Image analysis of HAY containing 420 D Lycra showed 57% diameter increase with the change in axial strain from 0 to 15 mm. The maximum auxetic behavior with NPR of −3.97 and tensile strength of 26.71 cN/tex was observed in 420 D Lycra-based HAY. This study proved that the cotton core spun-based HAY can be produced with significant auxetic properties for practically potential use in wearable protective textiles.

The present study is an attempt to assess the protective and immunity effects of Allium sativum in Oncorhynchus mykiss to acute exposure to copper .55 rainbow trout fish with an average weight of 51.20 ± 3.73 g were subjected to various densities of copper (0.02, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4 mg/l). Under stable conditions, the lethal concentration of copper was detected to be 0.40 mg/l. The treatments included a control with no Cu or garlic treatment (T1), feeding with garlic additive and Cu exposure (T2), and exposure to a lethal dose of Cu with no garlic additive (T3). The blood sample was used to designate hematological indices such as white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HB) mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils percent and Immunological indices (glucose, total protein, lysozyme, IgM). The results indicated significant differences among the treatments when the concentration of copper was increased (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained, there were noteworthy differences in MCV, MCHC, and HCT amongst the treatments (p < 0.05). The histopathological results indicated that the main lesions were hyperplasia and necrosis of epithelial cells (in gill), enlargement of Bowman's capsule and tubular degeneration (in kidney), hepatocytes necrosis (in liver) in all the fish. Pathologic severity signs in sampled tissues were increased by increasing in concentration and exposure times of copper sulphate However, the results revealed that the use of garlic in dietary can be beneficial to increasing fish resistance to copper.

Introduction: Hand washing and the use of gloves in accordance with the standards are among the most significant methods used in infection control. Methodology: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 132 health personnel working in the emergency department of a public hospital. Results: The mean of the hand hygiene belief scale was 85.50 ± 8.71, mean of the hand hygiene practice inventory was 67.70 ± 5.19. The participants' mean general attitude towards the use of gloves was 43.71 ± 7.57, the mean of awareness about the use of gloves was 15.17 ± 3.88, the mean attitude towards the usefulness of glove use was 19.43 ± 1.47, and their attitude towards the necessity of using gloves was 12.63 ± 3.57. It was determined that glove usefulness score has a statistically significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene belief, while glove usefulness and glove awareness scores have statistically significant and increasing effects on hand hygiene practice. Conclusions: This study determined that the hand hygiene beliefs and practices of the health personnel working in the emergency department are quite high, their attitudes towards the use of gloves are positive, the attitude towards the usefulness of glove use has a significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene belief, and glove usefulness and glove awareness attitudes have a significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disinfection of gloves might reduce the workload of healthcare workers, protect the environment, and bring economic benefits. Thus, the safety of hand hygiene of gloved hands is an important issue. We aimed to evaluate the risk of microbial transmission by comparing residual micro-organisms after multiple patient contacts, with or without gloves, in clinical practice. Researchers, two with gloved hands (single or double gloves) and one with bare hands, made rounds of patients, followed by alcohol-based hand rub. Hand imprints were obtained before and after the rounds and cultured. The number of colony-forming units (cfu) of gloved and bare hands was compared, and the colony distribution was evaluated semi-quantitatively by hand region. A total of 108 imprints were obtained after 10 rounds. The median cfu counts were significantly higher in the gloved hands (single and double) than in the bare hands (9.00 vs 3.50, P =0.028). The cfu counts of single- and double-gloved hands were higher after than before contact (P =0.044 and P =0.001, respectively). Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii was identified in a pair of double gloves after a round, which included patients with the same organism with identical antibiotic susceptibility results. The mean percentage of colony-growing compartments from gloved hands was significantly higher than that of bare hands in the finger and wrist regions (P =0.019 and P =0.049, respectively). Compared with bare hands, reuse of gloves increased residual microbial colonies and potential for transmission of multi-drug-resistant organisms, even after using alcohol-based hand rub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high consumption and high demand for polyurethane (PU) foams, they are usually exposed to the environment, suffering the influence and action of weathering. Then, this work investigates the coffee husk residues (CHR) introduction to PU foams obtained from castor oil. A comparative study on the effect of weathering on neat PU foams and CHR-contained PU foams was carried out. After 6 months of aging, an increase in weight for all samples was observed in the first days due to moisture absorption, with a subsequent decline in the weight of the samples until completing 6 months of testing. Comparing neat PU and PU composite foams, high CHR content promoted higher weight loss. Weathering aging changed other properties, such as the decrease in the apparent density of the foams, which was generated by degrading processes of oxidation and photodegradation. Besides, hydrolytic processes arise from UV radiation, temperature variation, and humidity present in the environment to which samples were exposed. Due to this degradation, high crystallinity, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and thermal stability were verified. However, the degradative effect of weathering was mitigated due to the addition of coffee husk residues (especially between 5 and 20% CHR). It showed that the coffee husk in the matrix of PU foams resulted in a protective effect on the degradative process, avoiding severe property losses or structural alteration in the PU foams. These characteristics may promote an application of the PU composite foam for civil construction areas, as protective material against weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has devastated the world with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has imparted a toll of at least 631 million reported cases with 6.57 million reported deaths. In order to handle this pandemic, vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed and billions of doses of various vaccines have been administered. In the meantime, several antiviral drugs and other treatment modalities have been developed to treat COVID-19 patients. At the end of the day, it seems that anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and newly developed antiviral drugs may be improved based on various new developments. COVID-19 represents a virus-induced, immune-mediated pathological process. The severity of the disease is related to the nature and properties of the host immune responses. In addition, host immunity plays a dominant role in regulating the extent of COVID-19. The present reality regarding the role of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection even three years after the initiation of the pandemic, and divergent faces of COVID-19 have initiated several queries among huge populations, policy makers, general physicians, and scientific communities. The present review aims to provide some information regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of senile dementia, with high incidence late in life in many populations including Caribbean Hispanic (CH) populations. Such admixed populations, descended from more than one ancestral population, can present challenges for genetic studies, including limited sample sizes and unique analytical constraints. Therefore, CH populations and other admixed populations have not been well represented in studies of AD, and much of the genetic variation contributing to AD risk in these populations remains unknown. Here, we conduct genome-wide analysis of AD in multiplex CH families from the Alzheimer Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). We developed, validated, and applied an implementation of a logistic mixed model for admixture mapping with binary traits that leverages genetic ancestry to identify ancestry-of-origin loci contributing to AD. We identified three loci on chromosome 13q33.3 associated with reduced risk of AD, where associations were driven by Native American (NAM) ancestry. This AD admixture mapping signal spans the FAM155A, ABHD13, TNFSF13B, LIG4, and MYO16 genes and was supported by evidence for association in an independent sample from the Alzheimer’s Genetics in Argentina—Alzheimer Argentina consortium (AGA-ALZAR) study with considerable NAM ancestry. We also provide evidence of NAM haplotypes and key variants within 13q33.3 that segregate with AD in the ADSP whole-genome sequencing data. Interestingly, the widely used genome-wide association study approach failed to identify associations in this region. Our findings underscore the potential of leveraging genetic ancestry diversity in recently admixed populations to improve genetic mapping, in this case for AD-relevant loci.