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BackgroundIndividuals affected by the post-covid condition (PCC) show an increased fatigue and the so-called post-exertion malaise (PEM) that led health professionals to advise against exercise although accumulating evidence indicates the contrary. The goal of this study is to determine the impact of a closely monitored 8-week mixed exercise program on physical capacity, symptoms, fatigue, systemic oxidative stress and plasma proteomic profiles of PCC cases.MethodsTwenty-five women and men with PCC were assigned sequentially to exercise (n = 15) and non-exercise (n = 10) groups. Individuals with no PCC served as a control group. The exercise program included cardiovascular and resistance exercises. Physical capacity, physical activity level and the presence of common PCC symptoms were measured before and after the intervention. Fatigue was measured the day following each exercise session. Plasma and PBMC samples were collected at the beginning and end of the training program. Glutathione and deoxyguanosine levels in PBMC and plasma proteomic profiles were evaluated.ResultsBicep Curl (+15% vs 4%; p = 0.040) and Sit-to-Stand test (STS-30 (+31% vs +11%; p = 0.043)) showed improvement in the exercise group when compared to the non-exercise group. An interaction effect was also observed for the level of physical activity (p =0.007) with a positive effect of the program on their daily functioning and without any adverse effects on general or post-effort fatigue. After exercise, glutathione levels in PBMCs increased in women but remained unchanged in men. Discernable changes were observed in the plasma proteomics profile with certain proteins involved in inflammatory response decreasing in the exercise group.ConclusionsSupervised exercise adapted to the level of fatigue and ability is safe and effective in PCC patients in improving their general physical capacity and wellbeing. Systemic molecular markers that accompany physical improvement can be monitored by analyzing plasma proteomics and markers of oxidative stress. Large-scale studies will help identify promising molecular markers to objectively monitor patient improvement.

The success of industrial operations depends on the effective identification, appraisal, and mitigation of possible hazards and associated environmental concerns. This report provides a complete review of environmental management techniques at the Sukari Gold Mine (SGM), located in the southeastern desert of Egypt. Extensive environmental measurements were taken to assess air and water quality, identify hazards, and analyze risks on the SGM premises. Air quality and noise intensity levels were measured at 39 places around the mine's working region. The findings found noncompliance with the Egyptian Environmental Law's (EEL4/94) noise exposure limitations, with the Power Generator House having the maximum noise levels at 107 dB. Remedial measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and exposure limit reduction strategies are being considered to address elevated noise levels. Measurements of particulate matter (PM10) and noxious gases (e.g., CO, SO2, NO2, HCN, and NH3) were conducted in workplace and ambient environments. Elevated PM10 concentrations were particularly concerning in underground regions, forcing the deployment of water depression techniques and improved PPE measures. While gas emissions from most activities remained under regulatory limits, select zones showed hydrogen cyanide (HCN) levels that exceeded permitted thresholds, necessitating specific control actions. Using hazard index (HI) and risk rating assessments, this study found different risk profiles across SGM's workplaces, focusing on high-risk regions for focused intervention. Additionally, a water assessment near a Tailing Storage Facility (TSF) was conducted to monitor the impact of mining activities on groundwater quality. The study revealed that groundwater in the region belongs to the Na–K–Cl–SO4 and Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4 water classes, with potential degradation attributed to high mineralization processes induced by aquifer materials and seawater intrusion. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring, control measures, and implementation of programs to ensure environmental sustainability and minimize risks associated with mining activities in the Sukari Gold Mines. This research highlights the imperative of continuous monitoring, proactive control measures, and the implementation of environmental initiatives to ensure the sustainability of mining operations within the Sukari Gold Mines.

Background: Individuals affected by the post-covid condition (PCC) show an increased fatigue and the so-called post-exertion malaise (PEM) that led health professionals to advise against exercise although accumulating evidence indicates the contrary. The goal of this study is to determine the impact of a closely monitored 8-week mixed exercise program on physical capacity, symptoms, fatigue, systemic oxidative stress and plasma proteomic profiles of PCC cases. Methods: Twenty-five women and men with PCC were assigned sequentially to exercise (n = 15) and non-exercise (n = 10) groups. Individuals with no PCC served as a control group. The exercise program included cardiovascular and resistance exercises. Physical capacity, physical activity level and the presence of common PCC symptoms were measured before and after the intervention. Fatigue was measured the day following each exercise session. Plasma and PBMC samples were collected at the beginning and end of the training program. Glutathione and deoxyguanosine levels in PBMC and plasma proteomic profiles were evaluated. Results: Bicep Curl (+15% vs 4%; p = 0.040) and Sit-to-Stand test (STS-30 (+31% vs +11%; p=0.043)) showed improvement in the exercise group when compared to the non-exercise group. An interaction effect was also observed for the level of physical activity (p =0.007) with a positive effect of the program on their daily functioning and without any adverse effects on general or post-effort fatigue. After exercise, glutathione levels in PBMCs increased in women but remained unchanged in men. Discernable changes were observed in the plasma proteomics profile with certain proteins involved in inflammatory response decreasing in the exercise group. Conclusions: Supervised exercise adapted to the level of fatigue and ability is safe and effective in PCC patients in improving their general physical capacity and wellbeing. Systemic molecular markers that accompany physical improvement can be monitored by analyzing plasma proteomics and markers of oxidative stress. Large-scale studies will help identify promising molecular markers to objectively monitor patient improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly porous mullite-corundum bodies were prepared by slip casting with the utilization of porogen sources as environmental wastes. The stoichiometric composition of mullite was established by the application of clay and alumina. Pore formers were saw dust or activated charcoal. Bodies were processed, dried and fired between 1180 and 1450 °C. Microstructure and the mechanical properties of the product were evaluated. The results showed that, the porosity decreased with raising the firing temperature but the mullite formation increased. The porosity increased with the addition of pore forming agent while modulus of rapture decreasing. The results concluded that the porosity ranged (40–56%) with the addition of pore forming agent (1–10%) with decreasing modulus of rapture (30–8.5 MPa) respectively. Resumen: Se prepararon piezas de mullita-corindón con elevada porosidad mediante colaje empleando como agentes porógenos residuos ambientales. La composición estequiométrica de la mullita se consigue formulando a partir de arcilla y alúmina. Los formadores de poros empleados han sido serrín o carbón activo. Los materiales fueron procesados, secados y cocidos entre 1.180 y 1.450° C. Se estudiaron la microestructura y las propiedades mecánicas del producto. Los resultados mostraron que la porosidad disminuyó al aumentar la temperatura de cocción, en cambio la formación de mullita aumentó. La porosidad aumentó con la adición del agente formador de poros, mientras que el módulo de ruptura disminuyó. Los resultados han concluido que la porosidad ha aumentado (40-56%) con la adición de agente formador de poros (1-10%) y el módulo de ruptura ha disminuido (30-8,5 MPa) respectivamente.

Cell therapy has emerged as a prominent leader in regenerative medicine, offering potential solutions for various disorders, including infertility. The half of all infertility cases are related to male factors. The objective of this study is to systematically summarize the existing knowledge regarding studies on stem cell-based therapy for the regeneration of impaired spermatogenesis. Initial searching was performed through main databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase) until December 2023. Articles conducted on stem cell transplantation into the testis of infertile models were considered. The titles and abstracts of articles were carefully evaluated and screened by independent authors. Non-related articles were deleted. The desired outcomes about infertility treatment after stem cell transplantation were attentively evaluated in the final selected articles. In the primary search, 3237 published studies were identified. Finally, 39 studies were included based on the eligibility criteria. In all studies except for two articles, all the outcomes considered, including germ cells/spermatogonia stem cell differentiation, spermatogenesis restoration, defective testicular tissue regeneration, improved sperm quality parameters and hormonal levels, as well as increased expression of fertility-related markers and fertility rate, were observed after stem cell transplantation. Transplantation of stem cells, especially MSCs could be a safe and effective method for the treatment of male infertility patients, such as azoospermic cases. Further research to investigate the efficiency of different stem cells sources, providing nutrient conditions for the isolation and differentiation of stem cells, and exploring the paracrine effects of MSCs in male infertility therapy, could be useful.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP), or Urbach-Wiethe disease, is an infrequent autosomal recessive disorder typified by hyaline material deposition in diverse tissues, including the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs. This case report addresses an unusual presentation of LP in a 25-year-old male, whose initial symptom was sudden-onset left lower limb weakness. This deviation from the typical dermatological and laryngeal manifestations prevalent in LP compels us to consider LP as a potential causative factor in neurological deficits. Physical examination revealed motor weakness in the left lower limb with several dermatological manifestations. Laboratory tests indicated potential thyroid, liver, and urinary tract pathologies. Brain imaging studies revealed bilateral mesial temporal lobe calcifications consistent with LP with associated cortico-subcortical infarcts and hemorrhagic transformation. Additionally, foraminal disc protrusion at L5-S1 in the patient's back MRI suggested nerve compression contributing to limb weakness. This patient's sudden-onset left lower limb weakness accompanied by imaging findings of cortical and subcortical abnormalities aligns with the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with LP but is less commonly reported. Moreover, the disturbed liver and thyroid blood tests in this patient suggest a potential link between LP and thyroid and liver pathologies, which needs further investigation. This case illustrates that motor weakness, potentially due to cerebral infarcts and intracerebral hemorrhage, is a possible complication of LP. Further research is necessary to confirm and understand the phenomenology of this complication., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Lebanese American University Institutional Review Board issued approval N/A. This case report was conducted with approval from the Institutional Review Board at our hospital. In accordance with the ethical standards of our institution, formal ethical approval was not necessarily due to the report's observational, non-interventional nature. However, all patient data were handled according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for participation in this study. Consent for publication: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the editor of this journal. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Mobarak et al.)

Purpose: Here, we aimed to study the distribution pattern of normal and cancer xenogeneic exosomes (Exos) and possible interspecies reactions in a rat model., Methods: Exos were isolated from normal Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Diameter size and zeta potential distribution were studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The morphology of isolated Exos was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Using western blotting, protein levels of exosomal tetraspanins were detected. For the in vivo study, Dil-labeled normal and cancer Exos were injected into the tail vein (100 µg exosomal protein/rat) three times at 1-hour intervals. After 24 hours, rats were euthanized and the cellular uptake of Exos was monitored in different organs using immunofluorescence staining (IF)., Results: The size distribution and mean zeta potential of HUVEC and MDA-MB-231 cells Exos were 80±29.94 and 64.77±25.49 nm, and -7.58 and -11.8 mV, respectively. Western blotting revealed CD9, CD81, and CD63 in normal and cancer Exos. The SEM images exhibited typical nano-sized round-shape Exo particles. IF staining indicated sequestration of administrated Exos in splenic tissue and lungs. The distribution of Exo in kidneys, aorta, and hepatic tissue was less. These features were more evident in the group that received cancer Exos. We found no obvious adverse effects in rats that received normal or cancer Exos., Conclusion: Normal and cancerous xenogeneic human Exos can be sequestrated prominently in splenic tissue and lungs. Novel delivery approaches and engineering tools are helpful in the target delivery of administrated Exos to the injured sites., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (©2024 The Authors.)

Every single cell can communicate with other cells in a paracrine manner via the production of nano-sized extracellular vesicles. This phenomenon is conserved between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotic cells, exosomes (Exos) are the main inter-cellular bioshuttles with the potential to carry different signaling molecules. Likewise, bacteria can produce and release Exo-like particles, namely microvesicles (MVs) into the extracellular matrix. Bacterial MVs function with diverse biological properties and are at the center of attention due to their inherent therapeutic properties. Here, in this review article, the comparable biological properties between the eukaryotic Exos and bacterial MVs were highlighted in terms of biomedical application. Video Abstract., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Methodology development in carbohydrate chemistry entails the stereoselective formation of C-O bonds as a key step in the synthesis of oligo- and polysaccharides. The anomeric selectivity of a glycosylation reaction is affected by a multitude of parameters, such as the nature of the donor and acceptor, activator/promotor system, temperature and solvent. The influence of different solvents on the stereoselective outcome of glycosylation reactions employing thioglucopyranosides as glycosyl donors with a non-participating protecting group at position 2 has been studied. A large change in selectivity as a function of solvent was observed and a correlation between selectivity and the Kamlet-Taft solvent parameter π* was found. Furthermore, molecular modeling using density functional theory methodology was conducted to decipher the role of the solvent and possible reaction pathways were investigated., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In the current study, we investigated the regenerative effects of amniotic fluid exosomes (AF-Exos) in a rat model for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). POI is a condition characterized by a decrease in ovarian function that can lead to infertility. We induced POI by administering cyclophosphamide (CTX) for 15 consecutive days, and then transplanted AF-Exos directly into both ovarian tissues. Four weeks later, we measured the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2), and performed histopathological evaluations using H & E and Masson's trichrome staining. We also monitored the expression of genes related to the TGF-β signaling pathway using real-time PCR and examined the fertility rate of POI rats after AF-Exos therapy. Histological analysis showed an increase in atretic follicles and a decrease in healthy follicle count after POI induction. Four weeks post-AF-Exos intervention, the healthy follicle count increased (p < 0.01) while the atretic follicle count decreased (p < 0.001). In parallel, the deposition of collagen fibers also decreased following AF-Exos transplantation. The concentrations of FSH and LH hormones in sera remained unchanged after injection of AF-Exos, while E2 levels increased (p < 0.05). The expression of Smad-4 (p < 0.01) and Smad-6 (p < 0.05) was upregulated in POI rats that received AF-Exos, while Smad-2, TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IL-10 remained statistically unchanged. Our records showed a notable increase in litter number after AF-Exos compared to the non-treated POI rats. These results suggest that AF-Exos transplantation has the potential to restore ovarian function through the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway in POI rats., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

RNA interference (RNAi) is a unique treatment approach used to decrease a disease's excessive gene expression, including cancer. SiRNAs may find and destroy homologous mRNA sequences within the cell thanks to RNAi processes. However, difficulties such poor cellular uptake, off-target effects, and susceptibility to destruction by serum nucleases in the bloodstream restrict the therapeutic potential of siRNAs. Since some years ago, siRNA-based therapies have been in the process of being translated into the clinic. Therefore, the primary emphasis of this work is on sophisticated nanocarriers that aid in the transport of siRNA payloads, their administration in combination with anticancer medications, and their use in the treatment of cancer. The research looks into molecular manifestations, difficulties with siRNA transport, the design and development of siRNA-based delivery methods, and the benefits and drawbacks of various nanocarriers. The trapping of siRNA in endosomes is a challenge for the majority of delivery methods, which affects the therapeutic effectiveness. Numerous techniques for siRNA release, including as pH-responsive release, membrane fusion, the proton sponge effect, and photochemical disruption, have been studied to overcome this problem. The present state of siRNA treatments in clinical trials is also looked at in order to give a thorough and systematic evaluation of siRNA-based medicines for efficient cancer therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) interface with multicellular structure controls strictly the entry of varied circulating macromolecules from the blood-facing surface into the brain parenchyma. Under several pathological conditions within the central nervous system, the integrity of the BBB interface is disrupted due to the abnormal crosstalk between the cellular constituents and the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Exosomes (Exos) are nano-sized extracellular vesicles with diverse therapeutic outcomes. These particles transfer a plethora of signaling molecules with the potential to modulate target cell behavior in a paracrine manner. Here, in the current review article, the therapeutic properties of Exos and their potential in the alleviation of compromised BBB structure were discussed. Video Abstract., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

As a common belief, most viruses can egress from the host cells as single particles and transmit to uninfected cells. Emerging data have revealed en bloc viral transmission as lipid bilayer-cloaked particles via extracellular vesicles especially exosomes (Exo). The supporting membrane can be originated from multivesicular bodies during intra-luminal vesicle formation and autophagic response. Exo are nano-sized particles, ranging from 40-200 nm, with the ability to harbor several types of signaling molecules from donor to acceptor cells in a paracrine manner, resulting in the modulation of specific signaling reactions in target cells. The phenomenon of Exo biogenesis consists of multiple and complex biological steps with the participation of diverse constituents and molecular pathways. Due to similarities between Exo biogenesis and virus replication and the existence of shared pathways, it is thought that viruses can hijack the Exo biogenesis machinery to spread and evade immune cells. To this end, Exo can transmit complete virions (as single units or aggregates), separate viral components, and naked genetic materials. The current review article aims to scrutinize challenges and opportunities related to the exosomal delivery of viruses in terms of viral infections and public health. Video Abstract., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Almost all clinical oncologists agree that the discovery of reliable, accessible, and non-invasive biomarkers is necessary to decrease cancer mortality. It is possible to employ reliable biomarkers to diagnose cancer in the early stages, predict the patient prognosis, follow up the response to treatment, and estimate the risk of disease recurrence with high sensitivity and specificity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially exosomes, have been the focus of translational research to develop such biomarkers over the past decade. The abundance and distribution of exosomes in bodily fluids, including serum, saliva, and urine, as well as their ability to transport various biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids) derived from their parent cells, make exosomes reliable, accessible, and potent biomarkers for diagnosis and follow-up of solid and hematopoietic tumors. In addition, exosomes play a vital role in various cellular processes, including tumor progression, by participating in intercellular communication. Although these advantages underline the high potential of tumor-derived exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers, the lack of standardized effective methods for their isolation, identification, and precise characterization makes their application challenging in clinical settings. We discuss the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cellular processes, and the role of tumor-derived exosomes containing ncRNAs as potential biomarkers in several types of cancer. In addition, the advantages and challenges of these studies for translation into clinical applications are covered., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in all the populations of the world. Although the BC mortality rate has declined, resistance to treatment is still a significant challenge for patient survival. Various cellular signaling pathways, such as Wnt and Rho/GTPase have been linked to the development, migration, and metastasis of BC, and also in treatment resistance mechanisms. Some studies have shown an association between two important cellular pathways, Wnt and Rho/GTPase, in cytoskeleton activation and cancer invasion. However, their involvement in BC has received little attention. This review summarizes the Wnt and Rho/GTPases signaling pathway functions, and also the crosstalk between these pathways in the progression, metastasis, and drug resistance mechanisms in BC. Considering the signaling pathways involved in BC tumorigenesis, future studies will need to investigate possible molecular interventions and new opportunities for the development of personalized strategies for BC treatment in order to improve overall outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Competing interests MRH declares the following potential conflicts of interest. Scientific Advisory Boards: Transdermal Cap Inc, Cleveland, OH; Hologenix Inc. Santa Monica, CA; Vielight, Toronto, Canada; JOOVV Inc, Minneapolis-St. Paul MN; Consulting; USHIO Corp, Japan; Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Stockholding: Niraxx Light Therapeutics, Inc, Irvine CA; JelikaLite Corp, New York NY. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Administration of antineoplastic drugs may cause azoospermia driving to subfertility. Production of animal azoospermia models is essential for evaluating new treatment methods before therapeutic interventions in human setup. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of Busulfan (an anticancer drug) on some vital organs and describe the best method and appropriate dose of Busulfan to induce an animal azoospermia model., Methods: Rats were randomly assigned into four groups, treatment groups received 10 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg Busulfan intraperitoneally (IP), 5 mg/kg Busulfan intratesticular (IT), and control group. Blood, bone marrow, liver, renal, and testes samples were collected for histological (H&E staining), biochemical (serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine, and urea), and hematological analyses., Results: Results revealed severe anemia and leukopenia in rats that received Busulfan via IP. By contrast, injection of 5 mg/kg Busulfan via IT did not cause anemia except with a mild decrease in RBC count. Non-significant differences in the M/E ratio were observed in all groups. The administration of 40 mg/kg of Busulfan led to evacuation and destruction in the spermatogenesis process with thin-walled seminiferous epithelium in most tubules, but in rats treated with 10 mg/kg of Busulfan, the normal spermatogenesis process was notified. IT injection of Busulfan contributed to the complete degradation of spermatogenesis in which all spermatogenic cells degenerated. In the renal tissue, hyperemia, extensive tubular necrosis degeneration, and hyaline casts were found after IP injection of Busulfan. In hepatic tissue, focal hemorrhagic, chronic cholangitis, and hepatocyte degeneration, and swelling were noticed. Biochemical analysis revealed apparent Busulfan toxicity of both hepatic and renal tissues in IP Busulfan-treated rats., Conclusions: In summary, we found that the intratesticular injection of low doses of Busulfan (5 mg/kg) is a relatively non-invasive and safe method for producing the rat azoospermia model causing the least toxicity on vital organs., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Abstract Background Domestic violence (DV) against women is a serious human rights abuse and well recognised global public health concern. The occurrence of DV is negatively associated with the educational level of spouses but studies dealing with educational discrepancies of spouses show contradicting results: Wives with higher education than their husbands were more likely to ever experience DV as compared to equally educated couples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between spousal education gap (SEG) and the prevalence and severity of DV in India and Bangladesh. Methods Nationally representative data collected through the 2005/2006 Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) and 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) were used. In total, we analysed data of 69,805 women aged 15–49 years (Bangladesh: 4,195 women, India: 65,610 women). In addition to univariate and bivariable analyses, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between education gap and less severe as well as severe domestic violence. Adjustment was made for age, religion, and family structure. Results Wives with higher education than their husbands were less likely to experience less severe (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77–0.89) and severe (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.72–0.87) DV as compared to equally low-educated spouses (reference group). Equally high-educated couples revealed the lowest likelihood of experiencing DV (severe violence: OR 0.43, CI 0.39–0.48; less severe violence: OR 0.59, CI 0.55–0.63). The model’s goodness of fit was low (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.152). Conclusions Our analysis revealed no increased DV among wives with a higher educational level than their husbands. Moreover, the results point towards a decrease of severe violence with an increase in education levels among spouses. However, the model did not explain a satisfying amount of DV. Therefore, further research should be done to reveal unknown determinants so that suitable interventions to reduce DV can be developed.

Abstract Background Urban health is of global concern because the majority of the world's population lives in urban areas. Although mental health problems (e.g. depression) in developing countries are highly prevalent, such issues are not yet adequately addressed in the rapidly urbanising megacities of these countries, where a growing number of residents live in slums. Little is known about the spectrum of mental well-being in urban slums and only poor knowledge exists on health promotive socio-physical environments in these areas. Using a geo-epidemiological approach, the present study identified factors that contribute to the mental well-being in the slums of Dhaka, which currently accommodates an estimated population of more than 14 million, including 3.4 million slum dwellers. Methods The baseline data of a cohort study conducted in early 2009 in nine slums of Dhaka were used. Data were collected from 1,938 adults (≥ 15 years). All respondents were geographically marked based on their households using global positioning systems (GPS). Very high-resolution land cover information was processed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to obtain additional exposure information. We used a factor analysis to reduce the socio-physical explanatory variables to a fewer set of uncorrelated linear combinations of variables. We then regressed these factors on the WHO-5 Well-being Index that was used as a proxy for self-rated mental well-being. Results Mental well-being was significantly associated with various factors such as selected features of the natural environment, flood risk, sanitation, housing quality, sufficiency and durability. We further identified associations with population density, job satisfaction, and income generation while controlling for individual factors such as age, gender, and diseases. Conclusions Factors determining mental well-being were related to the socio-physical environment and individual level characteristics. Given that mental well-being is associated with physiological well-being, our study may provide crucial information for developing better health care and disease prevention programmes in slums of Dhaka and other comparable settings.

Abstract Background Mortality exhibits seasonal variations, which to a certain extent can be considered as mid-to long-term influences of meteorological conditions. In addition to atmospheric effects, the seasonal pattern of mortality is shaped by non-atmospheric determinants such as environmental conditions or socioeconomic status. Understanding the influence of season and other factors is essential when seeking to implement effective public health measures. The pressures of climate change make an understanding of the interdependencies between season, climate and health especially important. Methods This study investigated daily death counts collected within the Sample Vital Registration System (VSRS) established by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The sample was stratified by location (urban vs. rural), gender and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, seasonality was analyzed for all-cause mortality, and several cause-specific mortalities. Daily deviation from average mortality was calculated and seasonal fluctuations were elaborated using non parametric spline smoothing. A seasonality index for each year of life was calculated in order to assess the age-dependency of seasonal effects. Results We found distinctive seasonal variations of mortality with generally higher levels during the cold season. To some extent, a rudimentary secondary summer maximum could be observed. The degree and shape of seasonality changed with the cause of death as well as with location, gender, and SES and was strongly age-dependent. Urban areas were seen to be facing an increased summer mortality peak, particularly in terms of cardiovascular mortality. Generally, children and the elderly faced stronger seasonal effects than youths and young adults. Conclusion This study clearly demonstrated the complex and dynamic nature of seasonal impacts on mortality. The modifying effect of spatial and population characteristics were highlighted. While tropical regions have been, and still are, associated with a marked excess of mortality in summer, only a weakly pronounced secondary summer peak could be observed for Bangladesh, possibly due to the reduced incidence of diarrhoea-related fatalities. These findings suggest that Bangladesh is undergoing an epidemiological transition from summer to winter excess mortality, as a consequence of changes in socioeconomic conditions and health care provision.

Abstract Background The deprived physical environments present in slums are well-known to have adverse health effects on their residents. However, little is known about the health effects of the social environments in slums. Moreover, neighbourhood quantitative spatial analyses of the mental health status of slum residents are still rare. The aim of this paper is to study self-rated mental health data in several slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh, by accounting for neighbourhood social and physical associations using spatial statistics. We hypothesised that mental health would show a significant spatial pattern in different population groups, and that the spatial patterns would relate to spatially-correlated health-determining factors (HDF). Methods We applied a spatial epidemiological approach, including non-spatial ANOVA/ANCOVA, as well as global and local univariate and bivariate Moran's I statistics. The WHO-5 Well-being Index was used as a measure of self-rated mental health. Results We found that poor mental health (WHO-5 scores < 13) among the adult population (age ≥15) was prevalent in all slum settlements. We detected spatially autocorrelated WHO-5 scores (i.e., spatial clusters of poor and good mental health among different population groups). Further, we detected spatial associations between mental health and housing quality, sanitation, income generation, environmental health knowledge, education, age, gender, flood non-affectedness, and selected properties of the natural environment. Conclusions Spatial patterns of mental health were detected and could be partly explained by spatially correlated HDF. We thereby showed that the socio-physical neighbourhood was significantly associated with health status, i.e., mental health at one location was spatially dependent on the mental health and HDF prevalent at neighbouring locations. Furthermore, the spatial patterns point to severe health disparities both within and between the slums. In addition to examining health outcomes, the methodology used here is also applicable to residuals of regression models, such as helping to avoid violating the assumption of data independence that underlies many statistical approaches. We assume that similar spatial structures can be found in other studies focussing on neighbourhood effects on health, and therefore argue for a more widespread incorporation of spatial statistics in epidemiological studies.

Abstract Background Worldwide one billion people are living in slum communities and experts projected that this number would double by 2030. Slum populations, which are increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh mainly due to rural-urban migration, are often neglected and characterized by poverty, poor housing, overcrowding, poor environment, and high prevalence of communicable diseases. Unfortunately, comparisons between women living in slums and those not living in slums are very limited in Bangladesh. The objectives of the study were to examine the association of living in slums (dichotomized as slum versus non-slum) with selected public health-related variables among women, first without adjusting for the influence of other factors and then in the presence of socio-economic variables. Methods Secondary data was used in this study. 120 women living in slums (as cases) and 480 age-matched women living in other areas (as controls) were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Many socio-economic and demographic variables were analysed. SPSS was used to perform simple as well as multiple analyses. P-values based on t-test and Wald test were also reported to show the significance level. Results Unadjusted results indicated that a significantly higher percent of women living in slums came from country side, had a poorer status by household characteristics, had less access to mass media, and had less education than women not living in slums. Mean BMI, knowledge of AIDS indicated by ever heard about AIDS, knowledge of avoiding AIDS by condom use, receiving adequate antenatal visits (4 or more) during the last pregnancy, and safe delivery practices assisted by skilled sources were significantly lower among women living in slums than those women living in other areas. However, all the unadjusted significant associations with the variable slum were greatly attenuated and became insignificant (expect safe delivery practices) when some socio-economic variables namely childhood place of residence, a composite variable of household characteristics, a composite variable of mass media access, and education were inserted into the multiple regression models. Taken together, childhood place of residence, the composite variable of mass media access, and education were the strongest predictors for the health related outcomes. Conclusion Reporting unadjusted findings of public health variables in women from slums versus non-slums can be misleading due to confounding factors. Our findings suggest that an association of childhood place of residence, mass media access and public health education should be considered before making any inference based on slum versus non-slum comparisons.

Carbohydrate structure can be elucidated or confirmed by using NMR spectroscopy as the prime technique. Prediction of 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts by computational approaches makes this assignment process more efficient and the program CASPER can perform this task rapidly. It does so by relying on chemical shift data of mono-, di-, and trisaccharides. In order to improve accuracy and quality of these predictions we have assigned 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts of 30 monosaccharides, 17 disaccharides, 10 trisaccharides and one tetrasaccharide; in total 58 compounds. Due to different rotamers, ring forms, α- and β-anomeric forms and pD conditions this resulted in 74 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shift data sets, all of which were refined using total line-shape analysis for the 1 H resonances in order to obtain accurate chemical shifts. Subsequent NMR chemical shift predictions for three sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides, viz., GD1a, a disialyl-LNnT hexasaccharide and a polysialic acid-lactose decasaccharide, and NMR-based structural elucidations of two O-antigen polysaccharides from E. coli O174 were performed by the CASPER program (http://www.casper.organ.su.se/casper/) resulting in very good to excellent agreement between experimental and predicted data thereby demonstrating its utility for carbohydrate compounds that have been chemically or enzymatically synthesized, structurally modified or isolated from nature., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Glucosyl transferase I (WaaG) in E. coli catalyzes the transfer of an α-d-glucosyl group to the inner core of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and plays an important role in the biogenesis of the outer membrane. If its activity could be inhibited, the integrity of the outer membrane would be compromised and the bacterium would be susceptible to antibiotics that are normally prevented from entering the cell. Herein, three libraries of molecules (A, B and C) were docked in the binding pocket of WaaG, utilizing the docking binding affinity as a filter to select fragment-based compounds for further investigations. From the results of the docking procedure, a selection of compounds was investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to obtain binding free energy (BFE) and K D values for ligands as an evaluation for the binding to WaaG. Derivatives of 1,3-thiazoles ( A7 and A4 ) from library A and 1,3,4-thiadiazole ( B33 < mM, viz., 0.11, 0.62 and 0.04 mM, respectively. Further root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD), electrostatic/van der Waals contribution to the binding and H-bond interactions displayed a favorable profile for ligands K D < mM, viz., 0.11, 0.62 and 0.04 mM, respectively. Further root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD), electrostatic/van der Waals contribution to the binding and H-bond interactions displayed a favorable profile for ligands A4 and B33 . Mannose and/or heptose-containing disaccharides C1-C4 , representing sub-structures of the inner core of the LPS, were also investigated by MD simulations, and compound C4 2- showed a calculated K D = 0.4 µM. In the presence of UDP-Glc 2- , the best-docked pose of disaccharide C4 2- is proximate to the glucose-binding site of WaaG. A study of the variation in angle and distance was performed on the different portions of WaaG (N-, the C- domains and the hinge region). The Spearman correlation coefficient between the two variables was close to unity, where both variables increase in the same way, suggesting a conformational rearrangement of the protein during the MD simulation, revealing molecular motions of the enzyme that may be part of the catalytic cycle. Selected compounds were also analyzed by Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR experiments. STD effects were notable for the 1,3-thiazole derivatives A4 , A8 and A15 with the apo form of the protein as well as in the presence of UDP for A4 .

Aims: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of amniotic fluid-derived extracellular vesicles including exosomes (AF-Exos) on the recovery of sperm production capacity in a rat model of azoospermia., Main Methods: The non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) was induced in rats using intratesticular administration of Busulfan. Azoospermia was confirmed by testis histology. AF-Exos samples containing 10 or 40 μg exosomal proteins were injected into testicular tissue of NOA rats. After two months, the recovery of spermatogenesis was monitored via histopathological staining, spermiogram, and hormonal analysis. Immunohistochemistry staining for OCT-3/4 was used to identify of spermatogonial progenitors. The expression of DAZL and VASA, was also measured., Key Findings: AF-Exos exhibited sphere-shaped morphology with the mean diameter and zeta potential of 50 ± 7.521 nm and -7.16 mV. Immunoblots revealed that isolated nanoparticles were CD63, CD9, and CD81 positive. Histopathological evaluation revealed that spermatogenesis was improved significantly in NOA rats after AF-Exos injection. Data showed that the sperm parameters and spermatogenesis index were significantly improved after AF-Exos injection compared to azoospermic groups. OCT-3/4 + cells were increased in NOA rats after AF-Exos injection, showing the restoration of spermatogenesis. In the present study, both doses of exosome (10 and 40 μg) restored the testicular function of NOA rats. DAZL and VASA were increased significantly in animals who received 40 μg exosomal protein compared to azoospermic rats. Except in a high dose of AF-Exos (40 μg) for Testosterone and FSH, no statistically significant differences were found regarding hormones post-exosome injection., Significance: Our study demonstrated that AF-Exos regenerated spermatogenesis and improved sperm quality in NOA rats., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the implementation of codes and declarations of medical research ethics, unethical behavior is still reported among researchers. Most of the medical faculties have included topics related to medical research ethics and developed ethical committees; yet, in some cases, unethical behaviors are still observed, and many obstacles are still conferring to applying these guidelines., Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted by interviewing randomly selected 331 Lebanese physicians across Lebanon, to assess their awareness, knowledge and attitudes on practice regarding international and national research ethics guidelines (Lebanese decrees/Laws and CNRS chart of ethics) and scientific misconduct and misbehaviors., Results: Our results revealed that although majority of participants declared familiar with ethical principles governing research that involves human subjects (79.5%), the overall mean score achieved on their knowledge questions was 46%. Only 27.4% are aware of the presence of the Lebanese National Consultative Committee on Ethics (LNCCE), with only half of them aware of its functions and only 25.7% know about the charter of ethics and guiding principles of scientific research in Lebanon. Significant higher levels of research ethics knowledge were recorded among Ph.D. degree-holding subjects, higher university positions as in professors, research ethics trainings-attendees, and physicians with prior research experience. A significant correlation was observed between knowledge of research ethics principles and positive attitudes toward research ethics principles. Noteworthy, we found that more than one third of participants have reported witnessing scientific misconduct and misbehaviors at some period of their careers., Conclusions: The presence of low mean awareness levels regarding research ethical principles among the study population of physicians and high levels of perception of scientific misconduct raises concern on the importance of implementing proper training for physicians on research ethics.

Background: Infertility is a major problem worldwide. Various strategies are being used to develop better treatments for infertility and The most trending strategy is the stem cell therapy. In this study, the literature on stem cell therapy for ovarian disorders is summarized with analysis of current developments., Objective: Different published studies on stem cell-based therapy for the treatment of various types of ovarian insufficiency and disorders such as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) in the affected female population in animal or human clinical studies are systematically reviewed., Methods: We monitored five databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest. A comprehensive online search was done using the criteria targeting the application of stem cells in animal models for menopause. Two independent reviewers carefully evaluated titles and abstracts of studies. The stem cell type, source, dosage, route of administration were highlighted in various POI animals models. Non-relevant and review articles were excluded., Outcomes: 648 published studies were identified during the initial comprehensive search process from which 41 were selected according to designed criteria. Based on our analysis, stem cells could accelerate ovarian tissues rejuvenation, regulate systemic sex-related hormones levels and eventually increase fertility rate., Conclusion: The evidence suggests that stem cell-based therapies could be considered as an alternative modality to deal with women undergoing POI., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)