bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Inflammatory and Insulinemic Potentials, Plasma Metabolome and Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Lee Dong Hoon , Jin Qi , Shi Ni , Wang Fenglei , Bever Alaina M. , Li Jun , Liang Liming , Hu Frank B. , Song Mingyang , Zeleznik Oana A. , Zhang Xuehong , Joshi Amit , Wu Kana , Jeon Justin Y. , Meyerhardt Jeffrey A. , Chan Andrew T. , Eliassen A. Heather , Clish Clary B. , Clinton Steven K. , Giovannucci Edward L. , Tabung Fred K.
Published: June 2023

The inflammatory and insulinemic potentials of diets have been associated with colorectal cancer risk. However, it is unknown whether the plasma metabolite profiles related to inflammatory diets, or to insulinemic diets, underlie this association. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between metabolomic profile scores related to the food-based empirical dietary inflammatory patterns (EDIP), the empirical dietary index for hyperinsulinemia (EDIH), and plasma inflammation (CRP, IL-6, TNFα-R2, adiponectin) and insulin (C-peptide) biomarkers, and colorectal cancer risk. Elastic net regression was used to derive three metabolomic profile scores for each dietary pattern among 6840 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and associations with CRC risk were examined using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, in a case-control study of 524 matched pairs nested in both cohorts. Among 186 known metabolites, 27 were significantly associated with both the EDIP and inflammatory biomarkers, and 21 were significantly associated with both the EDIH and C-peptide. In men, odds ratios (ORs) of colorectal cancer, per 1 standard deviation (SD) increment in metabolomic score, were 1.91 (1.31–2.78) for the common EDIP and inflammatory-biomarker metabolome, 1.12 (0.78–1.60) for EDIP-only metabolome, and 1.65 (1.16–2.36) for the inflammatory-biomarkers-only metabolome. However, no association was found for EDIH-only, C-peptide-only, and the common metabolomic signatures in men. Moreover, the metabolomic signatures were not associated with colorectal cancer risk among women. Metabolomic profiles reflecting pro-inflammatory diets and inflammation biomarkers were associated with colorectal cancer risk in men, while no association was found in women. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
In Situ Measurement and Reconstruction Technology of Cylindrical Shape of High-Precision Mandrel
Authors: Xu Hanwei , Sun Zizhou , Dai Yifan , Guan Chaoliang , Hu Hao
Published: June 2023

The technology of in situ measurement of cylindrical shapes is an important means of improving the surface machining accuracy of cylindrical workpieces. As a method of cylindricity measurement, the principle of the three-point method has not been fully studied and applied, so it is seldom used in the field of high-precision cylindrical topography measurement. Since the three-point method has the advantages of a simpler measurement structure and smaller system error compared with other multi-point methods, the research on it is still of great significance. Based on the existing research results of the three-point method, this paper proposes the in situ measurement and reconstruction technology of the cylindrical shape of a high-precision mandrel by means of a three-point method. The principle of the technology is deduced in detail and an in situ measurement and reconstruction system is built to carry out the experiments. Experiment results are verified using a commercial roundness meter and the deviation of cylindricity measurement results is 10 nm, which is 2.56% of the measurement results of commercial roundness meters. This paper also discusses the advantages and application prospects of the proposed technology.
Pyrolytic Graphite for an In-Plane Force Study of Diamagnetic Levitation: A Potential Microdetector of Cracks in Magnetic Material
Authors: Liu Runze , Yang Wenjiang , Xiang Hongjun , Zhao Peng , Deng Fuwen , Yan Juzhuang
Published: June 2023

The diamagnetic levitation technique can be applied in non-destructive testing for identifying cracks and defects in magnetic materials. Pyrolytic graphite is a material that can be leveraged in micromachines due to its no-power diamagnetic levitation on a permanent magnet (PM) array. However, the damping force applied to pyrolytic graphite prevents it from maintaining continuous motion along the PM array. This study investigated the diamagnetic levitation process of pyrolytic graphite on a permanent magnet array from various aspects and drew several important conclusions. Firstly, the intersection points on the permanent magnet array had the lowest potential energy and validated the stable levitation of pyrolytic graphite on these points. Secondly, the force exerted on the pyrolytic graphite during in-plane motion was at the micronewton level. The magnitude of the in-plane force and the stable time of the pyrolytic graphite were related to the size ratio between it and the PM. During the fixed-axis rotation process, the friction coefficient and friction force decreased as the rotational speed decreased. Smaller-sized pyrolytic graphite can be used for magnetic detection, precise positioning and other microdevices. The diamagnetic levitation of pyrolytic graphite can also be used for detecting cracks and defects in magnetic materials. We hope this technique will be used in crack detection, magnetic detection and other micromachines.
Functional Study and Efficient Catalytic Element Mining of CYP76AHs in Salvia Plants
Authors: Zhao Zhenyu , Yang Dongfeng , Guo Juan , Liu Xiuyu , Li Qishuang , Su Ping , Wang Jian , Ma Ying , Huang Luqi
Published: June 2023

Salvia is a large genus with hundreds of species used in traditional Chinese medicine. Tanshinones are a highly representative class of exclusive compounds found in the Salvia genus that exhibit significant biological activity. Tanshinone components have been identified in 16 Salvia species. The CYP76AH subfamily (P450) is crucial for the synthesis of tanshinone due to its catalytic generation of polyhydroxy structures. In this study, a total of 420 CYP76AH genes were obtained, and phylogenetic analysis showed their clear clustering relationships. Fifteen CYP76AH genes from 10 Salvia species were cloned and studied from the perspectives of evolution and catalytic efficiency. Three CYP76AHs with significantly improved catalytic efficiency compared to SmCYP76AH3 were identified, providing efficient catalytic elements for the synthetic biological production of tanshinones. A structure–function relationship study revealed several conserved residues that might be related to the function of CYP76AHs and provided a new mutation direction for the study of the directed evolution of plant P450.
Ab Initio Calculations on the Ground and Excited Electronic States of Thorium–Ammonia, Thorium–Aza-Crown, and Thorium–Crown Ether Complexes
Authors: Lu Zhongyuan , Jackson Benjamin A. , Miliordos Evangelos
Published: June 2023

Positively charged metal–ammonia complexes are known to host peripheral, diffuse electrons around their molecular skeleton. The resulting neutral species form materials known as expanded or liquid metals. Alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metals have been investigated previously in experimental and theoretical studies of both the gas and condensed phase. This work is the first ab initio exploration of an f-block metal–ammonia complex. The ground and excited states are calculated for Th0–3+ complexes with ammonia, crown ethers, and aza-crown ethers. For Th3+ complexes, the one valence electron Th populates the metal’s 6d or 7f orbitals. For Th0–2+, the additional electrons prefer occupation of the outer s- and p-type orbitals of the complex, except Th(NH3)10, which uniquely places all four electrons in outer orbitals of the complex. Although thorium coordinates up to ten ammonia ligands, octa-coordinated complexes are more stable. Crown ether complexes have a similar electronic spectrum to ammonia complexes, but excitations of electrons in the outer orbitals of the complex are higher in energy. Aza-crown ethers disfavor the orbitals perpendicular to the crowns, attributed to the N-H bonds pointing along the plane of the crowns.
The History of mARC
Authors: Clement Bernd , Struwe Michel
Published: June 2023

The mitochondrial amidoxime-reducing component (mARC) is the most recently discovered molybdoenzyme in humans after sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase. Here, the timeline of mARC’s discovery is briefly described. The story begins with investigations into N-oxidation of pharmaceutical drugs and model compounds. Many compounds are N-oxidized extensively in vitro, but it turned out that a previously unknown enzyme catalyzes the retroreduction of the N-oxygenated products in vivo. After many years, the molybdoenzyme mARC could finally be isolated and identified in 2006. mARC is an important drug-metabolizing enzyme and N-reduction by mARC has been exploited very successfully for prodrug strategies, that allow oral administration of otherwise poorly bioavailable therapeutic drugs. Recently, it was demonstrated that mARC is a key factor in lipid metabolism and likely involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The exact link between mARC and lipid metabolism is not yet fully understood. Regardless, many now consider mARC a potential drug target for the prevention or treatment of liver diseases. This article focusses on discoveries related to mammalian mARC enzymes. mARC homologues have been studied in algae, plants and bacteria. These will not be discussed extensively here.
Preparation of Original and Calcined Layered Double Hydroxide as Low-Cost Adsorbents: The Role of the Trivalent Cation on Methylene Blue Adsorption
Authors: Trujillano Raquel , Rives Vicente , Miguel Rodrigo , González Beatriz
Published: June 2023

Layered double hydroxides with the hydrotalcite-like structure, containing Mg2+, Al3+, and Fe3+ (with different Al/Fe ratios) in the layers, have been synthesized and fully characterized, as have the mixed oxides formed upon their calcination at 500 °C. Both series of solids (original and calcined ones) have been tested for methylene blue adsorption. In the case of the Fe-containing sample, oxidation of methylene blue takes place simultaneously with adsorption. For the calcined samples, their reconstruction to the hydrotalcite-like structure plays an important role in their adsorption ability.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.) Briq
Authors: Barrientos Ramírez Lucia , Silva Guzmán José Antonio , Osorio Muñoz Edison Antonio , Alvarez Moya Carlos , Reynoso Silva Mónica , Cetina Corona Abraham Francisco , Casas Solis Josefina , Vargas Radillo J. Jesús
Published: June 2023

Satureja macrostema is a plant that is located in various regions of Mexico and is used in a traditional way against illness. Essential oils (EOs) were obtained from leaves Satureja macrostema and the chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant effect of the oil was assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC). In vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was determined using a broth microdilution assay and thin layer chromatography–direct bioautography (TLC-DB) to identify active antibacterial compounds. The EOs analysis showed 21 compounds, 99% terpenes, and 96% oxygenated monoterpenes, with trans-piperitone epoxide (46%), cis-piperitone epoxide (22%), and piperitenone oxide (11%) as more abundant compounds. Likewise, S. macrostema EOs showed an antioxidant activity of DPPH = 82%, with 50% free radical scavenging (IC50) = 7 mg/mL and TEAC = 0.005, an antibacterial effect against E. coli of 73% inhibition, and 81% over S. aureus at dose of 100 µL of undiluted crude oil. The TLC-DB assay showed that the most active compounds were derived from piperitone. The comparison with other studies on S. macrostema shows variability in the compounds and their abundances, which can be attributed to climatic factors and the maturity of plants with similar antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Effect of Boric Acid on the Ionization Equilibrium of α-Hydroxy Carboxylic Acids and the Study of Its Applications
Authors: Qin Rongxiu , Chen Haiyan , Wen Rusi , Li Guiqing , Meng Zhonglei
Published: June 2023

To investigate the synergistic catalytic effects of boric acid and α-hydroxycarboxylic acids (HCAs), we analyzed and measured the effects of the complexation reactions between boric acid and HCAs on the ionization equilibrium of the HCAs. Eight HCAs, glycolic acid, D-(−)-lactic acid, (R)-(−)-mandelic acid, D-gluconic acid, L-(−)-malic acid, L-(+)-tartaric acid, D-(−)-tartaric acid, and citric acid, were selected to measure the pH changes in aqueous HCA solutions after adding boric acid. The results showed that the pH values of the aqueous HCA solutions gradually decreased with an increase in the boric acid molar ratio, and the acidity coefficients when boric acid formed double-ligand complexes with HCAs were smaller than those of the single-ligand complexes. The more hydroxyl groups the HCA contained, the more types of complexes could be formed, and the greater the rate of change in the pH. The total rates of change in the pH of the HCA solutions were in the following order: citric acid > L-(−)-tartaric acid = D-(−)-tartaric acid > D-gluconic acid > (R)-(−)-mandelic acid > L-(−)-malic acid > D-(−)-lactic acid > glycolic acid. The composite catalyst of boric acid and tartaric acid had a high catalytic activity—the yield of methyl palmitate was 98%. After the reaction, the catalyst and methanol could be separated by standing stratification.
Photo-Excited Metasurface for Tunable Terahertz Reflective Circular Polarization Conversion and Anomalous Beam Deflection at Two Frequencies Independently
Authors: Xu Zhixiang , Ni Cheng , Cheng Yongzhi , Dong Linhui , Wu Ling
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a photo-excited metasurface (MS) based on hybrid patterned photoconductive silicon (Si) structures was proposed in the terahertz (THz) region, which can realize the tunable reflective circular polarization (CP) conversion and beam deflection effect at two frequencies independently. The unit cell of the proposed MS consists of a metal circular-ring (CR), Si ellipse-shaped-patch (ESP) and circular-double-split-ring (CDSR) structure, a middle dielectric substrate, and a bottom metal ground plane. By altering the external infrared-beam pumping power, it is possible to modify the electric conductivity of both the Si ESP and CDSR components. By varying the conductivity of the Si array in this manner, the proposed MS can achieve a reflective CP conversion efficiency that ranges from 0% to 96.6% at a lower frequency of 0.65 THz, and from 0% to 89.3% at a higher frequency of 1.37 THz. Furthermore, the corresponding modulation depth of this MS is as high as 96.6% and 89.3% at two distinct and independent frequencies, respectively. Moreover, at the lower and higher frequencies, the 2π phase shift can also be achieved by respectively rotating the oriented angle (αi) of the Si ESP and CDSR structures. Finally, an MS supercell is constructed for the reflective CP beam deflection, and the efficiency is dynamically tuned from 0% to 99% at the two independent frequencies. Due to its excellent photo-excited response, the proposed MS may find potential applications in active functional THz wavefront devices, such as modulators, switches, and deflectors.
Diet and Acanthosis Nigricans over a Two-Year Period in Children of the Pacific Region
Authors: Taren Douglas , Alaofè Halimatou , Yamanaka Ashley B. , Coleman Patricia , Fleming Travis , Aflague Tanisha , Shallcross Leslie , Wilkens Lynne , Novotny Rachel
Published: June 2023

Background: The impact that dietary carbohydrates have on children developing type 2 diabetes remains controversial. Furthermore, there are limited pediatric longitudinal studies on changes in body mass index (BMI) and diet related to the development of acanthosis nigricans (AN), a risk factor associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Two 24 h dietary records were collected for 558 children, 2–8 years of age, at baseline and at a 2-year follow-up. Data on age, sex, BMI, and the presence of AN were also collected at each time point from the Children’s Healthy Living Program. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with the presence of AN at follow-up. Multinominal regression was used to determine factors associated with changes in AN status. Linear regression was used to measure the associations between changes in dietary intake and in the Burke Score for AN. Results: AN was present in 28 children at baseline and 34 children at follow-up. Adjusting for the presence of AN at baseline, age, sex, study group, baseline BMI, change in BMI z-score, time between assessments, and baseline intake, an increase from baseline for each teaspoon of sugar and serving of carbohydrate-rich food increased the risk for having AN at follow-up by 9% and 8%, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). An increased intake of added sugar (teaspoons) increased the risk of developing AN by 13% (p ≤ 0.01) and an increase in servings of foods rich in starch increased the risk of developing AN by 12% (p ≤ 0.01) compared to children who never had AN. Increasing the intake of fruit was also associated with decreased Burke Scores using multiple regression. However, the intake of energy and macronutrients were not associated with AN. Conclusions: Added sugar and foods rich in starch were independently associated with the occurrence of AN, suggesting the type of carbohydrates consumed is a factor in AN occurrence.
The Possible Influence of Vitamin D Levels on the Development of Atrial Fibrillation—An Update
Authors: Graczyk Szymon , Grzeczka Arkadiusz , Pasławska Urszula , Kordowitzki Pawel
Published: June 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a severe and most common supraventricular arrhythmia in humans, which, if left untreated or treated ineffectively, can lead to ischemic stroke or heart failure. It has been suggested that serum vitamin D (VitD) deficiency may be one of the critical factors influencing the onset of AF, especially in the period after cardiac surgery, such as coronary artery bypass grafting. Several papers have indicated that VitD supplementation reduces the risk of AF, significantly reducing the proportion of patients between the control and study groups in both the pre- and postoperative periods. Factors that increase the risk of AF from VitD deficiency are also further indicated, and these are age, gender, weight, season or comorbidities. In addition, the cardiodepressive mechanism of VitD is not fully understood; however, it is suggested that it acts through at least two pathways. The first indicates a direct effect of VitD on atrial muscle degradation, while the second is related to the modulation of cardiovascular depression factors. Despite many reports showing correlations between no VitD concentrations on the development of AF, this topic is still widely debated and the results from these papers are still subject to doubt. Therefore, this review aims at describing in detail the problem of correlation between VitD deficiency and the development of AF associated mainly with the postoperative period, i.e., after cardiac surgery, especially pathogenesis, and results of this correlation, taking into account recent studies, limitations and future perspectives. Due to the fact that this is still a topical problem, we believe that the collection of the latest reports and a detailed description of the problem is most appropriate in this case.
Standard Hypercaloric, Hyperproteic vs. Leucine-Enriched Oral Supplements in Patients with Cancer-Induced Sarcopenia, a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Herrera-Martínez Aura D. , León Idougourram Soraya , Muñoz Jiménez Concepción , Rodríguez-Alonso Rosa , Alonso Echague Rosario , Chica Palomino Sonia , Sanz Sanz Ana , Manzano García Gregorio , Gálvez Moreno María Ángeles , Calañas Continente Alfonso , Molina Puertas María José
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: Malnutrition frequently affects patients with cancer, and it negatively impacts treatment tolerance, clinical outcomes and survival. Thus, appropriate nutritional screening and early nutrition support are extremely recommended. Currently, a significant number of oral supplements (OS) are commercially available; despite this, there is a lack of evidence for recommending specific OS, including leucine-enriched OS, for nutritional support in patients with cancer. (2) Aim: To compare the clinical evolution of patients with cancer (undergoing systemic treatment) that received standard hypercaloric, whey protein-based hyperproteic oral supplements vs. hypercaloric, hyperproteic leucine-enriched OS using a novel morphofunctional nutritional evaluation. (3) Patients and methods: This paper details an open-label, controlled clinical study in which patients were randomly assigned to receive nutritional treatment with whey protein-based hyperproteic oral supplements (control group) vs. hypercaloric, hyperproteic leucine-enriched OS (intervention group) during a twelve-week period. Forty-six patients were included; epidemiological, clinical, anthropometric, ultrasound (muscle echography of the rectus femoris muscle of the quadriceps and abdominal adipose tissue) and biochemical evaluation were performed. All patients received additional supplementation with vitamin D. (4) Results: Nutritional parameters (including bioimpedance, anthropometric, ultrasound and biochemical variables) of all included patients remained stable after the nutritional intervention. Extracellular mass tended to increase in the patients that received the leucine-enriched formula. Functionality (evaluated through the stand-up test) improved in both groups (p < 0.001). Prealbumin, transferrin levels and superficial adipose tissue increased in the control group (p < 0.05), while self-reported quality of life improved in all the evaluated patients (p < 0.001). (5) Conclusions: Nutritional support with hypercaloric, hyperproteic (with whey protein) OS and vitamin D supplementation were associated with the maintenance of body composition and improvements in functionality and in quality of life in the patients with cancer undergoing systemic treatment. No significant benefits were observed when a leucine-enriched formula was used.
Unrestricted Ketogenic Diet Feeding Enhances Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Growth In Vivo
Authors: AlHilli Mariam M. , Rhoades Emily E. , Chau Danielle , Tewari Surabhi , Reich Adrian , Myers Alex , Lindner Daniel J. , Lathia Justin D. , Zhang Renliang , Willard Belinda , Cresci Gail , Berger Nathan A. , Reizes Ofer
Published: June 2023

The ketogenic diet (KD) is hypothesized to impact tumor progression by altering tumor metabolism. In this study, we assessed the impact of an unrestricted KD on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tumor growth, gene expression, and metabolite concentration in a mouse model. ID8 EOC cells, which were syngeneic with C57Bl/6J mouse strain and transfected with luciferase (ID8-luc), were injectedand monitored for tumor development. Female mice were fed either a strict KD, a high fat/low carbohydrate (HF/LC) diet, or a low fat/high carbohydrate (LF/HC) diet (n = 10 mice per group) ad libitum. EOC tumor growth was monitored weekly, and tumor burden was determined based on luciferase fluorescence (photons/second). At the endpoint (42 days), tumors were collected and processed for RNA sequencing. Plasma and tumor metabolites were evaluated using LC-MS. The KD-fed mice exhibited a statistically significant increase in tumor progression in comparison to the HF/LC- and LF/HC-fed groups (9.1 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.1-fold, respectively, p < 0.001). The EOC tumors of the KD-fed mice exhibited significant enrichment of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling and fatty acid metabolism pathways based on the RNA sequencing analysis when compared to the LF/HC- and HF/LC-fed mice. Thus, unrestricted KD diet enhanced tumor progression in our mouse EOC model. KD was associated with the upregulation of fatty acid metabolism and regulation pathways, as well as enrichment of fatty acid and glutamine metabolites.
Uncovering Knowledge Gaps in the Safety Profile of Antiangiogenic Drugs in Cancer Patients: Insights from Spontaneous Reporting Systems Studies
Authors: Ciccone Valerio , Ziche Marina , Spini Andrea , Donnini Sandra
Published: June 2023

Global repositories of postmarketing safety reports improve understanding of real-life drug toxicities, often not observed in clinical trials. The aim of this scoping review was to map the evidence from spontaneous reporting systems studies (SRSs) of antiangiogenic drugs (AADs) in cancer patients and highlight if the found disproportionality signals of adverse events (AEs) were validated and thus mentioned in the respective Summary of product Characteristics (SmPC). This scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. A knowledge gap on the safety of AADs was found: firstly, several cardiovascular AEs were not mentioned in the SmPCs and no pharmacovigilance studies were conducted despite the well-known safety concerns about these drugs on the cardiovascular system. Second, a disproportionality signal (not validated through causality assessment) of pericardial disease was found in the literature for axitinib with no mention in SmPC of the drug. Despite the exclusion of pharmacoepidemiological studies, we believe that this scoping review, which focuses on an entire class of drugs, could be considered as a novel approach to highlight possible safety concerns of drugs and as a guide for the conduction of a target postmarketing surveillance on AADs.
The Outcomes and Adverse Drug Patterns of Immunomodulators and Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia Egyptian Patients with Hemorrhage Comorbidity
Authors: Hamed Eman Mostafa , Ibrahim Ahmed R. N. , Meabed Mohamed Hussein , Khalaf Ahmed M. , El Demerdash Doaa Mohamed , Elgendy Marwa O. , Saeed Haitham , Salem Heba F. , Rabea Hoda
Published: June 2023

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treatment has evolved recently. However, none of the treatments have only benefits without drawbacks. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and adverse drug patterns of Eltrombopag, Romiplostim, Prednisolone + Azathioprine, High Dose-dexamethasone (HD-DXM) (control group), and Rituximab in primary ITP Egyptian patients. All patients were initiated with corticosteroids, HD-DXM, as a first-line treatment for the first month immediately following diagnosis. Four hundred sixty-seven ITP patients were randomly assigned to five groups. The outcome measures were judged at baseline, at the end of treatment (6 months), and after an additional 6-month free treatment period. The follow-up period for which relapse is noted was 6 months after the end of treatment. Eltrombopag and Romiplostim resulted in a significantly higher incidence of sustained response than Rituximab, HD-DXM, and Prednisolone + Azathioprine (55.2% and 50.6% vs. 29.2%, 29.1%, and 18%, respectively; p-value < 0.001). More patients on immunomodulators (Prednisolone+ Azathioprine, HD-DXM, and Rituximab) relapsed than those on Romiplostim and Eltrombopag (81.9%, 70.8%, and 70.7% vs. 49.3%, and 44.7%, respectively; p-value < 0.01). We also describe 23 reports of pulmonary hypertension with Prednisolone+ Azathioprine and 13 reports with HD-DXM. The thrombotic events occurred in 16.6% and 13% of patients who received Eltrombopag and Romiplostim treatment, respectively. Most patients had at least one or two risk factors (92.8% of cases). Corticosteroids are effective first-line therapy in primary ITP patients. However, relapse is frequent. Eltrombopag and Romiplostim are safer and more effective than Prednisolone, HD-DXM, and Rituximab. They might be reasonable beneficial options after a one-month HD-DXM regimen.
Gender Differences in Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use among Older Adults
Authors: Alwhaibi Monira , Balkhi Bander
Published: June 2023

Background: Use of potentially inappropriate medication (PIMs) is a prominent concern that leads to significant medication-related issues among older adults. Notably, older women tend to utilize more medicines than men; older women frequently take more drugs. In addition, some evidence suggests that prescription PIMs vary by gender. This study examines the gender-based variation in prescribing PIM among older adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from a large hospital in Saudi Arabia was carried out. Patients over the age of 65 who received ambulatory treatment were included in the study. The utilization of PIM was assessed based on Beers criteria. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed to describe patterns of PIM utilization and identify factors associated with their use. All statistical analyses were performed using Version 9.4 of the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS® 9.4). Results: The study comprised 4062 older people (age 65) who visited ambulatory care clinics; the average age was (72.6 ± 6.2) years. The majority of the study sample was women (56.8%). Among older adults, 44.7% of older men and 58.3% of older women reported having PIMs that should be avoided, indicating a higher prevalence of PIMs among women compared to men. In terms of the PIM categories used, women had a much higher utilization rate of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal drugs than men. In men, the use of PIMs was frequently associated with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, asthma, osteoarthritis, and cancer, while in women PIM use was associated with age, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and osteoporosis. Conclusions: This study revealed sex differences in PIM prescribing among older adults; PIM use is more common among women. Sex differences exist in clinical and socioeconomic characteristics and factors related to using potentially inappropriate medications. This study revealed essential areas that could be targeted by further interventions to improve drug-prescribing practices among older adults at risk of PIM.
Current Strategies in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Photodynamic Diagnostics (PDD) and the Future Potential of Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Olszowy Marta , Nowak-Perlak Martyna , Woźniak Marta
Published: June 2023

Photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are well-established medical technologies used for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms. They rely on the use of photosensitizers, light and oxygen to visualize or eliminate cancer cells. This review demonstrates the recent advancements in these modalities with the use of nanotechnology, including quantum dots as innovative photosensitizers or energy donors, liposomes and micelles. Additionally, this literature review explores the combination of PDT with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery for treating various neoplasms. The article also focuses on the latest achievements in PDD and PDT enhancements, which seem to be very promising in the field of oncology.
Naïve or Engineered Extracellular Vesicles from Different Cell Sources: Therapeutic Tools for Kidney Diseases
Authors: Ceccotti Elena , Saccu Gabriele , Herrera Sanchez Maria Beatriz , Bruno Stefania
Published: June 2023

Renal pathophysiology is a multifactorial process involving different kidney structures. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical condition characterized by tubular necrosis and glomerular hyperfiltration. The maladaptive repair after AKI predisposes to the onset of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). CKD is a progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function, characterized by fibrosis that could lead to end stage renal disease. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of the most recent scientific publications analyzing the therapeutic potential of Extracellular Vesicles (EV)-based treatments in different animal models of AKI and CKD. EVs from multiple sources act as paracrine effectors involved in cell-cell communication with pro-generative and low immunogenic properties. They represent innovative and promising natural drug delivery vehicles used to treat experimental acute and chronic kidney diseases. Differently from synthetic systems, EVs can cross biological barriers and deliver biomolecules to the recipient cells inducing a physiological response. Moreover, new methods for improving the EVs as carriers have been introduced, such as the engineering of the cargo, the modification of the proteins on the external membrane, or the pre-conditioning of the cell of origin. The new nano-medicine approaches based on bioengineered EVs are an attempt to enhance their drug delivery capacity for potential clinical applications.
Towards Sustainable Recycling of Epoxy-Based Polymers: Approaches and Challenges of Epoxy Biodegradation
Authors: Klose Leon , Meyer-Heydecke Neele , Wongwattanarat Sasipa , Chow Jennifer , Pérez García Pablo , Carré Camille , Streit Wolfgang , Antranikian Garabed , Romero Ana Malvis , Liese Andreas
Published: June 2023

Epoxy resins are highly valued for their remarkable mechanical and chemical properties and are extensively used in various applications such as coatings, adhesives, and fiber-reinforced composites in lightweight construction. Composites are especially important for the development and implementation of sustainable technologies such as wind power, energy-efficient aircrafts, and electric cars. Despite their advantages, their non-biodegradability raises challenges for the recycling of polymer and composites in particular. Conventional methods employed for epoxy recycling are characterized by their high energy consumption and the utilization of toxic chemicals, rendering them rather unsustainable. Recent progress has been made in the field of plastic biodegradation, which is considered more sustainable than energy-intensive mechanical or thermal recycling methods. However, the current successful approaches in plastic biodegradation are predominantly focused on polyester-based polymers, leaving more recalcitrant plastics underrepresented in this area of research. Epoxy polymers, characterized by their strong cross-linking and predominantly ether-based backbone, exhibit a highly rigid and durable structure, placing them within this category. Therefore, the objective of this review paper is to examine the various approaches that have been employed for the biodegradation of epoxy so far. Additionally, the paper sheds light on the analytical techniques utilized in the development of these recycling methods. Moreover, the review addresses the challenges and opportunities entailed in epoxy recycling through bio-based approaches.
Unlocking the Potential of Lignocellulosic Biomass Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) in Bioplastics, Biocomposites and Various Commercial Applications
Authors: Taharuddin N. H. , Jumaidin R. , Mansor M. R. , Hazrati K. Z. , Tarique J. , Asyraf M. R. M. , Razman M. R.
Published: June 2023

Dragon fruit, also called pitaya or pitahaya, is in the family Cactaceae. It is found in two genera: ‘Selenicereus’ and ‘Hylocereus’. The substantial growth in demand intensifies dragon fruit processing operations, and waste materials such as peels and seeds are generated in more significant quantities. The transformation of waste materials into value-added components needs greater focus since managing food waste is an important environmental concern. Two well-known varieties of dragon fruit are pitaya (Stenocereus) and pitahaya (Hylocereus), which are different in their sour and sweet tastes. The flesh of the dragon fruit constitutes about two-thirds (~65%) of the fruit, and the peel is approximately one-third (~22%). Dragon fruit peel is believed to be rich in pectin and dietary fibre. In this regard, extracting pectin from dragon fruit peel can be an innovative technology that minimises waste disposal and adds value to the peel. Dragon fruit are currently used in several applications, such as bioplastics, natural dyes and cosmetics. Further research is recommended for diverging its development in various areas and maturing the innovation of its usage.
Migration of Dihydroxy Alkylamines and Their Possible Impurities from Packaging into Foods and Food Simulants: Analysis and Safety Evaluation
Authors: Lestido-Cardama Antía , Barbosa-Pereira Letricia , Sendón Raquel , Paseiro Losada Perfecto , Rodríguez Bernaldo de Quirós Ana
Published: June 2023

Alkyl diethanolamines are a group of compounds commonly used as antistatic agents in plastic food packaging materials. These additives and their possible impurities have the ability to transfer into the food; hence, the consumer may be exposed to these chemicals. Recently, scientific evidence of unknown adverse effects associated with these compounds was reported. N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl (C8-C18) amines as well as other related compounds and their possible impurities were analyzed in different plastic packaging materials and coffee capsules using target and non-target LC-MS methods. N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl amines, precisely, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17 and C18, 2-(octadecylamino)ethanol and octadecylamine, among others, were identified in most of the analyzed samples. It should be emphasized that the latter compounds are not listed in the European Regulation 10/2011 and 2-(octadecylamino)ethanol was classified as high toxicity according to Cramer rules. Migration tests were carried out in foods and in the food simulants Tenax and 20% ethanol (v/v). The results showed that stearyldiethanolamine migrated into the tomato, salty biscuits, salad and Tenax. Lastly, as a crucial step in the risk assessment process, the dietary exposure to stearyldiethanolamine transferred from the food packaging into the food was determined. The estimated values ranged from 0.0005 to 0.0026 µg/kg bw/day.
Efficient and Green Isolation of Keratin from Poultry Feathers by Subcritical Water
Authors: Škerget Mojca , Čolnik Maja , Zemljič Lidija Fras , Gradišnik Lidija , Semren Tanja Živković , Lovaković Blanka Tariba , Maver Uroš
Published: June 2023

The isolation of keratin from poultry feathers using subcritical water was studied in a batch reactor at temperatures (120–250 °C) and reaction times (5–75 min). The hydrolyzed product was characterized by FTIR and elemental analysis, while the molecular weight of the isolated product was determined by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. To determine whether disulfide bond cleavage was followed by depolymerization of protein molecules to amino acids, the concentration of 27 amino acids in the hydrolysate was analyzed by GC/MS. The optimal operating parameters for obtaining a high molecular weight protein hydrolysate from poultry feathers were 180 °C and 60 min. The molecular weight of the protein hydrolysate obtained under optimal conditions ranged from 4.5 to 12 kDa, and the content of amino acids in the dried product was low (2.53% w/w). Elemental and FTIR analyses of unprocessed feathers and dried hydrolysate obtained under optimal conditions showed no significant differences in protein content and structure. Obtained hydrolysate is a colloidal solution with a tendency for particle agglomeration. Finally, a positive influence on skin fibroblast viability was observed for the hydrolysate obtained under optimal processing conditions for concentrations below 6.25 mg/mL, which makes the product interesting for various biomedical applications.
Intention, Action, and Outcome: Sanctioning Patterns in the Four Pārājikas of the Vinayas
Authors: Li Wei , Huang Zhi
Published: June 2023

The sanctions for prohibited behavior in Vinaya texts are based on the precepts. It is, however, in the padabhājaniya (commentaries on the prātimokṣa) and the vinītaka (case-law sections) that these sanctions are further developed and explained. In the Vinayas, intention (the monk’s motivations while committing an act), action (the action that the monk carried out), and outcome (the effect of this action on others) are generally understood to be the three factors that affect the sanctioning principles. Intention is considered the most essential factor because a monk who has performed, without motivation, a negligent action is often declared innocent in the Vinayas. However, some scholars argue that the requirement of intention pertains only to misdemeanors, not to serious offenses, and is not an overriding factor. This article investigates the logic informing the sanctions concerning intention, action, and outcome in the vibhaṅgas for the four pārājikas, including the precepts, the padabhājaniya, and the vinītaka. It is shown that this principle of conviction in fact applies to serious offenses as well as misdemeanors, although there are exceptions, such as cases in which the monk is forced to commit adultery (by being raped), etc. Although the precepts and their associated sanctions vary considerably, this article argues that an underlying logic informs them. This paper provides a typology for these sanctions by investigating the four pārājikas of the Vinayas.
A Confucian Reappraisal of Christian Love: Ahn Changho Contra Augustinian Studies Conducted in South Korea
Authors: Kwak Jun-Hyeok
Published: June 2023

This paper tackles the dominant views of Augustine’s notion of ‘love’ in South Korea which have been described as the puritan pathos of distance from civic commonality. A complete guide to the reception and transmission of Augustine’s philosophy in South Korea would be almost unmanageable. However, the essential key to understanding the place of Augustine’s philosophy in South Korea can be found in the interpretations of Augustine’s notion of love. In all its complexity in these interpretations, the legacy of Augustine in South Korea turns out to consist exclusively of anti-political or non-communal eschatological longings for salvation. In a similar vein, the dominant views of Augustine’s notion of love have been convoluted with their emphasis on the superiority of love of God over love of neighbor. Based on these observations, this paper suggests Ahn Changho’s Confucian reappraisal of Christian love as an alternative to the dominant views of Augustine’s notion of love in South Korea, by investigating his view of filial piety as mutual love with respect to the possible implications of Augustine’s notion of love for shaping or consolidating civic friendship beyond brotherly commonality in Christianity.
Þingeyrar after the Dissolution
Authors: Jónsson Jakob Orri
Published: June 2023

After the Reformation, many monasteries in Scandinavia were provided new purposes or maintained parts of their former functions, serving as everything from hospitals to city halls. In Iceland, however, this did not happen; the monasteries were abandoned, and their functions in society, both ecclesiastical and secular, were, in time, forgotten. This was despite attempts to open schools in some of the former monasteries. While the reasons for the failure of these institutions to transition from being run by ecclesiastical to secular authorities in Iceland remain unknown, the common perception is that these sites remained centers of some influence, power and wealth. This paper will use the monastery site of Þingeyrar, Northern Iceland, as a case study, discussing ceramic data from ongoing excavations there as well as historical data on landholdings to examine the continuity of influence and wealth at monastery sites in Iceland following their dissolution.
Norms and Values in Islamic Legal Reasoning: The Case of Listening to Music (Samāʿ)
Authors: Farahat Omar
Published: June 2023

This essay examines the ways in which pre-modern Muslim jurists adapted their legal methods to accommodate the complexity of the act of listening to music. I classify those methods from the least to the most inclusive of underlying notions of moral value. This study shows that models on opposite ends of the spectrum function in similar ways. Whether, as in Ibn Ḥazm’s work, the scope of legal norms is confined to the immediate textual meaning, or, as in Ibn Taymiyya’s thought, the formulation of norms corresponds to an underlying moral aim, the result is a broad treatment of all phenomena that relate to music (samāʿ). By contrast, Ghazālī’s discussion of samāʿ is guided by the need to attain conviction of the appropriate course of action rather than the pursuit of an objective truth about the legal-moral status of the act of listening to music, resulting in a subtle case-by-case evaluation, rather than an overarching judgment. While this study does not attempt to give a comprehensive historical account of how and why scholars of Islamic law attempted to restrict or permit certain musical experiences, we can ultimately see how the sharīʿa, a legal system that is fundamentally concerned with moral behavior, purported to advance reasonable models for the assessment and regulation of complex social phenomena.
An Anti-Intermittent Sampling Jamming Technique Utilizing the OTSU Algorithm of Random Orthogonal Sub-Pulses
Authors: Zhan Haihong , Wang Tao , Guo Tai , Su Xingde
Published: June 2023

The utilization of intermittent sampling jamming can engender a lofty verisimilitude false target cluster that exhibits coherence with the transmitted signal. Such an assemblage bears the hallmarks of both suppression jamming and deceitful jamming, capable of inflicting substantial impairment upon the radar, potentially leading to its profound incapacitation. Henceforth, the precise discernment of the target and various forms of intermittent sampling jamming emerges as a novel endeavor. In response to this predicament, this paper posits a pulsed radar waveform featuring intra-pulse random orthogonal frequency modulation (FM) and inter-pulse phase coherence. This innovative approach not only presents formidable challenges for the jammer in acquiring radar waveform parameters, but also bolsters the radar’s low probability of intercept (LPI), while maintaining the phase coherence of sub-pulses between pulses. Furthermore, based on this waveform, the characteristics of the intermittent sampling jamming signal and its differences from the target echo signal are analyzed in the time domain, frequency domain, time-frequency domain, and pulse compression domain. Building upon these findings, this paper proposes the sub-division algorithms for typical types of intermittent sampling jamming under this waveform: the full-pulses multi-level maximum inter-class variance and sub-pulses multi-level maximum inter-class variance anti-intermittent sampling jamming algorithms. Simulation analysis demonstrates that this waveform and the anti-jamming algorithms can accurately identify and effectively counteract different types of intermittent sampling jamming in typical scenarios.
Channel Estimation for RIS-Assisted MIMO Systems in Millimeter Wave Communications
Authors: Liu Ying , Deng Honggui , Peng Chengzuo
Published: June 2023

The large number of estimated parameters in a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) makes it difficult to achieve accurate channel estimation accuracy in 6G. Therefore, we suggest a novel two-phase channel estimation framework for uplink multiuser communication. In this context, we propose an orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP)-based linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) channel estimation approach. The OMP algorithm is used in the proposed algorithm to update the support set and pick the columns of the sensing matrix that are most correlated with the residual signal, which successfully reduces pilot overhead by removing redundancy. Here, we use LMMSE’s advantages for handling noise to address the problem of inadequate channel estimation accuracy when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low. Simulation findings demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms least-squares (LS), traditional OMP, and other OMP-based algorithms in terms of estimate accuracy.