bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Correlation between Menopausal Women's Attitude Towards Menopause and Depression in Northeast Iran
Authors: Pirouzeh Razieh , Mahmudimanesh Marzieh , Ghorbani Zeynab , Sadeghi Ahmad , Shoraka Hamid Reza , Pirzadeh Nasim
Published: March 2024

Background: Menopause is a crucial and inherent biological event in women's lives. Menopausal women are more prone to depression than individuals who are not experiencing menopause. This study aims to establish the correlation between women's attitudes toward menopause and depression in Esfarayen, Northeast Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study included 335 menopausal women referring to health centers and health houses in Esfarayen using multistage sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire, the Knowledge and Attitude Toward Menopause Questionnaire by Noroozi et al., and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics with SPSS version 26.
Results: The participants' mean age was 55.81 ± 5.30 years, and 59.7% lived in urban areas. The mean score of attitudes towards menopause in menopausal women was 30.04 ± 4.28, and the mean depression score was 10.03 ± 8.6. There was a significant difference in attitude toward menopause among different levels of education, income satisfaction, residential status, marital status, and living arrangements. According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, residential status (β = -1.451, p = 0.007), income satisfaction (β = 0.803, p = 0.027), and living arrangements (β = 1.627, p = 0.026) were predictors of attitude toward menopause. There was a significant inverse relationship between participants’ attitudes toward menopause and depression.
Conclusion: This study provides deeper insight into the relationship between attitude toward menopause and depression in menopausal women, which can guide healthcare providers toward offering a valid educational package or protocol to improve the health and quality of life during the menopausal period.
Oral changes in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and their risk factors: a cohort study
Authors: Pereira Tatiana Bernardo Farias , Potter Gleidston Silva , Lima Beatriz Maria Falcão , Martins Ana Rafaela Luz Aquino , Lopes Maria Luiza Diniz Sousa , Lima Kenio Costa , Silveira Ericka Janine Dantas da
Published: March 2024

Purpose to investigate the occurrence, time of onset, and associated factors of oral alterations in hemato-oncologic patients throughout their hospitalization for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Methods This longitudinal cohort study involved 30 patients receiving care at a bone marrow transplantation service in a Brazilian hospital. Data about oral physical examination, diagnosis of hematological disorder, transplant type, comorbidities, chemotherapy protocols, and oral risk factors were collected. Survival analysis was performed to estimate the onset time of oral alterations and investigate possible associations with risk factors. The significance level adopted was 5%.Results Most patients were male (57.7%), with a median age of 35 years, 93.3% developed oral alterations, and 53.3% presented local risk factors. Leukemias and multiple myeloma were the most common hematologic disorders (23.3%). FluBuMel was the most frequent conditioning protocol (46.7%). Buccal mucosa edema (83.3%) was the most common oral alteration, followed by oral mucositis (80%; grade 1: 54.2%). The mean follow-up time was 23 days, with the probability of the patient being free of oral alterations decreasing as time progressed. Mel200 protocol (HR 2.89; IC 0.04–1.02; p = 0.020), and autologous transplant (HR 3.41; CI 1.28–9.07; p = 0.004) were associated with an earlier occurrence of oral alterations, while allogenic related transplant was a protective factor (HR 0.48; CI 0.22–1.07; p = 0.040).Conclusion results indicate that the time of onset of oral alterations is affected by transplant type and conditioning protocol and suggest that the severity of the alterations is positively affected by the presence of dentists in the HSCT team.
Genetic diversity among three camel populations reared in Egypt using mitochondrial COX-3 gene
Authors: Abdel-Aziem Sekena H , Mabrouk Dalia M , El-Kader Heba A Abd , Alam Sally S , Othman Othman E
Published: March 2024

Maintaining genetic diversity among native Egyptian breeds is important towards genetic resource conservation. Examining the mitochondrial genome in different or within breeds can be helpful in determining the genetic variety of populations. This study examined the mitochondrial COX-3 gene of Egyptian Camelus dromedaries using bioinformatics and phylogenetic analysis, revealing two distinct haplotypes based on single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions 280 and 325. These two haplotypes' amplified PCR products were uploaded to GenBank/NCBI with accession numbers OP994029 and OP994030 with protein id = WHO17331.1" and WHO17330.1, respectively. Comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the Egyptian camel populations' three-dimensional COX-3 structure showed how closely related these two haplotypes are genetically. Haplotype 1 was more predominant and found in Baldi and Sudani populations whereas haplotype 2 was more abundant in Maghrebi population. The two polymorphic sites have diversity and theta (per site): Theta (W: 0.00208); high variety of haplotypes (Hd: 0.667). These two haplotypes are the most genetically distant from camels in the Camelidae family, according to phylogenetic study. Based on the nucleotide sequences A + T and C + G have frequencies between 51.15% and 48.85%, respectively. The two non-synonymous SNPs caused the P94S amino acid substitution in the coiled region while I109V substitution located in the strand, which was neutral. Analysis of amino acid substitutions via protein prediction showed that the two amino acids were semi-conserved in which the resultant amino acid has different properties from the original amino acid and can affect the protein structure. The protein stability diminished according to the I-Mutant and MUpro tools. I109V nSNP and increased for P94S nSNP. This finding suggested that COX-3 gene variability in camels is important to preserve this genetic resource and creating future breeding programmes, conservation strategies that will increase camel production.
Visual foundation models for fast, label-free detection of diffuse glioma infiltration
Authors: Hollon Todd , Kondepudi Akhil , Pekmezci Melike , Hou Xinhai , Scotford Katie , Jiang Cheng , Rao Akshay , Harake Edward , Chowdury Asadur , Al-Holou Wajd , Wang Lin , Pandey Aditya , Lowenstein Pedro , Castro Maria , Koerner Lisa , Roetzer-Pejrimovsky Thomas , Widhalm Georg , Camelo-Piragua Sandra , Movahed-Ezazi Misha , Orringer Daniel , Lee Honglak , Freudiger Christian , Berger Mitchel , Hervey-Jumper Shawn
Published: March 2024

A critical challenge in diffuse glioma treatment is detecting tumor infiltration during surgery to achieve safe maximal resection[1-3]. Unfortunately, safely resectable residual tumor is found in the majority of glioma patients after surgery, leading to early recurrence and decreased patient survival[4-6]. We present FastGlioma, a visual foundation model for fast (<10 seconds) and accurate detection of glioma infiltration in fresh, unprocessed surgical tissue. FastGlioma was pretrained using large-scale self-supervision (~4 million images) on rapid, label-free, optical microscopy, and fine-tuned to output a normalized score that indicates the degree of tumor infiltration within whole slide optical images. In a prospective, multicenter, international testing cohort of diffuse glioma patients (n=220), FastGlioma was able to detect and quantify the degree of tumor infiltration with an average area under the ROC curve of 92.1 ± 0.9%. FastGlioma outperformed image-guided and fluorescence-guided adjuncts for detecting tumor infiltration during surgery by a wide margin in a head-to-head, prospective comparison study (n=129). FastGlioma performance remained high across diverse patient demographics, medical centers, and diffuse glioma molecular subtypes as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). FastGlioma shows zero-shot generalization to other adult and pediatric brain tumor diagnoses, demonstrating that our visual foundation model can serve as a general-purpose adjunct for guiding brain tumor surgeries. These findings represent the transformative potential of medical foundation models to unlock the role of artificial intelligence in the care of cancer patients.
Robust Image Watermarking Based on Generative Adversarial Networks for Copyright Protection
Authors: Gao Guangyong , Xu Tianyou , Hua Feng
Published: March 2024

Digital media is easy to be copied, which leads to a proliferation of copyright infringement. One proposed solution is digital watermarking technology, which is to embed message bits into multimedia carriers such as images and videos to prove the creator’s ownership of his work. Most recently, with the upsurge of convolutional neural network in the terms of artificial intelligence, deep learning has made great achievements in digital watermarking. In this work, we propose a new framework with robust image watermarking based on a generative adversarial network (RIW-GAN). With proposed method, the encoder network is composed of convolutional layers and a residual block outputs the encoded image that has low distortion and is closer to the original image. To enhance the robustness to attack of the model, a simulated noise layer as a differentiable network layer is applied to promote end-to-end training before decoding. Therefore, the proposed model has higher accuracy rate for decoding the attacked encoded image. In comparison to the state-of-the-art model, the experimental results demonstrate that RIW-GAN has superior invisibility and stronger robustness against regular attacks like JPEG compression and geometric attacks such as resizing and cropping.
Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of the Differential Expression of 83 Proteins Following Intracortical Microelectrode Implantation
Authors: Song Sydney , Druschel Lindsey , Kasthuri Niveda , Wang Jaime , Conard Jacob , Chan Ernest , Acharya Abhinav , Capadona Jeffrey
Published: March 2024

Intracortical microelectrodes (IMEs) are devices designed to be implanted into the cerebral cortex for various neuroscience and neuro-engineering applications. A critical feature of these devices is their ability to detect neural activity from individual neurons. Currently, IMEs are limited by chronic failure, largely considered to be caused by the prolonged neuroinflammatory response to the implanted devices. Over the decades, characterization of the neuroinflammatory response has grown in sophistication, with the most recent advances including advanced genomics and spatially resolved transcriptomics. While gene expression studies increase our broad understanding of the relationship between IMEs and cortical tissue, advanced proteomic techniques have not been reported. Proteomic evaluation is necessary to describe the diverse changes in protein expression specific to neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, or tissue and cellular viability, which could lead to the development of more targeted intervention strategies designed to improve IME function. In this study, we have characterized the expression of 83 proteins within 180 µm of the IME implant site at 4-, 8-, and 16-weeks post-implantation. We identified potential targets for immunotherapies, as well as key pathways and functions that contribute to neuronal dieback around the IME implant.
Lightweight Image Encryption Scheme for IoT Environment and MachineLearning-Driven Robust S-box Selection
Authors: Mehmood Abid , Shafique Arslan , Khan Abdul Nasir , Alawida Moatsum , Shuja Junaid
Published: March 2024

The Substitution Box (S-Box) plays a critical role in several block cipher cryptosystems due to its ability to provide essential properties of non-linearity and confusion. Therefore, incorporating a strong S-Box is critical for ensuring a high level of security and optimal performance of block cipher algorithms. In recent years, a variety of S-boxes have been developed, which fall into different robustness categories, such as high, medium, or low. Examining the robustness of an S-box to enhance cryptosystems in terms of security is a challenging task. Although parameters such as Bit Independence Criterion (BIC), Nonlinearity (NL), Strict Avalanche Criterion (SAC), Linear Approximation Probability (LP), and Differential Uniformity (DU) can be useful to determine the robustness levels, manually evaluating each S-box is an ineffective and time-consuming approach. To overcome this challenge, a machine learning model is developed, utilizing the parameters that evaluate the strength of the S-box as features. Additionally, a novel lightweight image encryption scheme suited for IoT applications is also proposed, incorporating various S-boxes. Implementing robust S-boxes also strengthens the security of the proposed encryption scheme. However, to enhance its security further, four distinct cryptographic techniques such as chaotic maps, Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Substitution Box (S-box), and Dynamic Random Phase Encoding (DRPE) are employed. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed encryption scheme in terms of statistical and visual analysis, numerous parameters are considered, including entropy, correlation, contrast, energy, noise and cropping attack analysis, histogram analysis, correlation, entropy, differential analysis, occlusion attack, noise attack, and speed performance analysis. Moreover, a detailed comparison is performed between the proposed and existing encryption schemes to demonstrate that the proposed approach is more efficient than existing ones.
Integration of Metaheuristic Operators Through Unstructured Evolutive Game Theory Approach: A novel hybrid Methodology
Authors: Escobar-Cuevas Hector , Cuevas Erik , Lopez Jesus , Perez-Cisneros Marco
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach to addressing the complexity of current optimization challenges by developing hybrid metaheuristic algorithms. These algorithms combine the strengths of different strategies to enhance solution identification and refinement. Specifically, we propose the integration of metaheuristic operators using the Unstructured Evolutive Game Theory (U-EGT) to regulate and merge the advantageous features of the Cheetah Optimizer (CO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The CO and PSO are chosen for their superior exploitation and exploration capabilities, respectively. Our methodology unfolds in two primary phases: combination and modulation. In the combination phase, CO and PSO search strategies are merged, creating a unified population that generates new candidate solution positions based on the best solution and a modulation factor. During the modulation phase, pairwise competitions based on U-EGT assess candidate solutions against the objective function, adjusting their modulation factor and position accordingly. We conducted various experiments to evaluate our approach against the original CO and PSO, as well as seven other renowned metaheuristic algorithms, across 30 benchmark functions in dimensions of 30, 50, and 100. The results reveal that our hybrid scheme outperforms the comparative algorithms, demonstrating enhanced performance, effectiveness, and robustness through a detailed convergence and significance analysis.
Performance Prediction of COD in Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant using an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Mesutoğlu Özgül Çimen , Gök Oğuzhan
Published: March 2024

In this investigation, the modeling of the Aksaray industrial wastewater treatment plant was performed using artificial neural networks with various architectures in the MATLAB software. The dataset utilized in this study was collected from the Aksaray wastewater treatment plant over a nine-month period through daily records. The treatment efficiency of the plants was assessed based on the output values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) output. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to furnish input for the artificial neural network (ANN). The model's performance was evaluated using the mean squared error (MSE) and correlation coefficient (R2) parameters. The optimal architecture for the neural network model was determined through several trial and error iterations. According to the modeling results, the ANN exhibited a high predictive capability for plant performance, with an R2 reaching up to 0.9997 when comparing the observed and predicted output variables.
Emergence and spread of a mupirocin-resistant variant of the European epidemic fusidic acid-resistant impetigo clone of Staphylococcus aureus in Belgium, 2013 to 2023
Authors: Yin Nicolas , Michel Charlotte , Makki Nadia , Deplano Ariane , Milis Alisha , Prevost Benoit , Miendje-Deyi Veronique Yvette , Hallin Marie , Martiny Delphine
Published: March 2024

Background Coresistance to both mupirocin and fusidic acid inStaphylococcus aureusaffects the treatment of impetigo in Belgium, where they are the only topical treatments available. Aim We investigated resistance to fusidic acid and mupirocin in methicillin-susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) strains involved in community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Methods The 10-year variation in fusidic acid and mupirocin resistance in outpatients with SSTI-associated MSSA was studied in two large laboratories. MSSA strains coresistant to fusidic acid and mupirocin and sent to the BelgianStaphylococciReference Centre werespa-typed and analysed for the presence of theetaandetbvirulence genes and themupAresistance gene. In addition, whole-genome sequencing was performed on isolates collected in the last 2 years. Results Fusidic acid and mupirocin resistance increased over time, and coresistance in children reached 8.9–10.1% in the third quarter 2023. From 2018 to 2023, 64/70 (91.4%) mupirocin-resistant MSSA strains were coresistant to fusidic acid. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that 29/33 (87.9%) of the isolates were sequence type ST121, clonal and more distantly related to the European epidemic fusidic acid-resistant impetigo clone (EEFIC) observed in Belgium in 2020. These strains carried themupAandfusBgenes, which confer resistance to mupirocin and fusidic acid, respectively, and theetaandetbvirulence genes. Conclusion We highlight the spread of a mupirocin-resistant EEFIC (M-EEFIC) in children, with a seasonal trend for the third quarter. This is of concern because this variant is resistant to the two main topical antibiotics used to treat impetigo in Belgium.
Complex therapy of contact dermatitis: from theory to practice
Authors: Silina L. V.
Published: March 2024

This article discusses the relevance of the causes and further development of contact dermatitis. In accordance with the clinical recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, simple irritable contact dermatitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by the irritating effect of environmental factors on the skin. Allergic contact dermatitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs in response to skin contact with substances that can cause sensitization and specific allergic inflammation. Allergic contact dermatitis can develop because of a reaction to absolutely any substance. This is a common pathology among skin diseases, manifested by polymorphic symptoms and its regression as the etiological factor and appropriate therapy disappear. The mechanisms of development of various forms of dermatitis are described, the immunological disorders that occur in this pathology are indicated, the clinical features are indicated. The publication examines various clinical cases of somatically healthy patients suffering from simple contact and allergic dermatitis caused by variant factors, with localization of the pathological process in the facial area. According to the doctor’s prescription, patients used traditional therapy regimens consisting of external/topical treatment and general therapy, strictly in accordance with clinical recommendations. Topical glucocorticosteroids are the first line of therapy for contact dermatitis and it is extremely important to choose modern drugs with a high safety profile when localizing foci on the face. At the end of the course of treatment, patients noted a significant improvement in the condition of the dermis in the form of minimizing the manifestations of erythema of the skin, the disappearance of polymorphic skin rash elements, and the disappearance of exfoliation.
Topical anaesthesia for invasive procedures in dermatology and cosmetology
Authors: Svechnikova E. V. , Zhufina S. E.
Published: March 2024

Currently, in dermatology and cosmetology, the range of cosmetic procedures and minor invasive interventions, which use local anesthetics, is expanding. They are used alone or as part of an integrated anesthetic approach. Procedures such as mesotherapy, biorevitalization, contour plastic surgery, removal of skin tumors, and laser procedures require anesthesia in the form of local topical anesthesia. Local anesthetics have long been known and well-studied; they have many advantages, significantly increasing patient comfort during invasive procedures, but they also have some disadvantages, including the risk of toxicity. The purpose of using a local anesthetic is to increase the effectiveness of the procedure, convenience and comfort for the patient, minimize negative emotions associated with pain, and the ability to achieve local anesthesia without anatomical distortion of the tissue (i.e., without the use of infiltration anesthesia). Often, the severity of the pain experienced depends on the individual response of the patient. The characteristics of pain are subjective and can vary depending on the “pain threshold”, type of temperament, and previous negative experience. For some patients, sometimes minimal pain becomes a serious obstacle to performing a particular procedure. Some invasive, painful procedures that are performed on pediatric patients require a particularly careful approach to the choice of anesthesia drug and method of administration. In this article, we analyzed the mechanisms of pain pathogenesis, methods of local anesthesia, focused on the role of local anesthetics in cosmetology and dermatology, examined the features of using a cream for local and external use containing a combination of lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%, its therapeutic effectiveness, clinical recommendations for use in various procedures in dermatology and cosmetology. When choosing a drug for local anesthesia, safety is important for the doctor, when used correctly, a low level of side effects, timely pain relief, effectiveness, ease of use and accessibility.
Advantages of IL-17 inhibitor, ixekizumab, in the treatment of severe psoriasis
Authors: Zhukova O. V. , Artemyeva S. I.
Published: March 2024

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated disease, often accompanied by inflammatory and metabolic disorders. About 20–30% of patients have moderate to severe psoriasis and require systemic methods of treatment, which include conventional, targeted and genetically engineered biological drugs (GEBDs). When selecting a biological agent, a number of factors must be considered related to the disease, patient and therapy. Assessment of severity and activity, area of skin affected, frequency of relapses, pruritus and other symptoms, the presence of comorbidities, especially psoriatic arthritis (PsA), are important. The presence of comorbidities that may contribute to or interfere with the use of GEBD is the main factor determining personalised therapy. Personalised treatment implies maximum efficacy and minimum risk of side effects. In addition, it is possible to modify the course of the disease, inducing long-term remission and preventing the development of PsA, which is possible in case of timely prescription of GEBD. To date, several classes of GEBDs are available in the arsenal of dermatovenerologists, among which interleukin (IL) inhibitors have the highest efficacy and safety. The drug ixekizumab is a member of the IL-17 inhibitor group, a monoclonal antibody of the IgG4 class that binds to IL-17A with high affinity and specificity. The drug has shown high efficacy and reliable safety profile in the treatment of psoriasis and PsA within the framework of numerous clinical trials and studies of real clinical practice, including in patients with an aggravated comorbid background and with involvement of hard-to-treat localisations. The presented article presents key data of safety and efficacy studies of ixekizumab therapy, describes a clinical case of successful treatment of a patient with psoriasis and psoriatic onychodystrophy. Timely initiation of therapy helped to stop the progression of the disease and significantly improved the quality of life of the patient. Thus, the presented data confirm the advantages of ixekizumab in psoriasis treatment.
„Święta misja profesora Abronsiusa”. Fantazmaty, abiektalność i transgresje w filmie Romana Polańskiego "Nieustraszeni pogromcy wampirów"
Authors: Rawski Jakub
Published: March 2024

“The Sacred Mission of Professor Abronsius:” Phantasms, The Abject, and Transgression in Roman Polanski’s The Fearless Vampire Killers Roman Polanski’s The Fearless Vampire Killers is usually approached in film and cultural studies from a genological perspective: as a game with the convention and genres, a work that has the features of parody and pastiche, yet complies with the poetics of horror. When interpreting and analyzing the picture, it seems worthwhile to employ phantasmatic criticism drawing on the psychoanalytic theory of culture and consider the issue of the abject and transgressive nature of vampiric heroes. This leads to the exegesis of the film from a poststructuralist perspective with a focus on the existential and sexual aspects of vampirism, a topos analyzed by Maria Janion in terms of being a bloodsucker in the face of death, in the face of sex, and in the face of the tragic human condition. The ontic status of the beast seems to be particularly noteworthy if you consider its evolutionary aspect and the role that Polanski’s film played in this regard.
Mid-Century Modern Design as a Cinematic Vision of Dystopia Based on Selected Examples of the 21st-Century Films and TV Series
Authors: Wiśnicka Anna
Published: March 2024

The text aims to investigate various uses of the mid-century modern period pieces in the production design of films and TV series developed after the year 2000 and presenting various visions of a dystopic future. The choice of time frame for the analysis was motivated by the desire to showcase the connotations between the mid-century modern and 21st-century visions of the future which can be broadly described as retrofuturistic. On account of its primary focus on progressive ideas, new materials and forms, mid-century modern has always been broadly associated with the design of the future. The author discusses various takes on set design to highlight a wide spectrum of narrations regarding the future and its cultural dimension in selected productions incorporating iconic mid-century design pieces and, more importantly, the non-verbal message they carry.
Repurposing of Angiotensin-converting-enzyme Inhibitor on Prevention of
Post-surgical Tendon Adhesion
Authors: Naimi Hamideh , Khazaei Majid , Sharifnia Fariba , Sayyed-Hosseinian Sayyed-Hadi
Published: March 2024

Background:

Formation of adhesion bands is a frequent clinical complication after tendon injury or
surgery with limited treatment options. This study investigates the repurposing of Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme
Inhibitor (ACEI) in attenuating post-operative tendon-sheath adhesion bands in an Achilles tendon rat
model.

Methods:

Structural, mechanical, histological, and biochemical characteristics of the Achilles tendons were
compared in the presence and absence of oral ACEI (enalapril) using the Achilles tendon adhesion (TA) model
in rats. Inflammation and total fibrosis of tendon tissues were compared between groups using molecular investigations
along with macroscopic and histological scoring methods.

Results:

ACEI significantly alleviated the severity, length, and density of Achilles TAs. Moreover, histopathological
changes, recruitment of inflammatory cells, and inflammation were significantly decreased in post-operative
tissue samples as quantified with the Moran scoring model. We showed that ACEI treatment elicits a
potent anti-fibrotic effect on tendon tissue samples, as illustrated by decreasing the severity and extent of the
formed fibrotic tissue and collagen accumulation at the site of surgery when scored either by Tang or Ishiyama
grading systems. The H&E staining showed no histopathological changes or damage to the principal organs.

Conclusion:

Our results showed that ACEI is a safe and effective therapeutic candidate with potent immunomodulatory
and anti-fibrotic features to alleviate surgery-induced development of fibrotic adhesive tissue.
However, its efficacy needs to be further validated in clinical studies.
Synthesis of Novel Propynyl Monoterpene Analogues and their Conjugates with β-DGlucopyranosides
Authors: Gubaidullin Rinat R. , Perfilova Yulia A. , Parfenova Lyudmila V.
Published: March 2024

Camphor and carvone exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activity, which determines
the prospect of their use as a platform for functionalization to obtain the analogues
as potential drugs. The functionalization of camphor and carvone often involves changes to
the skeleton of the molecules or their fragmentation. Therefore, in modern medicinal chemistry,
research aimed at the development of effective approaches to the synthesis of semisynthetic
derivatives of camphor and carvone with preservation of the native framework,
demonstrating high biological activity, is in demand. The present work is aimed at the synthesis
of new propynyl analogues of camphor and carvone, as well as their conjugates with
mono- and disaccharides via Cu-catalyzed cycloaddition of acetylenes and azides (Cu-
AAC). Alkylation of camphor and carvone with propargyl bromide in the presence of the
base KN(SiMe3)2–Et3B in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) at room temperature provides the target products with
yields of 69% and 47%, respectively. Glycosyl azides were obtained by the reaction of peracetylated sugars
with trimethylsilyl azide in the presence of SnCl4.The synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolyl glycoconjugates of camphor
and carvone with mono- and disaccharides was carried out through Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of
azides to acetylenes (CuAAC) in the presence of Cu and CuSO4·5H2O. The structures of the synthesized compounds
were determined by NMR. The new propynyl-substituted camphor and carvone, as well as their 1,2,3-
triazolylglycoconjugates, can be used as promising building blocks for medicine chemistry.
TP508 Promotes Bone Regeneration on Distraction Osteogenesis via the Activation of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Kehan , Liu Linan , Zhang Jingyi , Liao Chenyu , Hu Jian , Song Jian
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

TP508 is a thrombin peptide that participates in the inflammatory response
and wound healing. Its role in the molecular mechanism of distraction osteogenesis remains
unclear. This study established a tibia distraction osteogenesis (DO) model in rats and
investigated the role and mechanism of TP508 in bone regeneration during DO.

Method:

Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were
used to track osteogenesis. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction
(qRT-PCR) were performed to measure the expression of osteoblast-related factors, Wnt/β-
catenin signaling-related proteins and genes. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the
expression of β-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

Results:

TP508 accelerated bone regeneration increased the expression of the osteoblast-related
factors Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin
(OCN). After the Wnt signaling was inhibited by LGK974, the expression of osteoblastrelated
factors was downregulated, leading to a decrease in bone regeneration ability. More importantly,
TP508 upregulated β-catenin and its target CYCLIN-D1 and could reverse the decreased
osteogenic ability caused by LGK974.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, TP508 promotes bone regeneration in DO by activating the Wnt/β-
catenin signaling pathway.
Increased Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Responsive Element is Closely
Associated with the Pathogenesis of Drug-resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Li Jing-Xuan , Shi Dai , Ren Si-Ying , Wu Guo-Feng
Published: March 2024

Background:

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a refractory neurological disorder.
There is ample evidence that suggest that γ-aminobutyric acid-a (GABAA) receptors could be
one of the mechanisms responsible for the development of drug resistance in epilepsy. It is also
known that the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) plays a possible key role in the
transcriptional regulation of GABAA.

Objective:

This study explores the role of CREB in the development of DRE and the effect of
CREB on GABA-related receptors in DRE.

Methods:

The CREB expression was increased or decreased in the hippocampus of normal rats
by lentiviral transfection, who then underwent the lithium-pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model.
Phenobarbital (PB) sodium and carbamazepine (CBZ) were used to select a drug-resistant epileptic
model. The expression levels of GABAA receptor α1, β2, and γ2 subunits and CREB protein
were measured in the rat hippocampus by western blot and fluorescent quantitative PCR.

Results:

The frequency and duration of seizures increased in the overexpression group compared
to that in the control group. In addition, the severity, frequency, and duration of seizures decreased
in the group with decreased expression. The hippocampus analysis of the expression
levels of the CREB protein and CREB mRNA yielded similar findings. Altering the CREB protein
expression in the rat hippocampus could negatively regulate the expression and transcript
levels of GABAA receptors α1, β2, and γ2, suggesting that CREB may serve as a potential target
for the development of treatment protocols and drugs for epilepsy.

Conclusion:

Our study shows that enhanced CREB expression promotes the development of
DRE and negatively regulates GABAA receptor levels and that the inhibition of CREB expression
may reduce the incidence of DRE.
Effective Synthesis of N-Alkyl-3-(Indol-3-yl)Pyrazoles from Ag2CO3-
Catalyzed Regioselective Aza-Michael Addition of 5-(Indol-3-yl)-1HPyrazoles
Authors: Zhang Xue , Luo Dashuang , Niu Xuemin , Mo Jian , Yu Haifeng , Zhao Xiaobo
Published: March 2024

In this study, the synthesis of N-alkyl-3-(indol-3-yl)pyrazoles was carried out from Ag2CO3
catalyzed regioselective aza-Michael addition of 5-(indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrazoles to α, β-unsaturated carbonyl
compounds. In the presence of 10 mol% of Ag2CO3, the reaction smoothly occurred in dichloroethane
(DCE) at 120°C to preferentially afford a series of N-alkyl-3-(indol-3-yl)pyrazoles in high
yields with good regioselectivity. It was found that 1-methyl-3-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-phenyl-
1H-indole, 1-benzyl-3-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-indole, α, β-unsaturated ketone, and α, β-
unsaturated amide exclusively gave 3-(pyrazol-3-yl)indoles in good yields. This reaction features high
regioselectivity, mild reaction conditions, good substrate scope and yields, and a commercially available
catalyst. Meanwhile, the reaction was also proven to be quite practical by the gram-scale synthesis
of N-alkyl-3-(indol-3-yl)pyrazoles in excellent yields with good regioselectivity.
Fluconazole Microemulsions: Preparation, Statistical Optimization by Two-level Factorial Design, and Physicochemical Evaluation
Authors: Khazaeli Payam , Pardakhty Abbas , Dehghannoudeh Gholamreza , Safizade Sina , Sajadi Bami Marzieh , Ohadi Mandana
Published: March 2024

Background:

Candida albicans is the yeast that causes the fungal infection known as candidiasis.
One of the standard methods for treating candida is the application of fluconazole. The low
solubility of fluconazole in aqueous media is a big problem in the use of this agent. Novel drug delivery
systems, such as microemulsions, could be applied to solve this problem. The main aim of this
study was to perform statistical optimization of the formulation and physicochemical characterization
of fluconazole microemulsion.

Methods:

Optimization of the microemulsion formulation was done by using experimental design
software, and then fluconazole was loaded onto the best formulation at a concentration of 1 % w/w.
The physiochemistry of the microemulsion formulation was assessed by pH measurement, rheology
measurement, simultaneous thermal analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Results:

The two-level fractional factorial design application demonstrated the optimum formulation
to consist of surfactant, co-surfactant, oil content, and water, comprising 58%, 27%, 10%, and 5% of
the formulation, respectively. Desirable thermal mass was observed up to 150°C. The formulation
was a non-Newtonian shear-thinning liquid in terms of viscosity, with a reported pH between 6.5-7.

Conclusion:

Considerably stable, high-quality microemulsion formulations containing fluconazole
are presented, which are applicable for antifungal skin candidiasis treatment in clinical trials.
Investigating the Effectiveness of a Virtual Family-centered Support Intervention on the Mental Health of Hemodialysis Patients and their Family Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Moradi Marjan , Amiri Mahdi , Daneshi Salman , Heydarian Seyyedeh Mona Taghdisi , Saghari Sam , Raesi Rasoul
Published: March 2024

Aim

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a family-centered support intervention utilizing virtual education on the mental health of hemodialysis patients and their family caregivers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Patients undergoing hemodialysis and their family caregivers may experience mental health disruptions.

Methods

In this quasi-experimental study, 30 family caregivers of hemodialysis patients who visited the hemodialysis center of the 22nd-Bahman Hospital of Khaf in 2022 were selected using convenience sampling. All patients and family caregivers completed a demographic characteristics form and a mental health scale over the phone at baseline. The experimental group received targeted mental health education content for four weeks on the Eitaa social media platform. At this time, the mental health questionnaire was completed once more over the phone for all patients and their family caregivers. Independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data in SPSS-22. The significance level was set to p <0.05.

Results

The mean age values of the patients and family caregivers were 47.63±8.36 and 33.53±4.86 years, respectively. Prior to the intervention, there was no significant difference (p <0.05) in the mean scores of mental health and its components between the experimental and control groups. Following the intervention, statistically significant reductions were observed in the scores of both the patients and caregivers of the experimental group compared to the controls (p <0.001).

Conclusion

The virtual family-centered support intervention could positively impact the mental health of hemodialysis patients and their family caregivers. Thus, the present intervention is suggested as a viable program to enhance the mental health of this group of patients and their respective caregivers.
Experiences of Women regarding Accessibility of Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Services in Northwest Province, South Africa
Authors: Monanyane Katlego P , Serapelwane Maserapelo G , Manyedi Mofatiki E
Published: March 2024

Background

Poor access to choose on termination of pregnancy services remains a disturbing health challenge to women, mostly in developing countries. In rural provinces of South Africa, this hurdle is manifested by, amongst others, fear of stigmatisation and failure to access the services due to a lack of trained staff and transport.

Objectives

This study is designed to explore and describe women’s experiences regarding access to choice on termination of pregnancy services, subsequently describing recommendations to improve access to choice of termination of pregnancy in a sub-district of Northwest province of South Africa.

Methods

A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used to assess the experiences of women regarding access to termination of pregnancy services. The population included women of childbearing age with a history of legal or illegal termination of pregnancy at selected public health care facilities. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants for the study, and 10 women were interviewed using unstructured in-depth face-to-face individual interviews. All ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study, and thematic analysis with six phases was utilised in evaluating the data generated.

Results

Difficulties in accessing choice of termination of pregnancy services and strategies for improvement of accessibility emerged as the two themes. Amongst others, pervasive negative attitudes of nurses, fear of stigma, and lack of psychological and social support were reported as cumbersome experiences in trying to access the service. To improve access, women recommended that more nurses should be trained and deployed to render choice of termination of pregnancy services to women. They also recommended advertising choice of termination of pregnancy services available on various platforms.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, women in the North West Province face challenges in accessing Choice of Termination of Pregnancy services.
Phyto-pharmacological Potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for Neurological Disorders: Progress and Prospects
Authors: Dwivedi Jyotsana , Kumar Pankaj , Sachan Pranjal , Singh Charan , Saxena Bhagawati , Wal Ankita , Wal Pranay
Published: March 2024

Background:

Aegle marmelos, an Indian plant, has been extensively utilized by the people of the Indian subcontinent over about 5000 years. The leaves, bark, roots, and fruits, including seeds, are widely used to cure a variety of diseases in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, along with numerous folk medicines. By revealing the existence of significant bioactive chemicals, modern research has effectively substantiated the therapeutic effects of bael.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding A. marmelos geographical distribution, morphology, therapeutic benefits, and phytochemicals found in the bael leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant that offer a wide range of pharmacological applications in neurological disorders.

Methodology:

A thorough literature search was conducted using five computerized databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Wiley Online Library (WOL), by using standard keywords “A. marmelos,” “Geographical distribution,” “Morphological description,” “Ethnobotanical Uses,” “Phytoconstituents” and “Neuroprotective activities” for review papers published between 1975 and 2023. A small number of earlier review articles focused on phyto-pharmacological potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for neurological disorders.

Results:

According to some research, Aegle marmelos extracts potentially have neuroprotective benefits. This is due to its capacity to alter cellular mechanisms that cause neuronal damage.

Conclusion:

Neurodegenerative illnesses usually induce permanent neuronal network loss over-all the brain along with the spinal cord (CNS), resulting in chronic functional impairments. The review summarizes the multiple aspects and processes of A. marmelos extract and its components in several models of neurodegenerative diseases such as anxiety, epilepsy, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others. MDA, nitrite, TNF-, and IL-6 levels were dramatically elevated, whereas glutathione levels were significantly lowered in the hippocampus of STZ-treated rats. Furthermore, STZ-treated rats showed a substantial drop in catalase activity and an increase in AChE activity, indicating cholinergic hypofunction and neuronal injury. The neuroprotective ability of A. marmelos against STZ-induced oxidative stress and cognitive loss in rats suggests that it has therapeutic relevance in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
MODIFIED ULTRAFILTRATION IMPROVES LUNG MECHANICS IN CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGERY - A FACT OR FUTILE: A PROSPECTIVE, OBSERVATIONAL, SINGLE-CENTER STUDY
Authors: MADHU A YADAV  , VALAJI JOSHNA  , SRINATH REDDY N  , GANAPATHY SUBRAMANIAM
Published: March 2024

Objective: Cardiac surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can have adverse effects on patients, potentially increasing morbidity. In infants who possess lower blood volume and are exposed to the more artificial surface and larger prime volumes of the CPB, the harmful effects can be significant. Several studies have indicated that modified ultrafiltration (MUF) may yield beneficial effects in cardiac surgery by reducing inflammatory markers, improving hemodynamics, and decreasing excess body water. Our study seeks to evaluate the impact of MUF on pulmonary mechanics in infants undergoing cardiac surgeries on CPB. Methods: This prospective, observational, single-center study was conducted on 56 infants with congenital heart disease, who underwent cardiac surgery, followed by CPB, were included in this study. The primary outcomes were oxygen saturation (SPO2), hemoglobin (Hb), peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak), and plateau pressure (Pplat). The secondary outcomes were systolic and diastolic invasive blood pressures (IBPs), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean airway pressure (Pmean), static lung compliance (C-stat), dynamic lung compliance (C-dyn), expiratory resistance (Re), and work of breathing (WOB). Results: A statistically significant increase in SPO2 (98.7 vs. 99.1), Hb (8.3 vs. 13.3), IBPsystolic (85 vs. 90), IBPdiastolic (56 vs. 61.4), and MAP (66.4 vs. 73.2) was observed in congenital cardiac surgery and CPB patients after MUF (all p<0.05). A statistically significant post-procedural decline in Ppeak (18.8 vs. 18.3), Pplat (18.4 vs. 18.1), Re (79.8 vs. 78), and WOB (1.4 vs. 1.3) was also observed (all p<0.05). However, no significant pre-procedural versus post-procedural differences were observed in Pmean, C-stat, and C-dyn (all p>0.05). Conclusion: MUF effectively improved lung mechanics, oxygen saturation, myocardial contractility, hematocrit, and hemodynamics, and minimized the blood transfusion requirement after CPB in infants with congenital heart disease. Future studies should reinvestigate these outcomes with a larger sample size for an extended follow-up duration.
Efficacy of observational care versus antibiotic therapy for treatment of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis
Authors: Mooty Morgan , Bauer Abbie R
Published: March 2024

A clinical decision report using:

van Dijk ST, Daniels L, Ünlü Ç, et al. for the Dutch Diverticular Disease (3D) Collaborative Study Group. Long-Term Effects of Omitting Antibiotics in Uncomplicated Acute Diverticulitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(7):1045-1052. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41395-018-0030-y

for a patient with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.