bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health-Promoting Properties: Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Sambucus nigra L. Flowers and Fruits
Authors: Stępień Agnieszka Ewa , Trojniak Julia , Tabarkiewicz Jacek
Published: August 2023

Sambucus nigra L. has been used for centuries in traditional medicine thanks to its valuable healing properties. The healing properties result from its high content of biologically active compounds, mainly antioxidants, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In our review, we have presented scientific studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of extracts and their components from S. nigra L. flowers and fruits. The results of the research show that the effect of antioxidant phytochemicals contained in their composition reduces the level of free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines, prevents mutations that increase the risk of cancer development, and inhibits cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and changes in intracellular signaling, consequently inhibiting the growth of malignant tumors and the formation of metastases. Flowers and fruits of S. nigra L. are a valuable source of nutraceutical and pharmacological substances that can support prevention and anti-inflammatory and oncological therapy without negative side effects for the patient.
W Prime: Evidence-Based Proposal for a New Predictor of Gait Speed in Older Women
Authors: de Oliveira Júnior Gersiel Nascimento , de Sousa Jairo de Freitas Rodrigues , Carneiro Marcelo Augusto da Silva , Martins Fernanda Maria , Santagnello Samarita Beraldo , Nomelini Rosekeila Simões , de Oliveira Assumpção Cláudio , Souza Markus Vinícius Campos , Orsatti Fábio Lera
Published: August 2023

Background: The hyperbolic torque-duration curve depicts critical torque (CT) and W prime (W′), with the curve’s asymptote representing CT as the boundary between heavy- and severe-intensity domains. W′, the curvature constant, indicates cumulative work beyond CT. This study investigated age-related reductions in W′, CT, and gait speed, and whether W′ and CT predict gait speed independently of muscle torque. Methods: three groups (adults, middle-aged, older) totaling 131 women were studied. W′ and CT were determined using 60 maximal isometric voluntary contractions of knee extensors. The fast gait speed was calculated in walking tests at 10 m, 400 m, and six minutes (6 MWT). Results: gait speed decreased (p < 0.05) with age, as did W′ and CT. Both W′ and CT correlated positively with gait speed at different distances (10 m, 400 m, 6 MWT). Adjusted for maximum muscle torque, only W′ maintained a positive association (p < 0.05) with all gait speed tests (10 m: β = 0.201, SE = 0.086; 400 m: β = 0.262, SE = 0.085; 6 MWT: β = 0.187, SE = 0.086). Conclusions: aging led to declines in W′, CT, and gait speed. W′, not CT, remained a significant predictor of gait speed, indicating its importance for older women’s mobility.
Optical Alignment and Optical Orientation of Excitons in CdSe/CdS Colloidal Nanoplatelets
Authors: Smirnova Olga O. , Kalitukha Ina V. , Rodina Anna V. , Dimitriev Grigorii S. , Sapega Victor F. , Ken Olga S. , Korenev Vladimir L. , Kozyrev Nikolai V. , Nekrasov Sergey V. , Kusrayev Yuri G. , Yakovlev Dmitri R. , Dubertret Benoit , Bayer Manfred
Published: August 2023

Optical alignment and optical orientation of excitons are studied experimentally on an ensemble of core/shell CdSe/CdS colloidal nanoplatelets. Linear and circular polarization of photoluminescence during resonant excitation of excitons is measured at cryogenic temperatures and with magnetic fields applied in the Faraday geometry. The developed theory addresses the optical alignment and optical orientation of excitons in colloidal nanocrystals, taking into account both bright and dark exciton states in the presence of strong electron–hole exchange interaction and the random in-plane orientation of nanoplatelets within the ensemble. Our theoretical analysis of the obtained experimental data allows us to evaluate the exciton fine structure parameters, the g-factors, and the spin lifetimes of the bright and dark excitons. The optical alignment effect enables the identification of the exciton and trion contributions to the emission spectrum, even in the absence of their clear separation in the spectra.
(Al, Ga)N-Based Quantum Dots Heterostructures on h-BN for UV-C Emission
Authors: Zaiter Aly , Nikitskiy Nikita , Nemoz Maud , Vuong Phuong , Ottapilakkal Vishnu , Sundaram Suresh , Ougazzaden Abdallah , Brault Julien
Published: August 2023

Aluminium Gallium Nitride (AlyGa1-yN) quantum dots (QDs) with thin sub-µm AlxGa1-xN layers (with x > y) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on 3 nm and 6 nm thick hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) initially deposited on c-sapphire substrates. An AlN layer was grown on h-BN and the surface roughness was investigated by atomic force microscopy for different deposited thicknesses. It was shown that for thicker AlN layers (i.e., 200 nm), the surface roughness can be reduced and hence a better surface morphology is obtained. Next, AlyGa1-yN QDs embedded in Al0.7Ga0.3N cladding layers were grown on the AlN and investigated by atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction measurements were conducted to assess the crystalline quality of the AlGaN/AlN layers and examine the impact of h-BN on the subsequent layers. Next, the QDs emission properties were studied by photoluminescence and an emission in the deep ultra-violet, i.e., in the 275–280 nm range was obtained at room temperature. Finally, temperature-dependent photoluminescence was performed. A limited decrease in the emission intensity of the QDs with increasing temperatures was observed as a result of the three-dimensional confinement of carriers in the QDs.
Antihypertensive Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract in Subjects with Grade I Hypertension and Antihypertensive Drug Therapy: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Serrano José C. E. , Castro-Boqué Eva , García-Carrasco Alicia , Morán-Valero María Inés , González-Hedström Daniel , Bermúdez-López Marcelino , Valdivielso José Manuel , Espinel Alberto E. , Portero-Otín Manuel
Published: August 2023

The use of garlic (Allium sativum) for treating arterial hypertension has been recognized as effective for several decades. However, tolerance to treatment is low, and several technological modifications have been developed to improve its tolerability, such as the aging process at controlled temperature and humidity. This study aims to validate the antihypertensive effects of an optimized extract of aged black garlic with low doses of s-allyl-cysteine (SAC) in a Grade I hypertensive population with drug treatment. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial was developed, where a daily supplementation with 0.25 mg/day of SAC for 12 weeks was performed. A reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 1.8 mmHg (0.7 to 4.1 95% CI) and 1.5 mmHg (0.3 to 3.0 95% CI), respectively, was observed. Similarly, an increase in blood nitric oxide (10.3 µM, 1.1 to 19.5 95% CI) and antioxidant capacity (7 × 10−3 µM TE/min, (1.2 to 13 × 10−3 95% CI) and a reduction in uric acid levels (−0.3 mg/dL, −0.5 to −0.001 95% CI) and ACE activity (−9.3 U/L; −18.4 to −0.4 95% CI) were observed. No changes in endothelial function and inflammatory cytokines were observed. It was concluded that low-dose SAC supplementation in an optimized black-garlic extract allows for an extra-significant reduction in blood pressure in a Grade I hypertensive population receiving drug treatment.
Dietary Sodium and Human Health
Authors: Jaques David A. , Ponte Belen
Published: August 2023

Sodium, contained in dietary salt, is essential to human life [...]
What Is the Role of Palmitoylethanolamide Co-Ultramicronized with Luteolin on the Symptomatology Reported by Patients Suffering from Long COVID? A Retrospective Analysis Performed by a Group of General Practitioners in a Real-Life Setting
Authors: Pirro Maurizio , Ferri Luana , Piccioni Licia , Bellucci Anna Maria , Bartolucci Federica , Russo Arianna , Piga Andrea , Ciaramaglia Paola Lucia , Lucangeli Marco , Russo Anna Maria , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Evangelista Maurizio
Published: August 2023

Long COVID is a recognized post-viral syndrome characterized by neurological, somatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms that might last for long time after SARS-CoV-2 infection. An ever-growing number of patients come to the observation of General Practitioners complaining of mild or moderate symptoms after the resolution of the acute infection. Nine General Practitioners from the Rome area (Italy) performed a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the role of the supplementation with Palmitoylethanolamide co-ultramicronized with Luteolin (PEALUT) on neurologic and clinical symptoms reported by their patients after COVID-19 resolution. Supplementation with PEALUT helped to improve all patient-reported symptoms, especially pain, anxiety and depression, fatigue, brain fog, anosmia and dysgeusia, leading to an overall improvement in patients’ health status. To our knowledge these are the first data presented on Long COVID patients collected in a territorial setting. Despite their preliminary nature, these results highlight the pathogenetic role of “non-resolving” neuroinflammation in Long COVID development and consequently the importance of its control in the resolution of the pathology and put the focus on the General Practitioner as the primary figure for early detection and management of Long COVID syndrome in a real-life setting. Future randomized, controlled, perspective clinical trials are needed to confirm this preliminary observation.
The Role of Nutrition in the Treatment of Sarcopenia in Old Patients: From Restoration of Mitochondrial Activity to Improvement of Muscle Performance, a Systematic Review
Authors: Cochet Camille , Belloni Giulia , Buondonno Ilaria , Chiara Francesco , D’Amelio Patrizia
Published: August 2023

Sarcopenia is an age-related disease characterized by loss of muscle strength, mass and performance. Malnutrition contributes to sarcopenia pathogenesis. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze existing evidence on the efficacy of nutritional supplementation on muscle and mitochondrial health among sarcopenic or malnourished older adults. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), vitamin D and/or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on muscle mass, strength and performance and/or on mitochondrial activity and redox state in older sarcopenic and/or malnourished adults. The literature search was on MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central, restricted to articles published in the last 10 years (2012–2022). Twelve RCTs with a total of 1337 subjects were included. BCAA with vitamin D significantly ameliorates appendicular muscle mass (4 RCTs), hand grip strength (4 RCTs), gait speed (3 RCTs), short physical performance battery (3 RCTs) or chair stand test (3 RCTs) among six out of nine RCTs. BCAA alone (2 RCTs) or PUFA (1 RCT) were not effective in improving muscle health. Mitochondrial function was significantly improved by the administration of BCAA alone (1 RCT) or in association with vitamin D (1 RCT). In conclusion, BCAA in association with vitamin D may be useful in the treatment of sarcopenia and boost mitochondrial bioenergetic and redox activity. PROSPERO CRD42022332288.
Global Trends in Research of Pain–Gut-Microbiota Relationship and How Nutrition Can Modulate This Link
Authors: Lu Gaochen , Zhang Sheng , Wang Rui , Zhang Zulun , Wang Weihong , Wen Quan , Zhang Faming , Li Pan
Published: August 2023

Introduction: The link between gut microbiota and chronic painful conditions has recently gained attention. Nutrition, as a common intervention in daily life and medical practice, is closely related to microbiota and pain. However, no published bibliometric reports have analyzed the scientific literature concerning the link. Methods and results: We used bibliometrics to identify the characteristics of the global scientific output over the past 20 years. We also aimed to capture and describe how nutrition can modulate the abovementioned link. Relevant papers were searched in the Web of Science database. All necessary publication and citation data were acquired and exported to Bibliometrix for further analyses. The keywords mentioned were illustrated using visualization maps. In total, 1551 papers shed light on the relationship from 2003 to 2022. However, only 122 papers discussed how nutritional interventions can modulate this link. The citations and attention were concentrated on the gut microbiota, pain, and probiotics in terms of the pain–gut relationship. Nutritional status has gained attention in motor themes of a thematic map. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis was applied to identify the scientific literature linking gut microbiota, chronic painful conditions, and nutrition, revealing the popular research topics and authors, scientific institutions, countries, and journals in this field. This study enriches the evidence moving boundaries of microbiota medicine as a clinical medicine.
Associations of Adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research Dietary Recommendations with Gut Microbiota and Inflammation Levels
Authors: Wang Dan , Meng Sijia , Li Jiqiu , Zhao Jing , Wang Yu , Du Meizhi , Wang Yuan , Lu Wenli , Zhu Yun
Published: August 2023

Background: Whether the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) dietary recommendations affect the gut microbiota and inflammatory status remains unclear. We examined the association of dietary adherence scores to the WCRF/AICR with gut microbiota and inflammation in a cross-sectional setting. Methods: The WCRF/AICR diet adherence scores were calculated for 151 participants (adenoma 97, non-adenoma 54) from 7-day dietary records. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. The levels of inflammatory biomarkers in both blood (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, IgA, IgM, and IgG) and fecal samples (i.e., FCP) were evaluated in 97 colorectal adenoma patients who had blood samples available. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of individual and total dietary adherence scores with gut microbiota and inflammatory biomarker levels. Results: Participants with higher adherence had lower relative abundance of Proteobacteria (β = −0.041, 95%CI: −0.073, −0.009), Enterobacteriaceae (β = −0.035, 95%CI: −0.067, −0.003), and unidentified Enterobacteriaceae at the genus level (β = −0.029, 95%CI: −0.055, −0.003) compared to those with lower adherence. Plant-based food intake was positively correlated with increased abundance of Phascolarctobacterium (β = 0.013, 95%CI: 0.001, 0.026). Restricting fast food was linked to high abundance of Bacteroidaceae (β = 0.149, 95%CI: 0.040, 0.257) and Bacteroides (β = 0.149, 95%CI: 0.040, 0.257). Limiting sugary drinks was associated with reduced abundance of Lachnospiraceae (β = −0.155, 95%CI: −0.292, −0.018). Plant-based food intake (β = −0.251, 95%CI: −0.450, −0.052) and restriction of fast food (β = −0.226, 95%CI: −0.443, −0.008) were associated with reduced IGG levels in men. Alcohol restriction was linked to lower IL-6 (β = −7.095, 95%CI: −11.286, −2.903) and IL-8 (β = −7.965, 95%CI: −14.700, −1.230) levels in women, but with higher IL-6 (β = 0.918, 95%CI: 0.161, 1.675) levels in men. Conclusions: Our findings support the association of adherence to the WCRF/AICR diet with gut microbiota and inflammation. These results need to be validated in additional prospective or interventional studies.
The Impact of Preoperative Education on Knee and Hip Replacement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Longo Umile Giuseppe , De Salvatore Sergio , Rosati Chiara , Pisani Irene , Ceccaroli Alice , Rizzello Giacomo , De Marinis Maria Grazia , Denaro Vincenzo
Published: August 2023

This review aims to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative education in the orthopedic patient undergoing knee and total hip replacement. The systematic review was conducted by searching the PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase databases from inception to April 2021. Keywords and combinations of keywords were organized according to the PICOs approach to identify relevant studies. Thirty-seven studies involving 5185 patients were included. Preoperative education was associated with decreased postoperative pain compared to the control group. Preoperative anxiety and length of stay were reduced in most studies through preoperative education compared to the control group. Furthermore, other topics such as sleep, mental status, compliance, knowledge, and patient expectations generally showed improvement in the experimental group. For future investigations, it would be imperative to augment the patient sample size to enhance the research’s reliability and incorporate the most up-to-date literature.
Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Healthcare-Associated Bloodstream Infections at Hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Banawas Saeed S. , Alobaidi Ahmed S. , Dawoud Turki M. , AlDehaimi Abdullah , Alsubaie Faisal M. , Abdel-Hadi Ahmed , Manikandan Palanisamy
Published: August 2023

Bloodstream infection (BSI) prevalence in hospitalized patients has increased owing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens; moreover, antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is a global problem. Here, BSIs are investigated in several patients at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, and the resistance of bacterial isolates to widely used drugs is determined. Throughout 2020, bacteria isolated from patients were identified and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing. In total, 1125 bacterial isolates were obtained from 1039 patients; among them, gram-positive bacteria were significantly more abundant than gram-negative bacteria. The most prevalent bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Notably, gram-negative bacteria were mainly isolated from adult patients, and 20.63% of the gram-positive isolates were from pediatric patients, which was significantly higher than the corresponding percentages in elders and adults. The gram-positive isolates were mainly resistant to cephalothin, oxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and erythromycin and susceptible to penicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin. Additionally, the gram-negative isolates were mainly resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate and susceptible to amikacin, ertapenem, aztreonam, colistin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Consequently, the high prevalence of infective multidrug-resistant bacteria may account as a significant health issue; it is considered a hazard in Riyadh hospitals and must be prevented at all costs.
Mechanistic Evidence of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, Pelargonium sidoides DC., Echinacea Species and a Combination of Hedera helix L., Primula veris L./Primula elatior L. and Thymus vulgaris L./Thymus zygis L. in the Treatment of Acute, Uncomplicated Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Literature Review and Expert Interviews
Authors: Veldman Liesbeth B. M. , Belt-Van Zoen Eefje , Baars Erik W.
Published: August 2023

Reducing inappropriate antibiotic (AB) use by using effective non-antibiotic treatments is one strategy to prevent and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, Pelargonium sidoides DC., Echinacea species and a combination of ivy (Hedera helix L.), primrose (Primula veris L./Primula elatior L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L./Thymus zygis L.) have promising clinical effects in uncomplicated, acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) treatment. However, mechanistic evidence of these herbal treatments is lacking. The objective of this Pstudy is to provide an overview of mechanistic evidence for these effects. Thirty-eight databases were searched. Included studies were mechanistic studies (in vitro, animal, and human studies and reviews) on these herbs; published before June 2021. Non-mechanistic studies or studies on combinations of herbs other than ivy/primrose/thyme were excluded. Furthermore, three experts in traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare (TCIH) research and pharmacognosy were interviewed to collect additional expert knowledge. The results show that A. paniculata acts through immunomodulation and antiviral activity, possibly supplemented by antibacterial and antipyretic effects. P. sidoides acts through antiviral, indirect antibacterial, immunomodulatory and expectorant effects. Echinacea species likely act through immunomodulation. The combination of ivy/primrose/thyme combines secretolytic and spasmolytic effects from ivy with antibacterial effects from thyme. Studies on primrose were lacking. This mechanistic evidence supports the difference-making evidence from clinical studies, contributes to evidence-based recommendations for their use in URTI treatment, and guides future mechanistic studies on URTI treatments.
Healing Effect of a Nano-Functionalized Medical-Grade Honey for the Treatment of Infected Wounds
Authors: Salvo Jessica , Sandoval Cristian , Schencke Carolina , Acevedo Francisca , del Sol Mariano
Published: August 2023

Based on the qualities of Ulmo honey (Eucryphia cordifolia), a medical-grade honey (Ulmoplus®) has been developed. Relevant to this, the use of copper represents an emerging therapy for the treatment of wounds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to see how this medical-grade honey with copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) helped to heal infected or non-infected wounds. Twenty-four guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were divided into four groups for phase 1 (without and with infection, U + F1 and U + F2), and two groups for phase 2 (selected formulation, without and with infection, U + F2NI and U + F2I). Bacteriological and histopathological studies, collagen fibers content evaluation, and stereological analysis were performed. The selected formulation displayed the same antibacterial potency as Ulmoplus®, indicating that this medical-grade honey by itself can be used as an antibacterial agent. However, the evaluation of collagen content demonstrated a significant increase in fibroblast and type III collagen fibers for infected and uninfected groups, which correlated with the histopathological study. Therefore, it is correct to affirm that adding CuNPs to Ulmoplus® improved the maturation of collagen fibers. Finally, polymorphonuclear cells presented similar values between experimental groups, which would indicate that the formulation under study was able to regulate the inflammatory process despite their infectious condition.
Mechanistic of Vesicular Ethosomes and Elastic Liposomes on Permeation Profiles of Acyclovir across Artificial Membrane, Human Cultured EpiDerm, and Rat Skin: In Vitro-Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Hussain Afzal , Altamimi Mohammad A. , Afzal Obaid , Altamimi Abdulmalik S. A. , Ramzan Mohhammad , Khuroo Tahir
Published: August 2023

Acyclovir (ACV) controls cutaneous herpes, genital herpes, herpes keratitis, varicella zoster, and chickenpox. From previously reported ACV formulations, we continued to explore the permeation behavior of the optimized ACV loaded optimized ethosome (ETHO2R) and elastic liposome (ELP3R) and their respective carbopol gels across artificial membrane, cultured human EpiDerm, and rat skin. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to investigate the mechanistic perspective of permeation behavior. The size values of reformulated ELP3-R and ETHO2-R were observed as 217 and 128 nm, respectively (close to previous report), whereas their respective gels showed as 231 and 252 nm, respectively. ETHO2R showed high elasticity, %EE, and low vesicle size. These were investigated for the diffusion rate of the drug permeation (3 h) across the artificial membrane, cultured human EpiDerm, and rat skin. ETHO2GR showed the highest permeation flux (78.42 µg/cm2/h), diffusion coefficient (8.24 × 10−5 cm2/h), and permeation coefficient (0.67 × 10−3 cm/h) of ACV across synthetic membrane, whereas diffusion coefficient (2.4 × 10−4 cm2/h) and permeation coefficient (0.8 × 10−3 cm/h) were maximum across EpiDerm for ETHO2GR. ETHO2R suspension showed maximized permeation flux (169.58 µg/cm2/h) and diffusion rate (0.293 mg/cm2/h1/2), suggesting the rapid internalization of vesicles with cultured skin cells at low viscosity. A similar observation was revealed using rat skin, wherein the permeation flux (182.42 µg/cm2/h), permeation coefficient (0.3 × 10−2 cm/h), and diffusion rate (0.315 mg/cm2/h1/2) of ETHO2R were relatively higher than ELP3R and ELP3GR. Relative small size (128 nm), low viscosity, ethanol-mediated ultra-deformability, high drug entrapment (98%), and elasticity (63.2) are associated with ETHO2R to provide remarkable permeation behavior across the three barriers. The value of TEWL for ETHO2R (21.9 g/m2h) was 3.71 times higher than untreated control (5.9 g/m2h), indicating ethanol-mediated maximized surficial skin lipid perturbation at 3 h of application, whereas the respective ETHO2GR-treated rat skin had TEWL value (18.6 g/m2h) slightly lower than ETHO2R due to gel-based hydration into the skin. SEL, CLSM, and AFM provided a mechanistic perspective of ETHO2R and ELP3R-mediated permeation across rat skin and carrier-mediated visualization (skin–vesicle interaction). AFM provided detailed nanoscale surface roughness topographical parameters of treated and untreated rat skin as supportive data to SEM and CLSM. Thus, ethosomes ETHO2R and respective gel assisted maximum permeation of ACV across rat skin and cultured human EpiDerm to control cutaneous herpes infection and herpes keratitis.
Repurposable Drugs for Immunotherapy and Strategies to Find Candidate Drugs
Authors: Sakai Norihiro , Kamimura Kenya , Terai Shuji
Published: August 2023

Conventional drug discovery involves significant steps, time, and expenses; therefore, novel methods for drug discovery remain unmet, particularly for patients with intractable diseases. For this purpose, the drug repurposing method has been recently used to search for new therapeutic agents. Repurposed drugs are mostly previously approved drugs, which were carefully tested for their efficacy for other diseases and had their safety for the human body confirmed following careful pre-clinical trials, clinical trials, and post-marketing surveillance. Therefore, using these approved drugs for other diseases that cannot be treated using conventional therapeutic methods could save time and economic costs for testing their clinical applicability. In this review, we have summarized the methods for identifying repurposable drugs focusing on immunotherapy.
Discriminative Dissolution Method Using the Open-Loop Configuration of the USP IV Apparatus to Compare Dissolution Profiles of Metoprolol Tartrate Immediate-Release Tablets: Use of Kinetic Parameters
Authors: Solis-Cruz Bruno , Hernandez-Patlan Daniel , Morales Hipólito Elvia A. , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo , Alcántara Pineda Alejandro , López-Arellano Raquel
Published: August 2023

The use of the USP IV apparatus (flow-through cell) has gained acceptance in recent years due to its versatility and ability to discriminate due to its hydrodynamic conditions. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop a discriminative dissolution method in the USP IV apparatus using the open-loop configuration, as well as to propose a method to compare non-cumulative dissolution profiles obtained in the open-loop configuration considering kinetic parameters and validate its predictive power through its comparison with independent and dependent methods using five commercial immediate-release tablet drugs (one reference drug and four generic drugs) of metoprolol tartrate as a model drug. The comparison of the non-accumulated dissolution profiles consisted of determining the geometric ratio of Cmax, AUC0∞, AUC0Cmax, and Tmax (kinetic parameters) of the generic/reference drugs, whereby generic drugs “C” and “D” presented the highest probability of similarity since their 90% confidence intervals were included, or they were very close to the acceptance interval (80.00–125.00%). These results were consistent with the f2, bootstrap f2, and dissolution efficiency approaches (independent models). In conclusion, the proposed comparison method can be an important tool to establish similarity in dissolution profiles and to facilitate the development/selection of new formulations and positively ensure bioequivalence in clinical studies.
Ethics of Psychedelic Use in Psychiatry and Beyond—Drawing upon Legal, Social and Clinical Challenges
Authors: Azevedo Nuno , Oliveira Da Silva Miguel , Madeira Luís
Published: August 2023

Background: Psychedelics are known for their powerful mental effects due to the activation of 5HT-2A receptors in the brain. During the 1950s and 1960s, research was conducted on these molecules until their criminalization. However, their clinical investigation as therapeutic tools for psychiatric disorders has revived the deontological ethics surrounding this subject. Questions arise as research on their therapeutic outcome becomes a reality. We aim to explore deontological ethics to understand the implications of psychedelics for the clinician, patient, and society. Results: A total of 42 articles were considered for this review. Methods: A methodological search of psychedelic studies from 2017 to 2022 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect to address the deontological ethics of clinical psychedelic use. Conclusion: Psychedelics need to be culturally contextualized, epistemic harm minimized and represented to ensure informed consent. Open data and commissions are needed to ensure safe and equal distribution.
Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance
Authors: Chardon Nathalie Isabelle , Stone Philippa , Hilbert Carly , Maclachlan Teagan , Ragsdale Brianna , Zhao Allen , Goodwin Katie , Collins Courtney G. , Hewitt Nina , Elphinstone Cassandra
Published: August 2023

Human disturbance, such as trampling, is an integral component of global change, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of its effects on alpine ecosystems. Many alpine systems are seeing a rapid increase in recreation and in understudied regions, such as the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, yet disturbance impacts on alpine plants remain unclear. We surveyed disturbed (trail-side) and undisturbed (off-trail) transects along elevational gradients of popular hiking trails in the T’ak’t’ak’múy’in tl’a In’inyáxa7n region (Garibaldi Provincial Park), Canada, focusing on dominant shrubs (Phyllodoce empetriformis, Cassiope mertensiana, Vaccinium ovalifolium) and graminoids (Carex spp). We used a hierarchical Bayesian framework to test for disturbance by elevation effects on total plant percent cover, maximum plant height and diameter (growth proxies), and buds, flowers, and fruits (reproduction proxies). We found that trampling reduces plant cover and impacts all species, but that effects vary by species and trait, and disturbance effects only vary with elevation for one species’ trait. Growth traits are more sensitive to trampling than reproductive traits, which may lead to differential impacts on population persistence and species-level fitness outcomes. Our study highlights that disturbance responses are species-specific, and this knowledge can help land managers minimize disturbance impacts on sensitive vegetation types.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Legislative Strategies for New Psychoactive Substances: The Brazilian Panorama
Authors: dos Santos Bruno Pereira , Birk Letícia , de Souza Schwarz Patricia , Eller Sarah , de Oliveira Tiago Franco , Arbo Marcelo Dutra
Published: August 2023

Over the last decades, new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have established a new pattern of drug synthesis and distribution. These compounds brought with them several challenges, including their analytical determination by known methodologies, the uncertainty of their toxicological effects, and the possible approaches used for control. In Brazil, the control of NPS started with a nominal list of proscribed compounds. But the variety of substances was so large that other strategies were implemented. Generic legislation was created as several groups began to emerge, such as phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones, and synthetic cannabinoids. The legislation also began to include salts and isomers of all listed substances and precursor chemical ingredients or plants that may be used to produce them. Those substances are known for the unpredictability of their effects, causing a wide range of symptoms, including seizures, aggression, and acute psychosis. Users under effect represent a high risk for themselves and others. In this study, we present an overview of the timeline in which NPSs were detected in Brazilian territory and the legislative approaches. A complete literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, the World Wide Web and Brazilian governmental websites employing relevant keywords such as NPS, legislation, and Brazil. Even with the high volume of legislative measures, the race against NPS intoxication cases and apprehensions continues to be fierce. There are limitations in the process of detection, identification, and prohibition of the substances in the country that demand a multifactorial approach, stronger public health measures, scientific research, as well as harm reduction strategies. Nevertheless, the Brazilian scenario on NPS arrival reflects a worldwide problem faced by many countries. In conclusion, it is stated that the use of multiple legislative strategies such as prohibition lists and generic controls can provide for better regulation of the NPS problem. However, this issue needs to be addressed by multiple organizations, including police departments and the public health system, and that effort needs to be coordinated and standardized for all Brazilian Federal states.
Asceticism as Renouncing and Embracing the World in Ibn ‘Arabī’s Radical Metaphysics
Authors: Lala Ismail
Published: August 2023

Asceticism or renunciation (zuhd) is generally viewed as turning away from the world and all it has to offer in order to connect to the divine. The well-known mystical theorist, Muḥyī al-Dīn ibn ‘Arabī (d. 638/1240), adds a denotation of asceticism to this conventional definition. Ibn ‘Arabī argues that the impetus for the creation of the cosmos was the divine wish to be known by something other than Itself. As the fulfilment of this wish, the universe is nothing but a manifestation of the cataphatic aspect of God described as His ‘most beautiful Names’ (al-Asmā’ al-ḥusnā) in the Qur’an, which is not God as He truly is in His apophatic essence that can never be comprehended, much less manifested. This means that there are two forms of asceticism or connecting to the divine: one is to assert God’s transcendence and His true apophatic nature by renouncing the world, while the other is to emphasise His comparability by embracing the world as a manifestation of God’s most beautiful Names. Ibn ‘Arabī presents the world-renouncing form of asceticism through the chapter of Prophet Idrīs in his most popular work, Fuṣūṣ al-ḥikam, and he presents the world-embracing from of asceticism through the chapter of Prophet Ilyās. He then combines both forms of asceticism in the chapter of Prophet Muḥammad.
The Last Jihadist Battle in Syria: Externalisation and the Regional and International Responses to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib
Authors: Bakkour Samer
Published: August 2023

When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized Idlib, it alarmed and disturbed international observers. However, HTS is only one among a number of radical Islamist groups in a part of Syria that has become an incubator of Jihadism. As the last remaining redoubt of the armed opposition in the country, the governorate has become an international concern. Events have now reached an impasse, and the time is thus right for a reappraisal that steps back and considers contemporary developments in the wider context of ongoing events in the governorate. This article also places local developments in a wider context in another sense by considering how regional and international interventions contributed to HTS’s rise in the Idlib governorate. This is particularly important as external interventions by Turkey, Iran, Russia and the US have not only failed to establish a sustainable basis for peace by addressing the root causes of violence but have actually inflamed hostilities and exacerbated the various challenges involved in ending the conflict, which has at times taken on the appearance of a proxy war. In seeking to better theorise externalisation, this article draws on peacebuilding theory. This historical and political contextualisation seeks to contribute to an improved understanding of HTS’s rise and the means through which it can be most effectively combated in the future.
Spatiotemporal Evaluation of the Flood Potential Index and Its Driving Factors across the Volga River Basin Based on Combined Satellite Gravity Observations
Authors: Zou Zhengbo , Li Yu , Cui Lilu , Yao Chaolong , Xu Chuang , Yin Maoqiao , Zhu Chengkang
Published: August 2023

Floods have always threatened the survival and development of human beings. To reduce the adverse effects of floods, it is very important to understand the influencing factors of floods and their formation mechanisms. In our study, we integrated the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and its Follow-On and Swarm solutions to estimate an uninterrupted 19-year flood potential index (FPI) time series, discussed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the FPI and monitored major floods in the Volga River basin (VRB) from 2003 to 2021. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between the FPI and hydrometeorological factors to comprehend the flood formation mechanism. The results show that data fusion has reduced the uncertainty of terrestrial water storage change (TWSC), and the TWSC from the combined satellite gravity observations has a good consistency with that from the Global Land Data Assimilation System model (correlation coefficient = 0.92). During the study period, two major floods (June 2005 and May 2018) occurred in the VRB. The FPI has a significant seasonal change characteristic, and shows a high flood risk in spring and a low one in autumn. With regards to spatial distribution, the flood risk is increasing in the north (increasing rate = 0.1) and decreasing in the south (decreasing rate = 0.39). Snow water equivalent (SWE, correlation coefficient = 0.75) has a stronger correlation with the FPI than precipitation (PPT, correlation coefficient = 0.46), which is attributed to the recharge of SWE on water resources greater than that of PPT. The rising surface temperature (ST) speeds up snow melt, resulting in excessive groundwater and soil moisture, and the flood risk greatly increases at this time. The process lasts about three months. Therefore, except for PPT, ST is also a climatic factor leading to the floods in the VRB. Our study provides a reference for flood research in high-latitude regions.
Special Issue “Mapping and Monitoring of Geohazards with Remote Sensing Technologies”
Authors: Loupasakis Constantinos , Papoutsis Ioannis , Nikolakopoulos Konstantinos G.
Published: August 2023

Geohazard monitoring is crucial for building resilient communities [...]
Imitation Learning through Image Augmentation Using Enhanced Swin Transformer Model in Remote Sensing
Authors: Park Yoojin , Sung Yunsick
Published: August 2023

In unmanned systems, remote sensing is an approach that collects and analyzes data such as visual images, infrared thermal images, and LiDAR sensor data from a distance using a system that operates without human intervention. Recent advancements in deep learning enable the direct mapping of input images in remote sensing to desired outputs, making it possible to learn through imitation learning and for unmanned systems to learn by collecting and analyzing those images. In the case of autonomous cars, raw high-dimensional data are collected using sensors, which are mapped to the values of steering and throttle through a deep learning network to train imitation learning. Therefore, by imitation learning, the unmanned systems observe expert demonstrations and learn expert policies, even in complex environments. However, in imitation learning, collecting and analyzing a large number of images from the game environment incurs time and costs. Training with a limited dataset leads to a lack of understanding of the environment. There are some augmentation approaches that have the limitation of increasing the dataset because of considering only the locations of objects visited and estimated. Therefore, it is required to consider the diverse kinds of the location of objects not visited to solve the limitation. This paper proposes an enhanced model to augment the number of training images comprising a Preprocessor, an enhanced Swin Transformer model, and an Action model. Using the original network structure of the Swin Transformer model for image augmentation in imitation learning is challenging. Therefore, the internal structure of the Swin Transformer model is enhanced, and the Preprocessor and Action model are combined to augment training images. The proposed method was verified through an experimental process by learning from expert demonstrations and augmented images, which reduced the total loss from 1.24068 to 0.41616. Compared to expert demonstrations, the accuracy was approximately 86.4%, and the proposed method achieved 920 points and 1200 points more than the comparison model to verify generalization.
Feature-Decision Level Collaborative Fusion Network for Hyperspectral and LiDAR Classification
Authors: Zhang Shenfu , Meng Xiangchao , Liu Qiang , Yang Gang , Sun Weiwei
Published: August 2023

The fusion-based classification of hyperspectral (HS) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) images has become a prominent research topic, as their complementary information can effectively improve classification performance. The current methods encompass pixel-, feature- and decision-level fusion. Among them, feature- and decision-level fusion have emerged as the mainstream approaches. Collaborative fusion of these two levels can enhance classification accuracy. Although various methods have been proposed, some shortcomings still exist. On one hand, current methods ignore the shared advanced features between HS and LiDAR images, impeding the integration of multimodal features and thereby limiting the classification performance. On the other hand, the existing methods face difficulties in achieving a balance between feature- and decision-level contributions, or they simply overlook the significance of one level and fail to utilize it effectively. In this paper, we propose a novel feature-decision level collaborative fusion network (FDCFNet) for hyperspectral and LiDAR classification to alleviate these problems. Specifically, a multilevel interactive fusion module is proposed to indirectly connect hyperspectral and LiDAR flows to refine the spectral-elevation information. Moreover, the fusion features of the intermediate branch can further enhance the shared-complementary information of hyperspectral and LiDAR to reduce the modality differences. In addition, a dynamic weight selection strategy is meticulously designed to adaptively assign weight to the output of three branches at the decision level. Experiments on three public benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Assessing the Applicability of Three Precipitation Products, IMERG, GSMaP, and ERA5, in China over the Last Two Decades
Authors: Zhou Hongwu , Ning Shan , Li Da , Pan Xishan , Li Qiao , Zhao Min , Tang Xiao
Published: August 2023

The accuracy of gridded precipitation products is uncertain in different temporal and spatial dimensions. Analyzing the applicability of precipitation products is a prerequisite before applying them to hydrometeorological and other related research. In this study, we selected three gridded precipitation products, Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG), Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), and the fifth generation of atmospheric reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA5), including their data from 2001 to 2020. Using the data from 699 ground observation stations, we evaluated the applicability of these three precipitation products in China. Based on five statistical and five classification indicators, we first assessed the applicability of the three precipitation products on daily, monthly, and annual time scales, respectively, and then evaluated their applicability in different spatial dimensions, including basins, agriculture, and geomorphology. The results showed that: (1) IMERG data had the best accuracy on annual and monthly time scales, with both correlation coefficient (CC) values greater than 0.95 and Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) values greater than 0.90. On a daily time scale, the accuracy of all three precipitation products differed when statistical or categorical indicators were considered alone. However, the applicability of IMERG data was best among the three precipitation products when both types of indicators were considered. (2) The accuracy of the three precipitation products gradually decreased along the southeast–northwest direction. The applicability of ERA5 data was better in northern regions than in other regions in China, especially in arid and semi-arid regions in northern China. The applicability of IMERG data was better in southern regions with more precipitation and in high-altitude regions than in other regions in China. (3) The applicability of the three precipitation products in plain areas was generally better than in mountain areas. Among them, ERA5 data were more accurate in plain areas, while IMERG data were more accurate in mountain areas. This study can provide a reference for the selection of data sources of gridded precipitation products in different time scales and spatial dimensions in China.