bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical Administration of Mometasone Is Not Helpful in Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Dysfunction
Authors: Hintschich Constantin A. , Dietz Melanie , Haehner Antje , Hummel Thomas
Published: September 2022

Persistent olfactory dysfunction is a major concern post-COVID-19, affecting up to 5% of all patients. Different therapeutic options, including mometasone nasal spray, have been recommended, only some of which have been validated for post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. In this study we psychophysically assessed the effect of intranasally applied mometasone furoate on the recovery of olfaction. The spray was applied with a long applicator so that the olfactory cleft could be reached effectively. After olfactory dysfunction had been confirmed psychophysically using Sniffin’ Sticks, patients were randomly assigned to two different treatment arms: the study group (n = 40) underwent olfactory training and intranasal administration of mometasone furoate twice daily, whereas the control group (n = 46) performed olfactory training only. After a study duration of three months, psychophysical testing of olfaction was repeated using Sniffin’ Sticks. We found no benefit of an additional topical administration of mometasone furoate compared to olfactory training alone. These results psychophysically confirm two previous studies which were based on patients’ subjective self-ratings. Our findings are in contrast to current recommendations for the management of olfactory dysfunction post-COVID-19, which might have to be adapted accordingly.
Whole Elliptical Surface Polishing Using a Doughnut-Shaped MCF Polishing Tool with Variable Tilt Angle
Authors: Feng Ming , Lei Yang , Chen Zhixiang , Zhang Xianglei , Chen Xizhang , Wang Youliang
Published: September 2022

Elliptical elements are essential optical surfaces for modifying optical systems. For polishing the whole elliptical surface using doughnut-shaped MCF polishing tool with variable tilt angle, an experimental investigation was conducted in this work. Firstly, a flat workpiece was polished to determine the polishing feasibility. It was found that the middle portion of the polishing tool had optimal ability to remove materials, and the surface roughness Sa at the material removal peak was changed from 134 nm to 17.5 nm within 50 min of polishing. A smoother surface could be obtained using MCF2 slurry and MCF3 slurry, but the use of MCF1 slurry resulted in a rough surface. Then, the effects of working gap h, revolution speed of MCF polishing tool and polishing time on the polishing results were tested to study the polishing characteristics. Sa 9.6 nm and glossiness 278 Gu were obtained, and form error improved from 2.3 μm to 1.3 μm. Finally, the MCF polishing tool was dried to observe the microstructure of the MCF polishing tool after polishing. Abrasive particles were distributed evenly after polishing. It was seen that the abrasive particles were grabbed by the ferric clusters, and the α-celluloses were interleaved between the clusters.
Collision Avoidance Problem of Ellipsoid Motion
Authors: Guo Shujun , Jing Lujing , Dai Zhaopeng , Yu Yang , Dang Zhiqing , You Zhihang , Su Ang , Gao Hongwei , Guan Jinqiu , Song Yujun
Published: September 2022

This paper studies the problem of target control and how a virtual ellipsoid can avoid the static obstacle. During the motion to the target set, the virtual ellipsoid can achieve a motion under collision avoidance by keeping the distance between the ellipsoid and obstacle. We present solutions to this problem in the class of closed-loop (feedback) controls based on Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation. Simulation results verify the validity and effectiveness of our algorithm.
Filter-GAN: Imbalanced Malicious Traffic Classification Based on Generative Adversarial Networks with Filter
Authors: Cao Xin , Luo Qin , Wu Peng
Published: September 2022

In recent years, with the rapid development of Internet services in all walks of life, a large number of malicious acts such as network attacks, data leakage, and information theft have become major challenges for network security. Due to the difficulty of malicious traffic collection and labeling, the distribution of various samples in the existing dataset is seriously imbalanced, resulting in low accuracy of malicious traffic classification based on machine learning and deep learning, and poor model generalization ability. In this paper, a feature image representation method and Adversarial Generative Network with Filter (Filter-GAN) are proposed to solve these problems. First, the feature image representation method divides the original session traffic into three parts. The Markov matrix is extracted from each part to form a three-channel feature image. This method can transform the original session traffic format into a uniform-length matrix and fully characterize the network traffic. Then, Filter-GAN uses the feature images to generate few attack samples. Compared with general methods, Filter-GAN can generate more efficient samples. Experiments were conducted on public datasets. The results show that the feature image representation method can effectively characterize the original session traffic. When the number of samples is sufficient, the classification accuracy can reach 99%. Compared with unbalanced datasets, Filter-GAN has significantly improved the recognition accuracy of small-sample datasets, with a maximum improvement of 6%.
A Machine Learning Approach to Detect Parkinson’s Disease by Looking at Gait Alterations
Authors: Tîrnăucă Cristina , Stan Diana , Meissner Johannes Mario , Salas-Gómez Diana , Fernández-Gorgojo Mario , Infante Jon
Published: September 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is often detected only in later stages, when about 50% of nigrostriatal dopaminergic projections have already been lost. Thus, there is a need for biomarkers to monitor the earliest phases, especially for those that are at higher risk. In this work, we explore the use of machine learning methods to diagnose PD by analyzing gait alterations via an inertial sensors system that participants in the study wear while walking down a 15 m long corridor in three different scenarios. To achieve this goal, we have trained six well-known machine learning models: support vector machines, logistic regression, neural networks, k nearest neighbors, decision trees and random forest. We thoroughly explored several ways to mitigate the problems derived from the small amount of available data. We found that, while achieving accuracy rates of over 70% is quite common, the accuracy of the best model trained is only slightly above the 80% mark. This model has high precision and specificity (over 90%), but lower sensitivity (only 71%). We believe that these results are promising, especially given the size of the population sample (41 PD patients and 36 healthy controls), and that this research venue should be further explored.
Effect of Vitamin D on Bone Regeneration: A Review
Authors: Muresan Giorgiana , Hedesiu Mihaela , Lucaciu Ondine , Boca Sanda , Petrescu Nausica
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Vitamin D (Vit. D) is known for its role in the skeletal system. Vit. D deficiency is also widely researched for its effects on the healing of fractures, bone defects, and osseointegration of implants. In the literature, there are studies that investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Vit. D to reduce Vit. D deficiency, but increasing the serum level of this vitamin takes time. Therefore, an attempt has been made to combat the effect of Vit. D deficiency through topical applications. The aim of this article was to conduct a review of the existing bibliographic data that investigate the effect of Vit. D on bone regeneration. Materials and Methods: In order to carry out this review, an electronic search was made in several databases and the articles found were selected and analyzed. Results: The in vitro studies’ results demonstrated that Vit. D has a high therapeutic potential by enhancing the differentiation of stem cells in osteoblasts. Human and animal studies were conducting using various methods, but most of them revealed that Vit. D has a positive influence on the process of bone regeneration. Conclusions: The overall results of the research showed that, indeed, Vit. D is beneficial for bone regeneration; however, most of the studies imply that a thorough research is still needed for finding the most effective mode of administration and the dose needed in order to achieve the desired effect.
Risk Assessment of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events and Validation of the COLDS Score in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
Authors: Kim Hyo Sung , Kim Young Sung , Lim Byung Gun , Lee Jae Hak , Song Jihyun , Kim Heezoo
Published: September 2022

Background and objectives: Children are at greater risk of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), which can pose a higher risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs), than adults. The purpose of this study was to validate the COLDS score as a pre-anesthetic risk assessment tool for predicting the possibility of PRAEs. Materials and methods: Children aged under 18 years and undergoing elective surgery were retrospectively included. Logistic regression analysis and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were used to estimate the ability of the COLDS score to predict PRAEs. Propensity-matched comparison was evaluated using the cut-off value from the ROC curve. Results: Among the 6252 children, 158 children had a recent URTI and 34 cases of PRAEs were reported. Age, current symptoms, and COLDS score were found to be significant variables in predicting PRAEs. From the ROC curve, values of 0.652 (p = 0.007) for AUC and 12.5 for the cut-off value of the COLDS score were calculated. Propensity-matched comparison revealed that each and every component of COLDS contributed to the higher COLDS score group. In addition to higher COLDS score, younger age and current URTI symptoms were found to be significant risk factors for PRAEs. Conclusions: This study validated the predictive power of COLDS score as a risk assessment tool for children with URTI undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia.
Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin Plus Raltitrexed as an Alternative Option in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Failure of, or Unsuitability for, Transarterial Chemoembolization
Authors: Wu Yanfang , Zheng Susu , Zhang Zhenzhen , Chen Guobin , Chen Xiaochun , Zheng Tanghui , Guo Xinkun , Chen Hong , Wang Meixia , Xie Xiaoying , Zhang Boheng
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with oxaliplatin plus raltitrexed (HAICROX) as an alternative treatment option for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who are ineligible for, or failed, the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. Materials and Methods: From July 2020 to November 2021, a total of 35 HCC patients were enrolled and received HAIC with oxaliplatin plus raltitrexed. The overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. The tumor response was assessed by the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST), and the adverse events were investigated using the common terminology criteria for adverse events version 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0). Results: The median OS and TTP were 10 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.5–14.6) and 3.5 months (95% CI: 2.3–4.7), respectively. By means of multivariate analysis, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy was found to be an independent prognostic factor for better survival. No patients experienced toxicity-related death. Thrombocytopenia, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation were the most common toxicities. No grade 3 or higher adverse events related to HAICROX were observed. Conclusion: HAICROX showed valuable efficacy and tolerable toxicity in advanced HCC patients who progressed on TACE or were ineligible for TACE. HAICROX is a promising treatment for advanced-stage HCC patients with TACE failure or ineligibility.
Histamine: A Mediator of Intestinal Disorders—A Review
Authors: Smolinska Sylwia , Winiarska Ewa , Globinska Anna , Jutel Marek
Published: September 2022

Within the gastrointestinal tract, histamine is present at relatively high concentrations, especially during inflammatory processes. Histamine is a biogenic amine with numerous effects on many cell types, mediated by the activation of its four different histamine receptors (H1–H4Rs). It is produced and released by immune cells as mast cells and basophils. Some cells such as dendritic cells or T cells can express histidine decarboxylase, an enzyme for histamine synthesis after stimulation. The same can be done by the human gut microbiota. The production of histamine by bacteria in the human gut influence the immune response, although the major source of histamine is food. The large spectrum of histamine effects on a number of cellular processes results in various gastrointestinal disorders including food allergy, histamine intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease, among others. In this review, the protective or pathogenic effects of histamine on various gut disorders are discussed.
Manipulation of THC Hair Concentrations by Commercially Available Products
Authors: Bertges Markus , Ketikidou Alexandra , Weiskirchen Ralf , van Helden Josef , Boehnke Rudolf , Hess Cornelius
Published: September 2022

Many drug tests are carried out by means of hair analysis. The aim of the present study was to clarify if and to what extent it is possible to manipulate the results of hair analyses on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by using various commercially available everyday products and products advertised on the internet to be able to reduce the concentrations of drugs in hair. Fifty-four THC-positive hair samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry; they were analyzed untreated or treated with Vodka Gorbatschow® (n = 19), Seborin® hair tonic (n = 11), Zydot® shampoo (n = 6), Desderman® disinfectant (n = 11) and Head and Shoulders® shampoo (n = 7). A mean reduction of 52% (Zydot® shampoo) to 65% (Desderman®) was shown. Hair treatments could not be detected visually. Hair concentrations could also be decreased to non-detectability by using these everyday hair care products. Therefore, it is recommended to complement abstinence controls using hair samples by urine analysis and to not over-interpret quantitative results of THC concentrations in hair.
Effects of Oral Glutamine Supplementation, Birthweight and Age on Colonic Morphology and Microbiome Development in Male Suckling Piglets
Authors: Schulze Holthausen Johannes , Schregel Johannes , Sciascia Quentin L. , Li Zeyang , Tuchscherer Armin , Vahjen Wilfried , Metges Cornelia C. , Zentek Jürgen
Published: September 2022

Mortality, impaired development and metabolic dysfunctions of suckling low-birthweight piglets may be influenced by modulating the intestinal microbiome through glutamine supplementation. Therefore, this study examined whether glutamine supplementation may affect the colonic development and microbiome composition of male low- and normal-birthweight piglets at 5 and 12 days of age. Suckling piglets were supplemented orally with glutamine or alanine. Colonic digesta samples were obtained for 16S rDNA sequencing, determination of bacterial metabolites and histomorphological tissue analyses. Glutamine-supplemented piglets had lower concentrations of cadaverine and spermidine in the colonic digesta (p < 0.05) and a higher number of CD3+ colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes compared to alanine-supplemented piglets (p < 0.05). Low-birthweight piglets were characterised by a lower relative abundance of Firmicutes, the genera Negativibacillus and Faecalibacterium and a higher abundance of Alistipes (p < 0.05). Concentrations of cadaverine and total biogenic amines (p < 0.05) and CD3+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (p < 0.05) were lower in low- compared with normal-birthweight piglets. In comparison to the factor age, glutamine supplementation and birthweight were associated with minor changes in microbial and histological characteristics of the colon, indicating that ontogenetic factors play a more important role in intestinal development.
Gut Microbiota and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients with Food Allergies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jensen Caroline , Antonsen Marie Fagervik , Lied Gülen Arslan
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of food allergies (FAs) has increased considerably in recent decades, with the only available treatment being the avoidance of the specific food items causing the allergy. FAs may have a major impact on quality of life, and it is of great interest to explore new strategies to prevent and treat FAs. Some studies show an altered gut microbiota profile in individuals with FAs, and the modulation of gut microbiota is therefore proposed as a potential strategy for prevention and treatment. This systematic review aimed to investigate: (1) the gut microbiota profile in individuals with FAs compared to healthy individuals and (2) the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on gut microbiota profiles and/or allergy symptoms. A literature search was conducted in PubMed (Medline) on 5 April 2022. Of the 236 publications identified, 12 studies were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eleven of these studies reported results on the gut microbiota in children with FAs compared to healthy controls (HCs). The majority of studies (six studies) observed no difference in alpha diversity when comparing children with FAs to HCs; however, a difference in beta diversity was observed in five studies. At the phylum level, we observed a high abundance of Firmicutes (six studies) and Proteobacteria (five studies), whereas a low abundance of Bacteroidetes (5 studies) was observed in children with FAs compared to HCs. Of the 12 included studies, four explored the effect of FMT on gut microbiota and/or allergy symptoms. Three studies reported that transferring gut microbiota from children without FAs to germ-free mice, protected the mice against allergic reactions, whereas one study did not report findings on the allergic symptoms. The results on gut microbiota after FMT varied and were too divergent to draw any conclusions. Overall, our results suggest that there are differences in the gut microbiota profile in individuals with FAs compared to individuals without FAs. FMT seems to be a promising strategy to prevent allergic symptoms but needs to be further explored in animal and human models. As the findings in this review are based on a small number of studies (12 studies), further studies are warranted before any clear conclusions can be drawn regarding gut microbiota profiles and the effect of FMT on individuals with FAs.
Fast and Non-Destructive Profiling of Commercial Coffee Aroma under Three Conditions (Beans, Powder, and Brews) Using GC-IMS
Authors: Chen Yanping , Chen He , Cui Dandan , Fang Xiaolei , Gao Jie , Liu Yuan
Published: September 2022

The flavor of coffee can be affected by the preparation parameters. In this investigation, the flavor profiles of three coffee brands under three conditions (bean, powder, and brew) were analyzed by gas chromatography—ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and the electronic nose (E-nose). The flavor results were further studied using multiple factor analysis (MFA). A total of 117 peaks were identified in all coffee samples by GC-IMS, and the principal component analysis (PCA) showed these coffee samples could be grouped and separated. A total of 37 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were selected as biomarkers to distinguish coffee samples, including 5 aldehydes, 10 ketones, 8 alcohols, 2 acids, 4 esters, 5 furans, and 3 other compounds. The comparison between E-nose and GC-IMS data using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and MFA showed GC-IMS could present very close sample spaces. Compared with E-nose, GC–IMS could not only be used to classify coffee samples in a very short time but also provide VOC bio-markers to discriminate coffee samples.
Development of Novel 1,3-Disubstituted-2-Thiohydantoin Analogues with Potent Anti-Inflammatory Activity; In Vitro and In Silico Assessments
Authors: Khirallah Salma M. , Ramadan Heba M. M. , Shawky Ahmed , Qahl Safa H. , Baty Roua S. , Alqadri Nada , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Jaremko Mariusz , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Saied Essa M.
Published: September 2022

Inflammation is the main cause of several autoimmune diseases, including type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bullous pemphigoid, paraneoplastic pemphigoid, and multiple sclerosis. Currently, there is an urgent demand for the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory drugs with potent activity but also safe for long-term application. Toward this aim, the present study reported the design, synthesis, and characterization of a set of novel 1,3-disubstituted-2-thiohydantoins derivatives. The anti-inflammatory activity of synthesized compounds was assessed against murine leukemia cell line (RAW264.7) by evaluating the cytotoxicity activity and their potency to prevent nitric oxide (NO) production. The results revealed that the synthesized compounds possess a considerable cytotoxic activity together with the ability to reduce the NO production in murine leukemia cell line (RAW264.7). Among synthesized compounds, compound 7 exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 197.68 μg/mL, compared to celecoxib drug (IC50 value 251.2 μg/mL), and demonstrated a significant ability to diminish the NO production (six-fold reduction). Exploring the mode of action responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity revealed that compound 7 displays a significant and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β. Furthermore, compound 7 demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α at 50 μg/mL, as compared to Celecoxib. Finally, detailed molecular modelling studies indicated that compound 7 exhibits a substantial binding affinity toward the binding pocket of the cyclooxygenase 2 enzyme. Taken together, our study reveals that 1,3-disubstituted-2-thiohydantoin could be considered as a promising scaffold for the development of potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Green Extraction Processes for Complex Samples from Vegetable Matrices Coupled with On-Line Detection System: A Critical Review
Authors: Maciel-Silva Francisco W. , Lachos-Perez Daniel , Buller Luz Selene , Sganzerla William G. , Pérez Montserrat , Rostagno Mauricio A. , Forster-Carneiro Tania
Published: September 2022

The detection of analytes in complex organic matrices requires a series of analytical steps to obtain a reliable analysis. Sample preparation can be the most time-consuming, prolonged, and error-prone step, reducing the reliability of the investigation. This review aims to discuss the advantages and limitations of extracting bioactive compounds, sample preparation techniques, automation, and coupling with on-line detection. This review also evaluates all publications on this topic through a longitudinal bibliometric analysis, applying statistical and mathematical methods to analyze the trends, perspectives, and hot topics of this research area. Furthermore, state-of-the-art green extraction techniques for complex samples from vegetable matrices coupled with analysis systems are presented. Among the extraction techniques for liquid samples, solid-phase extraction was the most common for combined systems in the scientific literature. In contrast, for on-line extraction systems applied for solid samples, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and pressurized liquid extraction were the most frequent green extraction techniques.
Synthesis of Isomeric 3-Benzazecines Decorated with Endocyclic Allene Moiety and Exocyclic Conjugated Double Bond and Evaluation of Their Anticholinesterase Activity
Authors: Titov Alexander A. , Purgatorio Rosa , Obydennik Arina Y. , Listratova Anna V. , Borisova Tatiana N. , de Candia Modesto , Catto Marco , Altomare Cosimo D. , Varlamov Alexey V. , Voskressensky Leonid G.
Published: September 2022

Transformations of 1-methoxymethylethynyl substituted isoquinolines triggered by terminal alkynes in alcohols were studied and new 3-benzazecine-containing compounds synthesized, such as 6-methoxymethyl-3-benzazecines incorporating an endocyclic C6–C8 allene fragment and the -ylidene derivatives 6-methoxymethylene-3-benzazecines. The reaction mechanisms were investigated and a preliminary in vitro screening of their potential inhibitory activities against human acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases (AChE and BChE) and monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO-A and MAO-B) showed that the allene compounds were more potent than the corresponding -ylidene ones as selective AChE inhibitors. Among the allenes, 3e (R3 = CH2OMe) was found to be a competitive AChE inhibitor with a low micromolar inhibition constant value (Ki = 4.9 μM), equipotent with the corresponding 6-phenyl derivative 3n (R3 = Ph, Ki = 4.5 μM), but 90-fold more water-soluble.
Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Isolates from Soil Samples and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Potential against MDRS
Authors: Sadiqi Shahida , Hamza Muhammad , Ali Farooq , Alam Sadia , Shakeela Qismat , Ahmed Shehzad , Ayaz Asma , Ali Sajid , Saqib Saddam , Ullah Fazal , Zaman Wajid
Published: September 2022

Some soil microbes, with their diverse inhabitance, biologically active metabolites, and endospore formation, gave them characteristic predominance and recognition among other microbial communities. The present study collected ten soil samples from green land, agricultural and marshy soil sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. After culturing on described media, the bacterial isolates were identified through phenotypic, biochemical and phylogenetic analysis. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed three bacterial isolates, A6S7, A1S6, and A1S10, showing 99% nucleotides sequence similarity with Brevibacillus formosus, Bacillus Subtilis and Paenibacillus dendritiformis. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the anti-bacterial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains (MDRS), including Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 19606), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (BAA-1683), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BAA-2108), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 292013), Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 14028). Our analysis revealed that all bacterial extracts possess activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, efficiently restricting the growth of E. coli compared with positive control ciprofloxacin. The study concluded that the identified species have the potential to produce antimicrobial compounds which can be used to control different microbial infections, especially MDRS. Moreover, the analysis of the bacterial extracts through GC-MS indicated the presence of different antimicrobial compounds such as propanoic acid, oxalic acid, phenol and hexadecanoic acid.
Analyze the Effect of Steaming on the Chemical Constituents, Defecation and Liver Injury of Polygonum Multiflorum Radix (Heshouwu) by Multiple Analysis Techniques Combined with Multivariate Statistics
Authors: Du Xiaolei , Xu Lili , Zhang Zhe , Wang Yang , Li Huifen , Cui Weiliang , Lin Huibin
Published: September 2022

Steaming is a characteristic pharmaceutical skill in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Polygonum multiflorum radix (PM) and its steamed products have been used in Asia for centuries. Raw Polygonum multiflorum radix (RPM) is commonly used to promote defecation but can exert toxicity, especially in liver injury. However, RPM can be made converted into Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata (PMP) by steaming; this is considered a good method to reduce defecation and liver injury caused by PM in Asia. The chemical constituents of TCM are the key to its action. We systematically analyzed the effect of steaming on PM constituents, defecation, and liver injury. We identified 13 main constituents from PM and PMP; the results showed that after being steamed, two constituents (TSG, catechin) had decreased, six constituents (such as procyanidin B1 or B2) had disappeared, four constituents (such as emodin, physcion) had increased, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside remained unchanged in PMP. Pharmacological experiments showed that PM could promote defecation; however, there were no obvious effects in response to PMP. Only a high dose of PM for 14 days caused some degree of liver injury, although this injury disappeared after 14 days of drug withdrawal. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies showed that TSG, emodin and physcion were the most effective in promoting defecation and causing liver injury. Collectively, our findings show that steaming can reduce the effect of PM on promoting defecation and reducing liver injury. TSG may be one of the important constituents in PM that can promote defecation and cause liver injury.
Current Analytical Strategies for Antibody–Drug Conjugates in Biomatrices
Authors: Qin Qiuping , Gong Likun
Published: September 2022

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are a new class of biotherapeutics, consisting of a cytotoxic payload covalently bound to an antibody by a linker. Ligand-binding assay (LBA) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are the favored techniques for the analysis of ADCs in biomatrices. The goal of our review is to provide current strategies related to a series of bioanalytical assays for pharmacokinetics (PK) and anti-drug antibody (ADA) assessments. Furthermore, the strengths and limitations of LBA and LC-MS platforms are compared. Finally, potential factors that affect the performance of the developed assays are also provided. It is hoped that the review can provide valuable insights to bioanalytical scientists on the use of an integrated analytical strategy involving LBA and LC–MS for the bioanalysis of ADCs and related immunogenicity evaluation.
Antifungal Activity of Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oil against Candida albicans: Time-Kill Study on Pediatric Sputum Isolates
Authors: Mijatovic Stefan , Stankovic Jelena Antic , Calovski Ivana Colovic , Dubljanin Eleonora , Pljevljakusic Dejan , Bigovic Dubravka , Dzamic Aleksandar
Published: September 2022

The aim of our study was to determine the susceptibility of 15 Candida albicans sputum isolates on fluconazole and caspofungin, as well as the antifungal potential of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LAEO). The commercial LAEO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was evaluated using EUCAST protocol. A killing assay was performed to evaluate kinetics of 2% LAEO within 30 min treatment. LAEO with major constituents’ linalool (33.4%) and linalyl acetate (30.5%) effective inhibited grows of C. albicans in concentration range 0.5–2%. Fluconazole activity was noted in 67% of the isolates with MICs in range 0.06–1 µg/mL. Surprisingly, 40% of isolates were non-wild-type (non-WT), while MICs for WT ranged between 0.125–0.25 µg/mL. There were no significant differences in the LAEO MICs among fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible sputum strains (p = 0.31) and neither among caspofungin non-WT and WT isolates (p = 0.79). The 2% LAEO rapidly achieved 50% growth reduction in all tested strains between 0.2 and 3.5 min. Within 30 min, the same LAEO concentration exhibited a 99.9% reduction in 27% isolates. This study demonstrated that 2% solution of LAEO showed a significant antifungal activity which is equally effective against fluconazole and caspofungin susceptible and less-susceptible strains.
Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Rhizophora apiculata and Studies on Their Wound Healing, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activity
Authors: Alsareii Saeed Ali , Manaa Alamri Abdulrahman , AlAsmari Mansour Yousef , Bawahab Mohammed A. , Mahnashi Mater H. , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Shettar Arun K. , Hoskeri Joy H. , Kumbar Vijay
Published: September 2022

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently gained interest in the medical field because of their biological features. The present study aimed at screening Rhizophora apiculata secondary metabolites, quantifying their flavonoids and total phenolics content, green synthesis and characterization of R. apiculata silver nanoparticles. In addition, an assessment of in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of R. apiculata and its synthesized AgNPs was carried out. The powdered plant material (leaves) was subjected to Soxhlet extraction to obtain R. apiculata aqueous extract. The R. apiculata extract was used as a reducing agent in synthesizing AgNPs from silver nitrate. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, particle size analyzer and zeta potential. Further aqueous leaf extract of R. apiculata and AgNPs was subjected for in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and cytotoxic activity against A375 (Skin cancer), A549 (Lung cancer), and KB-3-1 (Oral cancer) cell lines. All experiments were repeated three times (n = 3), and the results were given as the mean ± SEM. The flavonoids and total phenolics content in R. apiculata extract were 44.18 ± 0.086 mg/g of quercetin and 53.24 ± 0.028 mg/g of gallic acid, respectively. SEM analysis revealed R. apiculata AgNPs with diameters ranging from 35 to 100 nm. XRD confirmed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. The cytotoxicity cell viability assay revealed that the AgNPs were less toxic (IC50 105.5 µg/mL) compared to the R. apiculata extract (IC50 47.47 µg/mL) against the non-cancerous fibroblast L929 cell line. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity tests revealed that AgNPs had significantly more activity than the plant extract. The AgNPs inhibited protein denaturation by a mean percentage of 71.65%, which was equivalent to the standard anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac (94.24%). The AgNPs showed considerable cytotoxic effect, and the percentage of cell viability against skin cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer cell lines was 31.84%, 56.09% and 22.59%, respectively. R. apiculata AgNPs demonstrated stronger cell migration and percentage of wound closure (82.79%) compared to the plant extract (75.23%). The overall results revealed that R. apiculata AgNPs exhibited potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and cytotoxic properties. In future, R. apiculata should be further explored to unmask its therapeutic potential and the mechanistic pathways of AgNPs should be studied in detail in in vivo animal models.
Removal of Amoxicillin from Aqueous Media by Fenton-like Sonolysis/H2O2 Process Using Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles
Authors: Mohammadi Leili , Kamani Hossein , Asghari Abolfazl , Mohammadpour Amin , Golaki Mohammad , Rahdar Abbas , Kyzas George
Published: September 2022

High concentrations of antibiotics have been identified in aqueous media, which has diminished the quality of water resources. These compounds are usually highly toxic and have low biodegradability, and there have been reports about their mutagenic or carcinogenic effects. The aim of this study was to apply zero-valent iron-oxide nanoparticles in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and the sonolysis process for the removal of the amoxicillin antibiotic from aqueous media. In this study, zero-valent iron nanoparticles were prepared by an iron chloride reduction method in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). Then, using a Fenton-like process, synthetic wastewater containing 100 to 500 mg/L amoxicillin antibiotic was investigated, and the effects of different parameters, such as the frequency (1 and 2 kHz), contact time (15 to 120 min), the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (0.3%, 0.5%, and 6%), the dose of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 g/L), and pH (3, 5, 10) were thoroughly studied. A pH of 3, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 3%, ultrasonic-wave frequency of 130 kHz, zero-valent iron nanoparticles of 0.5 g/L, and contaminant concentration of 100 mg/L were obtained as the optimal conditions of the combined US/H2O2/nZVI process. Under the optimal conditions of the combined process of zero-valent iron nanoparticles and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ultrasonic waves, a 99.7% removal efficiency of amoxicillin was achieved in 120 min. The results show that the combined US/H2O2/nZVI process could be successfully used to remove environmental contaminants, including antibiotics such as amoxicillin, with a high removal percentage.
Maturity Stage Discrimination of Camellia oleifera Fruit Using Visible and Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Jiang Hongzhe , Hu Yilei , Jiang Xuesong , Zhou Hongping
Published: September 2022

The maturity of Camellia oleifera fruit is one of the most important indicators to optimize the harvest day, which, in turn, results in a high yield and good quality of the produced Camellia oil. A hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system in the range of visible and near-infrared (400–1000 nm) was employed to assess the maturity stages of Camellia oleifera fruit. Hyperspectral images of 1000 samples, which were collected at five different maturity stages, were acquired. The spectrum of each sample was extracted from the identified region of interest (ROI) in each hyperspectral image. Spectral principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three PCs showed potential for discriminating samples at different maturity stages. Two classification models, including partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and principal component analysis discriminant analysis (PCA-DA), based on the raw or pre-processed full spectra, were developed, and performances were compared. Using a PLS-DA model, based on second-order (2nd) derivative pre-processed spectra, achieved the highest results of correct classification rates (CCRs) of 99.2%, 98.4%, and 97.6% in the calibration, cross-validation, and prediction sets, respectively. Key wavelengths selected by PC loadings, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS), and the uninformative variable elimination and successive projections algorithm (UVE+SPA) were applied as inputs of the PLS-DA model, while UVE-SPA-PLS-DA built the optimal model with the highest CCR of 81.2% in terms of the prediction set. In a confusion matrix of the optimal simplified model, satisfactory sensitivity, specificity, and precision were acquired. Misclassification was likely to occur between samples at maturity stages two, three, and four. Overall, an HSI with effective selected variables, coupled with PLS-DA, could provide an accurate method and a reference simple system by which to rapidly discriminate the maturity stages of Camellia oleifera fruit samples.
In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Arthritic Potential of Caralluma tuberculata N. E. Brown. and Its Chemical Characterization
Authors: Iftikhar Nida , Saleem Ammara , Akhtar Muhammad Furqan , Abbas Ghulam , Shah Shahid , Bibi Shabana , Ashraf Ghulam Md , Alghamdi Badrah S. , Abujamel Turki S.
Published: September 2022

Present research was planned to assess the in vitro and in vivo anti-arthritic potential of Caralluma tuberculata N. E. Brown. methanolic (CTME) and aqueous (CTAQ) extracts. Chemical characterization was done by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) was injected in left hind paw of rat at day 1 and dosing at 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg was started on the 8th day via oral gavage in all groups except normal and disease control rats (which were given distilled water), whereas methotrexate (intraperitoneal; 1 mg/kg/mL) was administered to standard control. The CTME and CTAQ exerted significant (p < 0.01–0.0001) in vitro anti-arthritic action. Both extracts notably reduced paw edema, and restored weight loss, immune organs weight, arthritic score, RBCs, ESR, platelet count, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein, and WBCs in treated rats. The plant extracts showed significant (p < 0.05–0.0001) downregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin-6, -1β, NF-κB, and cyclooxygenase-2, while notably upregulated IL-4, IL-10, I-κBα in contrast to disease control rats. The plant extracts noticeably (p < 0.001–0.0001) restored the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and MDA levels in treated rats. Both extracts exhibited significant anti-arthritic potential. The promising potential was exhibited by both extracts probably due to phenolic, and flavonoids compounds.
Seawater Splitting for Hydrogen Generation Using Zirconium and Its Niobium Alloy under Gamma Radiation
Authors: Ali Imran , Imanova Gunel , Agayev Teymur , Aliyev Anar , Jabarov Sakin , Albishri Hassan M. , Alshitari Wael Hamad , Hameed Ahmed M. , Alharbi Ahmed
Published: September 2022

Hydrogen production is produced for future green energy. The radiation–chemical yield for seawater without a catalyst, with Zr, and with Zr1%Nb (Zr = 99% Nb = 1%) were (G(H2) = 0.81, 307.1, and 437.4 molecules/100 eV, respectively. The radiation–thermal water decomposition increased in γ-radiation of the Zr1%Nb + SW system with increasing temperature. At T = 1273 K, it prevails over radiation processes. During the radiation and heat radiation heterogeneous procedures in the Zr1% Nb + SW system, the production of surface energetic sites and secondary electrons accelerated the accumulation of molecular hydrogen and Zr1%Nb oxidation. Thermal radiation and thermal processes caused the metal phase to collect thermal surface energetic sites for water breakdown and Zr 1%Nb oxidation starting at T = 573 K.
Quantitative Assessment of Histone H2B Monoubiquitination in Yeast Using Immunoblotting
Authors: Leng Andrew M. , Radmall Kaitlin S. , Shukla Prakash K. , Chandrasekharan Mahesh B.
Published: September 2022

Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe have enhanced our understanding of the regulation and functions of histone H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub1), a key epigenetic marker with important roles in transcription and other processes. The detection of H2Bub1 in yeasts using immunoblotting has been greatly facilitated by the commercial availability of antibodies against yeast histone H2B and the cross-reactivity of an antibody raised against monoubiquitinated human H2BK120. These antibodies have obviated the need to express epitope-tagged histone H2B to detect H2Bub1 in yeasts. Here, we provide a step-by-step protocol and best practices for the quantification of H2Bub1 in yeast systems, from cell extract preparation to immunoblotting using the commercially available antibodies. We demonstrate that the commercial antibodies can effectively and accurately detect H2Bub1 in S. cerevisiae and S. pombe. Further, we show that the C-terminal epitope-tagging of histone H2B alters the steady-state levels of H2Bub1 in yeast systems. We report a sectioned blot probing approach combined with the serial dilution of protein lysates and the use of reversibly stained proteins as loading controls that together provide a cost-effective and sensitive method for the quantitative evaluation of H2Bub1 in yeast.
Temporal Solitons in an Optically Injected Kerr Cavity with Two Spectral Filters
Authors: Pimenov Alexander , Vladimirov Andrei G.
Published: September 2022

We propose and analyze a theoretical scheme of an injected Kerr cavity, where the chromatic dispersion is induced by propagation of light through two Lorentzian spectral filters with different widths and central frequencies. We show that this setup can be modeled by a second order delay differential equation that can be considered as a generalization of the Ikeda map with included spectral filtering, dispersion, and coherent injection terms. We demonstrate that this equation can exhibit modulational instability and bright localized structures formation in the anomalous dispersion regime.
Factors Associated with the Severity of Clinical Mastitis
Authors: Fredebeul-Krein Frederik , Schmenger Anne , Wente Nicole , Zhang Yanchao , Krömker Volker
Published: September 2022

Severe mastitis can lead to considerable disturbances in the cows’ general condition and even to septicemia and death. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with the severity of the clinical expression of mastitis. Streptococcus (Str.) uberis (29.9%) was the most frequently isolated pathogen, followed by coliform bacteria (22.3%). The majority of all mastitis cases (n = 854) in this study were either mild or moderate, but 21.1% were severe. It can be deduced that the combination of coliform pathogens and increasing pathogen shedding of these showed associations with severe mastitis. Furthermore, animal-related factors associated with severe disease progression were stages of lactation, and previous diseases in the period prior to the mastitis episode. Cows in early lactation had more severe mastitis. Ketosis and uterine diseases in temporal relation to the mastitis were associated with more severe mastitis in the diseased cows. Hypocalcemia was significantly associated with milder mastitis. As another factor, treatment with corticosteroids within two weeks before mastitis was associated with higher severity of mastitis. Knowledge of these risk factors may provide the basis for randomized controlled trials of the exact influence of these on the severity of mastitis.