bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Potentials of the Ethanol Leave Extracts of four Medicinal Plants
Authors: Ogunjinmi Oluwasayo Esther , Oriyomi Olumayowa Vincent , Olasunkanmi Adedoyin Adetutu 
Published: May 2023

For many years, medicinal plants have been a resource for healing in several local communities around the world and the phytochemicals in them such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic, tannins, and terpenoids are attributed to their many medicinal values. Vernonia amydalina, Senna alata, Jatropha curcas, and Grewia pubescens are important plants with immense value. In this study, phytochemical screening, antioxidant analysis and the potential anti-hyperglycemic properties of the plants was investigated in-vitro.
The ethanol leave extracts of the plants were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and tannin, flavonoids and phenol quantification. Ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH radical inhibition of the extracts was done by spectrophotometric method while the anti-diabetic potential was analyzed through the in-vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition.
Phytochemicals detected in the ethanol leave extracts of the four plants are tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, and saponins. Flavonoids, phenols, and tannin content were highest in Senna alata (0.27±0.0.002 mg: mg of rutin per g of extract, 10.63±0.0.017 mg: mg of gallic acid per g of extract, and 6.72±0.06 mg/g respectively) followed by V. amygdalina (0.20±00.002 mg: mg of rutin per g of extract, 8.27±0.0.017 mg: mg of gallic acid per g of extract, and 7.98±0.03 mg/g respectively). While the least content of all was found in the extracts of Jatropha curcas. Concentration dependent and statistically significant difference was observed in both the FRAP and DPPH radical inhibition of all the extracts. Senna alata showed the strongest reducing power followed by the V. amygdalina. Both Senna alata and V. amygdalina showed DPPH radical inhibition that is not significantly (p>0.05) different from that of trolox. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition was also demonstrated in a concentration dependent manner. In both the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, V. amygdalina and S. alata exhibited the most significant inhibitory properties among the plant extracts.
The overall result in this study suggested that V. amygdalina, S. alata with the highest content of the phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities are potential source of antioxidant constituents and might be useful for the management of diseases such as diabetes.
Serum Ferritin as an Indicator of Neonatal Anaemia
Authors: Nwabueze Asinobi Isaac 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Haemoglobin levels are usually used to diagnose neonatal anaemia. By the time haemoglobin levels drop, body iron is depleted. Serum ferritin is the standard measure for assessment of iron levels in neonates and detects iron deficiency earlier than haemoglobin levels.
Aims: To determine the prevalence of low haemoglobin and ferritin levels amongst term and preterm newborn babies. To determine the value of serum ferritin in the diagnosis of low iron stores amongst term and preterm newborns.
Methodology: This was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria between June and December 2014. The study included 140 newborns of all birth weights delivered at the UNTH. These were categorized into preterm (gestational age <37 completed weeks) and term (gestational age ≥37 completed weeks. Babies with C-reactive protein levels > 10mg/dl, who were intra-uterine growth restricted, and whose mothers had conditions associated with low iron stores were excluded from the study. Anthropometric measurements were done for all subjects. Haemoglobin estimation and ferritin assay were carried out and the prevalence of neonatal anaemia was determined using each of these.
Results: The range of haemoglobin concentration in the study population was 12.22g/gl – 22.80g/dl. The mean serum haemoglobin concentrations were 15.69mg/dl ± 1.58 and 16.45 ± 1.92 in the preterm and term babies respectively (t = 2.557, P = .0116). The prevalence of low haemoglobin concentrations amongst both preterm and term babies was zero= .024). The range of serum ferritin level in the study population was 20.6µg/l - 296µg/l. The mean serum ferritin levels were 63.13µg/l ± 23.93 and 133.67µg/l ± 50.14 in the preterm and term babies respectively (t = 10.623, P < .001). The prevalence of low serum ferritin in the study population was 22.14%, but was higher in preterm than term babies 35.7% vs 8.6%: (OR – 5.926, 95% C.I OR = 2.248 – 15.619)(P<.001).
Conclusion: Serum ferritin assay is more useful than haemoglobin as an indicator of anaemia during the neonatal period.
A Comparative Study of the Risk Factors of Malaria within Urban and Rural Settings in the Sahelian Region of Cameroon and the Role of Insecticide Resistance in Mosquitoes
Authors: Nyasa Raymond Babila , Ngwa Samuel Fru , Esemu Seraphine Nkie , Titanji Vincent P. K. 
Published: May 2023

Background: Cameroon is among the 11 countries that account for 92 % of malaria infection in sub-Saharan-Africa in 2018, and Maroua III Health District and her environs witnessed a malaria outbreak in 2013 with hundredths of deaths.
Aim: To determine the risk factors of malaria in the urban and rural population and to investigate the level of mosquito’s resistance to Deltamethrin and Permethrin.
Methods: It was a cross-sectional community-based study carried out in August, September and October 2019, in which questionnaires were administered to 500 participants, to obtain information on demographics, socioeconomics, behavioral, and environmental factors thought to be associated with malaria infection in both rural and urban settings. Blood samples were collected for diagnosis of malaria and bivariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to identify risk factors of malaria. Mosquito resistance to Deltamethrin and Permethrin were determined using the CDC Bottle Bioassay test.
Results: Malaria prevalence was 52.2 % which was significantly higher (P = 0.016) in rural areas (57.6%) than urban areas (46.8%). The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 43.4% and the geometric mean parasite density was 6333.60 parasites/µL of blood. Malaria infection was significantly (P<0.001) associated with children (64.1%) and teenagers (58.1%). Likewise, the infection was significantly associated with the presence of crops around homes (P=0.031), usage of old LLINs for more than three years and in urban settings, with primary education level (P=0.023). The overall mortality of Anopheles species was 93.57% (91.19% in rural and 95.83% in urban areas) for deltamethrin which was more sensitive than 83.85% (85.24% in rural and 82.46% in urban areas) for permethrin.
Conclusion: Relevant data for malaria control in Maroua III health district, a typical Sahelian environment has been generated, and indicates that most of the burden of malaria is borne by children and teenagers.
Postnatal Effects of the Ethanol on the Encephalon Mass and Neocortex Architecture in Wistar Rat Offspring Submitted to Acute Prenatal Injection [E12] and in vitro Ethanol Effects on Wistar Rat and Human Erythrocytes
Authors: Cordeiro-de-Oliveira Karolyne , Abreu Tainá de , Figueredo-da-Silva Sylla , Vasconcelos-da-Silva Ediana , Piva-Amaral Raíne , Silva-Amaral Danyelle , Magri Micheli Patrícia de Fátima , Brito Rogerio Benedito de , Vieira Rafael Bretas , Rodrigues Rosângela Correa , Santos Breno Régis , Aversi-Ferreira Tales Alexandre 
Published: May 2023

Aims: To verify the ethanol effects of the acute injections in pregnant Wistar rats (E12) on the offspring in P8. Additionally, measures of the brain and corporal masses and the stability of erythrocytes were performed in rats and humans.
Study Design: Histological analysis and a spectrophotometer were used to count neural cells and osmotic fragility in erythrocytes.
Place and Duration of Study: The immunohistochemistry study was partially performed at the Federal University of Uberlândia, and at the University of Toyama-Japan, the experiments on the brain, body masses, and stability of erythrocyte membranes in humans were performed from 2012 to 2014.
Methodology: Eighteen pregnant female rats (180-230g) were housed in cages at 22 ± 0.4°C on a 12 h light/dark cycle with free access to food and water. On the 11th day of pregnancy (E12), 12 rats received three intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of a 20% ethanol solution (3 g of ethanol/kg of body weight) at 8 hours intervals.
Results: The number of neural cells was lower in rats treated with ethanol than to controls to each lobe and total count in all lobes (P = 0.001). Significant alterations of neocortical tissue in ethanol-treated were observed, as the decrease of brain mass (P = 0.05) in linear regression. The stability of erythrocyte membranes was verified with D50 equal to 0.46 g·dL-1 (± 0.05).
Conclusion: According to this work, the ethanol injection in the rats showed marked brain tissue destruction relative to the control, and ethanol’s effects on erythrocytes indicated that membrane destruction could be one of the causes of brain cell disruption in neural migration.
The Influence of Vitamins, Antibiotics and Growth Stimulators on L-lysine Production by Bacillus subtilis Using Agricultural Products as Carbon and Nitrogen Sources
Authors: Okpalla J. , Ekwealor I. A. 
Published: May 2023

L-Lysine is one of the 9 amino acids which are essential for human and animal nutrition. It is a basic building block of all proteins and cannot be synthesized biologically in the body. The influence of vitamins, antibiotics and growth stimulators on L-lysine production by Bacillus subtilis using agricultural products as carbon and nitrogen sources was examined. The L-lysine producing bacteria had already been isolated from Nigerian soil. They were purified and Identified as B. subtilis PR13 and B. subtilis PR9, using cultural and biochemical characteristics. The of influence of vitamins, antibiotics and growth stimulators on L-lysine production by Bacillus subtilis PR13 and 9 was evaluated in 100 ml flasks containing 20 ml fermentation media (FM1 and FM2). The results obtained showed that, an enhanced lysine yield of 3.41 and 1.57 mg/ml by Bacillus subtilis PR13 and Bacillus subtilis PR9, was observed in the presence of 1 µg/ml of biotin and 10 µg/ml respectively. The supplementation of 0.04 units/ml of penicillin, enhanced optimum L-lysine yield of 2.38 mg/ml for B. subtilis PR 13 and 1.64 mg/ml for B. subtilis PR9 respectively. The addition of 0.1% w/v peptone and yeast extract, enhanced optimum L-lysine yield of 2.66 mg/ml for B. subtilis PR 13 and 1.72 mg/ml for B. subtilis PR9 respectively. There was a positive correlation between peptone and L-lysine production by B. subtilis PR13 (r= 0.85) and yeast extract and L- lysine production by B. subtilis PR9 (r= 0.54). The results obtained in the study showed that the supplementation of the fermentation media with some vitamins, antibiotics and growth stimulators enhanced the L-lysine yield of B. subtilis PR13 and B. subtilis PR9.
Characterization of Risk Prediction Models for Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Feng Yunlin , Wang Amanda Y. , Jun Min , Pu Lei , Weisbord Steven D. , Bellomo Rinaldo , Hong Daqing , Gallagher Martin 
Published: May 2023

ImportanceDespite the expansion of published prediction models for acute kidney injury (AKI), there is little evidence of uptake of these models beyond their local derivation nor data on their association with patient outcomes.ObjectiveTo systematically review published AKI prediction models across all clinical subsettings.Data SourcesMEDLINE via PubMed (January 1946 to April 2021) and Embase (January 1947 to April 2021) were searched using medical subject headings and text words related to AKI and prediction models.Study SelectionAll studies that developed a prediction model for AKI, defined as a statistical model with at least 2 predictive variables to estimate future occurrence of AKI, were eligible for inclusion. There was no limitation on study populations or methodological designs.Data Extraction and SynthesisTwo authors independently searched the literature, screened the studies, and extracted and analyzed the data following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guideline. The data were pooled using a random-effects model, with subgroups defined by 4 clinical settings. Between-study heterogeneity was explored using multiple methods, and funnel plot analysis was used to identify publication bias.Main Outcomes and MeasuresC statistic was used to measure the discrimination of prediction models.ResultsOf the 6955 studies initially identified through literature searching, 150 studies, with 14.4 million participants, met the inclusion criteria. The study characteristics differed widely in design, population, AKI definition, and model performance assessments. The overall pooled C statistic was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.79-0.81), with pooled C statistics in different clinical subsettings ranging from 0.78 (95% CI, 0.75-0.80) to 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78-0.86). Between-study heterogeneity was high overall and in the different clinical settings (eg, contrast medium–associated AKI: I2 = 99.9%; P &amp;lt; .001), and multiple methods did not identify any clear sources. A high proportion of models had a high risk of bias (126 [84.4%]) according to the Prediction Model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, the discrimination of the published AKI prediction models was good, reflected by high C statistics; however, the wide variation in the clinical settings, populations, and predictive variables likely drives the highly heterogenous findings that limit clinical utility. Standardized procedures for development and validation of prediction models are urgently needed.
Fetal Cardiac Function at Midgestation in Women Who Subsequently Develop Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Huluta Iulia , Wright Alan , Cosma Livia Mihaela , Hamed Karam , Nicolaides Kypros H. , Charakida Marietta 
Published: May 2023

ImportanceFetuses in women with gestational diabetes (GD) compared with those without GD show evidence of subclinical cardiac functional and morphological changes. However, it is uncertain whether glycemia or the adverse maternal underlying risk factor profile is the main driver for fetal cardiac remodeling.ObjectiveTo assess cardiac morphology and function at midgestation in fetuses of mothers prior to development of GD and compare them with those of unaffected controls.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsDuring this prospective nonintervention screening study at 19 to 23 weeks’ gestation, fetal cardiac morphology and function were assessed in all participants. Pregnancy complications were obtained from the medical records of the women. Fetal cardiac morphology and function were assessed in all participants at Harris Birthright Research Institute at King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Participants included pregnant women with singleton pregnancy who attended their routine fetal ultrasound examination at midgestation and agreed to participate in the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Study in pregnancy.Main Outcome and MeasuresComparison of fetal cardiac morphology and function between mothers who subsequently developed GD and those who did not develop GD.MethodsThis was a prospective nonintervention screening study of 5620 women with singleton pregnancies at 19 to 23 weeks’ gestation. Conventional and more advanced echocardiographic modalities, such as speckle tracking, were used to assess fetal cardiac function in the right and left ventricle. The morphology of the fetal heart was assessed by calculating the right and left sphericity index.ResultsThe 5620 included patients had a mean age of 33.6 years. In 470 cases, the women were diagnosed with GD after the midgestation echocardiographic assessment (8.4%). Women with GD, compared with the non-GD group, were older, had higher BMI, higher prevalence of family history of diabetes, non-White ethnicity, chronic hypertension, and GD in a previous pregnancy. In fetuses of the GD group compared with the non-GD group, there was mild increase in interventricular millimeter thickness (0.04; 95% CI, 0.03-0.06 mm) and left atrial area (0.04; 95% CI, 0.04-0.05), whereas left and right functional indices were comparable between groups with the exception of left ventricular ejection fraction, which was marginally improved in the GD group (0.02; 95% CI, 0.03-0.03).Conclusions and RelevanceThis study demonstrates that prior to development of GD, there was mild alteration in fetal cardiac morphology without affecting cardiac function. This suggests that the adverse maternal risk factor profile and not only the glycemia might contribute to cardiac remodeling noted in fetuses of women with GD.
A Green and Effective Organocatalyst for Faster Oxidation of Li2S in Electrochemical Processes
Authors: Fan Qining , Zhang Shilin , Jiang Jicheng , Lie Wilford , Pang Wei Kong , Gu Qinfen , Yang Weishen , Liu Huakun , Wang Jiazhao , Guo Zaiping 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe search for viable carbon‐neutral sources of renewable energy is one of the most critical challenges in science today. The chemical community is committed to seeking efficient, inexpensive, and sustainable electrocatalysts that can exploit the energy produced by sustainable energy resources. Here, an ethanol organocatalyst, which is green and cheap, that can efficiently catalyze the oxidation of Li2S in the electrochemical reactions of Li2S cathodes is identified . This study demonstrates that a multitude of small molecular organocatalysts will offer electrochemists an elegant tool for accelerating electrochemical reactions with otherwise unattainable efficiency and precision. This concept refashions electrochemical domains and has broad implications for the design of “green” and sustainable chemistry cycles.
Steric Rooted Multi‐Resonant Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Emitters for Pure Blue Organic Light Emitting Diodes with Ultralow Efficiency Roll‐Off
Authors: Ravindran Ezhakudiyan , Baek Ho Eon , Son Hee Won , Park Ji Hyun , Kim Yun‐Hi , Suh Min Chul 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMulti‐resonant thermally activated delayed fluorescent (MR‐TADF) materials are blooming for high‐resolution organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, boron/nitrogen (B/N)‐integrated MR‐TADF emitters suffer severe efficiency roll‐off from their strong inter‐molecular π–π interactions. Herein, versatile narrowband pure blue emitters (mono‐mx‐CzDABNA and tri‐mx‐CzDABNA) are demonstrated featuring a ring‐fused extended π‐skeleton: a classic steric hindrance and rigidity accessed by integrating with meta‐xylene (mx) rotors. tri‐mx‐CzDABNA shows a narrowband (FWHM, 26 nm) pure blue emission (λmax, 462 nm) with substantial hypsochromic shift (12 nm) while maintaining MR‐TADF characteristics. The key solid‐state analyses conclude that they conceivably suppress the non‐radiative energy loss, thus improving the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY > 90%) and rate of reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) (kRISC ≈2.85 × 105 s−1). The integration of tri meta‐xylene significantly leads to an enhanced horizontal dipole ratio (HDR) from 65% to 85%. Hyperfluorescent‐OLEDs are fabricated using designed MR‐TADF as terminal emitter, achieving a narrowband (FWHM, 34 nm) pure blue electroluminescence (λmax, 472 nm) and maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 26.97% with magnificently suppressed efficiency roll‐off (7.8%) at 1000 cd m−2. So, it is believed that regulation of internal efficiencies and high color purity can amplify the route to achieving a narrowband pure blue emission through new synthetic MR‐TADF approaches.
Laser‐Responsive Shape Memory Device to Program the Stepwise Control of Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma
Authors: Lee Kyubae , Choi Wungrak , Kim Si Yeong , Lee Eon‐Bee , Oh Won Take , Park Jeongeun , Lee Chan Hee , Lee Jihei Sara , Bae Hyoung Won , Jang Dong‐Su , Lee Kang Suk , Yi Se Won , Kang Mi‐Lan , Kim Chan Yun , Sung Hak‐Joon 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThere is an unmet need in the glaucoma clinic to control changes in the intraocular pressure (IOP), i.e., patient‐specific hypotony and tissue fibrosis‐mediated ocular hypertension, owing to the fixed tube diameter of the glaucoma drainage device. As a potential solution, the tube diameter can be adjusted, depending on the IOP, by shape memory polymer (SMP) and clinical laser systems, which can control the energy level, focus, and frequency by minimizing untargeted influences. To develop a translatable device, a laser‐responsive SMP with two additional elements: i) a tube with an intimal gel coating to release 5‐fluorouracil as an anti‐fibrotic drug and ii) a safety lock ring to block late hypotony in special cases is employed. When the SMP tube is inserted into a silicone tube and wrapped externally by the ring, intimal gel degradation and argon laser‐triggered diameter increase enable a three‐step IOP control. Sustained drug release of the intimal gel suppresses tissue fibrosis, and the ring prevents late hypotony by externally squeezing the silicone tube. The advanced design and functions are validated using computational in vitro and rabbit glaucoma models by determining clinic‐friendly argon laser parameters.
Activatable NIR‐II Lanthanides‐Polymetallic Oxomolybdate Hybrid Nanosensors for Monitoring Chemotherapy Induced Enteritis
Authors: Zhan Yuanjin , Yu Peng , Wang Xiaohan , Xie Yang , Zhang Hongxin , Zhang Fan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractChemotherapy‐induced enteritis is one of the side effects associated with cancer therapy, which significantly affects the treatment effect, but there is no effective clinical detection method that can early diagnose its occurrence and progression. Here, a series of second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II) hybrid nanosensors are designed that consisted of lanthanide nanoparticles and β‐Mo2C‐derived polymetallic oxomolybdate nanoclusters (Ln@POM). Based on the high sensitivity of POM to reactive oxygen species (ROS) closely related to chemotherapy‐induced enteritis, the NIR‐II luminescence intensity and lifetime of Ln@POM (Ln: Yb3+, Nd3+, Ho3+, Tm3+, Er3+) show excellent responsiveness to H2O2 and HClO with the detection limit down to 0.15 and 0.14 µm, respectively. Utilizing Nd@POM as a ROS‐activated NIR‐II nanosensor, the chemotherapeutic enteritis is successfully detected within 7 h after induction of chemotherapy drugs, which is significantly earlier than the gold standard method (immunohistochemistry, 24 h). These results demonstrate that the designed hybrid nanosensors are promising optical tools for the early diagnosis of ROS‐related diseases.