Search Results (43,025)

Amphetamine abuse is a global health epidemic that is difficult to treat due to individual differences in response to environmental factors, including stress reactivity and anxiety levels, as well as individual neuronal differences, which may result in increased/decreased vulnerability to addiction. In the present study, we investigated whether the Wistar rats behavioral traits of high (HR) and low (LR) locomotor activity to novelty influence motivational behavior (induced feeding model; iFR by electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area; Es-VTA) supported by amphetamine injection into the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) (HR_Amph, n = 5; LR_Amph, n = 5). A correlation was found between the novelty test’s locomotor activity score and the frequency threshold percentage change (p < 0.001, Rs = −0.867). In HR_Amph, there was a shortening (−24.16%), while in LR_Amph, there was a lengthening (+51.84%) of iFR latency. Immunofluorescence studies showed differential neuronal density (activity of tyrosine hydroxylase, choline acetyltransferase, and cFos protein) in the selected brain structures in HR_Amph and LR_Amph animals as well as in comparison to a control group (HR_ACSF, n = 5; LR_ACSF, n = 5). These results contribute to expanding the state of knowledge of the behavioral and neuronal propensity to take drug abuse. Full article

Considering the short shelf life of fresh pumpkin due to its high water content and the extensive use of dried pumpkin in the food industry, it is necessary to find an efficient drying method that minimizes water activity and preserves nutritional properties. In this study, the effects of hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VAD), and conductive drying (CD) at 50, 60, and 70 °C on fatty acid profiles were investigated to determine optimal drying conditions that preserve fatty acid (FA) quality and associated nutritional benefits. Results showed that drying methods had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on fatty acid composition and yield, resulting in different amounts of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids as major FAs compared to fresh pulp. The saturated FA content was higher in CD pulp (up to 42.37%), followed by HAD and VAD. Oleic acid, as the most important representative of monounsaturated FAs, came from VAD (up to 30.64%). Linoleic and linolenic acid, as the most important polyunsaturated FAs of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, were found in higher proportions in CD pulp at 50 and 60 °C (up to 31.12%) and HAD pulp at 60 and 70 °C with an airflow velocity of 1.5 m/s (up to 39.70%). In addition, the peel and seeds, the by-products resulting from the processing of the fruit pulp, were also evaluated with regard to the fatty acid profile. Two fractions also contained the four major FAs in representative amounts, indicating their valuable reuse. Full article

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a valuable fruit crop for fresh consumption. Due to its early availability in season, it achieves relatively high prices on the market. Self-fertile cultivar Lapins is one of the world’s leading sweet cherry varieties. Intensive cherry production seeks for new technologies such as using more adaptable rootstocks and microbiological products that could help plants adopt more sustainable growth in different soils/climates. The aim of this work is to determine the substrate properties, vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll and mineral content of maiden trees grafted on three different rootstocks due to the application of growth-promoting rhizobacteria. A pot experiment was carried out on one-year-old maiden trees of cv. Lapins grafted on SL 64, MaxMa 14 and Gisela 5 and grown in 12 L plant pots filled with commercial substrate. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Azospirillum brasilense was added by watering the plants with 1.12 g L⁻¹ per pot once a month (T₁) or every two months (T₂) from March to September with seven treatments in T₁ and four treatments in T₂. At the same time, control (C) plants were watered with rainwater. Plant height, trunk circumference and leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) were measured. In addition, shoot growth and internode number were measured in three development stages (BBCH 34, 39 and 91). The substrate and leaf samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory in accordance with established procedures. Data were processed by ANOVA and the Tukey test. Results have showed that rootstock affected substrate electrical conductivity (EC); nitrate (NO₃⁻), phosphorous (P₂O₅), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content, including mineral nitrogen (N) content; tree height, circumference, shoot length and internode number; the leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI); and leaf potassium (K), Ca and Mg content. Furthermore, treatment significantly affected the CCI, average internode length, ammonia (NH₄⁺) and Ca content in the substrate and leaf N, Ca and Mg content. Rhizobacteria A. brasilense can be used as an additional biofertilizer in sustainable agricultural practices for obtaining healthier sweet cherry maiden trees, but microbial biotechnology rules must be respected. Full article

Background/Objectives: Eversion carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in awake patients is performed using cervical plexus blocks (CPBs) with or without carotid artery sheath infiltration (CASI) under ultrasound guidance. Although adequacy of anesthesia (AoA) guidance monitors nociception/antinociception balance, its impact on intraoperative analgesia quality and perioperative outcomes in awake CEA remains unexplored. Existing literature lacks evidence on whether AoA-guided anesthesia enhances clinical outcomes over standard techniques. This study aimed to assess the role of AoA guidance in improving intraoperative analgesia and perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing CEA with CPBs alone or with CASI compared to standard practice. Methods: A randomized controlled trial included 184 patients divided into three groups: CPBs with intravenous rescue fentanyl (IRF) and lidocaine (LID) guided by hemodynamic observation (C group), AoA-guided IRF and LID (AoA group), and AoA-guided IRF, LID, and CASI (AoA-CASI group). Primary outcomes included perioperative adverse events, and secondary outcomes assessed rescue medication demand and hemodynamic stability. Results: Analysis of 172 patients revealed no significant differences between groups in perioperative adverse events or hemodynamic parameters (p > 0.05). However, the AoA-CASI group demonstrated significantly reduced IRF and LID usage compared to the C and AoA groups (p < 0.001). No significant advantage was observed between the AoA and C groups regarding adverse events (p = 0.1). Conclusions: AoA-guided anesthesia with or without CASI does not significantly reduce perioperative adverse events or improve hemodynamic stability in awake CEA. Clinical implications suggest that focusing on surgical technique optimization may yield greater benefits in reducing adverse events compared to advanced anesthetic monitoring. Further studies are warranted to explore alternative approaches to enhance clinical outcomes. Full article

This study focuses on developing innovative and eco-friendly purification methods for the isolation of bioactive compounds derived from Padina pavonica, a brown abundant macroalga in Djibouti. Three distinct fractions, obtained via liquid-liquid extraction (LLE_FAE), solid-phase extraction (SPE_WE50), and flash chromatography (FC_EtOH20), were selected based on their high phenolic content and antioxidant activities. All fractions were also evaluated for their anti-ageing potential by assessing their ability to inhibit two vital skin-ageing enzymes, tyrosinase and elastase. Structural analysis by ¹H-¹³C HMBC NMR and LC-MS revealed a selectivity of phlorotannins depending on the purification methods. The LLE_FAE fraction exhibited greater structural complexity, including compounds such as phloroglucinol, diphlorethol/difucol, fucophlorethol and bifuhalol, which likely contribute to its enhanced bioactivity compared to the fractions obtained by FC_EtOH20 and SPE_WE50, which were also active and enriched only in phloroglucinol and fucophlorethol. These findings highlight the impact of purification techniques on the selective enrichment of specific bioactive compounds and demonstrated the interest of FC or SPE in producing active phlorotannin-enriched fractions. These two purification methods hold strong potential for innovative cosmeceutical applications. Results are discussed regarding the use of P. pavonica as a promising marine resource in Djibouti to be used for the development of cosmetic industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Kenny–Caffey syndrome 2 (KCS2) is a rare cause of hypoparathyroidism, inherited in an autosomal dominant mode, resulting from pathogenic variants of the FAM111A gene, which is implicated in intracellular pathways regulating parathormone (PTH) synthesis and skeletal and parathyroid gland development. Methods: The case of a boy is reported, presenting with the characteristic and newly identified clinical, biochemical, radiological, and genetic abnormalities of KCS2. Results: The proband had noticeable dysmorphic features, and the closure of the anterior fontanel was delayed until the age of 4 years. Biochemical evaluation at several ages revealed persistent hypocalcemia, high normal phosphorous, and inappropriately low normal PTH. To exclude other causes of short stature, the diagnostic approach revealed low levels of IGF-1, and on CNS MRI, small pituitary gland and empty sella. Nocturnal levels of growth hormone were normal. MRI also revealed bilateral symmetrical microphthalmia and torturous optic nerves. Skeletal survey was compatible with cortical thickening and medullary stenosis of the long bones. Genomic data analysis revealed a well-known pathogenic variant of the FAM111A gene (c.1706G>A, p. R569H), which is linked with KCS2 or nanophthalmos. Conclusions: KCS2, although a rare disease, should be included in the differential diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism and short stature. Understanding the association of pathogenic variants with KCS2 phenotypic variability will allow the advancement of clinical genetics and personalized long-term follow-up and will offer insights into the role of the FAM111A gene in the disease pathogenesis and normal embryogenesis of implicated tissues and organs. Full article

The proliferation of sophisticated counterfeiting poses critical challenges to global security and commerce, with annual losses exceeding $2.2 trillion. This paper presents a novel physics-constrained deep learning framework for high-precision security ink colorimetry, integrating three key innovations: a physics-informed neural architecture achieving unprecedented color prediction accuracy (CIEDE2000($\Delta E_{00}$): 0.70 ± 0.08, p < 0.001), advanced attention mechanisms improving feature extraction efficiency by 58.3%, and a Bayesian optimization framework ensuring robust parameter tuning. Validated across 1500 industrial samples under varying conditions (±2 °C, 30–80% RH), this system demonstrates substantial improvements in production efficiency with a 50% reduction in rejections, a 35% decrease in calibration time, and 96.7% color gamut coverage. These achievements establish new benchmarks for security printing applications and provide scalable solutions for next-generation anti-counterfeiting technologies, offering a promising outlook for the future. Full article

Oil sludge (OS) is a hazardous waste generated in the refinery and platform production chain. Its recovery is globally limited by methods like incineration, landfilling, and stabilization, which are costly and environmentally harmful. In Brazil, advanced techniques such as gasification are still underdeveloped compared to established practices elsewhere. This study aims to characterize the chemical and physical properties of OS to enable its recovery through energy methods, reducing environmental impacts. OS samples from oil storage tanks were analyzed using mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry, atomic absorption, proximate analysis, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. The viscosity was approximately 34,793 cP, with 36.41% carbon and 56.80% oxygen. The ash content was 43.218% (w/w), and the lower and upper heating values were 17.496 and 19.044 MJ/kg, respectively. Metal analysis identified lead, vanadium, manganese, and chromium. The high ash content of OS reduced gasification temperatures, increasing char yield (44.6%). Increasing the equivalence ratio (ER) led to higher gasification temperatures, producing energetic species such as H₂, CH₄, and CO, raising the calorific value of the resulting syngas. Subsequently, this syngas was used in gas turbine models with GasTurb software 14.0, achieving electrical output and thermal efficiency of 66.9 kW and 22.4%, respectively. OS is a persistent waste requiring gasification treatment, offering a promising solution that converts these residues into valuable syngas for energy conversion with minimal environmental impact. Full article

To investigate the morphological traits of different sexes during the early development stage of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, the genetic sex of 405 crablets from stages C I–V was determined using sex-linked molecular markers. The external appearance of each crab was observed, and the morphological traits, including carapace length (CL), full carapace width (FCW), abdomen width (AW), and abdomen length (AL), were measured to compare the differences between the sexes and to develop non-intrusive methods for sex identification. The genetic sex identification demonstrated that the female-to-male sex ratio at each stage did not deviate from 1:1. The gonopores of the females were first observed at stage C I using a scanning electron microscope; however, the shape difference in the abdominal flap between the sexes from stages C I to stage C V were not observed under a dissecting microscope. Correlation analysis showed that AW3 and AW4 were significantly correlated with sex at stage C V. Three methods were used to predict the sex of the crablets according to the morphological measurements; among them, the multinomial logistic regression (MLR) model performed better than the threshold method or the stepwise discriminant analysis, and the accuracy at stage C V increased to 90% when detailed abdominal parameters were included. These results indicate that it is feasible to predict sex during the early development stages of P. trituberculatus through morphometric and geometric parameters, which would be helpful for the creation of monosex populations of this species. Full article

Antimony (Sb) pollution in natural water bodies can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems. Currently, the utilization of chemicals in water bodies presents disadvantages, such as the hardship in collecting dispersed flocs and the incomplete elimination of pollutants. In the present research, a novel type of efficient adsorbent material for the magnetic recovery of Sb was proposed: the magnetic aquatic plant biochar. Its adsorption characteristics and mechanism were deeply investigated. The results demonstrated that, among the three types of aquatic plants, the magnetic biochar of Arundo donax magnetic biochar (LMBC) displayed the most superior adsorption effect on Sb. Under optimal adsorption conditions (pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C, dosage of 100 mg, pH of 8), the removal rate of Sb by LMBC exceeded 97%. The adsorption rate of Sb by LMBC was relatively rapid, and the kinetics of adsorption conformed to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm was consistent with the Langmuir and Freundlich models, and the maximum adsorption capacity of Sb reached 26.07 mg/g, suggesting that the adsorption process pertained to the adsorption of multi-molecular layers. The influence of coexisting ions on the adsorption effect of LMBC was insignificant. The SEM characterization results revealed that LMBC mainly consisted of the elements C and O. The BET characterization results demonstrated that the magnetization modification augmented the specific surface area by approximately 30 times to reach 89.14 m²/g, and the pore volume increased by twofold to 0.18 cm³/g, creating a favorable condition for Sb adsorption. The FTIR, XRD, and XPS results indicated that the surface of LMBC was rich in carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and was successfully loaded with Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄. LMBC not only facilitates the resourceful utilization of aquatic plant waste but also effectively removes antimony (Sb) pollution through its magnetic properties. This dual functionality presents promising application prospects for the efficient adsorption and removal of Sb from water. Full article

Pectinolytic enzymes play a key role in many beverages manufacturing processes, improving their clarification and filtration steps. Fungal pectinases are considered promising green catalysts for industrial applications, and they can be produced using fruit-processing residues as substrate. In this study, we investigated the optimal conditions to produce polygalacturonase from Aspergillus brasiliensis in a solid-phase bioprocess, using cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) peel as substrate. Then, the pectinolytic extract was applied in the clarification of cupuaçu juice. A central composite design was used to determine the optimal fungal cultivation conditions. Thus, the optimal fungal cultivation (maximum production of 11.81 U/g of polygalacturonase) was obtained using cupuaçu peel with 80% moisture, at 34 °C, for 7 days in a medium containing 4.2% phosphorus and 2.6% nitrogen. The enzymatic extract showed greater activity at 60 °C and stability at a pH range between 5.0 and 7.0. The pectinolytic extract was able to clarify the cupuaçu juice, causing a 53.95% reduction in its turbidity and maintaining its antioxidant activity. Our results demonstrate that the cupuaçu peel can be used as a substrate to produce polygalacturonase, and the enzymatic extract produced can be applied in the cupuaçu juice processing, contributing to the circular economy. Full article

Background: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a relatively uncommon condition with a complex pathophysiology. However, its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors is well established. In this study, we compared arterial stiffness and endothelial function between patients with RVO and healthy controls. Methods: We enrolled 28 consecutive patients with RVO, either central (CRVO) or branch (BRVO), and 30 healthy controls. We measured: (i) perfused boundary region of the sublingual arterial microvessels (a marker of endothelial glycocalyx thickness), (ii) pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and central systolic blood pressure (cSBP). Results: No statistically significant differences regarding age, gender, and major cardiovascular risk factors were noted between patients and controls. Compared to controls, patients with RVO had higher PBR, PWV, AIx, and cSBP values (p < 0.05). For each of these indices, no statistically significant differences were noted between patients with CRVO and BRVO (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with RVO demonstrated reduced endothelial glycocalyx thickness and increased arterial stiffness compared to healthy controls. These findings further elucidate the role of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of the disease and indicate the need for the evaluation of subclinical cardiovascular disease in such patients. Full article

Background Abdominal ultrasound (US) is a reliable method for visualizing gastric wall layers and measuring their thickness. The objective of this study is to characterize the ultrasound features of H. pylori-induced gastritis and assess its predictive potential role for this condition. Methods A cohort of 119 patients underwent gastroscopy with biopsy and abdominal US to evaluate antral wall thickness (AWT), submucosal wall thickness (SLT), mucosal wall thickness (MLT), gastric motility, and the presence of ingested material. They were divided into three groups: group A (normal mucosa without H. pylori infection), group B (gastritis H. pylori negative) and group C (gastritis H. pylori positive). Results: SLT and reduced gastric motility were significantly increased in the H. pylori gastritis group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified SLT as the only significant independent predictor of H. pylori gastritis (p < 0.001). An SLT threshold of 1.55 mm was determined as optimal for differentiating H. pylori-positive patients from -negative, yielding a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 72%. Conclusions These findings suggest that H. pylori gastritis is characterized by submucosal layer thickening and impaired gastric motility. Full article

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in controlling viral infections. Little is known about the changes in frequencies of the DC subsets in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), particularly in the era of interferon-free regimens. We aimed to evaluate the impact of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir on the frequency of different peripheral DC subsets, the expression of the inhibitory CD200R and its ligand CD200 on DC, and their relation to the treatment outcome. A total of 1000 patients with CHC were enrolled and treated with a fixed oral dose of 400 mg of sofosbuvir and 60 mg of daclatasvir for 12 weeks. A total of 940 patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR), and only 60 patients were non-responders (NRs). The frequencies of the peripheral plasmacytoid (pDC) and myeloid (mDCs) subsets and their surface expressions of CD200R and CD200 molecules were analyzed using flow cytometry. This analysis included 60 non-responders (NR group), 60 randomly selected sustained virologic responders (SVR group) at baseline, and at the end of treatment, and 60 healthy controls. HCV infection was associated with a down-regulation in the frequency of mDC, compared to healthy controls. In addition, mDC in HCV-infected patients showed lower levels of CD200R. However, neither the pDC frequency nor their CD200R expression was significantly altered. Interestingly, by the end of therapy, the frequencies of circulating mDCs and CD200R⁺mDC increased significantly in the SVR group and were even comparable to healthy controls. The levels of these cells were not normalized in the NR group. Percentages of mDCs and CD200R⁺mDC subsets showed good prognostic accuracy for predicting virologic response to therapy. Our results showed that HCV infection was associated with modulation of the mDC frequency and their surface expression of CD200R. Successful daclatasvir and sofosbuvir combined therapy was associated with the normalization of the percentages of mDC and CD200R⁺mDC. Full article

Aims: This study explores the link between body mass index (BMI), intestinal permeability, and associated changes in anthropometric and impedance parameters, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, fecal metabolites, and gut microbiota taxa composition in participants having excessive body mass. Methods: A cohort of 58 obese individuals with comparable diet, age, and height was divided into three groups based on a priori clustering analyses that fit with BMI class ranges: Group I (25–29.9), Group II (30–39.9), and Group III (>40). Anthropometric and clinical parameters were assessed, including plasma C-reactive protein and cytokine profiles as inflammation markers. Intestinal permeability was measured using a multisaccharide assay, with fecal/serum zonulin and serum claudin-5 and claudin-15 levels. Fecal microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles were analyzed using a phylogenetic microarray and GC-MS techniques. Results: The statistical analyses of the clinical parameters were based on the full sample set, whereas a subset composed of 37 randomized patients was inspected for the GC/MS metabolite profiling of fecal specimens. An increase in potentially pro-inflammatory bacterial genera (e.g., Slackia, Dorea, Granulicatella) and a reduction in beneficial genera (e.g., Adlercreutzia, Clostridia UCG-014, Roseburia) were measured. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of urine samples evidenced a statistically significant increase in m-cymen-8-ol, 1,3,5-Undecatriene, (E, Z) and a decreased concentration of p-cresol, carvone, p-cresol, and nonane. Conclusions: Together, these data demonstrated how an increased BMI led to significant changes in inflammatory markers, intestinal barrier metabolites, glucose metabolism, endocrine indicators, and fecal metabolomic profiles that can indicate a different metabolite production from gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that targeting intestinal permeability may offer a therapeutic approach to prevent and manage obesity and related metabolic complications, reinforcing the link between gut barrier function and obesity. Full article