Serum Adiponectin Levels Increase in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Correlate with Patients' Outcomes: A Pilot Study.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and severe disability worldwide. Rapid diagnosis is critical to ensure the timely administration of medical treatment. Given that in some cases CT scans fail to show the classic clinical signs of stroke, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of adiponectin levels and their association with the clinical parameters of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Marine Antioxidants from Marine Collagen and Collagen Peptides with Nutraceuticals Applications: A Review.

Collagen peptides and marine collagen are enormous resources currently utilized. This review aims to examine the scientific literature to determine which collagen peptides derived from marine sources and which natural active antioxidants from marine collagen have significant biological effects as health-promoting nutraceuticals. Marine collagen is extracted from both vertebrate and invertebrate marine creatures.

The Impact of the Dietary Intake of Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, and Vitamin D3 on Homocysteine Levels and the Health-Related Quality of Life of Levodopa-Treated Patients with Parkinson's Disease-A Pilot Study in Romania.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies have shown that the levodopa treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) elevates circulating homocysteine levels, which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and neurological disorders, or thrombosis. The present trial aimed to examine whether the intake of vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin D3 supplements improved homocysteine level and quality of life (QoL).

Materials And Methods: An interventional prospective trial was conducted in multiple centers across Romania.

Serum Caspase-3 Levels as a Predictive Molecular Biomarker for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Caspases are key players in the apoptotic process and have been found to contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of Caspase-3 in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and in control patients without ischemic events. Moreover, we explored any potential associations with the clinical outcomes of AIS.

Madelung's Disease Evolving to Liposarcoma: An Uncommon Encounter.

(1) Background: Madelung's disease-known also as Benign Symmetric Adenolipomatosis (BSA) or Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis (MSL), is a rare subcutaneous tissue disease characterized by the proliferation of non-encapsulated fat tissue with mature adipocytes. Patients develop symmetrical fatty deposits of varying sizes, (located particularly around the neck, shoulders, upper and middle back, arms, abdomen, and thighs), having clinical, esthetic, and psychiatric repercussions. (2) Methods: We report a case diagnosed with BSA upon admission to the Neurological and Internal Medicine Departments of the Emergency Clinical Hospital of Galati.

Monte Carlo simulation-guided design for size-tuned tumor spheroid formation in 3D printed microwells.

Tumor spheroid models have garnered significant attention in recent years as they can efficiently mimic in vivo models, and in addition, they offer a more controlled and reproducible environment for evaluating the efficacy of cancer drugs. In this study, we present the design and fabrication of a micromold template to form multicellular spheroids in a high-throughput and controlled-sized fashion. Briefly, polydimethylsiloxane-based micromolds at varying sizes and geometry were fabricated via soft lithography using 3D-printed molds as negative templates.

Thrombomodulin Serum Levels-A Predictable Biomarker for the Acute Onset of Ischemic Stroke.

The early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can be challenging in cases presenting with a scarcity of clinical signs, normal cerebral imaging in early stages and a lack of specific serum markers. Thrombomodulin has been shown to be associated with cerebrovascular ischemic events and can be considered an important biomarker for the acute onset of ischemic stroke. In our study, we compared the serum levels of thrombomodulin (sTM) between a relevant patient group of 70 AIS patients and a control group of patients without AIS admitted into the neurology department between June 2022 and May 2023.

Natural Bio-Compounds from and Their Beneficial Biological Actions for Anticancer Application: A Review.

() has been known for many centuries in Asian countries under different names, varying depending on the country. The objective of this review is to investigate the scientific research on the natural active bio-compounds in extracts obtained from with significant biological actions in the treatment of cancer. This review presents the classes of bio-compounds existing in that have been reported over time in the main databases and have shown important biological actions in the treatment of cancer.

Point-of-Care Testing-The Key in the Battle against SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

The deleterious effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic urged the development of diagnostic tools to manage the spread of disease. Currently, the "gold standard" involves the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Even though it is sensitive, specific and applicable for large batches of samples, qRT-PCR is labour-intensive, time-consuming, requires trained personnel and is not available in remote settings.

Evaluation of the optical and biomechanical properties of bioengineered human skin generated with fibrin-agarose biomaterials.

Significance: Recent generation of bioengineered human skin allowed the efficient treatment of patients with severe skin defects. However, the optical and biomechanical properties of these models are not known.

Aim: Three models of bioengineered human skin based on fibrin-agarose biomaterials (acellular, dermal skin substitutes, and complete dermoepidermal skin substitutes) were generated and analyzed.

In vivo Diagnosis of Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis -the Role of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) is a form of localized amyloidosis. It is characterized by the deposition of a fibrillar material in the superficial dermis, without affecting other systems or organs. The diagnosis can be made clinically, but usually a skin biopsy is performed in order to exclude other skin diseases with similar appearance.

Bedaquiline- versus injectable-containing drug-resistant tuberculosis regimens: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be a major public health challenge with suboptimal treatment outcomes including well-documented treatment-related toxicities. We compared the cost-effectiveness of bedaquiline (BDQ) containing regimens with injectable containing regimens (short-course regimen [SCR] and long-course regiman [LCR]) in India, Russia, and South Africa.

Methods: The analysis evaluated the direct costs of DR-TB treatment which included drugs, hospitalization, injectable-related adverse event costs, and other costs.

Development of a customized whiteness index for dentistry based on CIELAB color space.

Objectives: To develop a customized CIELAB-based whiteness index for dentistry that accurately correlates to perception of tooth whiteness.

Methods: Four psychophysical experiments (PE1-4) were conducted by three panels of observers (OP1-3) under diffuse/0° observation/measuring conditions and under typical clinical viewing conditions. Nine whiteness indices (WI, Z%, WIC, WIO, W31, W64, W, WLAB, W*), two yellowness indices (YID1925, YIE313) and tint of white in the CIELAB color system (T) were compared with regard to their ability to measure the perceived whiteness of human teeth.

Correction: Photographic-Based Optical Evaluation of Tissues and Biomaterials Used for Corneal Surface Repair: A New Easy-Applied Method.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Photographic-Based Optical Evaluation of Tissues and Biomaterials Used for Corneal Surface Repair: A New Easy-Applied Method.

Purpose: Tissues and biomaterials used for corneal surface repair require fulfilling specific optical standards prior to implantation in the patient. However, there is not a feasible evaluation method to be applied in clinical or Good Manufacturing Practice settings. In this study, we describe and assess an innovative easy-applied photographic-based method (PBM) for measuring functional optical blurring and transparency in corneal surface grafts.

Predictive algorithms for determination of reflectance data from quantity of pigments within experimental dental resin composites.

Background: Being able to estimate (predict) the final spectrum of reflectance of a biomaterial, especially when the final color and appearance are fundamental for their clinical success (as is the case of dental resin composites), could be a very useful tool for the industrial development of these type of materials. The main objective of this study was the development of predictive models which enable the determination of the reflectance spectrum of experimental dental resin composites based on type and quantity of pigments used in their chemical formulation.

Methods: 49 types of experimental dental resin composites were formulated as a mixture of organic matrix, inorganic filler, photo activator and other components in minor quantities (accelerator, inhibitor, fluorescent agent and 4 types of pigments).

Evaluation of small intestine grafts decellularization methods for corneal tissue engineering.

Advances in the development of cornea substitutes by tissue engineering techniques have focused on the use of decellularized tissue scaffolds. In this work, we evaluated different chemical and physical decellularization methods on small intestine tissues to determine the most appropriate decellularization protocols for corneal applications. Our results revealed that the most efficient decellularization agents were the SDS and triton X-100 detergents, which were able to efficiently remove most cell nuclei and residual DNA.

Color and translucency of zirconia ceramics, human dentine and bovine dentine.

Objectives: Evaluate color and translucency of both non-colored and colored zirconia ceramics and compare them with corresponding properties of human dentine.

Methods: 0.5mm thick samples of human (MSHD) and bovine (MSBD) dentine were obtained from 5 extracted human anterior maxillary teeth and 5 bovine incisors, respectively.

Investigating a novel nanostructured fibrin-agarose biomaterial for human cornea tissue engineering: rheological properties.

In this work, the rheological properties of the biomaterial fibrin with different agarose concentrations, used for the generation of a bioengineered human corneal stroma by tissue engineering, before and after using a nanostructuring technique, were analyzed. The transparency of these artificial human stromas was also investigated. The temporal evaluation of the properties of these biomaterials is essential for the design of functional biological human corneal replacements.

Dental ceramics: a CIEDE2000 acceptability thresholds for lightness, chroma and hue differences.

Objectives: To determine the visual 50:50% acceptability thresholds for lightness, chroma and hue for dental ceramics using CIEDE2000(K(L):K(C):K(H)) formula, and to evaluate the formula performance using different parametric factors.

Methods: A 30-observer panel evaluated three subsets of ceramic samples: lightness subset (|ΔL'/ΔE(00)| ≥ 0.9), chroma subset (|ΔC'/ΔE(00)| ≥ 0.

Transparency in a fibrin and fibrin-agarose corneal stroma substitute generated by tissue engineering.

Purpose: To examine the transparency characteristics at different times of development in the culture of 2 different types of human corneal stroma substitutes generated by tissue engineering using human fibrin or human fibrin and 0.1% agarose, with human keratocytes entrapped within.

Methods: The transparency of these artificial corneal stromas was analyzed after 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of development in culture by determining the scattering and absorption coefficients from the spectral reflectance data of each sample using the Kubelka-Munk equations.

Generation of bioengineered corneas with decellularized xenografts and human keratocytes.

Purpose: Decellularization of animal corneas is a promising method for the development of artificial human corneas by tissue engineering. In this study, two different decellularization protocols were evaluated to determine which one is able to best preserve the histologic structure, composition, and optical behavior of decellularized porcine corneas. Then, these corneas were recellularized with human keratocytes to obtain a partial human corneal substitute.

UV absorbance of a bioengineered corneal stroma substitute in the 240-400 nm range.

Purpose: To determine the UV absorbance of a bioengineered human corneal stroma construct based on fibrin and fibrin-agarose scaffolds in the 240-400 nm range.

Methods: Three types of artificial substitutes of the human corneal stroma were developed by tissue engineering using fibrin and fibrin with 0.1% and 0.