Screening and Identification of Natural Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Glutamate Racemase, an Emerging Drug Target of Food Pathogen E. coli O157:H7: An In-silico Approach to Combat Increasing Drug Resistance.

Background: Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (E. coli O157:H7), capable of causing serious food-borne illnesses, is extensively studied and is known to be transmitted through animal reservoirs or person-to-person contact, leading to severe disease outbreaks. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in these strains, coupled with increased adverse effects of existing therapeutics, underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies.

Optimizing germination: comparative assessment of various growth media on dragon fruit germination and early growth.

Dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus), known for its captivating appearance and remarkable nutritional profile, has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Despite its popularity, there's a dearth of research on optimal conditions for seed germination and early growth stages such as seedling shoot length, which are crucial for optimal crop yield. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating various growing media's performance on dragon fruit germination and early growth stages.

Retinal vessel diameters in intermediate age-related macular degeneration using optical coherence tomography.

Clinical Relevance: Clinical assessment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) relies on biomarkers that do not necessarily reflect the contributions of vascular dysfunction. Validation of clinically accessible methods of measuring retinal vascular integrity could provide a more holistic understanding of AMD-related changes to facilitate appropriate care.

Background: There is conflicting evidence if retinal vessel calibre is significantly altered in the early stages of AMD.

Whey proteins as multifunctional food materials: Recent advancements in hydrolysis, separation, and peptidomimetic approaches.

Whey protein derived bioactives, including α-lactalbumin, ß-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, lactoferrin, transferrin, and proteose-peptones, have exhibited wide ranges of functional, biological and therapeutic properties varying from anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial effects. In addition, their functional properties involve gelling, emulsifying, and foaming abilities. For these reasons, this review article is framed to understand the relationship existed in between those compound levels and structures with their main functional, biological, and therapeutic properties exhibited either in vitro or in vivo.

Next generation sequencing (NGS)-based approach to diagnosing Algerian patients with suspected inborn errors of immunity (IEIs).

The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has greatly expanded our understanding of both the clinical spectra and genetic landscape of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). Endogamous populations may be enriched for unique, ancestry-specific disease-causing variants, a consideration that significantly impacts molecular testing and analysis strategies. Herein, we report on the application of a 2-step NGS-based testing approach beginning with targeted gene panels (TGPs) tailored to specific IEI subtypes and reflexing to whole exome sequencing (WES) if negative for Northwest Algerian patients with suspected IEIs.

Valorization and characterization of corn by-product polyphenols through green extraction technologies.

The amount of food waste throughout the world has become quite alarming and is contributing to lower food resources. The study aimed to extract and characterize the polyphenols from corn silks at immature and mature stages through conventional and green extraction techniques. Purposely, corn silks, which are some of the by-products of corn, ( L.

Improved PVC/ZnO Nanocomposite Insulation for High Voltage and High Temperature Applications.

Nanosized inorganic oxides have the trends to improve many characteristics of solid polymer insulation. In this work, the characteristics of improved poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/ZnO are evaluated using 0, 2, 4 and 6 phr of ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in polymer matrix using internal mixer and finally compressed into circular disk with 80 mm diameter using compression molding technique. Dispersion properties are studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and optical microscopy (OM).

Enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery protocol reduces perioperative opioid use.

Objective: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols are relatively new in cardiac surgery. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery addresses perioperative analgesia by implementing multimodal pain control regimens that include both opioid and nonopioid components. We investigated the effects of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol at our institution on postoperative outcomes with particular focus on analgesia.

Tailoring TiO/AlO heterolayers as optical filters for the visible region.

Optical filters operating in the visible region of the spectrum are highly desired for applications ranging from optical communication and sensing to fluorescence microscopy and skin therapy. However, complex fabrication procedures and/or inferior performance, limit the practical applications of previously reported thin-film-based optical filters. Herein, we describe the structual design concepts and facile fabrication of vertically stacked heterolayers of TiO/AlO to obtain a bandpass filter and a longwave pass edge filter operating in the spectral range 410-600 nm and 400-597 nm, respectively.

Development and Investigation of High Performance PVA/NiO and PVA/CuO Nanocomposites with Improved Physical, Dielectric and Mechanical Properties.

A series of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)based composites with well dispersed nano fillers were fabricated and compared in terms of dielectric, mechanical, and optical properties. Specifically, NiO and CuO nano-fillers were utilized in a range of 0.2-0.

A Sequenced Study of Improved Dielectric Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Metal Oxide-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

Polymers have gained attraction at the industrial level owing to their elastic and lightweight nature, as well as their astonishing mechanical and electrical applications. Their scope is limited due to their organic nature, which eventually leads to the degradation of their properties. The aim of this work was to produce polymer composites with finely dispersed metal oxide nanofillers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the investigation of their charge-storage applications.

Degradation Performance Investigation of Hydrothermally Stressed Epoxy Micro and Nanocomposites for High Voltage Insulation.

Epoxy resins have demonstrated remarkable properties with potential for usage as high voltage insulators. However, a loss of these properties has been observed in high temperature and humid environments. In order to enhance the hydrothermal stability of epoxy resins, micro (15% SiO) and nano (5% SiO) silica-based composites of epoxy were fabricated and subjected to standard long term and short term accelerated hydrothermal conditions.

Intractable Vomiting Secondary to Gastric Outlet Obstruction by a Duplication Cyst.

Gastric duplication cysts are a rare finding in the adult population. Duplication cysts comprise 4% of the alimentary tract duplications, and about 67% are usually discovered within the first year of life. They can be located anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, with the majority located in the greater curvature of the stomach.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma with fatal income: Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon and hypercalcemia.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is a rare, borderline tumor that typically occurs during early childhood. Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon is a complication characterized by a consumptive coagulopathy resulting from the localized intravascular coagulation. Hypercalcemia generation is a rare association that was related in our case to parathyroid hormone-related protein produced by this angioma.

Comparison of intra operative hemorrhage by blunt and sharp expansion of uterine incision at cesarean section.

Objectives: To compare the effect of blunt and sharp incision of uterus at cesarean section on intra-operative haemorrhage.

Methods: This trial was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pakistan Ordinance Factory Hospital, Wah Cantt from 14 January to 13 July 2012. Total 80 women planned for lower segment cesarean section through Pfannensteil incision were randomized to either blunt uterine incision (Group-A, n=40) or sharp uterine incision (Group-B, n=40).

Two novel mutations in exon 2 of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 15 gene in Pakistani infertile females.

Objective: To determine the proportion of fertility in Pakistani infertile females and discover if there are considerable connection among gene polymorphism, follicle maturation and hormonal regulation in Pakistani infertile females.

Methods: All selected participants were initially examined through follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Prolactin, and Trans-vaginal scan (TVS). gene polymorphism among infertile and fertile females was done by extracted Genomic DNA from whole blood.

Metformin Prevents Hyperglycemia-Associated, Oxidative Stress-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction: Essential Role for the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Human Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (Nur77).

Vascular pathology is increased in diabetes because of reactive-oxygen-species (ROS)-induced endothelial cell damage. We found that and in a streptozotocin diabetes model , metformin at diabetes-therapeutic concentrations (1-50 µM) protects tissue-intact and cultured vascular endothelial cells from hyperglycemia/ROS-induced dysfunction typified by reduced agonist-stimulated endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide-mediated vasorelaxation in response to muscarinic or proteinase-activated-receptor 2 agonists. Metformin not only attenuated hyperglycemia-induced ROS production in aorta-derived endothelial cell cultures but also prevented hyperglycemia-induced endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction (reduced oxygen consumption rate).

Root Microcracks Formation during Root Canal Instrumentation Using Reciprocating and Rotary Files.

Aim And Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the formation of dentinal cracks with nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments working in continuous rotation and reciprocating motion.

Materials And Methods: One hundred sixty extracted human mandibular first molars were selected for the study. The mesial roots were resected and mounted in resin blocks with simulated periodontal ligaments.

Fifteen-year experience with pericardiectomy at a tertiary referral center.

Purpose: Pericardiectomy has traditionally carried relatively high perioperative mortality and morbidity, with few published reports of intermediate- and long- term outcomes. We investigated our 15-year experience performing pericardiectomy at our institution.

Methods: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent pericardiectomy at our institution between 2005 and 2019.

Toxicity of synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on meiofauna: Estradiol benzoate as a case study.

An experimental study was carried out to determine the effects of the enrichment of sediments by endocrine perturbators on free-living nematodes from the Ghar El Melh lagoon, Tunisia. For 30 days, four concentrations of Estradiol Benzoate (hereafter EB) (0.43, 4.

Multi-Stressed Nano and Micro-Silica/Silicone Rubber Composites with Improved Dielectric and High-Voltage Insulation Properties.

The scope of silicone rubber (SiR) is confined due to the deprivation of its dielectric propertiesupon exposure to various ambient stresses. The aim of this research is to develop silicone rubber-based composites by employing inorganic oxide fillers for improved dielectric and high voltage insulation properties for widening its scope in the field of electrical appliances. This study reports the preparation of different composites of silicone rubber with varying concentrations of micro and nano-silica fillers.