Stimuli-responsive carrageenan-based biomaterials for biomedical applications.

Carrageenan-based biomaterials have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their unique biological properties, including their biodegradability, compatibility, and lack of adverse effects. These biomaterials exhibit a variety of beneficial properties, such as antiviral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects, which set them apart from other polysaccharides. Stimuli-responsive carrageenan-based biomaterials have attracted particular attention due to their unique properties such as reducing systemic toxicity and controlling drug release.

Desalination of the power plant salty wastewater by use of an algae-based photosynthetic microbial desalination cell.

In this research the possibility of using a photosynthetic microbial desalination cell (PhMDC) is investigated for desalination of power plant salty wastewater (PPSWW), along with power generation and organic load removal. The PhMDC was operated with anaerobic sludge in the anode chamber, microalgae in the cathode chamber, and different conductivities of PPSWW (10, 20, 40, and 55 mS cm) in the desalination chamber under different illumination modes (continuous light mode and light/dark mode). The highest power density (285.

Nanomaterial strategies in wound healing: A comprehensive review of nanoparticles, nanofibres and nanosheets.

Wound healing is a complex process that orchestrates the coordinated action of various cells, cytokines and growth factors. Nanotechnology offers exciting new possibilities for enhancing the healing process by providing novel materials and approaches to deliver bioactive molecules to the wound site. This article elucidates recent advancements in utilizing nanoparticles, nanofibres and nanosheets for wound healing.

Evaluation of fig-milk dessert bioactive properties as a potential functional food.

The fig-milk dessert, a traditional and nutritionally rich treat infused with bioactive compounds, was subjected to a comprehensive analysis in this study. The novelty of this research lies in the investigation of the in vitro antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial potential of the fig-milk dessert. This was accomplished through the utilization of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Annexin/propidium iodide staining, microtiter plate-based assay and agar well diffusion, respectively, for the first time.

An update on the therapeutic role of RNAi in NAFLD/NASH.

Unhealthy lifestyles have given rise to a growing epidemic of metabolic liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD often occurs as a consequence of obesity, and currently, there is no FDA-approved drug for its treatment. However, therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as RNA interference (RNAi), represent a promising class of pharmacotherapy that can target previously untreatable conditions.

Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications.

Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) have been employed in various fields of nanobiotechnology due to their proven biomedical properties. They are unique in their properties due to their size and shape, and they are popular in the area of biosensors, bioimaging, and antibacterial and anticancer applications. Most CdS NPs are generally synthesized through chemical, physical, or biological methods.

Multifunctional Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications.

Self-assembly is a growth mechanism in nature to apply local interactions forming a minimum energy structure. Currently, self-assembled materials are considered for biomedical applications due to their pleasant features, including scalability, versatility, simplicity, and inexpensiveness. Self-assembled peptides can be applied to design and fabricate different structures, such as micelles, hydrogels, and vesicles, by diverse physical interactions between specific building blocks.

Nanostructured multifunctional stimuli-responsive glycopolypeptide-based copolymers for biomedical applications.

Inspired by natural resources, such as peptides and carbohydrates, glycopolypeptide biopolymer has recently emerged as a new form of biopolymer being recruited in various biomedical applications. Glycopolypeptides with well-defined secondary structures and pendant glycosides on the polypeptide backbone have sparked lots of research interest and they have an innate ability to self-assemble in diverse structures. The nanostructures of glycopolypeptides have also opened up new perspectives in biomedical applications due to their stable three-dimensional structures, high drug loading efficiency, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability.

Degradation of phenol in the bio-cathode of a microbial desalination cell with power generation and salt removal.

In this study, the performance of a three-chamber microbial desalination cell (MDC) was assessed to simultaneously remove salt (35 g.L) from water and degrade phenol as a hazardous compound. Two parallel MDCs with the same configurations were run using glucose as the chemical oxygen demand (COD) at an initial concentration of 1.

Carrageenans for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications: A review.

Biomaterials are considered a substantial building block for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Despite using both organic and inorganic biomaterials in these fields, polymeric biomaterials are the most promising candidates because of their versatility in their characteristics (i.e.

Effect of mixed culture of yeast and microalgae on acetyl-CoA carboxylase and Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase expression.

In recent years, some studies have reported that co-culturing green algae and yeast improve lipid and biomass concentration. In this study, a co-culture of the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula glutinis and the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris was consequently conducted with inoculation of microalga and yeast in growth and stationary phases, respectively. For the first time, the expression of two pivotal enzymes in fatty acids synthetic pathway, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, was evaluated.

Controlled Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Delivery to Liver Cancer Cells by Gate-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary malignancy in the liver and one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Its readily increasing mortality rate highlights the urgent need for the development of efficient therapeutic strategies. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as sorafenib and sunitinib are used as efficient angiogenesis inhibitors for this purpose.

Correction to "Targeted Reinforcement of Macrophage Reprogramming Toward M2 Polarization by IL-4-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Particles".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b03182.

Targeted Reinforcement of Macrophage Reprogramming Toward M2 Polarization by IL-4-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Particles.

Alteration of macrophage polarization from inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype can have striking implications for the regeneration of injured tissues, treatment of inflammatory diseases, and relief of autoimmune disorders. Although certain cytokines like interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are capable of inducing M2 macrophage polarization, their therapeutic potential in vivo is suffering from low efficacy due to their instability and poor access to target cells. Here, we report the synthesis of IL-4-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) particle for the targeted delivery of cytokines through the high affinity of HA to CD44 receptors of macrophages.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of microalgae proteins using serine proteases: A study to characterize kinetic parameters.

Protein composition and molecular weight play an important role in the digestibility of microalgae proteins. In this study for the first time, proteinous materials of Dunaliella salina and Spirulina platensis were extracted and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. Then, they are affected by trypsin and chymotrypsin as indicator intestinal enzymes.

Rapid optimization of liposome characteristics using a combined microfluidics and design-of-experiment approach.

Liposomes have attracted much attention as the first nanoformulations entering the clinic. The optimization of physicochemical properties of liposomes during nanomedicine development however is time-consuming and challenging despite great advances in formulation development. Here, we present a systematic approach for the rapid size optimization of liposomes.

An Outcome Study of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion among Iranian Population.

Background and Aim. First-line treatment strategy for managing cervical disc herniation is conservative measures. In some cases, surgery is indicated either due to signs/symptoms of severe/progressive neurological deficits, or because of persistence of radicular pain despite 12 weeks of conservative treatment.

Cervical Ligamentum Flavum Hematoma: A Case Report.

Study Design Case report. Objective To report the first case of ligamentum flavum hematoma after cervical spine instrumentation 11 years after the index surgery. Methods After performing bilateral C3 and C4 laminectomy, we observed a dark greenish discoloration over the ligamentum flavum, which was opened.

Anterior Reconstruction of C2-C3 Bodies in a 6-Year-Old Patient with a Huge Osteoblastoma: A Novel Technique.

Study Design Case report. Objective We report the youngest child diagnosed with upper cervical osteoblastoma and the first case operated on with our novel surgical approach. Methods Our patient underwent a two-stage surgery.

Evaluation of Oogenesis Aspects in Neonatal and Adult Mice after Toloaldoxime Treatment.

Objective: Oximes are important materials in organic chemistry. Synparamethyl benzal- dehyde oxime (toloaldoxime) is structurally similar to other oximes, hence we have studied its effects on the neonatal and adult female Balb/c mice reproductive systems in order to provide a platform for future studies on the production of female contraceptive drugs.

Materials And Methods: In experimental study, we studied the effects of toloaldoxime on ovary growth and gonadal hormones of neonatal and adult Balb/c mice.

Cometabolic degradation of ethyl mercaptan by phenol-utilizing Ralstonia eutropha in suspended growth and gas-recycling trickle-bed reactor.

The degradability of ethyl mercaptan (EM), by phenol-utilizing cells of Ralstonia eutropha, in both suspended and immobilized culture systems, was investigated in the present study. Free-cells experiments conducted at EM concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 14.

Piriformis muscle syndrome: a recurrent case after surgical release.

We report a recurrent Piriformisc muscle syndrome after surgical release. After the primary neurolysis, a second operation was performed to release adhesions. This case shows a different type of sciatic nerve entrapment by an abnormal thin muscle slip.

Lumbar disk herniation surgery: outcome and predictors.

Study Design A retrospective cohort study. Objectives To determine the outcome and any differences in the clinical results of three different surgical methods for lumbar disk herniation and to assess the effect of factors that could predict the outcome of surgery. Methods We evaluated 148 patients who had operations for lumbar disk herniation from March 2006 to March 2011 using three different surgical techniques (laminectomy, microscopically assisted percutaneous nucleotomy, and spinous process osteotomy) by using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire, Resumption of Activities of Daily Living scale and changes of visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain and radicular pain.

Role of vitamin D3 in treatment of lumbar disc herniation--pain and sensory aspects: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Vitamin D receptors have been identified in the spinal cord, nerve roots, dorsal root ganglia and glial cells, and its genetic polymorphism association with the development of lumbar disc degeneration and herniation has been documented. Metabolic effects of active vitamin D metabolites in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells have been studied. Lumbar disc herniation is a process that involves immune and inflammatory cells and processes that are targets for immune regulatory actions of vitamin D as a neurosteroid hormone.

Al-Akhawayni and the early descriptions of meningitis.

Abubakr Rabi-ibn Ahmad Akhawayni Bukhari, also known as Al-Akhawayni, was a Persian physician who lived in the Near East during an age in which medical knowledge blossomed in the Islamic world. This era, the "Islamic Golden Age," extended from the tenth to the twelfth centuries AD. During his lifetime as a physician, Al-Akhawayni was famous for his expertise in medicine, including disorders that would be considered neurological today.