Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking investigation of benzhydrol- and indole-based dual PPAR-γ/FFAR1 agonists.

Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a progressive cluster of metabolic disorders, representing a global public health burden affecting more than 366 million people worldwide. We recently reported the discovery of three series of novel agents showing balanced activity on two metabolic receptors, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), also known as GPCR40. Our designing strategy relied on linking the thiazolidinedione head with known GPCR privilege structures.

A fuzzy logic control in adjustable autonomy of a multi-agent system for an automated elderly movement monitoring application.

Autonomous agents are being widely used in many systems, such as ambient assisted-living systems, to perform tasks on behalf of humans. However, these systems usually operate in complex environments that entail uncertain, highly dynamic, or irregular workload. In such environments, autonomous agents tend to make decisions that lead to undesirable outcomes.

Photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic acid triggered DNA damage of adenocarcinoma breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Targeting cancer cells with photosensitizer (PS) excited by appropriate laser irradiation to release singlet oxygen as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) remains a challenge. This research aimed to assess the cytogenetic potential of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) activated with laser irradiation (5-ALA/PDT) to damage the intact DNA of adenocarcinoma breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). Cancer cells were treated with 0.

Evolving trends in mAb production processes.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have established themselves as the leading biopharmaceutical therapeutic modality. The establishment of robust manufacturing platforms are key for antibody drug discovery efforts to seamlessly translate into clinical and commercial successes. Several drivers are influencing the design of mAb manufacturing processes.

Neural EGF-like protein 1 (NELL-1): Signaling crosstalk in mesenchymal stem cells and applications in regenerative medicine.

Bone tissue regeneration holds the potential to solve both osteoporosis and large skeletal defects, two problems associated with significant morbidity. The differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into the osteogenic lineage requires a specific microenvironment and certain osteogenic growth factors. Neural EGF Like-Like molecule 1 (NELL-1) is a secreted glycoprotein that has proven, both and , to be a potent osteo-inductive factor.

Hepatitis C Virus Exposure Rate among Health-care Workers in Rural Lower Egypt Governorates.

Background And Objectives: Studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egypt supported a strong role for various exposures in the health-care setting. In this study, we attempted to estimate the frequency of HCV exposure among Egyptian health-care workers (HCWs).

Methods: Five hundred and sixty-four (564) HCWs were included in this study.

Modelling incremental benefits on complications rates when targeting lower HbA levels in people with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Aim: Glucose-lowering interventions in Type 2 diabetes mellitus have demonstrated reductions in microvascular complications and modest reductions in macrovascular complications. However, the degree to which targeting different HbA reductions might reduce risk is unclear.

Methods: Participant-level data for Trial Evaluating Cardiovascular Outcomes with Sitagliptin (TECOS) participants with established cardiovascular disease were used in a Type 2 diabetes-specific simulation model to quantify the likely impact of different HbA decrements on complication rates.

Superiority of aromatase inhibitor and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor combined delivery: Hyaluronate-targeted versus PEGylated protamine nanocapsules for breast cancer therapy.

Despite several reports have revealed the beneficial effect of co-administration of COX-2 inhibitors with aromatase inhibitors in managing postmenopausal breast cancer; no nanocarriers for such combined delivery have been developed till now. Therefore, protamine nanocapsules (PMN-NCs) have been developed to co-deliver letrozole (LTZ) that inhibits aromatase-mediated estrogen biosynthesis and celecoxib (CXB) that synergistically inhibits aromatase expression. Inspired by the CD44-mediated tumor targeting ability of hyaluronate (HA), we developed HA-coated PMN-NCs (HA-NCs) via electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly.

Photochemical generation of reactive intermediates from urban-waste bio-organic substances under UV and solar irradiation.

Singlet oxygen (O), hydroxyl radicals (OH), and excited triplet states of organic matter (OM) play a key role in the degradation of pollutants in aquatic environments. The formation rates and quantum yields (Φ) of these reactive intermediates (RI) through photosensitized reactions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) have been reported in the literature for decades. Urban biowaste-derived substances (UW-BOS), a form of organic matter derived from vegetative and urban waste, have recently been shown to be efficient sensitizers in the photo-degradation of different contaminants.

Multi-Reservoir Phospholipid Shell Encapsulating Protamine Nanocapsules for Co-Delivery of Letrozole and Celecoxib in Breast Cancer Therapy.

Purpose: In the current work, we propose a combined delivery nanoplatform for letrozole (LTZ) and celecoxib (CXB).

Methods: Multi-reservoir nanocarriers were developed by enveloping protamine nanocapsules (PRM-NCs) within drug-phospholipid complex bilayer.

Results: Encapsulation of NCs within phospholipid bilayer was confirmed by both size increase from 109.

Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Evaluation of Obstructive Jaundice in Comparison with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Radiology and Imaging in collaboration with Department of Gastroenterology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2013 to June 2014 to evaluate the efficacy of Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and ERCP in the management of obstructive jaundice and also to determine diagnostic validity accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRCP in evaluation of obstructive jaundice. For this purpose, a total of 60 patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent MRCP and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the above mentioned hospital were enrolled. More than one third (35.

Can mesenchymal stem cells pretreated with platelet-rich plasma modulate tissue remodeling in a rat with burned skin?

Our aim was to study the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and to investigate their roles in the healing of experimental burn injury and the possible mechanism of action. Our work was divided into in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The in-vitro study included untreated MSCs and MSCs treated with PRP.

The effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on postoperative analgesia and neuroendocrine stress response in pediatric patients undergoing elective open inguinal hernia repair.

Background: Transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) is a compartmental block of the anterior abdominal wall. Surgical trauma produces multisystem reactions. Anesthetic techniques can modify the neuroendocrine surgical stress response.

Voiceless Bangla vowel recognition using sEMG signal.

Some people cannot produce sound although their facial muscles work properly due to having problem in their vocal cords. Therefore, recognition of alphabets as well as sentences uttered by these voiceless people is a complex task. This paper proposes a novel method to solve this problem using non-invasive surface Electromyogram (sEMG).

Polysubstance-induced relapse of schizoaffective disorder refractory to high-dose antipsychotic medications: a case report.

Background: The high prevalence of comorbid illicit drug use in persons with chronic psychotic illness represents a strong determinant of psychotic relapse and rehospitalization. Epidemiological studies indicate changing patterns of illicit drug use in Australia, which are concerning because of increased use of crystal methamphetamine, also known as "ice." An important complication of habitual use of crystal methamphetamine is the development of a dose-dependent acute psychotic reaction.

Study of the clinical relevance of Helicobacter pylori virulence genes to gastric diseases among Egyptian patients.

Background And Study Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection is common in Egypt. It has been associated with gastritis, ulcers and it is a risk factor for gastric cancer. We aimed to study the correlation between the presence of H.

Latex agglutination using the periplasmic proteins antigen of Brucella melitensis is a successful, rapid, and specific serodiagnostic test for ovine brucellosis.

Brucellosis, especially caused by Brucella melitensis, is considered the most-widespread zoonosis in the world, particularly in developing countries. This study was planned to develop an accurate test for diagnosis of ovine brucellosis using a specific hot saline extracted soluble Brucella melitensis periplasmic proteins (SBPPs). The efficacy of the latex agglutination test (LAT) using SBPPs compared to the Rose Bengal test (RBT), buffered plate agglutination test (BPAT), serum agglutination test (SAT), and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) was evaluated in the field diagnosis of ovine brucellosis.

Development of an antigen-capture ELISA for the detection of the p27-CA protein of HERV-K(HML-2).

The detection or quantification of retroviruses is often achieved using an antigen-capture ELISA (AC-ELISA) that targets the Gag capsid (CA) protein. We report here the development of an AC-ELISA specific for the p27-CA protein of HERV-K(HML-2). A monoclonal p27-specific antibody is used for capture and a polyclonal anti-p27-CA immune serum generated in rabbits serves for detection.

Spirulina versicolor improves insulin sensitivity and attenuates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress in fructose-fed rats.

Aim: The current study aimed to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and insulin sensitizing effects of the cyanobacterium Spirulina versicolor extract in fructose-fed rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were fed 30% fructose solution in drinking water for 4 weeks. Animals exhibited hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were selected for further investigations.

Cellulose derivatives modified by sodium tellurate and a chromium(III) tellurate complex.

A novel cellulose (Cell) derivative, sodium-tellurato (Cell-TeO(OH)4(ONa)/Cell-Cl), has been synthesized from the reaction of 6-chloro-6-deoxycellulose (Cell-Cl) with telluric acid in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The subsequent reaction of this polymeric material with chromium(III) in aqueous solution yields the [Cr(Cell-TeO3(OH)3/Cell-Cl)(Cell-TeO2(OH)4/Cell-Cl)(H2O)3] complex. The molecular structures and morphology of the new polymer and the Cr(III) complex have been examined using elemental analysis, solid-state (13)C NMR, UV-vis, XRD and FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM-EDX, TGA and magnetic measurements.

Perceived influential factors toward participation in undergraduate research activities among medical students at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Aims: (1) To explore correlations between medical students' participation in undergraduate research (UR) activities and their characteristics, and (2) to explore students' perceived influential factors toward participation in UR activities at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional, self-rating survey was administered. Chi-square test was used to correlate between participation in UR activities and students' characteristics (age, academic year and grade point average [GPA]).

Reducing Power and Cycle Requirement for FFT of ECG Signals through Low Level Arithmetic Optimizations for Cardiac Implantable Devices.

The Fast Fourier Transform or FFT remains to be the de facto standard in almost all disciplines for computing discrete Fourier transform. In embedded biomedical applications, efficient signal processing algorithms such as FFT for spectrum analysis are indispensable. The FFT is an O(NlogN) algorithm which requires complex multiplication and addition using floating point numbers.