Rehabilitative game-based system for enhancing physical and cognitive abilities of neurological disorders.

Neurological disorders affect the nervous system and can impair physical, cognitive, or emotional functions. They often result in challenges such as movement difficulties and the inability to perform daily activities. Common conditions include stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral palsy.

Pharmacological targets and therapeutic mechanisms of Arabic gum in treating diabetic wounds: insights from network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Background And Objectives: On account of the long-term inflammatory microenvironment, diabetic wounds are challenging to heal in which advanced glycation end products are considered important factors hindering the healing of diabetic wounds. Gum Arabic has demonstrated significant potential in the treatment of various diseases owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, there is still insufficient research on the role of Arabic gum in facilitating diabetic wounds healing and its mechanisms.

Serum amyloid A and proadrenomedullin as early markers in critically ill children with sepsis.

Background: Pro-adrenomedullin (pro-ADM), the most stable part of ADM, serves as an indirect marker of ADM levels. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a protein produced primarily in the liver during acute inflammation.

Purpose: To assess the role of SAA and pro-ADM, individually and in combination, as diagnostic and prognostic markers in pediatric sepsis.

Determinants of seasonal influenza vaccination uptake, intention and recommendations among Lebanese physicians.

The most effective way to prevent influenza infection and its severe outcomes is through vaccination. Influenza vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups, including health care workers who have high occupational exposure. Hesitancy is a major challenge affecting vaccine uptake.

Remote online learning reimagined: perceptions and experiences of medical students in a post-pandemic world.

Background: Blended learning is a key educational methodology, particularly in medical education, and involves integration of online and face-to-face interactions to enhance flexibility and engagement. Blended learning gained increased popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social restrictions. Following control of the pandemic, face to face teaching and learning activities have been restored.

Successful treatment of subinvolution of the placenta site with uterine artery embolisation, sparing the patient's fertility: A case report.

Subinvolution of the placental site can lead to severe post-partum haemorrhage, though it is a rare cause of the condition. Subinvolution of the placental site is an abnormal persistence of widely dilated uteroplacental spiral arteries in the absence of retained products of conception, and is associated with an increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This report presents a case of an uneventful caesarean section that was followed by multiple presentations of major secondary post-partum haemorrhage, with a subsequent diagnosis of subinvolution of the placental site on histopathology.

Sustainable utilization of bovine adipose tissue derivatives as robust antimicrobial agents against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: The excessive use of antibiotics is a major contributor to the global issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a significant threat to human and animal health. Hence, assessing new strategies for managing Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) microorganisms is vital. In this study, the use of mechanically isolated mature adipose cells (MIMACs) and their lysate (Adipolysate) as a new sustainable antimicrobial agent was assessed against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Harnessing Extracellular Vesicles for Stabilized and Functional IL-10 Delivery in Macrophage Immunomodulation.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are gaining recognition as promising therapeutic carriers for immune modulation. We investigated the potential of EVs derived from HEK293FT cells to stabilize and deliver interleukin-10 (IL-10), a key anti-inflammatory cytokine. Using minicircle (MC) DNA vectors, we achieved IL-10 overexpression and efficient incorporation into EVs, yielding superior stability compared to free, recombinant IL-10 protein.

The Brain's Aging Resting State Functional Connectivity.

Resting state networks (RSNs) of the brain are characterized as correlated spontaneous time-varying fluctuations in the absence of goal-directed tasks. These networks can be local or large-scale spanning the brain. The study of the spatiotemporal properties of such networks has helped understand the brain's fundamental functional organization under healthy and diseased states.

Spinal impostor: Metastatic cervical paraganglioma presenting with paraparesis, a case report.

Introduction And Importance: Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors, typically arising from extra-adrenal chromaffin cells. Primary intra-spinal paragangliomas are uncommon, and metastatic spinal paragangliomas without paraneoplastic symptoms are even rarer. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by such rare tumors.

Novel and potent MICA/B antibody is therapeutically effective in mutant lung cancer models.

Background: Concurrent (STK11, KL) mutant non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) do not respond well to current immune checkpoint blockade therapies, however targeting major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A or B (MICA/B), could pose an alternative therapeutic strategy through activation of natural killer (NK) cells.

Methods: Expression of NK cell activating ligands in NSCLC cell line and patient data were analyzed. Cell surface expression of MICA/B in NSCLC cell lines was determined through flow cytometry while ligand shedding in both patient blood and cell lines was determined through ELISA.

Brain 18FDG-PET pattern in cognitively impaired elderly patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are at increased risk of dementia. The underlying mechanisms are debated. FDG-PET elucidates glucose metabolic reductions due to altered neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex, allowing detection and identification of neurodegenerative processes.

Compliance to international guidelines and rational use of antibiotics in urinary tract infections in a country without national guidance: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy with agents that minimise resistance is crucial. Despite international concern, adherence to guidelines is still suboptimal. This study aims to determine the effect of the absence of national guidelines and the rate of conformity to international guidelines among physicians in antibiotic (ATB) prescriptions for the treatment of UTIs in adults and detect the factors that are associated with a higher rate of non-compliance.

A comparative perception and impact of pictorial warnings on cigarette packaging among Malaysian smokers and non-smokers.

Introduction: In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that pictorial warnings on tobacco products be used to educate consumers on the negative health impacts associated with tobacco use. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of pictorial warnings on cigarette packaging among smokers and non-smokers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted in Kuala Lumpur.

Synthesis of new coumarin derivatives and assessment of their antimicrobial efficacy.

Aim: Developing new antimicrobial agents in response to the urgent challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: Synthesis of the targeted coumarins, elucidation of their structures using spectroscopic tools, and investigation of their antimicrobial activity.

Results: Coumarin-pyrazole with CF in the 3-position of the pyrazole ring displayed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) with values of 1.

TAVI with the ACURATE neo2 in severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: the Neo2 BAV Registry.

Background: The ACURATE neo2 is a contemporary transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system approved for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in Europe. The ACURATE neo2 has not been evaluated in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis.

Aims: We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ACURATE neo2 in patients with BAV stenosis.

Dynamic reorganization of multivesicular bodies and exosome production impacted by sonoporation.

Naturally occurring cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as attractive nanocarriers for drug delivery. However, production of large quantities of EVs for clinical applications in a scalable manner remains a significant challenge. This study investigated at the single cell level how sonoporation, or membrane poration produced by ultrasound-induced microbubble cavitation, impacts EV production using mouse macrophage RAW 264.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a pyrazole-based corrosion inhibitor: a computational and experimental study.

By employing a synergistic blend of experimental and theoretical methodologies, we investigated the corrosion inhibition efficacy of a synthesized pyrazole derivative (BM-01) in a solution of hydrochloric acid (1 M). We utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density functional theory (DFT), complexation, plus electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We conducted weight loss (WL) measurements from 298 to 328 K.

Inhibition of the Germination of Root Parasitic Plants by Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8.

Crystalline ZIF-8 (C-ZIF-8) and amorphous ZIF-8 (Am-ZIF-8) were prepared and investigated to control the germination of Striga hermonthica, a root parasitic plant, which threatens cereal crops production particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We have demonstrated that Am-ZIF-8 shows a better performance than C-ZIF-8 in inhibiting Striga seeds germination. This efficient performance of Am-ZIF-8 materials can be attributed to the incomplete deprotonation of 2 methylimidazole (2MIM) during amorphization, leading to the presence of unsaturated Zn-N coordination with the uncoordinated -NH groups available to undergo hydrogen bonding with the strigolactone analog GR24 forming a more stable Am-ZIF-8⋅⋅⋅GR24 hydrogen bonded network.

Effect of altitude and harvest year on nutraceutical characteristics of fruits.

Smith is an evergreen shrub in the Rosaceae family, commonly known as yellow Himalayan raspberry. The objective of this study is to determine the morphological analysis, minerals, proximate, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and carotenoids content in fruits. The fruit samples were collected from four different sites with different altitudes [500 m (District Bilaspur), 1,000 m (District Hamirpur), 1,500 m (District Solan) and 2,000 m (District Shimla)] of Himachal Pradesh for the two consecutive years (2018 and 2019).

An ordered mesoporous carbon-silica hybrid for the detection of the antiviral drug ribavirin in clinical samples.

Ribavirin (RIB) is widely used for the treatment of viral diseases such as herpes, hepatitis C, and Lassa fever. Moreover, to control the spread of COVID-19, the consumption of antiviral medicines, including RIB, has increased significantly worldwide. By combining ordered mesoporous carbon with silica nanoparticles ultrasound, we synthesized silica/ordered mesoporous carbon (SiO-OMC) hybrid composites that show excellent electrochemical performance.

Theranostic nanoparticles for detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most recalcitrant cancers due to its late diagnosis, poor therapeutic response, and highly heterogeneous microenvironment. Nanotechnology has the potential to overcome some of the challenges to improve diagnostics and tumor-specific drug delivery but they have not been plausibly viable in clinical settings. The review focuses on active targeting strategies to enhance pancreatic tumor-specific uptake for nanoparticles.