Precipitating factors and targeted therapies in combating the perils of sickle cell disease--- A special nutritional consideration

Nutritional research in sickle cell disease has been the focus in recent times owing to not only specific nutritional deficiencies, but also the improvements associated with less painful episodes. Though hydroxyurea remains the drug of choice, certain adverse health effects on long term supplementation makes room for researches of different compounds. Macro and micro nutrient deficiencies, along with vitamins, play an important role in not only meeting the calorific needs, but also reducing clinical complications and growth abnormalities. Symptoms of hyper protein metabolism, increased cell turnover, increased cardiac output, and appetite suppression due to enhanced cytokine production, might give us leads for better understanding of the mechanisms involved. Different nutritional approaches comprising of traditional herbal therapies, antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals etc., reducing oxidative stress and blood aggregation, have been tried out to increase the health potential. Nutritional therapies may also serve complementary to the newer therapies using ozone, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, antifungal medications, erythropoietin etc. Herein we try to present a holistic picture of the different patho-physiological mechanisms, and nutritional strategies adopted

The effect of ultrasound pretreatment on some selected physicochemical properties of black cumin (Nigella Sativa)

Background In the present study, the effects of ultrasound pretreatment parameters including irradiation time and power on the quantity of the extracted phenolic compounds quantity as well as on some selected physicochemical properties of the extracted oils including oil extraction efficiency, acidity and peroxide values, color, and refractive index of the extracted oil of black cumin seeds with the use of cold press have been studied. Methods For each parameter, three different levels (30, 60, and 90 W) for the ultrasound power and (30, 45, and 60 min) and for the ultrasound irradiation time were studied. Each experiment was performed in three replications. Results The achieved results revealed that, with enhancements in the applied ultrasound power, the oil extraction efficiency, acidity value, total phenolic content, peroxide value, and color parameters increased significantly (P 0.05). Conclusions In summary, it could be mentioned that the application of ultrasound pretreatment in the oil extraction might improve the oil extraction efficiency, the extracted oil’s quality, and the extracted phenolic compounds content.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Galaxolide-contaminated soil and tolerance strategies in soybean plants using biofertilization and selenium nanoparticle supplementation

The current study aimed to address the response of soybean (Glycine max) plants to biofertilization and selenium supplementation treatments under galaxolide contamination of soil. In this regard, a pot experiment was carried out where the soybean plants were treated with the plant growth-promoting Actinobacteria (Actinobacterium sp.) as a biofertilizer (PGPB treatment) and/or selenium nanoparticles (Se treatment; 25 mg L-1) under two non-polluted and galaxolide-polluted soils (250 mg galaxolide per kg of soil) to assess the modifications in some plant physiological and biochemical traits. Although higher accumulation of oxidative biomarkers, including hydrogen peroxide (+180%), malondialdehyde (+163%), and protein oxidation (+125%), indicating oxidative stress in galaxolide-contaminated plants, an apparent decline in their contents was observed in response to biofertilization/supplementation treatments in contaminated soil, especially. It was mainly related to the higher detoxification of ROS in PGPB- and Se-treated plants under galaxolide-induced oxidative stress, in which the direct ROS-scavenging enzymes (+44 -179%), enzymatic (+34 - 293%) and non-enzymatic (+35 - 98%) components of the ascorbate-glutathione pathway, and antioxidant molecules (+38 - 370%) were more activated than in control plants. In addition, a higher accumulation of detoxification activity markers, including phytochelatins (+32%) and metallothioneins (+79%), were found in the combined treatments (PGPB+Se) under galaxolide contamination. Moreover, combined treatment with PGPB and Se ameliorated the levels of chlorophyll a content (+58%), stomatal conductance (+57%), the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (+36%), and photorespiratory metabolism (including +99% in glycolate oxidase and +54% in hydroxypyruvate reductase activity) in leaves under galaxolide contamination, which resulted in higher photosynthesis capacity (+36%) and biomass production (+74%) in galaxolide-stressed plants as compared to control group. In conclusion, the application of beneficial Actinobacteria and selenium nanoparticles as biofertilization/supplementation is expected to be useful for improving plant toleration and adaptation against galaxolide contamination

Chemical and biological study of Premna resinosa (hochst) Schauer surface extract

In this investigation we report the isolation and characterization of labdane diterpenes of the surface extract of P. resinosa. and the evaluation of their antiproliferative effects

Monte Carlo Simulation of the Effect of Human Skin Melanin in Light-Tissue Interactions

Recent reports have highlighted the potential challenges skin pigmentation can have in the accurate estimation of arterial oxygen saturation when using a pulse oximeter. Pulse oximeters work on the principle of photoplethysmography (PPG), an optical technique used for the assessment of volumetric changes in vascular tissue. The primary aim of this research is to investigate the effect of melanin on tissue when utilising the technique of PPG. To address this, a Monte Carlo (MC) light-tissue interaction model is presented to explore the behaviour of melanin in the visible range in the epidermis. A key novelty in this paper is the ability to model the Modified Beer Lambert Law (MBLL) through a fully functional three-dimensional (3D) model in reflective optical geometry. Maximum photon penetration depth was achieved by red light, however limited bio-optical information was retrieved by moderately and darkly pigmented skin at source-detector separations of less than 3 mm. The current MC model can be modified to provide a more realistic representation of absorption and scattering processes in skin

Monte Carlo simulation of the effect of melanin concentration on light–tissue interactions for transmittance pulse oximetry measurement

Significance: Questions about the accuracy of pulse oximeters in measuring arterial oxygen saturation ( formula presented ) in individuals with darker skin pigmentation have resurfaced since the COVID-19 pandemic. This requires investigation to improve patient safety, clinical decision making, and research. Aim: We aim to use computational modeling to identify the potential causes of inaccuracy in formula presented measurement in individuals with dark skin and suggest practical solutions to minimize bias. Approach: An in silico model of the human finger was developed to explore how changing melanin concentration and arterial oxygen saturation ( formula presented ) affect pulse oximeter calibration algorithms using the Monte Carlo (MC) technique. The model generates calibration curves for Fitzpatrick skin types I, IV, and VI and an formula presented range between 70% and 100% in transmittance mode. formula presented was derived by inputting the computed ratio of ratios for light and dark skin into a widely used calibration algorithm equation to calculate bias ( formula presented ). These were validated against an experimental study to suggest the validity of the Monte Carlo model. Further work included applying different multiplication factors to adjust the moderate and dark skin calibration curves relative to light skin. Results: Moderate and dark skin calibration curve equations were different from light skin, suggesting that a single algorithm may not be suitable for all skin types due to the varying behavior of light in different epidermal melanin concentrations, especially at 660 nm. The ratio between the mean bias in White and Black subjects in the cohort study was 6.6 and 5.47 for light and dark skin, respectively, from the Monte Carlo model. A linear multiplication factor of 1.23 and exponential factor of 1.8 were applied to moderate and dark skin calibration curves, resulting in similar alignment. Conclusions: This study underpins the careful re-assessment of pulse oximeter designs to minimize bias in formula presented measurements across diverse populations

Hybridising inorganic materials with fluorescent BOPHY dyes: A structural and optical comparative study

This study presents the design and characterization of new monochromatic light-harvesting systems based on inorganic porous materials hybridized with organic dye molecules within their structure. A new fluorescent BOPHY dye was prepared, characterized optically and used as both reference and synthetic precursor for two alkoxysilane derivatives that were incorporated separately within a silica structure. The dyes, one bearing one alkoxysilane group and the other one two, were co-condensed with tetraethyl orthosilicate to form a hybrid organo-silica framework, where they are found at specific locations. The structure of the new materials was analysed by powder XRD and TEM, which confirmed the presence of the hexagonal pore arrangement typical of mesoporous MCM-41 silica particles. The steady-state and time-resolved analysis showed that the particles where the dyes are most dispersed within the framework retain the highest fluorescence quantum yield, up to 0.63, in the green-yellow region of the visible spectrum. On the other hand, increasing the content of BOPHY units in the solid matrix seem to favour non-radiative deactivation pathways and aggregation phenomena, which lower the efficiency of light emission. The materials also exhibit interesting properties, such as a dual excited-state decay and fluorescence anisotropy. The short fluorescence lifetime, about 2 ns, matches the typical singlet lifetime of BOPHY dyes, whereas the long component, up to 20 ns, is attributed to delayed fluorescence, which could take place via charge recombination. Optical anisotropy experiments revealed that all materials show polarised light emission to a significant extent and, for most samples, it was also possible to determine a polarisation transfer decay trace, from 400 to 800 ps This is ascribed to the occurrence of energy migration between neighbouring dye units within the silica structure