Effects of blending sequence on morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/ethylene-octene copolymer/clay nanocomposites

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three blending sequences on morphology and properties of the ternary nanocomposite of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene–octene copolymer (EOC)/clay with double compatibilizers of maleated PP (PP-g-MA) and maleated EOC (EOC-g-MA) prepared by twin-screw extrusion. The X-ray diffraction results in conjuction with transmission electron microscopy images indicated the mixture of exfoliated and intercalated structures possessed by the nanocomposite prepared by simultaneous addition of the ingredients. The nanocomposite in which clay was first mixed with PP and EOC-g-MA and then with EOC and PP-g-MA showed the same morphology. However, in the nanocomposite when clay was first mixed with PP and PP-g-MA and then mixed with EOC and EOC-g-MA, an intercalated structure was observed. The results of mechanical testing showed that there was no significant difference in the yield strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus among the three nanocomposites. However, the Charpy impact strength of the nanocomposite prepared by simultaneous addition of ingredients was higher than that of the nanocomposites prepared in two mixing steps because of the presence of more organoclay inside the EOC phase in the former

Pressure-induced oxidative activation of PKG enables vasoregulation by Ca2+ sparks and BK channels

K

COVID-19 and conjunctivitis: A contemporary literature review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since its first appearance in December 2019, COVID-19 has been responsible for a number of global outbreaks and has claimed the lives of nearly three million people as of April 2021. High infection rate, loss of taste and smell, fever, cough, and severely adverse effects on the respiratory system have been the chief attributes of the virus. However, SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to other symptoms, many of which are extra-pulmonary or not directly related to the respiratory system. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on various ophthalmic outcomes has been manifested in many reports and literature tracing the link between COVID-19 and ocular findings in patients suffering from COVID-19. One recurrent case report presented in the literature is related to the presentation of conjunctivitis in COVID-19 patients. Conjunctivitis is a viral infection causing inflammation in conjunctiva, episclera and eyelids resulting in a change of color in eyes, called pink eyes. Swelling, itching, pain, and eye burn are some of the common symptoms. The present study reviews the latest literature on the subject by focusing on the reports of conjunctivitis symptoms in patients with COVID-19

Endocannabinoids as Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) Aggregation Inhibitors

The endocannabinoid system, including endogenous cannabinoids and their corresponding receptors, has received extensive attention in the last few years for their neuroprotective effect in the central nervous system. The regulation and metabolism of these molecules are potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by Aβ aggregation-induced cell toxicity, inflammation, tau phosphorylation, disruption of neurotransmitters pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The endocannabinoids, such as 2-AG, AEA, NADA, noladin, OAE, and their main metabolite, arachidonic acid, may be involved in the multiple neuroprotective effects, including excitotoxicity attenuation, oxidative stress reduction, and inflammation prevention through CB1, CB2 receptors as well as other possible pathways, including inhibition of Aβ oligomer formation via interactions with these toxic peptides. However, the interactions of endocannabinoids with Aβ species and their mechanisms have not been fully explored. Therefore, we hypothesized that endocannabinoids might reduce amyloid β-protein deposition and inhibit neuronal cell death through CB1 or other possible pathways. In vitro experiments, including cell studies using two cell lines (HTT22 and CB1-CHO), ThT based kinetic assay, and TEM studies were used to determine the effects of above mentioned five endocannabinoids, arachidonic acid, and a CB1 antagonist to understand the role of endocannabinoid ligands and pathways involved in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. The results of this study on HT22 cells showed that some, but not all of the endocannabinoids were able to exhibit neuroprotective effects against Aβ-induced toxicity. However, AM251, as a CB1 receptor antagonist, could not reverse this neuroprotection. On the other hand, AM251 was able to inhibit the protective effects of some, but not all, of the endocannabinoids in CB1-CHO cells

The Mental Health Impacts of Fuel Poverty: A Global Scoping Review

Copyright \ua9 2024 Khavandi, Mccoll, Leavey, McGowan and Bennett. Objectives: Fuel poverty, defined in this study as a household’s inability to meet basic energy needs, presents a significant challenge. We aimed to map research on the impact of fuel poverty on mental health. Methods: We searched peer review and grey literature repositories. Studies were considered eligible if they focused on both fuel poverty and mental health. Results: 47 studies were included. 64% were published in the last 3 years. 43% focused on the UK sub-geography, with the next most common being Spain (17%) and China (13%). 55% had a quantitative study design. Conceptualisation and operationalisation of fuel poverty varied across studies and contexts. 58% focused on specific vulnerable populations. 46 studies reported evidence of a detrimental association between fuel poverty and mental health. We broadly summarise the role of fuel poverty on mental health under four headings: economic, social, behavioural and environmental. Conclusion: We highlight a need for clear and explicit conceptualisation of fuel poverty, in conjunction with consideration of pathways connecting fuel poverty to mental health, to advance the field and facilitate research which can improve population health

Northern Exposure

EPDF and EPUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic affected all parts of the country, it did not do so equally. Northern England was hit the hardest, exposing more than ever the extent of regional inequalities in health and wealth. Using original data analysis from a wide range of sources, this book demonstrates how COVID-19 has impacted the country unequally in terms of mortality, health care, mental health, and the economy. The book provides a striking empirical overview of the impact of the pandemic on regional inequalities and explores why the North fared worse. It sets out what needs to be learnt from the pandemic to prevent regional inequality growing and to reduce inequalities in health and wealth in the future

Accommodative spasm as the main manifestation of topical eye contact with insecticide

The patient is a 23-year-old Caucasian male farmer who, after topical eye contact with an insecticide, developed accommodative spasm and blurred vision in one eye. He was treated with frequent doses of 2% homatropine drop and recovered within a week

How can healthcare organisations improve the social determinants of health for their local communities? Findings from realist-informed case studies among secondary healthcare organisations in England

Objectives Increasingly, healthcare and public health strategists invite us to look at healthcare organisations as not just care providers but as anchor institutions (ie, large community-rooted organisations with significant impact in the local economy, social fabric and overall community well-being). In response, this study explores the mechanisms through which healthcare organisations can impact social determinants of health and communities in their local areas.Design We conducted case studies with interviews and synthesised the findings using a realist approach to produce a set of explanations (programme theory) of how healthcare organisations can have a positive impact on the overall well-being of local communities by operating as anchor institutions.Setting Secondary healthcare organisations in England, including mental health and community services.Participants Staff from case study sites which were directly employed or actively engaged in the organisation’s anchor institution strategy. Data collection took place from early June to the end of August 2023.Results We found four building blocks for effective anchor activity including employment, spending, estates and sustainability. Healthcare organisations—as anchor institutions—can improve the social determinants of health for their local communities through enabling accessible paths for local community recruitment and career progression; empowering local businesses to join supply chains boosting income and wealth; transforming organisational spaces into community assets; and supporting local innovation and technology to achieve their sustainability goals. These blocks need to be integrated across organisations on the basis of a population health approach promoted by supportive leadership, and in collaboration with a diverse range of local partners.Conclusions Healthcare organisations have the potential for a positive impact on the overall well-being of local communities. Policymakers should support healthcare organisations to leverage employment, spending, estates and sustainability to help address the unequal distribution of the social determinants of health

Synthesis, optimization, and cell response investigations of natural-based, thermoresponsive, injectable hydrogel: An attitude for 3D hepatocyte encapsulation and cell therapy

For the purpose of developing a 3D vehicle for the delivery of hepatocytes in cell therapy, the improved system of crosslinker and new gelling agent combinations consisting of glycerophosphate and sodium hydrogen carbonate have been employed to produce injectable, thermoresponsive hydrogels based on chitosan and silk fibroin. Adjusting the polymer-to-gelling agent ratio and utilizing a chemical crosslinker developed hydrogel scaffolds with optimal gelling time and pH. Applying sodium hydrogen carbonate neutralizes chitosan while keeping its thermoresponsive characteristics and decreases glycerophosphate from 60% to 30%. Genipin boosts the mechanical properties of hydrogel without affecting the gel time. Due to their stable microstructure and lower amine availability, genipin-containing materials have a low swelling ratio, around six compared to eight for those without genipin. Hydrogels that are crosslinked degrade about half as fast as those that are not. The slowerr degradation of Silk fibroin compared to chitosan makes it an efficient degradation inhibitor in silk-containing formulations. All of the optimized samples showed less than 5% hemolytic activity, indicating that they lacked hemolytic characteristics. The acceptable cell viability in crosslinked hydrogels ranges from 72% to 91% due to the decreasing total salt concentration, which protects cells from hyperosmolality. The pH of hydrogels and their interstitial pores kept most encapsulated cells alive and functioning for 24 h. Urea levels are higher in the encapsulation condition compared to HepG2 cultivated alone, and this may be due to cell-matrix interactions that boost liver-specific activity. Urea synthesis in genipin crosslinked hydrogels increased dramatically from day 1 (about 4 mg dl−1) to day 3 (approximately 6 mg dl−1), suggesting the enormous potential of these hydrogels for cell milieu preparation. All mentioned findings represent that the optimized system may be a promising candidate for liver regeneration