Illuminating the Molecular Intricacies of Exosomes and ncRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases: Prospective Therapeutic and Biomarker Potential.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Accumulating evidences have highlighted the importance of exosomes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cardiac physiology and pathology. It is in general consensus that exosomes and ncRNAs play a crucial role in the maintenance of normal cellular function; and interestingly it is envisaged that their potential as prospective therapeutic candidates and biomarkers are increasing rapidly. Considering all these aspects, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent understanding of exosomes and ncRNAs in CVDs. We provide a great deal of discussion regarding their role in the cardiovascular system, together with providing a glimpse of ideas regarding strategies exploited to harness their potential as a therapeutic intervention and prospective biomarker against CVDs. Thus, it could be envisaged that a thorough understanding of the intricacies related to exosomes and ncRNA would seemingly allow their full exploration and may lead clinical settings to become a reality in near future.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose and α-cellulose from date palm biomass waste.

Towards the utilization of different parts of date palm biomass waste, low-concentration acid-alkali treatment was used to isolate the contained cellulose and α-cellulose. The cellulose yields achieved from the rachis, leaflet, and fiber parts of the biomass were 74.70%, 71.50%, and 73.82%, respectively, while the corresponding α-cellulose yields were 78.63%, 75.64%, and 70.40%, respectively. The cellulose samples were bleached and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results revealed high crystallinity of both the cellulose and α-cellulose samples, while the TGA thermograms indicated that the alkali treatment completely removed lignin and hemicelluloses from the rachis. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of using date palm biomass waste as raw material to produce cellulose and α-cellulose.

Nanostructured pure gamma-Fe2O3 via forced precipitation in an organic solvent.

Pure maghemite, gamma-Fe(2)O(3), was prepared as ultra fine particles in the nanometer-sized range via the forced precipitation method in an organic solvent. The precipitation of iron(III) ions, from iron(III) chloride in 2-propanol led selectively to highly dispersed particles of ferrihydrite, which upon treatment with temperatures higher than 200 degrees C under dynamic vacuum resulted in high-surface-area particles of gamma-Fe(2)O(3). Precipitation in water also led to ferrihydrite, but the final product, after heating at 300 degrees C, contained a mixture of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) and alpha-Fe(2)O(3) (hematite). The precipitation from iron(III) nitrate in water resulted in goethite which was converted to hematite upon heating. On the other hand, the final product in 2-propanol was a mixture of maghemite and hematite. The products were characterized by FTIR, TGA, XRD, and gas sorption analysis. Nitrogen gas adsorption studies for the pure gamma-Fe(2)O(3) samples revealed mesoporous particles with high surface areas in the range of 70-120 m(2) g(-1) after heat treatment at 300 degrees C. The gamma-Fe(2)O(3) particles retained their gamma-phase as well as their mesoporous structure at relatively high temperatures, as high as 400 degrees C.

Characterization of aerogel prepared high-surface-area alumina: in situ FTIR study of dehydroxylation and pyridine adsorption.

Mesoporous high-surface-area alumina was prepared by a modified aerogel procedure. Specific surface areas between 530-685 m(2)g(-1) were obtained after heat treatment at 500 degrees C. Nitrogen adsorption studies have shown that surface areas and pore characteristics change upon decomposition of aluminum hydroxide to oxide as well as upon compaction of oxide powders. The surface area of aluminum hydroxide increased to a maximum, while the pore volume and diameter decreased as the hydroxide was heated to a temperature of 400 degrees C. Heating at higher temperatures resulted in sintering of the particles accompanied by a decline in the surface area. Compaction of activated alumina into pellets was accompanied by a relatively gradual change in the surface area and pore characteristics at pressures below 6.9 x 10(7) Pa, while severe changes took place at a pressure of 1.4 x 10(8) Pa. In situ IR studies of the dehydroxylation of the alumina surface, showed nu(OH) absorptions for isolated surface hydroxy groups centering at 3670, 3714, and 3765 cm(-1), which are shifted to lower frequencies than common literature values. Pyridine was found to adsorb on Al(3+) ions as well as through hydrogen bonding to relatively acidic surface OH groups, and IR spectra indicated the presence of strong Lewis acid sites.