Tunable and Switchable Thermochromism in Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Elastomers.

Thermochromic materials have found widespread commercial use in packaging as temperature indicators. Often, these products utilize leuco dyes that are mixed into conventional polymeric resins to prepare coatings or films that exhibit temperature-dependent color change. Here, we consider a distinctive approach to thermochromism via the selective reflection of liquid crystalline elastomers that retain the helicoidal structure of the cholesteric phase (CLCEs). Upon heating, the order of the CLCEs reduces and approaches zero, resulting in a change in birefringence as well as material thickness, both of which manifest as changes in the selective reflection to heating. This examination systematically prepares CLCEs capable of reversible thermochromic response as a function of cross-link density and liquid crystalline composition. A particular focus of this examination is the preparation of CLCEs composed of chiral and achiral liquid crystalline monomers that reduce the strength of the mesogen-mesogen interaction and accordingly reduce the nematic-isotropic transition temperature. The low birefringence of some of the CLCE compositions facilitates thermochromic reflection tuning, followed by switching.

Bariatric Surgery as Treatment Strategy of Obesity in Saudi People: Effects of Gut Microbiota.

Obesity prevalence is rising globally, as are the number of chronic disorders connected with obesity, such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Bariatric surgery is also becoming more common, and it remains the most effective and long-term treatment for obesity. This study will assess the influence of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) on gut microbiota in people with obesity before and after surgery. The findings shed new light on the changes in gut microbiota in Saudi people with obesity following LSG. In conclusion, LSG may improve the metabolic profile, resulting in decreased fat mass and increased lean mass, as well as improving the microbial composition balance in the gastrointestinal tract, but this is still not equivalent to normal weight microbiology. A range of factors, including patient characteristics, geographic dispersion, type of operation, technique, and nutritional and caloric restriction, could explain differences in abundance between studies. This information could point to a novel and, most likely, tailored strategy in obesity therapy, which could eventually be incorporated into health evaluations and monitoring in preventive health care or clinical medicine.

The Impact of Dietary Consumption of Palm Oil and Olive Oil on Lipid Profile and Hepatocyte Injury in Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

A metabolic disease called hypercholesterolemia is connected to both oxidative damage and inflammation. The goal of the current investigation was to determine if olive oil and palm oil could prevent hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in the liver of rats fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). The experimental mice were given HCD for three months while also receiving 0.5 mL/kg of either palm or olive oil. Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, vLDL cholesterol, and the atherogenic index all significantly increased in HCD-fed rats, while HDL cholesterol significantly dropped. Additionally, HCD caused a notable rise in proinflammatory cytokines and serum transaminases in liver tissue. Additionally, HCD significantly increased the production of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in the liver while decreasing antioxidant enzymes. Treatment with palm and olive oils dramatically reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation, improved antioxidant defenses, and considerably improved liver function indicators. Additionally, the examined oils dramatically decreased the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the liver of rats receiving HCD. In conclusion, HCD-fed rats exhibit significant antihyperlipidemic and cholesterol-lowering benefits from palm and olive oils. The improved antioxidant defenses, lower inflammation and lipid peroxidation, and altered hepatic FAS mRNA expression were the main mechanisms by which palm and olive oils produced their advantageous effects.

Association of Maternal Diabetes and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring: a Study in a Rodent Model of Autism.

The present study investigated that maternal type 1 diabetes may contribute to autism pathogenesis in offspring, and that insulin therapy during pregnancy may prevent the onset of autism. As evidenced, selected brain biomarkers representing the accepted etiological mechanism of autism in newborn rats from diabetic mothers and diabetic mothers receiving insulin therapy compared to the propionic acid (PPA) rodent model of autism were screened. Female Wistar rats with a controlled fertility cycle were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, a group treated with a single dose of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) to induce type 1 diabetes (T1D), and a group treated with a single dose of STZ to induce T1D along with insulin therapy. Neonatal rats from these groups were divided into four experimental groups of six animals each: the control group, oral buffered PPA-treated group administered a neurotoxic dose of 250 mg/kg PPA for 3 days to induce autism, neonatal rats from mothers with T1D, and neonatal rats from mothers with T1D receiving insulin therapy. Biochemical parameters of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamate excitotoxicity were examined in brain homogenates from all neonatal rats. The development of pathogenic bacteria was monitored in stool samples from all rat groups. Descriptive analyses of changes in fecal microbiota and overgrowth of Clostridium species were performed in diabetic mothers, diabetic mothers treated with insulin therapy, and their offspring. Clostridium species may induce autism-relevant behaviors in offspring from mothers with T1D. Maternal T1D without insulin therapy increased lipid peroxidation levels, reduced GST activity, and lower offspring' vitamin C and GSH levels. Increased IL-6 levels and reduced GABA levels were detected in brain homogenates from neonatal rats whose mothers had T1D. Interestingly, insulin therapy reduced MDA and IL-6 levels and increased GST, GSH, and vitamin C levels in brain homogenates of neonatal rats from mothers with T1D receiving insulin therapy compared to the PPA-treated group. Based on our results, the PPA-treated group and neonatal rats from mothers with T1D exhibited similar results. These findings suggest that neonatal rats from mothers with T1D may develop autism-relevant biochemical autistic features and that insulin therapy may ameliorate oxidative stress, poor detoxification, inflammation, and excitotoxicity as ascertained mechanisms involved in the etiology of autism.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in mortuary and cemetery workers.

BACKGROUND: Mortuary and cemetery workers may be exposed to the bodies of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, prevalence of infection among these groups is unknown. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for RT-PCR and serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 were performed on mortuary and cemetery workers in Qatar. Data on specific job duties, living conditions, contact history, and clinical course were gathered. Environmental sampling was carried out to explore any association with infection. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with infection. RESULTS: Forty-seven mortuary workers provided an NPS and seven (14.9%) were PCR positive; 32 provided a blood sample and eight (25%) were antibody positive, six (75%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive. Among the 81 cemetery workers, 76 provided an NPS and five (6.6%) were PCR positive; 64 provided a blood sample and 22 (34.4%) were antibody positive, three (13.6%) who were seropositive were also PCR positive. Three (22.2%) and 20 (83.3%) of the infected mortuary and cemetery workers were asymptomatic, respectively. Age <30 years (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7-14.6), community exposure with a known case (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.7-13.3), and presence of symptoms in the preceding 2 weeks (OR 9.0, 95% CI 1.9-42.0) were independently associated with an increased risk of infection (PCR or antibody positive). Of the 46 environmental and surface samples, all were negative or had a Ct value of >35. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of mortuary and cemetery workers had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was incidentally detected upon serologic testing. These data are most consistent with community acquisition rather than occupational acquisition.

Nanotechnology as a tool to overcome the bariatric surgery malabsorption.

Obesity is a metabolic disease that affects all ages; it is considered life-threatening condition as it leads to fatal complications such as; cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The therapeutic options include; life-style modifications, pharmacotherapy intervention, and surgical intervention. Bariatric surgery (BS) is considered as the most effective option among the others for its rapid weight loss, maintaining the lost mass, and improving the quality of life of the patients. Nevertheless, BS leads to severe changes in the bioavailability of medications, especially for chronic diseases, which may reach to limit where the patient's life endangers. Recently, pharmaceutical formulations had developed several methods to improve the drug bioavailability of drugs though the implying of nanotechnology. Nonotechnology is responsible for reducing the size of the drugs to the nano range (<1000 nm), which increase the drug surface area, dissolution, absorption, and, most importantly, the bioavailability of these drugs. It is believed that BS malabsorption and drugs bioavailability problems can be solved using nanotechnology for its advantages in overcoming BS complications.

Exploring the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheet on The Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vivo.

An in vivo animal model that mimics human cancer could have various applications that deliver significant clinical information. The currently used techniques for the development of in vivo cancer models have considerable limitations. Therefore, in this study, we aim to implement cell sheet technology to develop an in vivo cancer model. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is successfully developed in nude rats using cell sheets created from HCC cell line cells. The cancer cell sheets are generated through intracellular adhesion and the formation of a stratified structure, controlled by the extracellular matrix. This allows for the HCC sheet transplantation into the liver and the creation of a tumor-bearing animal model within a month. In addition, the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the development of this cancer model is investigated. In addition to the HCC cell line sheet, another two cell sheets are created: a sheet of HCC cells and bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs) and a sheet of HCC cells and umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSCs). Sheets that have a combination of both HCC cells and MSCs are also capable of producing a tumor-bearing animal. However, the addition of MSCs reduces the size of the formed tumor, and this adverse effect on tumor development varies depending on the used MSCs' source. This indicates that a cell sheet made of certain MSC subtypes could be utilized in tumor management and control.