Assessing the Influence of Guanidinoacetic Acid on Growth Performance, Body Temperature, Blood Metabolites, and Intestinal Morphometry in Broilers: A Comparative Sex-Based Experiment.

It is well known that female and male broilers showcase variations in their growth performance, influenced by various physiological factors. This experiment aims to explore potential differences between female and male broilers concerning growth performance, body temperature, blood metabolites, carcass traits, and intestinal architecture in response to guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation. A total of 240 Ross 308 broiler chickens were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial design and randomly allocated into 48 boxes, each containing 5 birds. The experiment comprised six treatments, with eight replicates per treatment. The main factors investigated were dietary GAA levels (0%, 0.06%, and 0.12%) and sex (male and female). Male broilers demonstrated superior body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) compared to females (p< 0.05). GAA supplementation at 0.12% concentration notably improved BWG and reduced FI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) across experimental phases (p < 0.05). However, interactions between sex and GAA were minimal except for reduced FI and FCR (p < 0.05) in both sexes during early growth stages. Regardless of GAA treatment, the male birds exhibited more elevated shank and head temperatures than the females. Carcass traits were largely unaffected by GAA supplementation or sex, except for higher heart yield in the males. Serum metabolite levels were not different between treatment groups at 10 and 24 days of age, except for a higher level of serum creatinine at 10 days in the female birds with 0.06% GA supplementation (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology was significantly affected by GAA and sex, depending on the segment of intestine, in which GAA supplementation significantly increased villus height, crypt depth, villus width, surface area, and goblet cell count, while the males consistently exhibited higher values of these parameters than the females, and differences were observed between intestinal segments, especially in the ileum and duodenum, at different ages. In conclusion, the interactions between GAA and sex had minimal influences on growth performance indices. However, male broilers demonstrated a more pronounced response to GAA concerning ileal architecture. This study highlights the importance of supplementing broiler chicken diets with GAA for optimizing male broiler performance and intestinal function. The inclusion of GAA into broiler diets needs further study to reveal the underlying mechanisms driving these sex-specific responses and assess the long-term impacts of GAA supplementation on broiler health and productivity.

Fabrication and Optimisation of Alumina Nanoporous Membranes for Drug Delivery Applications: A Comparative Study.

Neurodegenerative disorders cause most physical and mental disabilities, and therefore require effective treatment. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from crossing from the blood to the brain, making brain drug delivery difficult. Implantable devices could provide sustained and regulated medication to solve this problem. Two electrolytes (0.3 M oxalic acid and 0.3 M sulphuric acid) were used to anodise Al2O3 nanoporous membranes, followed by a third anodisation in concentrated H2SO4 to separate the through-hole membranes from the aluminium substrate. FTIR, AFM, and SEM/EDX were used to characterise the membranes' structure and morphology. The effects of the anodisation time and electrolyte type on the AAO layer pore density, diameter, interpore distance, and thickness were examined. As a model drug for neurodegenerative disorders, donepezil hydrochloride (DHC) was loaded onto thin alumina nanoporous membranes. The DHC release profiles were characterised at two concentrations using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Oxalic acid membranes demonstrated an average pore diameter of 39.6-32.5 nm, which was two times larger than sulphuric acid membranes (22.6-19.7 nm). After increasing the anodisation time from 3 to 5 h, all of the membranes showed a reduction in pore diameter that was stable regardless of the electrolyte type or period. Drug release from oxalic acid-fabricated membranes was controlled and sustained for over 2 weeks. Thus, nanoporous membranes as implantable drug delivery systems could improve neurodegenerative disease treatment.

Harnessing medicinal plant compounds for the control of Campylobacter in foods: a comprehensive review.

Campylobacter is a major foodborne and zoonotic pathogen, causing severe human infections and imposing a substantial economic burden on global public health. The ongoing spread and emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains across various fields exacerbate therapeutic challenges, raising the incidence of diseases and fatalities. Medicinal plants, renowned for their abundance in secondary metabolites, exhibit proven efficacy in inhibiting various foodborne and zoonotic pathogens, presenting sustainable alternatives to ensure food safety. This review aims to synthesize recent insights from peer-reviewed journals on the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter species, elucidate the in vitro antibacterial activity of medicinal plant compounds against Campylobacter by delineating underlying mechanisms, and explore the application of these compounds in controlling Campylobacter in food. Additionally, we discuss recent advancements and future prospects of employing medicinal plant compounds in food products to mitigate foodborne pathogens, particularly Campylobacter. In conclusion, we argue that medicinal plant compounds can be used as effective and sustainable sources for developing new antimicrobial alternatives to counteract the dissemination of MDR Campylobacter strains.

Isotretinoin-Induced Hypersomnia: A Cross-sectional Study and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is an oral retinoic drug for severe resistant acne cases that has controversially been associated with multiple psychiatric adverse effects. Research has primarily focused on depression and suicidality; however, a few case studies reported hypersomnia and sleep changes after isotretinoin initiation. OBJECTIVE: To assess sleep quality and measure rates of hypersomnia, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing isotretinoin therapy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient clinics of the university hospital. The rate of self-reported oversleeping was measured. In addition, researchers used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality and conducted semistructured clinical interviews to detect depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Of 123 patients with acne on isotretinoin, 77 (62.6%) reported oversleeping. Nearly half (60 patients, 48.8%) were categorized as poor sleepers according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The interviews revealed anxiety and depression percentages among 9.8% and 4.9% of participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hypersomnia was noticeably high in this study sample; thus, it may cautiously suggest a possible link between isotretinoin and hypersomnia. However, more research is needed to investigate this potential relationship.

Chitosan microflower-embedded gelatin sponges for advanced wound management and hemostatic applications.

The study explored the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and hemostatic properties of chitosan microflowers (CMF) in sponge form. The main objective was to enhance the preparation of CMF by employing varying quantities of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and tripolyphosphate (TPP). CMF was then combined with gelatin (GE) in different proportions to produce three sponge samples: CMF0@GE, CMF1@GE, and CMF2@GE. The CMF had a morphology like that of a flower and produced surfaces with a porous sponge-like structure. The antibacterial activity, as determined by the zone of inhibition (ZOI), increased with greater doses of CMF. Among the tested samples, CMF2@GE had the greatest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecium. CMF2@GE successfully suppressed biofilm formation, decreased clotting time to an average of 212.67 s, and exhibited excellent biocompatibility by preserving over 90 % viability of human skin fibroblast cells at dosages below 100 µg/mL. The results indicated that gelatin sponges filled with CMF have considerable promise as flexible medical instruments for wound healing and infection control.

Hepatitis E associated determinants and diagnostic biomarkers during pregnancy and its prenatal consequences in Multan, Punjab tertiary care setting (Pakistan).

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in the world. Hepatitis E infection is commonly widespread by the fecal oral routes and contaminated water. This study was designed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis E infection in pregnant women of the Multan district, Pakistan. METHODS: The study comprised of a total of 500 enrolled patients, among which, 105 pregnant females with hepatitis E infection fulfilled the criteria for anti-HEV antibodies. Pregnant women without significant complications and without hepatitis E infection were excluded from this study. Hepatic profile, complete blood count, coagulation markers, and standard protocol were also assessed for fetal maternal hemorrhage. RESULTS: Our results showed that 105 patients (66.66%, CI 95%) had HEV infection with mean age 25±5 years. Serum bilirubin levels were increased in 74 patients (70.47%), aspartate transaminase was elevated > 200 IU/L in 71 patients (67.61%), alanine transaminase was above the 100 IU/L in 65 patients (245 IU/L), and low platelet counts were found in 45 patients (42.85%). Moreover, fetal distress cases were 9 (10.84%) and maternal distress cases were about 11 (13.25%). Fetal mortality cases were 39 (37.14%), and maternal mortality cases were about 22 (20.95%) due to hepatic comma, intravascular coagulation, and hepatic failure. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the prevalence of Hepatitis E during pregnancy is associated with high risk factors of unhygienic practices, blood transfusion, and noncompliance with universal infection control techniques. Maternal fatalities and fetal consequences were exacerbated by HEV infection.

Fabrication and Enhanced Performance Evaluation of TiO2@Zn/Al-LDH for DSSC Application: The Influence of Post-Processing Temperature.

A sequence of dye-sensitized solar cells is proposed, utilizing TiO2@Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as their starting materials, in which Ruthenizer N719 was used as a photon absorber. The anticipated system was turned into sheet-like TiO2@mixed metal oxide (MMO) via post-processing treatment. The crystal quality indicated a relation to power conversion efficiency (PCE); this was combined with a comparable morphology profile. In detail, the optimum DSSC device exhibited average sheet-like thickness and a dye loading amount of 43.11 nm and 4.28 ×10-3 mM/cm-2, respectively. Concurrently, a considerable PCE enhancement of the optimum DSSC device (TiO2@MMO-550°) was attained compared to pristine MMO (0.91%), which could be due to boosted electron transfer efficiency. Of the fabricated devices, DSSC fabricated at 550° exhibited the highest PCE (1.91%), with a 35.6% enhancement compared to that obtained at 450°, as a result of its increased open-circuit voltage (3.29 mA/cm2) and short-circuit current (0.81 V). The proposed work delivers an enhanced efficiency as compared to similar geometries.

Facile synthesis of TiO2@ZnO nanoparticles for enhanced removal of methyl orange and indigo carmine dyes: Adsorption, kinetics.

Water pollution represents one of the most important problems affecting the health of living organisms, so it was necessary to work on the formation of active materials to get rid of pollutants. In this study, Titanium dioxide (TiO2) doping Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites were produced via simple sonication method at 500 Hz in ethanol medium. At different weight concentrations (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 %). The morphology, structure configuration, chemical bonding, crystalline phase, and surface properties of obtained nanocomposites were characterized via FESEM, BET, XRD, XPS, RAMAN and FTIR instrumentation. The nanocomposites were employed as an adsorbent to eliminate the methyl orange (MO) and Indigo Carmine (IC) dyes from an aqueous solution. Batch removal experiments revealed that the elimination of MO and IC dyes by the TiZnO surface was pH and doping Ti concentration-dependent, with maximum removal occurring at pH = 7 for MO and pH = 3 for IC contaminants at 10 % doping Ti concentration (Ti (10 %)@ZnO). Langmuir model fit the absorptive removal of MO and IC dyes into the Ti (10 %)@ZnO surface well. The maximal removal capacity of Ti (10 %)@ZnO nanocomposite was found to be 994.24 mg. g-1 for MO and 305.39 mg. g-1 for IC. The Ti (10 %)@ZnO nanocomposite showed remarkable high stability towards the removal of both dyes through consecutive four cycles.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils in the Above-Ground Parts of Sonchus oleraceus L.

Sonchus oleraceus L. is a leafy vegetable that is usually consumed in the area of the Mediterranean and is a frequently used traditional herb to treat a variety of ailments. Previous studies deduced the potent antioxidant and cytotoxic functions of the different extracts and isolated compounds from S. oleraceus. The current study represents the first instance of chemical profiling and bioactivities of the extracted essential oil (EO) of S. oleraceus. The present investigation set out to identify the chemical components of this EO by means of Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (G004-MS) techniques; assess the oil's antioxidant potencies through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays; and evaluate the oil's cytotoxic impact against HepG2 cancer cell lines. The GC-MS chemical profiling revealed the identification of 23 components representing 97.43% of the total oil mass within abundant cyclic ketones (20.15%), nonterpenoidial hydrocarbons (28.77%), and sesquiterpenes (42.19%). The main components were n-nonadecane (28.77%), trans-caryophyllene (23.73%), trans-methyl dihydrojasmonate (19.55%), and cis-cadina-1,4-diene (9.44%). In a dose-dependent manner, this EO demonstrated antioxidant capacities on DPPH and ABTS, with IC50 values of 609.35 and 804.16 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid. Using doxorubicin as a reference therapy, the MTT assay findings revealed that this oil had remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HepG2 cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of 136.02 µg/mL. More studies were recommended for further investigation of new biological roles for this oil and its main components, along with the construction of action mechanisms based on chemical components.

Strengthen sunflowers resilience to cadmium in saline-alkali soil by PGPR-augmented biochar.

In the center of the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Kitchener drain as the primary drainage discharges about 1.9 billion m3 per year of water, which comprises agricultural drainage (75 %), domestic water (23 %), and industrial water (2 %), to the Mediterranean Sea. Cadmium (Cd) stands out as a significant contaminant in this drain; therefore, this study aimed to assess the integration of biochar (0, 5, and 10 ton ha-1) and three PGPRs (PGPR-1, PGPR-2, and PGPR-3) to alleviate the negative impacts of Cd on sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) in saline-alkali soil. The treatment of biochar (10 ton ha-1) and PGPR-3 enhanced the soil respiration, dehydrogenase, nitrogenase, and phosphatase activities by 137 %, 129 %, 326 %, and 127 %, while it declined soil electrical conductivity and available Cd content by 31.7 % and 61.3 %. Also, it decreased Cd content in root, shoot, and seed by 55.3 %, 50.7 %, and 92.5 %, and biological concentration and translocation factors by 55 % and 5 %. It also declined the proline, lipid peroxidation, H2O2, and electrolyte leakage contents by 48 %, 94 %, 80 %, and 76 %, whereas increased the catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase activities by 80 %, 79 %, 61 %, and 116 %. Same treatment increased seed and oil yields increased by 76.1 % and 76.2 %. The unique aspect of this research is its investigation into the utilization of biochar in saline-alkali soil conditions, coupled with the combined application of biochar and PGPR to mitigate the adverse effects of Cd contamination on sunflower cultivation in saline-alkali soil.

Improvement of hybrid polyvinyl chloride/dapsone membrane using synthesized silver nanoparticles for the efficient removal of heavy metals, microorganisms, and phosphate and nitrate compounds from polluted water.

Heavy metals exist in different water resources and can threaten human health, inducing several chronic illnesses such as cancer and renal diseases. Therefore, this work dealt with the fabrication of highly efficient nanomembranes based on silver nanoparticle (Ag NP)-doped hybrid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by dapsone (DAP) using an in situ method. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were used to confirm the hybridization of PVC as well as the crystalline structure of hybrid PVC nanocomposites. Three varying proportions of Ag NPs (i.e., 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) were used to fabricate hybrid PVC-DAP nanomembranes. The Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method was used to estimate membrane surface area, porosity and distribution of pore volume. The mechanical strength and antibacterial properties of the cased films notably improved when Ag NPs were added depending on the NP ratio inside the matrix. Results obtained from adsorption experiments of PVC-DAP nanomembranes at 35 °C revealed that the optimum nanomembrane was achieved at 0.2% NPs and its percentage of removal effectiveness ranged from 71 to 95% depending on the ion type. The surface morphology of the PVC-DAP-0.2 Ag NPs before and after the adsorption process of the metal ions was analyzed using SEM-EDX. Moreover, the impact of other parameters such as the initial concentrations, pH media, temperature, and contacting time, on the adsorption efficiency of PVC-DAP-0.2 Ag NPs was also investigated. Furthermore, kinetic and adsorption isotherm models were suggested to describe the adsorption efficiency of the PVC-DAP-0.2 Ag NP membrane, and the uptake mechanism of metal ion removal was studied. The obtained outcomes for these fabricated nanomembranes demonstrated that they could be potential candidates for water purification and other potential purposes including biomedical areas.

Impact of COVID-19 on Management and Outcomes of Oncology Patients: Results of MENA COVID-19 and Cancer Registry (MCCR).

Introduction: Despite extensive studies of the impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer, there is a dearth of information from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Our study aimed to report pertinent MENA COVID-19 and Cancer Registry (MCCR) findings on patient management and outcomes. Methods: MCCR was adapted from the American Society of Clinical Oncology COVID-19 Registry to collect data specifically from patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12 centers in eight countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. The Registry included data on patients and disease characteristics, treatment, and patient outcomes. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with mortality. Results: Between November 29, 2020, and June 8, 2021, data were captured on 2008 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic. Median age was 56 years (16-98), 56.4% were females, and 26% were current or ex-smokers. Breast cancer (28.5%) was the leading diagnosis and 50.5% had metastatic disease. Delays of planned treatment (>14 days) occurred in 80.3% for surgery, 48.8% for radiation therapy, and 32.9% for systemic therapy. Significant reduction in the delays of all three treatment modalities occurred after June 1, 2020. All-cause mortality rates at 30 and 90 days were 17.1% and 23.4%, respectively. All-cause mortality rates at 30 days did not change significantly after June 1, 2020; however, 90-day mortality increased from 33.4% to 42.9% before and after that date (p = 0.015). Multivariable regression analysis showed the following predictors of higher 30- and 90-day mortality: age older than 70 years, having metastatic disease, disease progression, and being off chemotherapy. Conclusion: Patients with cancer in the MENA region experienced similar risks and outcome of COVID-19 as reported in other populations. Although there were fewer treatment delays after June 1, 2020, 90-day mortality increased, which may be attributed to other risk factors such as disease progression or new patients who presented with more advanced disease.

Non-proteinogenic amino acids mitigate oxidative stress and enhance the resistance of common bean plants against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

White mold, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a challenging disease to common bean cultivation worldwide. In the current study, two non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and ß-alanine, were suggested as innovative environmentally acceptable alternatives for more sustainable management of white mold disease. In vitro, GABA and ß-alanine individually demonstrated potent dose-dependent fungistatic activity and effectively impeded the radial growth and development of S. sclerotiorum mycelium. Moreover, the application of GABA or ß-alanine as a seed treatment followed by three root drench applications efficiently decreased the disease severity, stimulated plant growth, and boosted the content of photosynthetic pigments of treated S. sclerotiorum-infected plants. Furthermore, although higher levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2 •-), and malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated that S. sclerotiorum infection had markedly triggered oxidative stress in infected bean plants, the exogenous application of both NPAAs significantly reduced the levels of the three studied oxidative stress indicators. Additionally, the application of GABA and ß-alanine increased the levels of both non-enzymatic (total soluble phenolics and flavonoids), as well as enzymatic (catalase [CAT], peroxidases [POX], and polyphenol oxidase [PPO]) antioxidants in the leaves of S. sclerotiorum-infected plants and improved their scavenging activity and antioxidant efficiency. Applications of GABA and ß-alanine also raised the proline and total amino acid content of infected bean plants. Lastly, the application of both NPAAs upregulated the three antioxidant-related genes PvCAT1, PvCuZnSOD1, and PvGR. Collectively, the fungistatic activity of NPAAs, coupled with their ability to alleviate oxidative stress, enhance antioxidant defenses, and stimulate plant growth, establishes them as promising eco-friendly alternatives for white mold disease management for sustainable bean production.

Curcumin, Piperine and Taurine Combination Enhances the Efficacy of Transarterial Chemoembolization Therapy in patients with Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of the majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients occurs at intermediate to advanced stages, with a few curative therapeutic options being available. It is therefore strongly urgent to discover additional adjuvant therapy for this lethal malignancy. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of curcumin (C), piperine (P) and taurine (T) combination as adjuvant agents on serum levels of IFN-γ, immunophenotypic and molecular characterization of mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) in HCC patients treated with Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum and MNLs were collected from 20 TACE-treated HCC patients before (baseline-control samples) and after treatment with 5 g curcumin capsules , 10 mg piperine and 0.5 mg taurine taken daily for three consecutive months. Immunophenotypic and molecular characterization of MNLs were determined by flow cytometry and quantitative real time PCR, respectively. In addition, serum IFN-γ level was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: After receiving treatment with CPT combination, there was a highly significant increase in IFN- γ levels in the sera of patients when compared to basal line control samples. Additionally, the group receiving combined therapy demonstrated a downregulation in the expression levels of PD-1, in MNLs as compared to controls. MNLs' immunophenotyping revealed a significant decline in CD4+CD25+cells (regulatory T lymphocytes). Furthermore, clinicopathological characteristics revealed a highly significant impact of CPT combination on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alpha feto protein (AFP) levels. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a promising adjuvant CPT combined treatment as natural agents to enhance the management of HCC patients who are candidates to TACE treatment.

Collecting behavioral evidence from a highly mobile and seasonal population: A protocol for a survey on quad bike injuries.

BACKGROUND: Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations. CONCLUSION: The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its innovative sampling strategy, custom-tailored to accommodate the highly mobile and transient population of desert bikers in the UAE.

Utilizing low-cost purple coneflower (Echniacea purpurea) marc for competitive sorption of 152+154Eu(III), 60Co(II) and 134Cs(I) radionuclides.

Echinacea purpurea marc (EPM), a residual of echinacea herb after the extraction process, was used as a natural low-cost sorbent for competitive sorption of 152+154Eu(III), 60Co(II) and 134Cs(I) radionuclides. The EPM was ground to prepare it for use in the sorption process. The variables influencing the sorption process were assessed, including pH, contact time, concentrations of metal ions, and temperature. EPM was characterized by different analytical instruments such as FTIR, SEM, XRD, and DTA/TGA. pH 4.0 was selected as the ideal pH value for competitive sorption of the studied ions. Adsorption kinetics data found that the sorption followed a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm data was significantly better suited by the Langmuir isotherms in the case of Eu(III) ions while following Freundlich in the case of Co(II) and Cs(I) ions. Positive ΔHo values confirm the endothermic character of metal ion sorption onto EPM. The loading efficiencies of Eu(III), Co(II), and Cs(I) ions in the EPM column were 66.67%, 9.59%, and 4.81%, respectively. The EPM is a cost-effective and efficient separation of Eu(III) ions more than Cs(I) and Co(II) ions. Therefore, in the future, it will be a starting point for the separation of trivalent elements of lanthanide ions.

RE.GA.IN.: the Real-world Gastritis Initiative-updating the updates.

At the end of the last century, a far-sighted 'working party' held in Sydney, Australia addressed the clinicopathological issues related to gastric inflammatory diseases. A few years later, an international conference held in Houston, Texas, USA critically updated the seminal Sydney classification. In line with these initiatives, Kyoto Global Consensus Report, flanked by the Maastricht-Florence conferences, added new clinical evidence to the gastritis clinicopathological puzzle.The most relevant topics related to the gastric inflammatory diseases have been addressed by the Real-world Gastritis Initiative (RE.GA.IN.), from disease definitions to the clinical diagnosis and prognosis. This paper reports the conclusions of the RE.GA.IN. consensus process, which culminated in Venice in November 2022 after more than 8 months of intense global scientific deliberations. A forum of gastritis scholars from five continents participated in the multidisciplinary RE.GA.IN. consensus. After lively debates on the most controversial aspects of the gastritis spectrum, the RE.GA.IN. Faculty amalgamated complementary knowledge to distil patient-centred, evidence-based statements to assist health professionals in their real-world clinical practice. The sections of this report focus on: the epidemiology of gastritis; Helicobacter pylori as dominant aetiology of environmental gastritis and as the most important determinant of the gastric oncogenetic field; the evolving knowledge on gastric autoimmunity; the clinicopathological relevance of gastric microbiota; the new diagnostic horizons of endoscopy; and the clinical priority of histologically reporting gastritis in terms of staging. The ultimate goal of RE.GA.IN. was and remains the promotion of further improvement in the clinical management of patients with gastritis.

Novel cyanochalcones as potential anticancer agents: apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA binding, and molecular docking studies.

In the light of anticancer drug discovery and development, a new series of cyanochalcones incorporating indole moiety (5a-g) were efficiently synthesized and characterized by different spectral analysis. MTT assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the synthesized compounds towards different cancer cells (Hela, MDA-MB-231, A375, and A549) in parallel with normal cells (HSF). Trimethoxy and diethoxy-containing derivatives (5d and 5e) displayed the most selective cytotoxic activities against cervical Hela cells with IC50 values of 8.29 and 11.82 µM, respectively, with great safety pattern toward normal HSF cells (Selectivity index: 21.3 and 13.9, respectively). Therefore, 5d and 5e were chosen to study their effects on apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and migration of Hela cells using flow cytometric analysis and wound healing assay. They induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the S phase and impaired migration of HeLa cells. Regarding their effects on the expression profile of crucial genes related to the potential anticancer activities, 5d and 5e remarkably upregulated caspase 3 and Beclin1 and downregulated cyclin A1, CDK2, CDH2, MMP9, and HIF1A using qRT-PCR and ELISA techniques. UV-Vis spectral measurement demonstrated the ability of 5d and 5e to bind CT-DNA efficiently with Kb values of 3.7 × 105 and 1 × 105 M-1, respectively. Moreover, in silico molecular docking was performed to assess the binding affinities of the compounds toward the active sites of Bcl2, CDK2, and DNA. Therefore, cyanochalcones 5d and 5e might be promising anticancer agents and could offer a scientific basis for intensive research into cancer chemotherapy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A novel series of cyanochalcones incorporating indole moiety (5a­g) were designed and synthesized.Cytotoxic activities of the designed compounds were evaluated in vitro against different human cancer cell lines (Hela, MDA-MB-231, A375, and A549) in parallel with human normal cells (HSF).5d and 5e stimulated apoptosis (through deregulating Bcl2 and upregulating Cas3), cell cycle arrest at the S phase (by suppressing cyclin A and CDK2), and inhibited migration (through downregulating CDH2 and MMP9) of Hela cells.5d and 5e demonstrated good DNA binding affinities.Molecular docking was carried out to confirm the binding abilities of 5d and 5e toward Bcl2, CDK2, and DNA.