Clonal Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. ameliorates diabetic conditions by modulating carbohydrate and lipid hydrolases: a combine in vivo experimental and chemico-biological interaction study.

Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. is an aromatic annual herb that has traditionally been used to treat or protect against diabetes. Although it has infallible uses, its supply is limited due to its short lifespan. In this study, we aim to investigate the anti-diabetic potential of its micropropagated plants in type 2 diabetic mammalian (mouse) model and further expand the molecular mechanistic understanding of its activity. The water extract of the micropropagated plants was tested in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The extract effectively suppressed glucose levels prevented weight loss, and improved dyslipidemia in mice. Additionally, it improved liver injury as well as all investigated toxicity indicators, including serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and serum anti-inflammatory marker C-reactive protein. The intramolecular interaction study revealed that the innate polyphenolic constituents of this plant more profoundly inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase compared to the standard. The prolific bioactive compounds of the micropropagated plant could be attributed to these superior anti-diabetic effects, presumably via an elaborate inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid hydrolyzing enzymes. Thus, the obtained results provide solid experimental proof of the year-round utility of micropropagated plants as a standard source plant material of Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. for drug research and therapeutic production.

Polyphenols Profile and Enzyme Inhibitory Properties of Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC.: A Potential Candidate against Obesity, Aging, and Skin Disorder.

Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. is attracting scientific interest due to the diverse biological activities of its various parts and its use in folk medicine. The present study was undertaken to investigate the tissue-specific differential expression pattern of its total bioactive compounds. The study was further extended to whole plant phenolics profiling, in vitro enzyme inhibition activities, followed by in silico enzyme inhibition analysis to assess its potential as herbal medicine. The amount of total phenolics in different tissues was followed in decreasing order as old leaf, flower bud, root, young leaf, flower, old stem, and young stem, while that for the flavonoids was old leaf, root, young leaf, flower bud, flower, young stem, and old stem. This study identified rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol in this plant for the first time. The solvent extracts demonstrated strong inhibition of lipase and tyrosinase activity, along with varying degrees of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity. Among the detected compounds, ten displayed strong in silico binding affinities with the tested enzymes. The findings provide a new insight into further investigation of the medicinal potential of this species against obesity, neurological disorders, and aberrant skin color.

Phytochemical profiling of Blumea laciniata (Roxb.) DC. and its phytopharmaceutical potential against diabetic, obesity, and Alzheimer's.

Blumea laciniata (Roxb.) DC. is a folk medicinal annual herb of the Asteraceae family that grows in South and Southeast Asia. In order to evaluate its phytopharmaceutical potential against diabetic, obesity, and Alzheimer's, a comprehensive phytochemical profile, in vitro and in silico enzyme inhibitory activity against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, cholinesterases, and tyrosinase along with in vitro antioxidant activity were performed. Additionally, in vivo antidiabetic activity and acute toxicity were also evaluated. The total phenolic content in various organs follows the following order: old leaf > flower bud > young leaf > flower > young stem > old stem > root, while total flavonoids followed the order: flower bud > old leaf > young leaf > flower > young stem > old stem > root. The identified phenolic compounds are 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, rosmarinic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, catechin, catechol, (-) epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol, which are also expressed differently in various organs. Solvent extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity as well as varying levels of inhibition against the enzymes tested, with strong inhibitory activity against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase. Thirteen phenolic compounds displayed strong binding affinity in silico against studied enzymes, thus documented as bioactive. Furthermore, solvent extracts significantly suppressed blood glucose levels in mice with induced diabetes and extracts were not acutely toxic. The results suggest that Blumea laciniata (Roxb.) DC. could be a potential candidate for developing new phytopharmaceuticals and bioactive ingredients.

Impacts of Independence Day fireworks on pollution levels of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the U.S.

Fireworks on Independence Day have been identified as a nationwide but short-term source of particulate matter in the U.S. No study has specifically examined their impacts on ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Based on data between 1990 and 2019 in the Air Quality System, we identified 76 unique events that had PAH measurements on both July 4th days and control days (within 15 days before and after July 4th). We compared concentrations and diagnostic ratios of 16 priority PAHs between event and control days using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and multivariable regressions. A local PAH monitoring campaign was conducted at eight sites in Memphis, Tennessee, to obtain a close observation of PAH changes. The national geometric mean (GM) concentrations of summed 16 PAHs (ΣPAHs) were similar between event and control days (48.1 ng/m3 vs. 52.8 ng/m3, p = 0.98). About a quarter of events had elevated PAH concentrations compared with control days. Higher diagnostic ratios were found on event days, suggesting more contributions from fireworks sources. PAHs on July 4th were unlikely to cause acute or chronic health effects. While the local monitoring showed a 15% increase of ΣPAHs on July 4th, the difference was not significant (p = 0.62). Elevated PAH concentrations occurred at sites near fireworks sources and without major traffics, but did not occur at those in remote areas or near major interstate highways. In conclusion, this study finds that Independence Day fireworks have negligible impacts on atmospheric PAHs at the national level, and are unlikely to pose significant health risks. The firework effect is localized within a limited geographic scale, suggesting potential needs for local monitoring and control programs.

Effect of Collagen-Polycaprolactone Nanofibers Matrix Coating on the In Vitro Cytocompatibility and In Vivo Bone Responses of Titanium.

The objective of this study was to improve the biomechanical performance of titanium (Ti) using a biocompatible electrospun nanofiber matrix. The study is based on the hypothesis that coating a Ti surface with a nanofiber matrix (NFM) made of collagen (CG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibers could increase the mechanical fixation of Ti/bone by improving the surface and cytocompatibility properties of Ti. This study prepared Ti samples with and without CG-PCL NFM coatings. This study determined the in vitro effects of each group of Ti samples on the surface topography and cytocompatibility (osteoblast cell adhesion, proliferation, mineralization and protein adsorption) properties. This study also determined in vivo interface shear strength and bone volume fraction of each group of Ti samples with bone using a rabbit model. This study found that the CG-PCL NFM coating on Ti improved the surface roughness, osteoblast cell adhesion, proliferation, mineralization and protein adsorption properties of Ti. In vivo studies found that interface shear strength of CG-PCL NFM-coated Ti/bone samples was significantly higher compared to those values of control Ti/bone samples (p value < 0.05) due to an increase in the amount of growth of the connective tissue joining the Ti implant. Therefore, the developed CG-PCL NFM coating technique should further be investigated for its potential in clinical applications.

Plasma nitriding of titanium alloy: Effect of roughness, hardness, biocompatibility, and bonding with bone cement.

Titanium (Ti) alloys have been widely used in orthopedics and orthodontic surgeries as implants because of their beneficial chemical, mechanical, and biological properties. Improvement of these properties of a Ti alloy, Ti-6Al-4V Eli, is possible by the use of plasma nitriding treatment on the Ti alloy. The novelty of this study is the evaluation of a DC glow discharge nitrogen plasma treatment method on the surface, mechanical and biological properties of Ti alloy. Specifically, this study measured the chemical states, roughness, hardness, and biocompatibility of plasma nitride treated Ti-6Al-4V Eli as well as determined the effect of plasma treatment on the fracture strength between the Ti alloy and bone clement. This study hypothesized that DC glow discharge nitrogen plasma treatment may alter the surface chemical and mechanical states of the Ti alloy that may influence the fracture strength of implant/cement interfaces under static load. This study found that plasma nitride treatment on Ti alloy does not have effect on the roughness and biocompatibility (P value > 0.5), but significantly effect on the hardness and fracture strength of Ti-bone cement interfaces compared to those values of untreated Ti samples (P value < 0.5). Therefore, the DC glow discharge nitrogen plasma treated Ti alloy can potentially be used for orthopedic applications.

Peen treatment on a titanium implant: effect of roughness, osteoblast cell functions, and bonding with bone cement.

Implant failure due to poor integration of the implant with the surrounding biomaterial is a common problem in various orthopedic and orthodontic surgeries. Implant fixation mostly depends upon the implant surface topography. Micron to nanosize circular-shaped groove architecture with adequate surface roughness can enhance the mechanical interlock and osseointegration of an implant with the host tissue and solve its poor fixation problem. Such groove architecture can be created on a titanium (Ti) alloy implant by laser peening treatment. Laser peening produces deep, residual compressive stresses in the surfaces of metal parts, delivering increased fatigue life and damage tolerance. The scientific novelty of this study is the controlled deposition of circular-shaped rough spot groove using laser peening technique and understanding the effect of the treatment techniques for improving the implant surface properties. The hypothesis of this study was that implant surface grooves created by controlled laser peen treatment can improve the mechanical and biological responses of the implant with the adjoining biomaterial. The objective of this study was to measure how the controlled laser-peened groove architecture on Ti influences its osteoblast cell functions and bonding strength with bone cement. This study determined the surface roughness and morphology of the peen-treated Ti. In addition, this study compared the osteoblast cell functions (adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation) between control and peen-treated Ti samples. Finally, this study measured the fracture strength between each kind of Ti samples and bone cement under static loading. This study found that laser peen treatment on Ti significantly changed the surface architecture of the Ti, which led to enhanced osteoblast cell adhesion and differentiation on Ti implants and fracture strength of Ti-bone cement interfaces compared with values of untreated Ti samples. Therefore, the laser peen treatment method has the potential to improve the biomechanical functions of Ti implants.

Detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using spirometric screening.

This study was carried out in the Respiratory wing, department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to evaluate the efficacy of spirometric screening for the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Bangladeshi population. A total number of 400 participants were included in the study [60.50% male and 39.50% female, aged (M+/-SD) 48+/-7.54 years]. Free spirometry was offered to them. Among them 200 were smokers with a smoking duration of 17.07+/-7.50 pack-years and 200 non-smokers. Spirometric screening yielded diagnosis of COPD in 12.50% (50/400); of them 2.75% (11/400) was non-smoker compared to 9.75% (39/400) smoker (x2=17.92, p=<0.001) as diagnosed by spirometry following Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung diseases (GOLD) criteria. Using operational severity criteria adopted from GOLD, mild obstruction was found in 36% (18/50), moderate obstruction in 50% (25/50) and severe obstruction was found in 14% (7/50) of all subjects. The hall mark symptom of COPD, exertional dyspnoea was seen in only 4.3% (17/400) of subjects, nonspecific symptoms like cough and sputum were found in 10% (40/400) and 9.3% (37/400) respectively. Physical signs like abnormal breath sound and rhonchi were found in 3.3% (13/400) and 2.3% (9/400) respectively. Our study observed that spirometry was an effective and easy method for detection of COPD in risk group population like smokers and thus promotes smoking cessation efforts to reduce the burden of COPD in the community.