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Acceleration of Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats through a Novel 3D Organo-Hydrogel Nanocomposite of Polydopamine/TiO2 Nanoparticles and Cu (PDA-TiO2@Cu).

Diabetic wound represents a serious issue with a substantial impact and an exceptionally complex pathology affecting patients' mental health and quality of life. So, we have developed a novel 3D organo-hydrogel nanocomposite of polydopamine/TiO2 nanoparticles and cu (PDA-TiO2@Cu) and examined its efficacy in diabetic wound healing. Forty-five adult male albino rats were divided into normal control rats (non-diabetic rats with non-treated skin wounds), diabetic control rats (diabetic rats with non-treated skin wounds), and organo-hydrogel-treated rats (diabetic wounds treated with topically applied organo- hydrogel once daily). Macroscopic changes of the wound were observed on days 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 to measure wound diameters. Skin specimens from the wound tissue were taken on days 3, 7, and 10, respectively, and examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Also, the gene expressions of collagen I, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were assessed. Our observed results indicated that the developed patch significantly accelerated the healing time compared to the normal control and diabetic control groups. Moreover, the patchloaded group revealed complete re-epithelization and a highly significant increase in the mean area % of CD31 immunostaining on day 7. The organo-hydrogel-loaded group displayed a significant decrease in gene expression of MMP-9 and a significant increase in gene expression of EGF and collagen I. Additionally, the organo-hydrogel-loaded group exhibited a significant decrease in levels of IL-6 and a significant increase in levels of SOD, compared to the normal diabetic control groups. The organo-hydrogel can be used for treating and decreasing the healing period of diabetic wounds.

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Revolutionizing online shopping with FITMI: a realistic virtual try-on solution

In today’s digital age, consumers increasingly rely on online shopping for convenience and accessibility. However, a significant drawback of online shopping is the inability to physically try on clothing before purchasing. This limitation often leads to uncertainty regarding fit and style, resulting in customer post-purchase dissatisfaction and higher return rates. Research indicates that online items are three times more likely to be returned than in-store ones, especially during the pandemic. To address this challenge, we propose a virtual try-on method called FITMI, an enhanced Latent Diffusion Textual Inversion model for virtual try-on purposes. The proposed architecture aims to bridge the gap between traditional in-store try-ons and online shopping by offering users a realistic and interactive virtual try-on experience. Although virtual try-on solutions already exist, recent advancements in artificial intelligence have significantly enhanced their capabilities, enabling more sophisticated and realistic virtual try-on experiences than ever before. Building on these advancements, FITMI surpasses ordinary virtual try-ons relying on generative adversarial networks, often producing unrealistic outputs. Instead, FITMI utilizes latent diffusion models to generate high-quality images with detailed textures. As a web application, FITMI facilitates virtual try-ons by seamlessly integrating images of users with garments from catalogs, providing a true-to-life representation of how the items would look. This approach differentiates us from competitors. FITMI is validated using two widely recognized benchmarks: the Dress-Code and Viton-HD datasets. Additionally, FITMI acts as a trusted style advisor, enhancing the shopping experience by recommending complementary items to elevate the chosen garment and suggesting similar options based on user preferences.

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Opioid-Free Anesthesia for Upper Limb Surgery in Obese Patients as a Day Case Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is a relatively new approach, and many studies are still needed to assess its effectiveness and compare it to opioid-based anesthesia (OBA). This study investigated the use of OFA in obese patients undergoing upper limb surgery and compares its outcomes with those of OBA.Methods:This prospective randomized clinical study included 76 obese patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² who were scheduled for upper limb surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either OFA (group A, n = 38) or OBA (group B, n = 38). The OBA group was administered propofol, fentanyl, and atracurium, while the OFA group received lidocaine, propofol, atracurium, and dexmedetomidine. All patients were mechanically ventilated, and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and atracurium. Primary outcomes monitored included postoperative pain [Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ≥ 4] and the number of rescue doses of tramadol. Secondary outcomes included extubation time, any cardiac events, hypoxia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates, and duration of hospital stay. The OFA group had significantly lower extubation time, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) compared to the OBA group. Additionally, VAS scores were significantly lower at the 30-minute and 2-hour marks after extubation (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) in patients receiving OFA. The OFA group also experienced fewer adverse effects, required fewer rescue doses of tramadol, and had shorter hospital stays. Opioid-free anesthesia may result in better and safer outcomes for obese patients undergoing upper limb surgeries, with fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of OFA compared to OBA.

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The Potential Roles of Ficus carica Extract in the Management of COVID-19 Viral Infections: A Computer-aided Drug Design Study.

The conventional processes of drug discovery are too expensive, timeconsuming and the success rate is limited. Searching for alternatives that have evident safety and potential efficacy could save money, time and improve the current therapeutic regimen outcomes. Clinical phytotherapy implies the use of extracts of natural origin for prophylaxis, treatment, or management of human disorders. In this work, the potential role of common Fig (Ficus carica) in the management of COVID-19 infections has been explored. The antiviral effects of Cyanidin 3-rhamnoglucoside which is abundant in common Figs have been illustrated on COVID-19 targets. The immunomodulatory effect and the ability to ameliorate the cytokine storm associated with coronavirus infections have also been highlighted. This work involves various computational studies to investigate the potential roles of common figs in the management of COVID-19 viral infections. Two molecular docking studies of all active ingredients in common Figs were conducted starting with MOE to provide initial insights, followed by Autodock Vina for further confirmation of the results of the top five compounds with the best docking score. Finally, Molecular dynamic simulation alongside MMPBSA calculations were conducted using GROMACS to endorse and validate the entire work.

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Impact of Light Wavelength on Growth and Welfare of Broiler Chickens – Overview and Future Perspective

Abstract Lighting in poultry production holds notable importance with the advancement and modernization of the industry, as it plays a significant role in the physiology and growth of broiler chickens. Increasing attention has been paid to the impacts of lighting management on growth performance, immune status, and welfare of meat-type chickens. It is essential to have an appropriate lighting regimen that includes the light source, intensity, duration, and wavelength of light to improve broilers’ growth and behavior. By manipulating various physiological, immunological, and behavioral activities, altering the color of light has been acknowledged as a potent managerial strategy capable of mitigating an array of stressors in broiler chickens. Assessing animal welfare is necessary for animal behavior and product quality perspectives. Birds have a unique visual system, and their behavior is primarily mediated by vision. Different monochromatic light regimes can affect feed conversion ratio, modulating broiler chickens’ systematic immune response and aggressive behavior. With the advancement of lighting technology, new possibilities have emerged to enhance traditional lighting programs in poultry houses. This review integrates recent findings on the use of monochromatic light and its impact on broilers’ welfare, growth, and physiological response.

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Morphological, Molecular Identification and Genetic Diversity Assessment of Three Terrestrial Isopods from the High-Altitude Region

Terrestrial specimens were collected from Ashshafa, a south-western highland area in Saudi Arabia. Three species, i.e., Porcellio laevis, Porcellionides pruinosus (Porcellionidae), and Armadillidium vulgare (Armadillidiidae), were identified in this study based on their morphological characteristics. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences were used for DNA barcoding and biodiversity assessments. A phylogenetic tree of 22 haplotypes from 35 specimens of the three isopod species was drawn from the most similar sequences obtained from BLAST with the associated accession numbers. The tree included two clades. The first clade included samples of P. laevis and P. pruinosus, whereas the second clade included samples of A. vulgare. Each identified species formed a distinct subclade within the main clade, along with similar sequences obtained from the NCBI database. The heat map of genetic distance among haplotypes shows the haplotype diversity (Hd) ranged from 0.590 to 0.933 (mean = 0.767) and total nucleotide diversity (πT) ranged from 0.001 to 0.089 (mean=0.049), with a similar trend observed for nucleotide diversity per site (θw) ranged from 0.001 to 0.80 (mean = 0.049). In contrast, synonymous nucleotide diversity (πs), mean=0.009, was low compared to nonsynonymous nucleotide diversity (πs), mean=0.060, across all species. In conclusion, the morphological identification of terrestrial isopods was confirmed using COI gene sequencing of mitochondrial DNA. These results will be helpful in developing a deeper isopod identification method.

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Molecular characterization of the ER stress-inducible factor CRELD2.

Previously, we found by constructing various luciferase reporters that a well-conserved ATF6-binding element in the CRELD2 promoter is activated by transient ATF6 overexpression. In this study, we established ATF6-deficient and ATF4-deficient cell lines to analyze CRELD2 mRNA and protein expression together with that of other ER stress-inducible factors. Our results showed that ATF6 deficiency markedly suppressed tunicamycin (Tm)-induced expression of unglycosylated CRELD2. This reduction reflected a decrease in the CRELD2 transcription level. On the other hand, a putative ATF4-binding site in the mouse CRELD2 promoter did not respond to Tm stimulation, but ATF4 loss resulted in reductions in CRELD2 mRNA and protein expression, accompanied by a decrease in Tm-induced ATF6 expression. In contrast, transient suppression of GADD34, an ATF4 downstream factor, suppressed Tm-induced CRELD2 protein expression without a decrease in ATF6 protein expression. Furthermore, we investigated the association of CRELD2 with a well-known ERAD substrate, namely, an α1-antitripsin truncation mutant, NHK, by generating various CRELD2 and NHK constructs. Coimmunoprecipitation of these proteins was observed only when the cysteine in the CXXC motif on the N-terminal side of CRELD2 was replaced with alanine, and the interaction between the two was found to be disulfide bond-independent. Taken together, these findings indicate that CRELD2 expression is regulated by multiple factors via transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. In addition, the N-terminal structure of CRELD2, including the CXXC motif, was suggested to play a role in the association of the target proteins. In the future, the identification and characterization of factors interacting with CRELD2 will be useful for understanding protein homeostasis under various ER stress conditions.

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