Chemistry Analysis Research Articles

Multi-dimensional, Multi-scale Analysis of Interphase Chemistry for Enhanced Fast-Charging of Lithium-Ion Batteries with Ion Mass Spectrometry

Multi-dimensional, Multi-scale Analysis of Interphase Chemistry for Enhanced Fast-Charging of Lithium-Ion Batteries with Ion Mass Spectrometry

Wood Species Differentiation: A Comparative Study of Direct Analysis in Real-Time and Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

This study reports for the first time the fingerprinting extractives analysis of the indigenous wood species of Podocarpus totara from New Zealand, Eucalyptus saligna from Australia and Pinus radiata imported from California, USA and grown in New Zealand. We evaluated the use of analytical techniques for wood species discrimination. We compared the chemical fingerprinting of extractive compounds obtained using traditional chromatographic techniques with direct analysis in real-time–time of flight-mass spectrometry (DART-TOF-MS) with the auxiliary of chemometrics and principal component analysis. The traditional wet chemistry analysis of wood extracts provided a comprehensive characterisation of all extractive components. However, the more eco-friendly, sustainable and faster DART-TOF-MS technique effectively distinguished between wood species when heartwood and sapwood samples were combined. Notably, neither wet chemistry nor DART-TOF-MS could clearly differentiate between heartwood and sapwood within the same wood species. DART-TOF-MS analysis demonstrates potential as a reliable quality control tool for identifying wood species necessary in commercial and timber trading markets as well as for detecting the illicit trade of counterfeit wood products.

Reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol by Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Mouse Model of Exogenous Cushing's Syndrome.

Exogenous Cushing's syndrome, which results from prolonged glucocorticoid treatment, is associated with metabolic abnormalities. Previously, we reported the inhibitory effect of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (T-MSC CM) on glucocorticoid signal transduction. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of T-MSCs in a mouse model of exogenous Cushing's syndrome. Exogenous Cushing's syndrome model mice was generated by corticosterone administration in the drinking water for 5weeks, and T-MSCs were injected intraperitoneally twice during the third week. Serum lipid profiles were measured using a chemistry analyzer. HepG2 cells were treated with dexamethasone and co-cultured with T-MSCs. Expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were examined using real-time PCR. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) protein levels were determined using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Liver RNA extracted from the CORT and CORT + MSC mouse groups was used for transcriptome sequencing analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis. Weight reduction and improvements in dyslipidemia by T-MSC administration were observed only in female mice. T-MSCs reduce circulating LDL cholesterol levels by downregulating liver X receptor α (LXRα)and inducible degrader of LDLR(IDOL) expression, thereby stabilizing LDLRs in the liver. Transcriptome analysis of liver tissue revealed pathways that are regulated by T-MSCs administration. Administration of MSCs to female mice receiving chronic corticosterone treatment reduced the circulating LDL cholesterol level by downregulating the LXRα-IDOL axis in hepatocytes. These results suggest that T-MSCs may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for managing exogenous Cushing's syndrome by regulating cholesterol metabolism.

Parasitological and clinical correlates of Plasmodium–Schistosoma mansoni co-infection and its determinants among Plasmodium-infected patients in the Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia regional state

BackgroundMalaria and schistosomiasis are among the most important parasitic diseases with overlapping geographical distribution in Ethiopia. The objective of this study, therefore, was to assess parasitological and clinical correlates and determinants of co-infection among malaria patients.MethodsA health facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among malaria patients attending public health facilities in Damot Woyide district, Wolaita zone, South Ethiopia regional state, from December 2020 to June 2021. A total of 246 (123 Plasmodium-only and 123 Plasmodium–Schistosoma mansoni co-infected) study participants were sampled consecutively. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and risk factors. Detection and quantification of Schistosoma mansoni ova and malaria parasites were done with the Kato–Katz technique and blood film, respectively. Determination of hematological and biochemical parameters was done by the aLCose®HemoGo test system and the Cobas C 311 chemistry analyzer, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of Plasmodium–Schistosoma mansoni co-infection was 18.2%. Plasmodium–Schistosoma mansoni co-infected with a heavy intensity of Schistosoma mansoni had the highest parasitemia and was also significantly associated with malaria attack. In addition, anemia was associated with the presence of Plasmodium–Schistosoma mansoni co-infection. Schistosoma mansoni co-infection among malaria patients significantly increased mean Plasmodium density, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, and total protein. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower among co-infected individuals. On multivariate analysis, being male (AOR=3.03, CI: 1.56-5.91,p=0.001), being in the 6-15 years age group (AOR = 5.85, CI: 2.45–13.93,p=0.00), the presence of stream (AOR = 4.1, CI: 1.65–10.15,p=0.002), having a water body distance of less than 1,000 m (AOR=2.33, CI: 1.23–4.41,p=0.009), and presence of irrigation practice (AOR= 3.24, CI: 1.69–6.18,p=0.00) were found to be significant risk factors of co-infection.ConclusionMalaria attack and level of parasitemia were associated with the intensity of concurrent Schistosoma mansoni infection. Co-infection results in the change of Plasmodium density, hematological, and biochemical parameters in malaria patients.

UJI ANALISIS KUALITATIF DAN KUANTITATIF KADAR VITAMIN C PADA SEDIAAN KOSMETIK LOTION YANG BEREDAR DI KAB. MAROS DENGAN METODE SPEKTROFOTOMETER Uv-Vis

Cosmetics are an inseparable part of women's lives in particular and are used every day. Lotions are widely used to moisturize the skin and to brighten the skin. Lotion can be used for all skin types for teenagers aged 15 years and over. Vitamin C has various benefits, including as an antioxidant against pollution, sun exposure, brightening the skin, delaying the effects of aging, and increasing collagen formation which makes the skin supple, smooth and bright. The aim of the research was to determine the vitamin C content in cosmetic lotions according to the standards/labels circulating in the Maros district. The research was carried out using qualitative analysis methods in the pharmaceutical chemistry analysis laboratory of STIKes Salewangang Maros where the samples were lotion cosmetic products containing vitamin C at kab. Maros as stated on the product packaging/label and analyzed using a Uv-Vis spectrophotometer. The results of the research obtained showed that all lotion cosmetic preparations contained vitamin C with different percentage levels for each concentration, where lotion samples that did not have a distribution permit obtained high levels of Vitamin C, while lotions that had a distribution permit showed high levels of Vitamin C. not excessive, so it is safe to use for a long time.

Comparative Study of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients with and Without Metabolic Syndrome

Background: A group of metabolic abnormalities known as metabolic syndrome (MetS) greatly raises the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular illnesses. People with MetS frequently have subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), which is defined by high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal free thyroxine (T4). The research examined the relationship between thyroid function and metabolic parameters, as well as to assess the incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in individuals with and without MetS. Methods: There were 960 participants in all, 480 of whom had a diagnosis of MetS and 480 of whom were healthy controls. Blood pressure and waist circumference were measured clinically. After an overnight fast, blood samples were taken utilising fully automated clinical chemistry and hormone analyzers to assay lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and thyroid function tests (T3, T4, and TSH). The Pearson correlation coefficient and Student's t-test were used to analyse the data. Results: Statistically, there was a significant variation in the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism between the MetS group (16.3%) and the control group (5%; p < 0.001). In addition to having decreased HDL cholesterol, MetS patients also had higher FBG, blood pressure, triglycerides, and waist circumference. TSH levels and the elements of MetS, such as waist circumference (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), FBG(r = 0.44, p < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.32, p < 0.001), were found to be significantly correlated with each other. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that people with metabolic syndrome have a higher incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism, which may indicate a relationship between thyroid function and metabolic health. Regular thyroid function testing could help improve clinical outcomes by enabling early detection and management of SCH in MetS patients. Recommendations: When treating patients with metabolic syndrome, healthcare professionals should think about doing routine thyroid function tests. To manage thyroid dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms and create tailored therapies. Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Function, Cardiovascular Risk, Metabolic Health

Factors that Affect Quantification in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an analytical technique capable of detecting trace amounts of specific species. The uniqueness of vibrational signatures is a major advantage of SERS. This combination of sensitivity and specificity has motivated researchers to develop diverse analytical methodologies leveraging SERS. However, even 50 years after its first observation, SERS is still perceived as an unreliable technique for quantification. This perception has precluded the application of SERS in laboratories that rely on consistent quantification (for regulatory purposes, for instance). In this review, we describe some of the aspects that lead to SERS intensity variations and how those challenges were addressed in the 50 years of the technique. The goal is to identify the sources of variations in SERS intensities and then demonstrate that, even with these pitfalls, the technique can be used for quantification when factors such as nature of the substrate, experimental conditions, sample preparation, surface chemistry, and data analysis are carefully considered and tailored for a particular application.

Study of an outbreak of jaundice in Rajshahi, Bangladesh: a sociodemographic and clinical manifestation

BackgroundJaundice symptom outbreaks occur very frequently in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, from January to March 2024. The present study was designed to verify the pattern of jaundice outbreaks and identify the affected population and treatment of jaundice patients.MethodsA total of 1151 students living in Rajshahi were tested as samples. Jaundice syndrome was determined by physiological and laboratory tests. Blood and urine samples were tested via an automated clinical chemistry analyzer to confirm the pathophysiology. Moreover, sociodemographic status, food habits and living areas were considered for the patients.ResultsAmong the total number of tested patients, 27.28% and 72.72% were jaundice positive and negative, respectively. In the sociodemographic study, the highest percentage (94%) of jaundice-positive patients were men, which was found in patients aged 20–30 years. In the case of the clinical test, the jaundice-positive patients were hepatitis A virus (HAV)-positive, and the highest average alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin levels were 1312.67 ± 1.32 U/L and 2.08 ± 0.70 mg/dL, respectively.ConclusionThe findings of the present study revealed that the jaundice outbreak was caused by HAV. This study may be helpful for effectively measuring jaundice outbreaks to ensure that safe food and drinking water are urgently needed.

Towards routine high-throughput analysis of fecal bile acids: validation of an enzymatic cycling method for the quantification of total bile acids in human stool samples on fully automated clinical chemistry analyzers.

Bile acid diarrhea is a common but underdiagnosed condition. Because the gold standard test (75SeHCAT) is time-consuming and not widely available, fecal bile acid excretion is typically assessed by chromatography and mass spectrometry. Although enzymatic cycling assays are well established for the rapid and cost-effective analysis of total bile acids (TBA) in serum or plasma, their full potential has yet not been extended to stool samples in clinical routine. The performance of the 'Total bile acids 21 FS' reagent (DiaSys) was evaluated in fecal matrix according to CLSI guidelines and EU-IVD Regulations (2017/745), and compared to an established microplate-based kit (IDK®) by measuring patient stool samples (n=122). Method agreement was assessed by Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman analysis. The quantification of eight individual BAs was assessed using HPLC-MS/MS as reference method. The DiaSys assay showed linearity between 3.5 and 130 μmol/L, good repeatability, total precision, and reproducibility with CVs of 1.7 %, 3.5 %, and 3.0 %. Limit of blank (LoB), detection (LoD), and quantitation (LoQ) were≤0.17,≤0.3, and 3.5 μmol/L, respectively. No significant interference from endogenous substances was observed. The methods showed good correlation up to 140 μmol/L (r=0.988), despite differences in the quantification of individual BAs, with mean deviations of 7 % (DiaSys) and 31 % (IDK®), respectively. The advantages of enzymatic TBA analysis on fully automated clinical chemistry platforms can be exploited for the routine analysis of stool samples. However, cycling assays may benefit from reference standards that take into account the composition of the fecal BA pool.

Identification the early components of metabolic syndrome and some hematological test alteration related to cigarette, water pipe and dual smoking among young healthy adults: cross-sectional study

Introduction: Tobacco epidemics permitted premature death and disability due to pathophysiological alterations related to distinct smoking patterns through cigarettes or waterpipes; the latter became as prominent as cigarettes. The preliminary intentions of this study were to explore the mutual correlation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) elements with alterations in some hematological, renal, and hepatic function biomarkers due to different tobacco smoking patterns, including cigarette smokers, waterpipe smokers, and dual smokers.Methods: A total of 100 participants were equally distributed among non-smokers, exclusive cigarette smokers or water pipe smokers, and dual smokers that were recruited in Raparin district in this cross-sectional study from from 01-09-2022 to 20-12-2022. The whole group of participants were healthy, non-diabetic, normotensive, non-alcoholic, and non-coffee drinkers. A complete blood test (CBC), body mass index (BMI), lipid profile index, blood pressure, glucose hemostasis, liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)], renal excretes [involving creatinine and urea] were measured by the Cobas C111 chemical analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) and the Cobas e411 immunoassay analyzer subsequently (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). The glucose reagent strips and a Glucometer II (Miles Inc., Diagnostics Division, Elkhart, IN, USA) were used to obtain fasting blood glucose (FBG) readings, which yielded a quantitative test comparable to approved laboratory methods.Results: Some Hematological parameters including hematocrit (HCT) and red blood cells (RBCs) had a tendency to be lower in smokers’ samples compared to non-smokers, However, White blood cells (WBCs) were higher in smokers compared to non-smoker samples. Lipid profile makers including cholesterol and triglyceride including Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) low density lipoprotein (LDL) were higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. Fasting glucose and liver function tests including AST, ALT was higher in smokers in comparison with non-smokers. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that tobacco smoking directly modulates hemostasis and increases the risk of the development of metabolic syndrome components. Noteworthy, the tendency to develop MetS was more prevalent among dual smokers.

A Regional Analysis of Trace Element Water Chemistry With Applications for Reconstructing Environmental Life History of Fishes

ABSTRACTTrace elements and minerals can be important for physiological and biochemical functions in aquatic organisms and are also permanently retained in metabolically inert structures in fish, such as otoliths, which can be examined to reconstruct environmental history. Despite the importance of trace elements for biological function and environmental reconstruction, their distribution and dynamics in river systems is poorly understood. The objective of our study was to quantify trace element concentration data from across 14 river basins in Georgia, USA to create elemental concentration profiles and illustrate how spatial changes in water chemistry can be used to construct research hypotheses or make management decisions using results from chemical analyses on hard calcified parts of fish. Principal component analysis revealed substantial variation in water chemistry among and with river basins. Pairwise comparisons of Strontium:Calcium and Barium:Calcium ratios were useful in quantifying specific differences among river systems within river basins. These data will be useful for establishing a baseline for long‐term water chemistry monitoring and provides a framework for future fish chemistry research.

Engineering the Thermal and Energy-Storage Properties in Quantum Dots Using Dominant Faceting: The Case Study of Silicon.

The storage and release of energy is an economic cornerstone. In quantum dots (QDs), energy storage is mostly governed by their surfaces, in particular by surface chemistry and faceting. The impact of surface free energy (SFE) through surface faceting has already been studied in QDs. Here, we introduce dominant faceting representing the structural order of the surface. In particular, we propose that realistic QDs attain complicated polyhedral quasi-spherical shapes while keeping the dominance of a certain type of facet. The type of dominant facet determines the rates of surface-related processes. Therefore, by connecting dominant faceting with SFE, trends analogical to bulk material are kept despite the lack of evident microscopic shape control. To demonstrate the applicability of dominant faceting, we synthesize sets of silicon QDs with sizes around 5 nm and classify them based on increasing SFE of the corresponding analytic geometrical models, using a detailed surface chemistry analysis. Total energies released during oxidation of the synthesized QDs reach the theoretical limit, unlike in the reference, "large" (>100 nm) silicon nanoparticles, which release about 15% less energy. Next, we perform a comprehensive experimental study of dehydrogenation and thermal oxidation of the synthesized QDs in the temperature range of 25-1100 °C, identifying SFE as the key factor determining their thermal stability and surface reactivity. In particular, four distinctive stages of energy release were observed with onset temperatures ranging between 140 and 250 °C, ≈500 and 650-700 °C, respectively, for the SFE-differing samples. Finally, the thermal oxidation of the synthesized QDs is completed at lower temperatures with increasing SFE, decreasing from 1065 to 970 °C and being > 150 °C lower in QDs than in the larger reference nanoparticles. Therefore, despite a rich mixture of features, our description based on linking dominant faceting with SFE allows us to fully explain all the observed trends, demonstrating both the potential of SFE-based engineering of energy-storage properties in QDs and the prospects of silicon QDs as an energy-storage material.

EVALUASI KESESUAIAN LAHAN UNTUK BUDIDAYA TANAMAN SEMANGKA (STUDI KASUS DI KECAMATAN TUAH MADANI, KOTA PEKANBARU)

Evaluation of land suitability is carried out to perceive the potential and limitation factors of an area as an agricultural development area. Air Putih Village is one of the potential area for watermelon development area. This research was conducted to perceive the level of actual and potential land suitability for watermelon cultivation in Air Putih Village, Tuah Madani District, Pekanbaru City in the form of a semi-detailed map scale of 1:25.000. The method used in this study was a purposive sampling survey based on a map of land units. There were 7 units of land covering an area of 330.56 ha with a total of 21 sample points. Data were sourced from field observation, analysis of chemistry and physics of soil samples at the laboratory and secondary data from climate data. Land suitability assessment was carried out using the limiting factor matching method. The actual land suitability was in class S3 and N with effective soil depth (rc), base saturation (nr), slope (eh) and soil texture (rc) as limiting factors. The class of the potential land suitability for watermelon cultivation were S2, S3 and N.

Afterglow quenching in plasma-based dry reforming of methane: a detailed analysis of the post-plasma chemistry via kinetic modelling.

We have developed a kinetic model to investigate the post-plasma (afterglow) chemistry of dry reforming of methane (DRM) in warm plasmas with varying CO2/CH4 ratios. We used two methods to study the effects of plasma temperature and afterglow quenching on the CO2 and CH4 conversion and product selectivity. First, quenching via conductive cooling is shown to be unimportant for mixtures with 30/70 and 50/50 CO2/CH4 ratios, while it affects mixtures containing excess CO2 (70/30) by influencing radical recombination towards CO2, H2 and H2O, as well as the water gas shift reaction, decreasing the CO2 conversion throughout the afterglow. This is accompanied by shifts in product distribution, from CO and H2O to CO2 and H2, and the magnitude of this effect depends on a combination of plasma temperature and quenching rate. Second and more importantly, quenching via post-plasma mixing of the hot plasma effluent with fresh cold gas yields a significant improvement in conversion according to our model, with 258% and 301% extra conversion for CO2 and CH4, respectively. This is accompanied by small changes in product selectivity, which are the result of interrupted reaction pathways at lower gas temperatures in the afterglow. Effectively, the post-plasma mixing can function as a heat recovery system, significantly lowering the energy cost through the additional conversion ensued. With this approach, our model predicts that energy consumption can be lowered by nearly 80% in comparison to DRM under the same plasma conditions without mixing.

Mineralogy and Hydrothermal Alteration of Rocks Associated With Gold Mineralization in Akobo Greenstone Belt, Southwestern Ethiopia

ABSTRACTThe Akobo Greenstone Belt gold mineralization in the Western Ethiopian Greenstone Terrain is hosted by the Surma shear zone. Talc‐chlorite schist, chlorite schist, actinolite bearing rocks, granite, meta ultramafic rocks, felsic metavolcanic rocks, and Banded Iron Formation are the dominant rock types found in the Gindibab‐Wolleta and Chamo‐Segele areas. This study describes the geology, mineralogy, and mineral chemistry/alteration of host rocks associated to the gold mineralization. We conducted outcrop and hand specemen, petrography, and mineral chemistry analyses. The host rocks of the auriferous quartz vein in the Gindibab‐Wolleta area is felsic metavolcanics and banded iron formation. The metamorphosed felsic‐mafic igneous rocks of greenschist facies hosts the mineralization. Chloritization, carbonatization, sericitization, and biotitization are the common hydrothermal alteration associated with the host rocks. The hydrothermal alteration is characterized by the chlorite + plagioclase + ankerite + biotite + calcite + sericite assemblages. The chlorite geothermometery suggests that the temperatures of hydrothermal fluids associated to the gold mineralization in the Chamo‐Segele and Gindibab‐Wolleta areas ranges from 180°C to 350°C.

Enhancing the quality and flavor of pomelo wine through sequential fermentation with Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A non-targeted metabolomic analysis

This study investigated the impact of single and sequential inoculation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) on the sensory attributes and metabolic profiles of pomelo wine. Our comprehensive assessment included physicochemical determination, sensory evaluation, and metabolite analysis across single and sequential fermentation groups. Results demonstrated that sequential fermentation not only moderated acidity but also enhanced umami and richness, yielding a more balanced flavor profile compared to single strain fermentations. Flavor chemistry analysis revealed that sequential fermentation effectively utilized the strengths of both yeast strains to produce a wider array of aromatic compounds, especially esters, and alcohols, which are key to pomelo wine's aroma. The metabolomic analysis further confirmed that amino acid metabolism was the most prominently activated pathway, with sequential fermentation adept at regulating amino acid levels to minimize the formation of potentially harmful byproducts. This approach preserved the desirable flavor characteristics of the wine and enhanced its safety. Overall, this research offers valuable insights into optimizing pomelo wine fermentation techniques to improve its sensory quality and market value.

Peripheral blood biomarkers as differential diagnostic markers of disease severity in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.

Blood biomarkers offers an independent insight for the pathophysiology of hyperbilirubinemia. However, they are not practically used for the differential diagnosis of the hyperbilirubinemia severity. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the differential diagnostic value of peripheral blood biomarkers with disease severity as an alternative. A cross-sectional study was done on conveniently selected neonates admitted with hyperbilirubinemia during study period. A 4ml of venous blood was collected for laboratory analysis. The Sysmex KX-21 cellular analysis and Mindray BS-240 automated chemistry analyzer was used for complete blood count and biochemical analysis, respectively. The data were entered into Epi-data (4.6.0) and analyzed by STATA (14) software. The summary statistics were used. The Kruskal Wallis H tests were utilized to compare median differences between groups. To ascertain the diagnostic value, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Blood biomarkers score area under curve >.7 was selected as the best discriminative marker. The accepted threshold for statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Current study found that red blood cell (RBC) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) can differentiate high-risk from low and intermediate-risk groups. Similarly, they can also stratify low-risk group from the intermediate and high-risk groups. Besides, mean cell volume (MCV), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), can exhibit significant discriminative ability to differentiate high-risk groups from intermediate and low-risk groups as well as low-risk groups from intermediate and high-risk groups. Furthermore, for hemolytic type of hyperbilirubinemia, RBC, Hb (hemoglobin), ALC, NLR, and PLR were found as good diagnostic markers to differentiate high risk group for others. Whereas, for non-hemolytic type of hyperbilirubinemia, MCV, ALC, MPV (mean platelet volume) and NLR were found as good discriminative marker of high-risk group form others. Peripheral blood biomarkers were found as acceptable to good early differential diagnostic marker with significant association to disease severity. Thus, assessing of baseline blood biomarkers can help to differentiate disease severity in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.

GnRH Peptide Antagonist: Comparative Analysis of Chemistry and Formulation with Implications for Clinical Safety and Efficacy.

Overexpression of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) plays a vital role in the advancement of reproductive malignancies such as ovarian, endometrial, and prostate cancer. Peptidomimetic GnRH antagonists are a substantial therapeutic development, providing fast and reversible suppression of gonadotropins by directly blocking GnRH-R. Unlike typical GnRH agonists, these antagonists prevent the early hormonal flare, have a faster onset of action, and have a lower risk of cardiovascular problems. These characteristics qualify GnRH antagonists as revolutionary therapy for diseases such as advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and in vitro fertilization procedures. Key GnRH peptide antagonists authorized by the regulatory agencies include Cetrorelix, Ganirelix, Abarelix, Degarelix, and Teverelix. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are dominated by Cetrorelix and Ganirelix, while Degarelix and Abarelix have shown significant promise in treating advanced prostate cancer. Teverelix appears as a next-generation GnRH antagonist with an ideal mix of efficacy and safety, showing promise in a variety of reproductive and hormone-dependent illnesses. This review investigates the pharmacological role of GnRH in reproductive physiology and its consequences in disease, emphasizing structural advances in third- and fourth-generation GnRH antagonists. All GnRH peptide-based antagonists were analyzed in detail for formulation strategy, pharmacokinetics, effectiveness, and safety. This review also emphasizes GnRH antagonists' clinical promise, providing insights into their evolution and the possibility for future research in developing safer, more effective treatments for complicated hormonal diseases.

Study of Deritis Ratio in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: The ratio of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) to the Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is known as the Deritis ratio. Many studies have highlighted, the significance of AST and ALT measurement as a prognostic significance in cardiovascular diseases including acute myocardial infarction. The current study aimed to discuss the correlation of Creatine Kinase MB (CKMB) and Cardiac Troponin I with the Deritis ratio in the retrospectively enrolled Nepalese population. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and sixty-four (264) cases of acute myocardial infarction who had undergone AST and ALT measurement were enrolled for the study by non-probability purposive sampling technique. The study variables are AST, ALT, CKMB, Troponin I, age, etc. The above-mentioned variables were measured by using a fully automatic clinical chemistry analyzer Beckmann Coulter AU480 after proper quality control check and calibration. Results: Out of 264 patients, 162 were male and 102 were female. There was no significant difference in age (P value: 0.54) and Deritis ratio (P value: 0.73) between the male and female genders when the mean and standard deviation were compared. The non-parametric correlation (Spearman’s rho) analysis revealed the positive correlation of Deritis ratio with the cardiac troponin I (0.18, 0.00) which is statistically significant. Secondly, the Deritis ratio was positively correlated with the CKMB (0.40, 0.00) which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results have shown the raised Deritis ratio in acute myocardial infarction patients, which represents the release of AST during the myocardial infarction or the stress to the hepatocytes due to the hemodynamic changes occurring during myocardial infarction.

Cold Deep Over Hot Shallow Crust: A Peculiar Metamorphic Architecture in the Neoarchean Metasedimentary Pontiac Subprovince, Superior Craton (Canada)

ABSTRACTThe Neoarchean Era is a key period in Earth's history as it witnessed a significant pulse of crustal formation corresponding to the assembly of several cratons, potentially coeval with a transition in the global tectonic regime. Neoarchean metasedimentary subprovinces of the Superior Craton, the largest unreworked Archean craton on Earth, were formed shortly before its final assembly and cratonization, thus providing valuable insights into the tectonic style, thermal state and architecture prevailing during this key period. Among these, the Pontiac Subprovince is one of the most studied, yet has a largely debated geodynamic history. In its northern extent, metamorphosed turbiditic sequences display a southward succession of index minerals—biotite, garnet, staurolite, kyanite and sillimanite—that may be indicative of a Barrovian‐like metamorphic gradient. However, the origin and evolution of this apparent gradient and its link to Neoarchean tectonics remain unclear. New mapping of metamorphic isograds and zones, petrological and microstructural analyses, whole rock and mineral chemistry analyses and phase equilibria modelling are integrated to decipher the Pontiac Subprovince tectonothermal evolution. Our analysis indicates that the peak equilibrium assemblages from the garnet, staurolite and sillimanite/melt zones developed early to late relative to the main regional deformation event (D2) and its associated steeply dipping S2 schistosity. Garnet zone rocks recorded a burial‐heating path with peak P–T conditions at 8.1–8.2 kbar and 582°C–585°C, along a low T/depth ratio of ~20°C/km. In contrast, staurolite and sillimanite/melt zone rocks followed isobaric heating and isothermal decompression paths with peak P–T conditions at 5.9–6.1 kbar and 610°C–625°C and 6 kbar and 700°C, respectively, along a moderate T/depth ratio of ~30–33°C/km. Since there is clear D2 structural continuity across the metamorphic zones over ~12 km and metamorphism occurred pre‐ to post‐D2, we interpret that the diverse P–T paths and contrasting T/depth ratios likely represent a spatially heterogeneous thermal structure developed within a single coherent structural block during and shortly after the formation of the subvertical S2 schistosity. Such features are hardly compatible with either modern inverted or continuous Barrovian sequences—known for consistent P–T evolution paths and similar T/depth ratios—or with discontinuous sequences requiring diachronicity. Our findings therefore do not fully reconcile with the existing accretionary/collisional models for the Pontiac Subprovince, given differences in their predicted apparent thermal gradients, metamorphic evolution and structural patterns. Alternatively, our data more closely match predictions for a sagduction‐dominated vertical process, where high heat influx at the base of the crust causes pooling/diapiric ascent of voluminous S‐type plutons, bordered by sagging synclines. This process led to the development of steeply dipping tectonic fabrics and pre‐ to late‐kinematic mineral assemblages along diverse P–T paths at contrasting yet coeval T/depth ratios. Our study provides insights into the evolution of the southeastern Superior Craton and highlights the need to apply an integrated quantitative approach to decipher its thermal structure and constrain the likely geodynamic processes that operated in the Neoarchean.