Human Body Research Articles

Coumarin-Modified Starch Fluorescent Nanoparticles as Sensor of Fe3+ and Zn2+ ions Utilizing Dynamic Quenching and Chelation Mechanisms.

Zinc and iron are two essential trace minerals that play a pivotal role in maintaining optimal health and well-being in the human body. Despite being required in relatively small quantities, their significance can be understated as they participate in a wide array of critical physiological processes such as oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, controlling nutrient availability, etc. Understanding the distribution and behavior of these ions in natural water bodies is essential for assessing water quality, studying ecological processes, and managing environmental impacts. In this study, we have developed a dual fluorescence probe using starch which was functionalized with coumarin derivatives, for efficient detection of Fe3+ and Zn2+ ions. This structure led a self-assembled starch/coumarin (SC) fluorescent nanoparticles with strong fluorescence intensity under ultraviolet light (365nm). The quenching effect of Fe3+ on the SC fluorescent probe enabled efficient specific detection of Fe3+. Furthermore, Zn2+ ions increased fluorescence intensity of coumarin compounds (λemission = 459). This phenomenon occurs when the coumarin compound forms a complex or interacts with the zinc ion, resulting in enhanced fluorescence emission. In summary, the developed fluorescent probe offered a promising approach for sensitive and specific detection of iron and zinc ions in aqueous solutions.

PROSCA: an online platform for humanized scaffold mining facilitating rational protein engineering.

Protein scaffolds with small size, high stability and low immunogenicity show important applications in the field of protein engineering and design. However, no relevant computational platform has been reported yet to mining such scaffolds with the desired properties from massive protein structures in human body. Here, we developed PROSCA, a structure-based online platform dedicated to explore the space of the entire human proteome, and to discovery new privileged protein scaffolds with potential engineering value that have never been noticed. PROSCA accepts structure of protein as an input, which can be subsequently aligned with a certain class of protein structures (e.g. the human proteome either from experientially resolved or AlphaFold2 predicted structures, and the human proteins belonging to specific families or domains), and outputs humanized protein scaffolds which are structurally similar with the input protein as well as other related important information such as families, sequences, structures and expression level in human tissues. Through PROSCA, the user can also get excellent experience in visualizations of protein structures and expression overviews, and download the figures and tables of results which can be customized according to the user's needs. Along with the advanced protein engineering and selection technologies, PROSCA will facilitate the rational design of new functional proteins with privileged scaffolds. PROSCA is freely available at https://idrblab.org/prosca/.

Can the cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, be used for forensic verification of cyanide poisoning?

Forensic verification of cyanide (CN) poisoning by direct CN analysis in postmortem blood is challenging due to instability of CN in biological samples. CN metabolites, thiocyanate (SCN-) and 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA), have been proposed as more stable biomarkers, yet it is unclear if either is appropriate for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the behavior of CN biomarkers in postmortem swine and postmortem blood to determine which serves as the best biomarker of CN exposure. CN, SCN-, and ATCA were measured in postmortem swine (N = 8) stored at 4°C and postmortem blood stored at 25°C (room temperature, RT) and 37°C (typical human body temperature, HBT). Following CN poisoning, the concentration of each CN biomarker increased well above the baseline. In postmortem swine, CN concentrations declined rapidly (t1/2 = 34.3h) versus SCN- (t1/2 = 359h, 15days) and ATCA (t1/2 = 544h, 23days). CN instability in postmortem blood increased at RT (t1/2 = 10.7h) and HBT (t1/2 = 6.6h). SCN- and ATCA were more stable than CN at all storage conditions. In postmortem swine, the t1/2s of SCN- and ATCA were 15 and 23days, respectively. While boththe t1/2s of SCN- and ATCA were relatively lengthy, endogenous levels of SCN- were muchmore variable than ATCA. While there are still questions to be answered, ATCA was the most adept forensic marker of CN poisoning (i.e., ATCA producedthe longest half-life, the largest increase above baseline levels, and most stable background concentrations).

Molecular Insights into the Effect of Cholesterol on the Binding of Bicarbonate Ions in Band 3 Protein.

Band 3, or anion exchanger 1 (AE1), is one of the indispensable transmembrane proteins involved in the effective respiratory process of the human body and is primarily responsible for the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride anions across the plasma membrane of erythrocyte. However, the molecular mechanism of ion transport of Band 3 is not completely understood, yet. In this work, we systematically investigate the key binding sites of bicarbonate ions in Band 3 and the impact of cholesterol (CHOL) in lipid bilayers on bicarbonate ion binding using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We examine the dynamics of interactions of bicarbonate ions with Band 3 in the microsecond time scale and calculate the binding free energy of the anion in Band 3. The results indicate that the residue R730 of Band 3 is the most probable binding site for bicarbonate ions. CHOL enhances the bicarbonate ion binding by influencing the conformational stability of Band 3 and compressing the volume of the Band 3 cavity. These findings provide some insights into the bicarbonate ion binding in Band 3 and are helpful for understanding the anion exchange of Band 3.

Changes in Fingertip Cold-Induced Vasodilatation (Hunting Reaction) on Acute Exposure to Altitude.

Fossati, Alexandre, and Aleid C. J. Ruijs. Changes in fingertip cold-induced vasodilatation (hunting reaction) on acute exposure to altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2024. Objective: Cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) of the extremities is an interesting part of human physiology. Although the physiology of the CIVD reaction remains unknown, there are indications that hypoxia influences our CIVD reaction. The objective of this study is to measure the influence of acute hypoxia on the CIVD reaction of the fingertips. Methods: The CIVD reaction was measured using immersion of one hand in a water bath of 0°C in 12 healthy volunteers at low (1,235 m) and high (3,800 m) altitude during 35 minutes. High altitude was reached by a 20-minute cable car ride. Testing was performed indoors (room temperature, 22-25°C) at both altitudes. Data analysis was performed measuring the parameters of the CIVD reaction. Differences were found using the paired Student's t-test. Results: There was no significant difference in baseline finger temperature, onset time, peak time, and frequency of the CIVD reaction. However, at high altitude, maximum temperature and amplitude were significantly higher, slope was steeper, and minimum temperature was lower. Conclusion: We did not find evidence for a diminished CIVD reaction at high altitude due to hypoxia.

IMPROVEMENT OF METHODS FOR PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKETAL PATHOLOGY IN CHILDREN PLAYING CHESS

The article provides data on the properties and mechanism of action of Nordic walking. The positive effect of Nordic walking on the human body is based on mastering the correct technique when walking. While walking with poles, coordinated activity of the skeletal muscles of the trunk is carried out together with the upper and lower extremities, which will help prevent pathology of the musculoskeletal system. KEY WORDS: prevention, Nordic walking, children, chess. musculoskeletal system.

PESTI GUARD: FARMER-FRIENDLY PESTICIDE ROBOT

Agriculture is the primary source of revenue for India's population, which accounts for nearly 60% of the country's total. Farmers work in their fields to cultivate various crops based on the environment and resources available. Farmers must use large quantities of pesticides to increase food production in order to meet such high food demand for such a large population. Traditional manual pesticide spraying operations is full of direct exposure to the pesticide liquid work environment, great harm to human body and when this pesticide may come into contact with the farmer during spraying, which may trigger skin cancer and asthma illnesses. Increased pesticide spraying can impact consumer health as it enters the food chain. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture presents significant health risks to both farmers and consumers. The pesticide spraying robot is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors to record real-time temperature and humidity levels, providing crucial environmental data for optimized pesticide application. Farmers can remotely control the robot using a user-friendly interface, instructing it to perform specific spraying tasks while maintaining a safe distance from potentially hazardous chemicals. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a Pesticide Spraying Robot designed to minimize human contact during operation while prioritizing human health through advanced environmental monitoring and remote-control capabilities.

The impact of the integration of digital platforms and active teaching strategies (Kahoot!) on the performance of Brazilian medical course students in the discipline of histology.

Teaching human histology is part of understanding the tissues of the human body and, therefore, it is part of the training curriculum of all health courses. The increase in technologies and active teaching methodologies has a positive impact on student learning, as it reduces the challenges present in the subject. Therefore, this work aimed to compare the performance of students in the histology discipline, when compared to traditional teaching methodology and its association with game-based learning and a basic histology teaching platform. Three classes of the medical course were selected between the years 2022 and 2023, each of which was separated into a group. One group did not have access to any platform, being called the Traditional Group (TG), a group that used Kahoot!, being called the Kahoot Group (KG), and a group that used the teaching platform, being called the Histoatlas Group (HG). Both KG and HG groups showed greater effectiveness in learning and improved performance, when compared to TG. These improvements in KG and HG were also highlighted as learning aids and easy to use. KG students performed better in the practical test when comparing groups. However, this difference was not observed in the students' averages. However, students pointed out the relevance of trying to improve the traditional teaching methodology. Therefore, this study points out that, even though the traditional teaching methodology is efficient in the student's teaching and learning process, there is a need on the part of students to make the subject more dynamic.

Multiscale Transfer Printing via Shape Memory Polymer with High Adhesion and Modulus Switchability.

Flexible electronics have gained significant attention as an innovative solution to meet the growing need for information collection from the human body and the environment. However, a critical challenge lies in the need for a transfer printing technique that can fabricate rigid and brittle devices on flexible organic substrates. Here, we develop a multiscale transfer printing technique using an ultraviolet-curable shape memory polymer (SMP) that serves as both the stamp and the receiver substrate. The SMP demonstrates exceptional mechanical performance with toughness at room temperature and remarkable flexibility near its glass transition temperature. The SMP material exhibits an impressive shape recovery ratio and remarkable adhesion switchability. We demonstrate robust transfer printing of diverse objects with different materials and morphologies and in situ transfer of multiscale metallic structures. In addition, the in situ fabricated transparent hyperthermia patches with embedded metal grids are demonstrated, offering potential application in the field of sensors, wearable devices, and electronic skin.

High Seebeck Coefficient Thermally Chargeable Supercapacitor with Synergistic Effect of Multichannel Ionogel Electrolyte and Ti3C2Tx MXene‐Based Composite Electrode

Thermally chargeable supercapacitors can collect low‐grade heat generated by the human body and convert it into electricity as a power supply unit for wearable electronics. However, the low Seebeck coefficient and heat‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency hinder further application. In this paper, we designed a high‐performance thermally chargeable supercapacitor device composed of ZnMn2O4@Ti3C2Tx MXene composites (ZMO@Ti3C2Tx MXene) electrode and UIO‐66 metal–organic framework doped multichannel polyvinylidene fluoridehexafluoro‐propylene ionogel electrolyte, which realized the thermoelectric conversion and electrical energy storage at the same time. This thermally chargeable supercapacitor device exhibited a high Seebeck coefficient of 55.4 mV K−1, thermal voltage of 243 mV, and outstanding heat‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of up to 6.48% at the temperature difference of 4.4 K. In addition, this device showed excellent charge–discharge cycling stability at high‐temperature differences (3 K) and low‐temperature differences (1 K), respectively. Connecting two thermally chargeable supercapacitor units in series, the generated output voltage of 500 mV further confirmed the stability of devices. When a single device was worn on the arm, a thermal voltage of 208.3 mV was obtained indicating the possibility of application in wearable electronics.

A Self‐Powered Dual Ratchet Angle Sensing System for Digital Twins and Smart Healthcare

AbstractIn the swiftly progressing landscape of wearable electronics and the Internet of Things (IoTs), there is a burgeoning demand for devices that are lightweight, cost‐effective, and self‐powered. In this study, a self‐powered bidirectional knee joint motion monitoring system is introduced, leveraging a dual ratchet sensing (DRS) system fabricated using 3D printing technology. This approach offers substantial economic and portability benefits. The DRS system is engineered to harness the negative work generated from knee joint movements to power commercial electronic devices, obviating the need for additional metabolic energy from the human body. By synergizing the DRS with virtual reality technology, it becomes feasible to monitor knee joint movements in real‐time with remarkable accuracy, presenting a novel avenue for the integration of digital twin technology. Through the amalgamation of convolutional neural network machine learning algorithms with Bayesian optimization techniques, the DRS system can discern up to 97% of knee joint movements, paving the way for innovative applications in smart rehabilitation and healthcare.

The Insight Meditation Enhanced Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Reduction in Working Professionals Like Medical Representatives Determined by Using Serum Cortisol Level and Electroencephalogram: A Qualitative Study

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Indian economy and ranks among the top 15 drug-manufacturing countries globally. Among the fastest-growing industries in the world, the pharmaceutical industry has increased over the years. A pharmaceutical company appoints a medical representative to make their products easily reach healthcare specialists and then be used by the general public. The medical representatives construct a well- built network with doctors, clinical specialists, medical practitioners, paramedical experts, Dietitians and nutritionists, paediatricians, gynaecologists, psychiatrists, etc. The problem of stress is widespread in every job description, and it may affect directly or indirectly in the form of health issues and low productivity; the demands of achieving targets induced among medical representatives. Much of this credit goes to Medical Sales Representatives or Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives (also known as MR, PSR) who are solely responsible for the promotion of products among Physicians, Hospitals, and pharmacies and are accountable for sales results. They act as the face of the Pharma company contributing to a better quality of life for customers, building goodwill, and increasing the company’s market share. Pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSR) play a large role in helping an industry in a rapidly changing environment to achieve a new corporate vision and normally these medical representatives are in the highest stress position. Most pharmaceutical sales representatives experience significant job stress and unhappiness levels. Stress, depression, and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders all over the world. One of India's oldest meditation methods, vipassana also known as Insight meditation, helps a person become aware of things as they are. The goal of the Vipassana method, which aids in self-change via self-observation, is to finally arrive at a condition of inner and exterior peace and mental equilibrium. It is a process of "Self- exploration" to the normal base of the brain and body that removes mental smog and results in a healthier personality filled with love and empathy. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an efficient modality that helps to acquire brain signals corresponding to various states from the scalp surface area. These signals are generally categorized as delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma based on signal frequencies ranging from 0.1 Hz to more than 100 Hz. This paper primarily focuses on EEG signals and their characterization for various states of the human body. Beta wave induced the production of cortisol. Also, the beta wave is necessary for our everyday lives, such as thought, communicating, arguing, and problem-solving, during conscious mental work. This Beta wave can also lead to tension, anxiety, and restlessness as they enable us to think properly. Persistently elevated cortisol concentrations are associated with metabolic disorders. Cortisol is a vital hormone sometimes known as the stress hormone in humans, as it is involved in the body's natural response to physical or emotional stress. cortisol has effects on memory, mood, and neurological diseases. Cortisol is best known for mediating the body’s reaction to stress. This study aims to review the existing research and challenges of serum cortisol levels (cortisol is an indicator of stress) and EEG signals with the Insight meditation effect.

Design and development of shape memory polyurethane coated fabric with excellent memory performance

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the fabrication of ambient room temperature responsive shape memory polyurethane (SMPU)‐coated fabric using a simple dip coating method, aiming to enhance the shape memory response of smart textiles. Two SMPU were synthesized using different chain extender 1,4 butanediol (BDO‐SMPU) and polyethylenimine (PEI‐SMPU). Critical parameters such as SMPU concentration, dwell time, and coating solution temperature are optimized to ensure exceptional shape memory performance while also maintaining the fabric's handle, comfort, and durability. We determined that PEI‐SMPU/Cotton fabric exhibits superior memory performance, with a 90.2% shape recovery at a 1% PEI‐SMPU concentration. Conversely, BDO‐SMPU fabric demonstrated a 75.8% shape recovery under different conditions (10% SMPU concentration, 50°C solution temperature). Furthermore, shape recovery is influenced by programming temperature and load; at 35°C and 10 N load, PEI‐SMPU/Cotton significantly outperforms BDO‐SMPU/Cotton, showing about 20% improvement in shape recovery. This study indicates that modifying SMPU from BDO‐SMPU to PEI‐SMPU can notably enhance shape recovery performance at 35°C, marking a significant advancement in human body temperature responsive smart fabric technology.

Light-Adaptive Human Body Key Point Detection Algorithm Based on Multi-Source Information Fusion

The identification of key points in the human body is vital for sports rehabilitation, medical diagnosis, human–computer interaction, and related fields. Currently, depth cameras provide more precise depth information on these crucial points. However, human motion can lead to variations in the positions of these key points. While the Mediapipe algorithm demonstrates effective anti-shake capabilities for these points, its accuracy can be easily affected by changes in lighting conditions. To address these challenges, this study proposes an illumination-adaptive algorithm for detecting human key points through the fusion of multi-source information. By integrating key point data from the depth camera and Mediapipe, an illumination change model is established to simulate environmental lighting variations. Subsequently, the fitting function of the relationship between lighting conditions and adaptive weights is solved to achieve lighting adaptation for human key point detection. Experimental verification and similarity analysis with benchmark data yielded R2 results of 0.96 and 0.93, and cosine similarity results of 0.92 and 0.90. With a threshold range of 8, the joint accuracy rates for the two rehabilitation actions were found to be 89% and 88%. The experimental results demonstrate the stability of the proposed method in detecting key points in the human body under changing illumination conditions, its anti-shake ability for human movement, and its high detection accuracy. This method shows promise for applications in human–computer interaction, sports rehabilitation, and virtual reality.

Synchronous Switching Strategy to Enhance the Real-Time Powering and Charging Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are of great significance as sustainable power sources that harvest energy from the human body and environment. Nevertheless, due to TENG's impedance-dependent output voltage characteristics, in traditional strategy (TS), real-timely powering a sensor with TENG has a poor sensing on/off ratio (or response), and directly charging a capacitor with TENG shows a low charging efficiency. This degraded real-time powering and charging performance of TENG compared to a commercial constant voltage source has been a huge challenge of the TENG field for a long time. Here, we propose a synchronous switching strategy (SSS) for TENG to real-timely power sensors or charge capacitors without degrading its performance. Compared with TS, this new strategy enables sensors to have 5-7 times sensing on/off ratio enhancement when using TENG as a power source, reaching the powering ability of a commercial constant voltage source, it makes the powering performance of TENG stable under different driving frequency, improving the powering robustness of TENG. In addition, compared with TS, SSS can also enhance the charging efficiency of TENG in every charging cycle by up to 2.4 times when charging capacitors. This work contributes to real-timely powering or charging the distributed, mobile and wireless electronics using TENG. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of adults' acumen exerted from cerebral stress with quantified anthropometric indices using bioelectrical impedance analysis

This work considers cerebral stress-struck adults to assess their ‘acumen’ with four quantified anthropometric indices like cell membrane capacitance (CM), total body impedance (TBI), total body fat (TBF), and total body water (TBW). Primarily, a bio-impedance model of the epithelial tissue structure of human body has been presented and anatomized considering mental stress driven hormonal changes happen inside human body to propose several preambles. Secondly, an intelligence quotient (IQ) test designed to create ‘racing’ thoughts has been conducted right before measuring indices using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) method. Finally, juxtaposed investigations to vindicate the correlation between bio-impedance model-implied preambles and the variance of the four quantified indices were made by comparing them to the IQ test outcomes. This article reports, an effectively innervated nervous system having homeostasis endocrine human anatomy with CM, TBI, TBF, and TBW, in the range of 1.0–2.1 nF, 470–550 Ω, 7.9–20%, and 56.8–80%, respectively for the subjects whose acumen is classified as “Class-A", while “Class-B" subjects are also presented with other distinct quantified indices. The outcomes of this work are expected to be a paradigm in the digital judgment of adults' psychological engagement to any tasks.

Heel-to-toe drop effects on biomechanical and muscle synergy responses during uphill walking

Uphill walking is a common task encountered in daily life, with steeper inclines potentially imposing greater biomechanical and neuromuscular demands on the human body. The heel-to-toe drop (HTD) in footwear may influence the biomechanical and neuromuscular pattern of uphill walking; but the impact remains unclear. Adjustments in HTD can modulate biomechanical and neuromuscular patterns, mitigating the demands and optimizing the body’s response to different inclinations. We hypothesize that adjustments in HTD can modulate biomechanical and neuromuscular patterns, mitigating the demands and optimizing the body’s response to different inclinations. Nineteen healthy men walked on an adjustable slope walkway, with varied inclinations (6°, 12°, 20°) and HTD shoes (10mm, 25mm, 40 mm), while the marker positions, ground reaction forces and electromyography data were collected. Our study reveals that gait temporo-spatial parameters are predominantly affected by inclination over HTD. Inclination has a more pronounced effect on kinematic variables, while both inclination and HTD significantly modulate kinetic and muscle synergy parameters. This study demonstrates that an increase in the inclination leads to changes in biomechanical and neuromuscular responses during uphill walking and the adjustment of HTD can modulate these responses during uphill walking. However, the present study suggests that an increased HTD may lead to elevated loads on the knee joint and these adverse effects need more attention.

Tiny Organs, Big Impact: How Microfluidic Organ-on-Chip Technology Is Revolutionizing Mucosal Tissues and Vasculature

Organ-on-chip (OOC) technology has gained importance for biomedical studies and drug development. This technology involves microfluidic devices that mimic the structure and function of specific human organs or tissues. OOCs are a promising alternative to traditional cell-based models and animals, as they provide a more representative experimental model of human physiology. By creating a microenvironment that closely resembles in vivo conditions, OOC platforms enable the study of intricate interactions between different cells as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms pertaining to diseases. OOCs can be integrated with other technologies, such as sensors and imaging systems to monitor real-time responses and gather extensive data on tissue behavior. Despite these advances, OOCs for many organs are in their initial stages of development, with several challenges yet to be overcome. These include improving the complexity and maturity of these cellular models, enhancing their reproducibility, standardization, and scaling them up for high-throughput uses. Nonetheless, OOCs hold great promise in advancing biomedical research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine, benefiting human health and well-being. Here, we review several recent OOCs that attempt to overcome some of these challenges. These OOCs with unique applications can be engineered to model organ systems such as the stomach, cornea, blood vessels, and mouth, allowing for analyses and investigations under more realistic conditions. With this, these models can lead to the discovery of potential therapeutic interventions. In this review, we express the significance of the relationship between mucosal tissues and vasculature in organ-on-chip (OOC) systems. This interconnection mirrors the intricate physiological interactions observed in the human body, making it crucial for achieving accurate and meaningful representations of biological processes within OOC models. Vasculature delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to mucosal tissues, ensuring their proper function and survival. This exchange is critical for maintaining the health and integrity of mucosal barriers. This review will discuss the OOCs used to represent the mucosal architecture and vasculature, and it can encourage us to think of ways in which the integration of both can better mimic the complexities of biological systems and gain deeper insights into various physiological and pathological processes. This will help to facilitate the development of more accurate predictive models, which are invaluable for advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions.

Investigation of Skull Cortical Thickness Changes in Healthy Population and Patients With Schizophrenia on Computed Tomography Images.

Cortical bone thickness is essential for the mechanical function of bone. Some factors including aging, sex, body size, hormone levels, behavior, and genetics lead to changes in cranial cortical robusticity. Moreover, the skull is one of the hardest and most durable structures in the human body. Schizophrenia is defined as a psychiatric disease characterized by delusions and hallucinations, and these patients have reduced brain volume; however, there is no study including cortical bone structure. For this reason, the aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the skull cortical thickness of patients with schizophrenia and, compare it with healthy subjects. The cranial length, cranial width, anterior cortical thickness, right and left anterior cortical thickness, right and left lateral cortical thickness, right and left posterior lateral thickness, and posterior cortical thickness were measured with axial computed tomography images of 30 patients with schizophrenia and 132 healthy individuals aged between 18 and 69years. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in the measurements of right and left posterior lateral thickness, and posterior cortical thickness (P = 0.006, P = 0.001, and P = 0.047, respectively). The sexes were compared, and it was found that the cranial width, anterior thickness, left anterior thickness, and right and left posterior thickness measurements of patients with schizophrenia showed a statistically significant difference compared with the control group (P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P = 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The authors observed that skull cortical thickness may be different in schizophrenia. The results obtained from this study may be beneficial for evaluating these structures for clinical and pathological processes. Furthermore, knowledge about the skull cortical thickness in planning surgical procedures will increase the reliability and effectiveness of the surgical method, and this will minimize the risk of complications.

Citrate-based dietary alkali supplements available in Germany: an overview

BackgroundFruits and vegetables are abundant in alkali precursors and effectively reduce the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) from diet. Oral alkali supplements are supposed to exert comparable alkalizing effects on the human body, and have been shown to beneficially affect bone and kidney health. A comparative analysis of the available dietary alkali supplements in Germany was performed, contrasting their potential PRAL-lowering potential.MethodsWe reviewed the currently available dietary citrate-based alkali supplements sold in Germany with a special focus on their mineral content, their PRAL-lowering potential and other characteristics inherent to each product. Supplements containing either potassium-, calcium- or magnesium citrate or any combination of these organic salts were reviewed. The total alkali load (TAL) was calculated based on the recommended daily dosage (RDD).ResultsSixteen supplements with a mean alkali powder content of 220.69 ± 111.02 g were identified. The mean magnesium content per RDD was 239.93 ± 109.16 mg. The mean potassium and median calcium content were 550 ± 325.58 mg and 280 (240) mg, respectively. Median TAL was 1220 (328.75) mg. The PRAL-lowering potential from a single RDD ranged from − 51.65 mEq to -8.32 mEq. Substantial price differences were found, and the mean price of the examined supplements was 16.67 ± 5.77 Euros. The median price for a 1 mEq PRAL-reduction was 3.01 (3.14) cents, and ranged from 0.77 cents to 10.82 cents.ConclusionsNoticeable differences between the identified alkali supplements were encountered, warranting an individual and context-specific approach in daily clinical practice.