Present Study Research Articles

A comparison of the phonation quotient between patients with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions and normal adults 20-80 years of age

Background: A voice evaluation is an important first step in analyzing voice symptoms and determining appropriate treatment plans. The phonation quotient is a valid aerodynamic parameter in voice evaluations which is an indirect source of information for evaluating the valve function of the vocal folds of patients with voice disorders, especially patients with voice disorders caused by tumors of the vocal folds which is the most common cause in the patients with voice disorders. Objective: The present study aims to determine and compare the phonation quotient between patients with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions and normal adults between 20-80 years of age. Materials and methods: The participants comprised 40 adults with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions and 40 with normal voices. All participants’ voices were evaluated in the Speech Clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok. The phonation quotient (PQ) was calculated by the ratio of vital capacity (VC) to the maximum phonation time (MPT). VC and MPT were measured using a phonatory aerodynamic system (PAS). Results: The results of the present study indicated that the mean value of the PQ of adults with normal voices was 122.60 cc/sec (SD=16.36). The mean value of the PQ of adults with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions was 292.08 cc/ sec (SD=97.14). The mean value of the PQ in the group with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions was significantly more significant than the mean value of the PQ in the group with normal voice. Conclusion: The significant difference between the phonation quotient of adults with voice disorders caused by benign vocal fold lesions and adults with normal voice was that the PQ might be an indicator for indirect evaluation of the airflow leakage related to the efficiency of vocal fold movement during phonation. The PQ can be the optional voice measurement for monitoring and analyzing the outcomes of voice therapy.

Up-regulation of Trim28 in pregnancy-induced hypertension is involved in the injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells through the p38 signaling pathway.

The present study is to analyze the regulation and potential molecular mechanism of Trim28 on vascular endothelial injury induced by pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Trim28 mRNA in placental tissues and peripheral blood from PIH patients were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The serum from PIH was used to stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). After silencing Trim28 in HUVECs, we used CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry to investigate proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Western blotting was used to measure Trim28 protein level and p38 phosphorylation level. After addition of p38 inhibitor, the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of HUVECs with silenced Trim28 were studied again. Trim28 expression in placental tissues and peripheral blood from PIH patients is elevated, and serum from these patients can up-regulate the expression of Trim28 in HUVECs in vitro. Trim28 silencing significantly inhibits the proliferation and migration of HUVECs by affecting the cell cycle. Down-regulation of Trim28 expression promotes the apoptosis of HUVECs. Trim28 regulates the biological function of HUVECs by affecting the activity of the p38 signaling pathway. The present study demonstrates that Trim28 is up-regulated in peripheral blood of patients with PIH and participates in HUVECs injury through the p38 signaling pathway.

Complete characterization of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene in human hydatid cysts

يمتلك طفيلي الاكياس العدرية سلالاتين متشابهتين (G1 و G3) ونظرا للدور البارز الذي تلعبه عائلة جينات نازعات الهيدروجين في التميز بين هاتين السلالاتين، لذا هدفت الدراسة الحالية الى اجراء التوصيف الجزيئي الكامل لاحد ابرز انواع هذه العائلة وهو الجين NAD1 (من شفرة البدء الى الي شفرة التوقف) للاكياس العدرية المعزولة جراحيا من اكباد المرضى (ولمحافظتي البصرة وميسان) في مستشفى الصدر التعليمي في محافظة البصرة، العراق. عزلت الرؤيسات الاولية من الاكياس تحت ظروف معقمة واستخدمت في استخلاص الحامض النووي منقوص الاوكسجين. اذ ضخم التتابع الكامل للجين في عينات الدراسة وانجز التتابع (السكونس) لهما باستخدام بادئات متخصصه. اظهرت نتائج تحليل السكونس المتكرر Consensus sequence امتلاك كل من عينات البصرة و ميسان 1038 زوجا من القواعد وتقع شفرة البدء GTG في الموقع 87-89 وشفرة التوقف TAA في الموقع 978-980. كما اظهرت استدلالات الاحماض الامينية الى وجود 297 حامض اميني لبروتينات عينات البصرة وميسان. فضلا عن ذلك بينت تحاليل المعلومات الحياتية احتواء هذه البروتينات على الحامض الاميني Isoleucine في الموقع 188 (I188) وهو موجود فقط في سلالة الاغنام G1. وان النموذج التركيبي لبروتينات عينات البصرة وميسان اظهر تشابها كبيرا و يقع I188 في الحلزون 10 (α10). بينت الدراسة ولاول مرة على مستوى العراق التوصيف الكامل للجين NAD1 والعائد الى سلالة الاغنام G1 المسببه لمرض الاكياس العدرية البشري.

Genetic and genomic evaluation of age at first calving in Italian Holsteins

Age at first calving (AFC) represents the non-productive period of around 2 yr in Holstein cows and thus it has a relevant impact on the cost of rearing replacements in the dairy herd. In the present study we aimed at evaluating genetic and genomic aspects of AFC in the Italian Holstein population. Data of 4,206,218 heifers with first calving between 1996 and 2020 were used. Age at first calving averaged 26.09 ± 3.07 mo and decreased across years. Heritability was estimated using a linear animal model which included the fixed effects of herd-year-season of birth and classes of gestation length, and the random animal additive genetic effect fitted to a pedigree-based relationship matrix. Estimated breeding values (EBV) and genomically enhanced breeding values (GEBV) were obtained, and they were standardized to mean 100 and standard deviation 5, where animals above the mean are those contributing to reduce AFC. Heritability estimates of AFC ranged from 0.031 to 0.045. The trend of sires' GEBV was favorable and indicated a reduced AFC across years. Approximate genetic correlations between GEBV of AFC and GEBV of other economically important traits were calculated on a subset of genotyped females born after 2015. Moderate favorable associations of AFC with production traits (0.39 to 0.51), udder depth (0.40), interval from first to last insemination in heifer (-0.43), and longevity (0.34) were assessed. Overall, the greatest lifetime productive performances and most favorable days open in first lactation were observed when heifers calved at 22-23 mo. On the other hand, progeny of sires with GEBV of AFC above the mean yielded more milk, fat, and protein in first lactation, and had shorter days open than progeny of sires with GEBV of AFC below the mean. Results suggested that breeding strategies to improve AFC should be pursued, also considering genetic correlations between AFC and traits which are already part of the Italian Holstein breeding objective. The inclusion of AFC in an aggregate index is expected to contribute to enhance farm income.

Glutathione S Transferase Theta1 and Mu1 (GSTT1 and GSTM1) Deletion Among Autistic Population of India

Introduction: Oxidative stress is an imbalance between an organism's reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defence capacity. Long-term oxidative stress contributes to cellular ageing and plays a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Several investigations indicated that oxidative stress has a role in the pathogenesis of ASD. Objectives: Present study was undertaken to record the association of GSTTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype among the autistic population of India. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from 108 autistic children along with healthy agematched control. The quality and quantity of the isolated genomic DNA were analysed. GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype was analysed using polymerase chain reaction with internal positive control. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 15.0. Results: Present study included 85 males and 23 females with a mean age of 11.7 ± 3.5 and 75 males and 33 females with a mean age of 11 ± 2.0 in the control group. 32 (29.6%) autistic cases showed null genotypes for GSTT1 and 21(19.4%) autistic children showed null genotypes for GSTM1. 3 (2.85%) control children showed a null genotype for GSTT1 and 5 (4.6%) control children showed a null genotype for GSTM1. The GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were observed to be significantly associated with the risk of autism (p value-0.0001, OR-14.73, 95% CI 4.35-49.90) and (p value-0.003, OR-4.731, 95% CI 1.71-13.08) respectively. Conclusion: The findings of our study suggested that GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype is one of the potential risk factors for autism through oxidative stress mechanism in our population.

Molecular Characterization, Expression and In Situ Hybridization Analysis of a Pedal Peptide/Orcokinin-type Neuropeptide in Cuttlefish Sepiella japonica.

Neuropeptide pedal peptide (PP) and orcokinin (OK), which are structurally related active peptides, have been widely discovered in invertebrates and constitute the PP/OK neuropeptide family. They have complex structures and play myriad roles in physiological processes. To date, there have been no related reports of PP/OK-type neuropeptide in cephalopods, which possess a highly differentiated multi-lobular brain. Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) was employed to obtain the open reading frame (ORF) of PP/OK-type neuropeptide in Sepiella japonica (termed as Sj-PP/OK). Various software were used for sequence analysis. Semi-quantitative PCR was applied to analyze the tissue distribution profile, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to study spatio-temporal expression throughout the entire growth and development period, and in situ hybridization (ISH) was employed to observe the tissue location of Sj-PP/OK. in the present study, we identified the ORF of Sj-PP/OK. The putative precursor of Sj-PP/ OK encodes 22 mature peptides, of which only tridecapeptides could undergo post-translationally amidated at C-terminus. Each of these tridecapeptides possesses the most conserved and frequent N-terminus Asp-Ser-Ile (DSI). Sequence analysis revealed that Sj-PP/OK shared comparatively low identity with other invertebrates PP or OK. The tissue distribution profile showed differences in the expression level of Sj-PP/OK between male and female. qRT-PCR data demonstrated that Sj-PP/OK was widely distributed in various tissues, with its expression level increasing continuously in the brain, optic lobe, liver, and nidamental gland throughout the entire growth and development stages until gonad maturation. ISH detected that Sj-PP/OK positive signals existed in almost all regions of the optic lobe except the plexiform zone, the outer edge of all functional lobes in the brain, epithelial cells and the outer membrane layer of the accessory nidamental gland. These findings suggest that Sj-PP/OK might play a role in the regulation of reproduction, such as vitellogenin synthesis, restoration, and ova encapsulation. The study indicated that Sj-PP/OK may be involved in the neuroendocrine regulation in cephalopods, providing primary theoretical basis for further studies of its regulation role in reproduction.

Extraction Optimization, Structure Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharide from Sanghuangporus baumii

Introduction: In this study, we optimized the extraction process, analyzed the structure and assessed the antioxidant activity of Sanghuangporus baumii polysaccharide (SBP). The present results provide important information for the Sanghuangporus baumii polysaccharides in potential natural antioxidant effects. Background: The extraction and structural analysis of polysaccharides from Sanghuangporus has gained significant attention in the fields of chemistry, medicine, and life sciences. There is great significance in maximizing the extraction of polysaccharides from Sanghuangporus and developing their potential products in a scientific and rational manner. Objective: The study was designed to establish an efficient and practical extraction process for SBP, and then investigated the structure and the antioxidant activity. Methods: The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design was used to explore the ultrasound-assisted extraction of SBP, and the structure of SBP was studied by ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and other instrumental analysis methods. The total antioxidant capacity of SBP was studied by the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) method, and the scavenging capacity of ABTS+·, DPPH· and OH· was carried out as the index to investigate its antioxidant activity in vitro. Results: The statistical analysis results showed that the optimal conditions for extracting SBP were an ultrasound time of 20.74 min, ultrasound power of 268.40 W and material-liquid ratio of 1:25.71. Under optimal conditions, the experimental yield of SBP was 3.36 ± 0.01%. The RSM optimization process was applied to the experiment of complex enzyme extraction of SBP, and the yield increased to 4.72 ± 0.03%. Structural analysis showed that SBP mainly consisted of glucose, a small amount of mannose and galactose, and the molecular weight distribution was uneven, mainly concentrating in the three parts of 24.5,6.4,2.5 kDa. Moreover, SBP exhibited dose-dependent and strong reducing power and radical scavenging activity. For DPPH·, ABTS+· and OH· radical scavenging assays, IC50 values were 1.505 ± 0.050 mg/ml, 0.065 ± 0.036 mg/ml and 0.442 ± 0.007 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, a β-linked heteroglucan (SBP) was extracted using the optimized process combining enzymes from the fruiting bodies of Sanghuangporus baumii. SBP exhibited effective and dose-dependent antioxidant activities. Our findings were of great value in terms of developing polysaccharides with potential natural antioxidants.

Highly Efficient Bimetallic Catalyst for the Synthesis of N-substituted Decahydroacridine-1,8-diones and Xanthene-1,8-diones: Evaluation of their Biological Activity

Background: Bimetallic catalysis plays a major role in boosting the catalytic performance of monometallic counterparts due to the synergetic effect. Method and Materials: In the present study, we have exploited ZrCl4:Mg(ClO4)2 as an efficient bimetallic catalyst for the synthesis of a few biologically relevant N-substituted decahydroacridine-1,8-diones and xanthene-1,8-diones under solvent-free conditions. The complete characterization data (XRD, SEM, BET, pH, TGA, and IR) of the bimetallic catalyst, ZrCl4: Mg(ClO4)2, are provided in the supporting information. Results: Among the compounds screened for anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities, the acridine derivatives with chloro and fluoro substitutions (compounds 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4j) have exhibited potent activities when compared to other compounds. Among the xanthene derivatives screened for anti-oxidant activity, compounds 5c, 5i, and 5j with chloro and nitro derivatives exhibited potent antioxidant activity, and the rest all showed moderately potent activity. Conclusion: Among the compounds screened for antibacterial activity, compound 5j with chloro substitution showed potent activity, followed by compounds 5c, 5d, 5h, and 5i against Gram +ve bacteria, and compounds 5h, 5f, and 5g with N,N-dimethyl, methoxy and hydroxy substitutions have shown potent activity against Gram -ve bacteria.

Relationship between Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Disease Activity and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), insulin resistance (IR) is related to inflammatory markers, disease activity, and progression of atherosclerotic changes. Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a relatively new indicator of IR. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between TyG index, disease activity and subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in RA patients. The present case-control study included 100 RA patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants were subjected to careful history taking through clinical examination and standard laboratory assessment. The TyG index was calculated as TyG index = ln (Fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL))/2. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement was done using B-mode ultrasound. Patients had significantly higher TyG index as compared to controls. Patients with high disease activity had significantly higher frequency of extraarticular manifestations (39.6% versus 51.6%, p = 0.028), higher Larsen score (3.8 ± 1.3 versus 2.8 ± 1.2, p < 0.001), higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) levels (median (IQR): 243.1 (205.0-408.0) U/ml versus 99.0 (78.0-332.5), p < 0.001), higher TyG index (4.8 ± 0.22 versus 4.67 ± 0.24, p = 0.006), and higher CIMT (0.87 ± 0.22 versus 0.77 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.018). Patients with SCA had higher BMI (34.6 ± 6.2 versus 30.5 ± 5.3 Kg/m2, p < 0.001), higher Larsen score (3.7 ± 1.4 versus 3.1 ± 1.3, p = 0.028) and higher TyG index (4.89 ± 0.23 versus 4.64 ± 0.19, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis identified patients' age (OR (95% CI): 0.94 (0.89-0.99), p = 0.018), Larsen score (OR (95% CI): 1.93 (1.32-2.82), p = <0.001), anti-CCP (OR (95%): 1.04 (1.02-1.07), p = 0.032), and TyG index (OR (95% CI): 22.67 (2.14-240.4), p = 0.01) as significant predictors of high disease activity in multivariate analysis. IR estimated by the TyG index is related to disease activity and SCA in RA patients.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Nursing Students in Selected Colleges of Eastern India: A Descriptive Study

Background: Nursing students after enrolling themselves into nursing profession experiences high level of stress and anxiety which later shows signs and symptoms of depression at early age. The present study is undertaken to study the level of stress, anxiety and depression among undergraduate nurses. The objective of the study was to assess the level of stress, anxiety and depression among nursing undergraduates.Methods: A total of 201 sample were selected using non probability sampling technique. The three domains of mental status was assessed using depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 (DASS-21).Findings &amp; Conclusion: Majority of the nursing students showed 60.2% of mild anxiety followed by milddepression (57.7%) and mild stress (55.2%). The present study revealed significant presence of anxiety, stress and depression among the nursing undergraduates. These findings are alarming in nature as it may have negative impacts on the mental health of the students. Stress, anxiety and depression among nursing students will adversly affect the academic performance and the quality of care they give to their patients. Students must be made aware to employ different coping strategies, different communication skills, campus connectdness, to deal with the stress,anxiety and depression during their clinical training. Mental health screening is another important preventive strategies to avoid mental disorders.

Following community norms or an internal compass? The role of prospective leaders' social category membership in the differential effects of authentic and ethical leadership on stereotype threat.

Increasing racial diversity in organizations remains a challenge, as stereotype threat undermines the performance and career aspirations of minority group members during job recruitment. The present study examines how prospective leaders can leverage their influence on their followers' identities to mitigate the stereotype threat Black individuals face in this context. We explore the effects of two moral leadership styles (ethical vs. authentic) on stereotype threat in the context of recruitment. Specifically, we investigate whether prospective leaders' ingroup status moderates the relationship between ethical versus authentic leadership styles and candidates' stereotype threat during the selection process and candidates' willingness to join the organization. To this end, we conducted four experiments with Black residents of Brazilian favelas (impoverished neighborhoods), two of which included real-world job recruitment processes and physiological measures of stress (i.e., salivary cortisol and blood pressure). The results indicate that when the prospective leaders are from the outgroup, displaying ethical leadership by relying on community norms is more helpful in reducing Black candidates' threat and, in turn, promotes willingness to apply for the job. In contrast, when the leader is from the ingroup, displaying authentic leadership by emphasizing the importance of an internal moral compass is more helpful in reducing threat, and this effect is mediated by the identity process of inclusion of the leader in the self. Overall, the present study suggests that prospective direct supervisors have the critical ability to reduce stereotype threat, which can negatively affect Black applicants and their desire to join organizations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

RICH1 is a novel key suppressor of isoproterenol‑ or angiotensin II‑induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy is one of the key processes in the development of heart failure. Notably, small GTPases and GTPase‑activating proteins (GAPs) serve essential roles in cardiac hypertrophy. RhoGAP interacting with CIP4 homologs protein 1 (RICH1) is a RhoGAP that can regulate Cdc42/Rac1 and F‑actin dynamics. RICH1 is involved in cell proliferation and adhesion; however, to the best of our knowledge, its role in cardiac hypertrophy remains unknown. In the present study, the role of RICH1 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was assessed. Cell viability was analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay and cells surface area (CSA) was determined by cell fluorescence staining. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to assess the mRNA expression levels of hypertrophic marker genes, such as Nppa, Nppb and Myh7, and the protein expression levels of RICH1, respectively. RICH1 was shown to be downregulated in isoproterenol (ISO)‑ or angiotensin II (Ang II)‑treated H9c2 cells. Notably, overexpression of RICH1 attenuated the upregulation of hypertrophy‑related markers, such as Nppa, Nppb and Myh7, and the enlargement of CSA induced by ISO and Ang II. By contrast, the knockdown of RICH1 exacerbated these effects. These findings suggested that RICH1 may be a novel suppressor of ISO‑ or Ang II‑induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The results of the present study will be beneficial to further studies assessing the role of RICH1 and its downstream molecules in inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy.

IL1R2 is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Lung Adenocarcinoma.

The aim of this study is to figure out the role of IL1R2 in LUAD (lung adenocarcinoma). IL1R2, a special member of IL-1 receptor family, binds to IL-1 and plays an important role in inhibiting IL-1 pathway, which seems to be involved in tumorigenesis. Emerging studies demonstrated higher IL1R2 expression levels in several malignancies. In the present study, we assessed the expression of IL1R2 in LUAD tissues with immunohistochemistry and explored various databases to determine whether it could be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. The expression level of IL1R2 in lung adenocarcinoma was analyzed by Immunohistochemistry and UALCAN database. The correlation between IL1R2 expression and the patient prognosis was identified by Kaplan-Meier plotter. The correlation of IL1R2 expression with immune infiltrates was clarified by TIMER database. The protein-protein interaction network and gene functional enrichment analysis were constructed and performed by STRING and Metascape database. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of IL1R2 was higher in tumor tissues of LUAD patients and that patients with lower IL1R2 level have a better prognosis than their counterparts. We validated our findings in several online databases and found that IL1R2 gene was also positively correlated with B cells and neutrophils and biomarkers of CD8+T cells and exhausted T cells. PPI network and gene enrichment analyses showed that expression of IL1R2 was also associated with complex functionspecific networks involving IL-1 signal, NF-KappaB transcription factors. According to these findings, we demonstrated that IL1R2 was involved in the progression and prognosis of LUAD and the underlying mechanism needs further investigation.

Regulatory Effects of the Silymarin on Expression of OCT4, NANOG, and P53 in MCF7 Cell Lines

Background:: Breast cancer was known as the second most common cause of death in the world, natural sources compound derived from milk thistle called silymarin had already shown anticancer properties. Objective: In the present study, silymarin was used to treat MCF7 cells and inhibition of stem cell pluripotency genes, as well as cell proliferation. Methods: MCF7 cells were cultured in the presence of RPMI-1640 medium consisting of various silymarin extract concentrations (10, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 µg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The inhibitory effects of the compound on cellular proliferation were assessed via employing MTT assay techniques. Following confirming apoptosis, the fold changes of OCT4, NANOG and P53 expression were determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR. Results: There was a significant difference (p value&lt;0.05) in cell viability when various concentrations of silymarin extract were used for 24, 48, and 72 h in comparison to the control. Real-Time- PCR analysis indicated that the expression of OCT4 and NANOG was downregulated while P53 upregulated in compare to untreated control cells (p value &lt;0.05). Conclusion: According to these findings, the silymarin effects on MCF7 cell line and act via modulating OCT4, NANOG, and P53 pathway mediators. Silymarin may introduce this compound as a promising therapeutic compound against MCF7.

N-acetylcysteine Attenuates Cigarette Smoke-induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Apoptosis through Reactive Oxygen Species Depletion and Glutathione Replenish In vivo and In vitro.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is well known for its antioxidant properties, along with potential protective effects on COPD. However, the molecular mechanism of NAC against the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in COPD remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the anti-apoptosis effect of NAC in COPD mice and alveolar epithelial cells. In the present study, the mouse model of COPD was established by cigarette smoke (CS), and mouse alveolar epithelial (MLE-12) cells were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blot were performed to evaluate the effects of NAC on apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Meanwhile, Lbuthionine- sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione (GSH) inhibitor, was used to uncover the mechanism of COPD treatment by NAC. We found that NAC pretreatment could attenuate the protein levels of apoptosis, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction-related genes caused by CS in vivo. Meanwhile, CSE could decrease MLE-12 cell viability, which was prevented by apoptosis inhibitor ZVAD-FMK but not necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1. Pretreatment of MLE-12 cells with NAC increased cellular GSH levels, inhibited cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and decreased protein level of apoptosis, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction-related genes. Moreover, experiment results showed that BSO could completely reverse the beneficial effects of NAC. Our study confirmed that NAC can attenuate CS-induced AEC apoptosis via alleviating ROS-mediated ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction pathway, and the mechanism was found to be related to replenishing the cellular GSH content.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Dispensing Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Community Pharmacists: A Cross-sectional Survey

Background: The improper or incorrect usage of birth control results in unintended pregnancy. In India, 78% of pregnancies are accidental, with unwanted pregnancies accounting for about 25% of all pregnancies. The family, society, and country may all be financially impacted by such pregnancies. Community pharmacists must have a good attitude and sufficient knowledge of emergency contraception pills (ECPs) in order for women to receive them in a timely manner and as a result, have fewer unintended pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and, practices of community pharmacy practitioners towards ECPs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on retail pharmacies located in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai. A standardized questionnaire was used in 164 community pharmacies to interview about CPPs using a convenience sampling technique. The survey evaluated the CPP's dispensing procedures, knowledge, attitude, and demographic profile. Data analysis was carried out by using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: A total of 164 registered pharmacists participated in the study, which included 76.1 % (n=124) males and 23.9% (n=39) females. Among all the participants, 73.0% of them had a diploma in pharmacy (D Pharm) education, and half of the study participants had a working experience between 1-5 years. In this study, 56.64 %, 27.6%, and 16% of participants had average knowledge, sound knowledge, and poor knowledge, respectively. Results showed that 90.2% (147) of pharmacists came under the positive attitude category, 5.5% of pharmacists had a negative attitude, and 4.3% had a neutral attitude. A moderate positive linear relationship (0.401) existed between the knowledge and attitude of the pharmacist in this study. Attitude and dispensing of emergency OC as OTC to people older than 18 years old and less than 18 years old showed a moderate negative linear relationship. After adjusting the possible confounder variables, age and years of experience significantly affected the knowledge, attitude, and practice of EC. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study has shown that there is generally a lack of knowledge and poor attitude toward emergency contraceptive medicines among community pharmacists. Therefore, it is recommended that improving pharmacist's knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) through proper training and counseling about EC can enhance the appropriate use of drugs.

Antibacterial and Antimalarial Therapeutic Agents: A Patent Perspective.

Antibacterial and antimalarial drugs play a critical role in combating infectious diseases. It is a continuous work to develop new types of antibacterial and antimalarial drugs. To better understand current landscape and association of antibacterial and antimalarial agents, the European patent analysis was performed. Antibacterial and antimalarial agents were analyzed by patent analysis. Patent documents from January 2003 to May 2022 were retrieved and analyzed. The present study indicated there were virtually three therapeutic approaches for antibacterial agents, including chemical drugs, biological products and siRNA technology. Chemical drugs were a mainstream therapeutic approach for development of both antibacterial and antimalarial agents. However, the present study found that in contrast to antimalarials, siRNA technology had been initially explored as therapeutic strategy for antibacterial agents. Also, our study is the first to show that there is a low correlation between antibacterial and antimalarial agents. Globally, our study is the first one to show that it may be not a fast approach to discover antimalarial drugs from antibacterial agents based on drug repurposing. siRNA technology as therapeutic strategy had been explored and used in antibacterial field.

Learning about good nutrition with the 5-color front-of-package label “Nutri-Score”: an experimental study

The Nutri-Score is a 5-color front-of-pack nutrition label designed to provide consumers with an easily understandable guideline to the healthiness of food products. The impact that the Nutri-Score may have on consumers’ choices is unclear since different experimental paradigms have found vastly different effect sizes. In the present study, we have investigated how student participants change a hypothetical personal 1-day-dietary plan after a learning phase during which they learn about the Nutri-Scores of the available food items. Participants were instructed to compose a healthy diet plan in order that the question of whether the Nutri-Score would improve their ability to compose a healthy dietary plan could be investigated, independent of the question of whether they would apply this knowledge in their ordinary lives. We found a substantial (Cohen's d = 0.86) positive impact on nutritional quality (as measured by the Nutrient Profiling System score of the Food Standards Agency) and a medium-sized (d = 0.43) reduction of energy content. Energy content reduction was larger for participants who had initially composed plans with higher energy content. The results suggest that the Nutri-Score has the potential to guide consumers to healthier food choices. It remains unclear, however, whether this potential will be reflected in real-life dietary choices.

Chlorogenic Acid Inhibits Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Pancreatic Cancer Cells via AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin Signaling Pathway.

Chlorogenic acid (CA, United States Patent No. 10772340), a natural biologically active food ingredient, displays potent antitumor activity against a variety of cancer cells. However, the mechanism underlying its anticancer effect is not well elucidated. In the present study, we hope to dissect the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of CA in pancreatic cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of CA in pancreatic cancer cells was determined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cells apoptosis, while a clonogenic assay was carried out to check the colony formation of cancer cells. Transwell assay was performed to assess the cells migration and invasion. The protein expression of AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway was detected by Western Blot. Our data indicated that CA inhibited the proliferation of PANC-28 and PANC-1 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. CA was able to inhibit colony formation, migration, and invasion ability and trigger apoptosis in PANC-28 and PANC-1 cells. Further study showed that CA down-regulated the expression of AKT, p-AKT(Thr308), p-GSK-3β(Ser9), β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin while enhancing the expression of cleaved-caspase 3 and cleaved-caspase 7 in PANC-28 and PANC-1 cells. Our study provides significant evidence that CA is able to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer via the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

A daily diary exploration of contexts and experiences associated with planned drinking decisions in young adults.

Despite the potential for negative consequences, young adults continually engage in heavy alcohol use. Unplanned (vs. planned) drinking has been of particular interest in several studies, as it is theoretically suggested to be related to poor behavioral regulation and negative consequences. Ecological momentary assessment and daily diary (DD) studies have been used to examine the contexts and consequences of planned and unplanned drinking specifically, resulting in somewhat mixed findings surrounding the factors contributing to and consequences of planned drinking. The present DD study adds to this literature by studying rewarding incentives and physical contexts of planned versus unplanned alcohol use, as well as the experiences, or consequences, of planned drinking events. Ninety-nine young adults took part in a mobile study investigating drinking decisions for the current day and day prior, reporting the rewarding incentives contributing to their decision, the context of drinking events, and the experience of each event. Planned drinking was associated with being influenced by social/party and alcohol incentives, as well as being at a bar and pregaming. There was a positive relationship between planned drinking and subjective level of intoxication, but not negative or positive experience. Planned drinking is likely associated with rewarding incentives and social contexts and may contribute to higher levels of subjective intoxication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).