Secondary Screening Research Articles

An AI-Enabled Dynamic Risk Stratification for Emergency Department Patients with ECG and CXR Integration.

Emergency department (ED) triage scale determines the priority of patient care and foretells the prognosis. However, the information retrieved from the initial assessment is limited, hindering the risk identification accuracy of triage. Therefore, we sought to develop a 'dynamic' triage system as secondary screening, using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to integrate information from initial assessment data and subsequent examinations. This retrospective cohort study included 134,112 ED visits with at least one electrocardiography (ECG) and chest X-ray (CXR) in a medical center from 2012 to 2022. Additionally, an independent community hospital provided 45,614 ED visits as an external validation set. We trained an eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) model using initial assessment data to predict all-cause mortality in 7 days. Two deep learning models (DLMs) using ECG and CXR were trained to stratify mortality risks. The dynamic triage levels were based on output from the XGB-triage and DLMs from ECG and CXR. During the internal and external validation, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the XGB-triage model was >0.866; furthermore, the AUCs of DLMs using ECG and CXR were >0.862 and >0.886, respectively. The dynamic triage scale provided a higher C-index (0.914-0.920 vs. 0.827-0.843) than the original one and demonstrated better predictive ability for 5-year mortality, 30-day ED revisit, and 30-day discharge. The AI-based risk scale provides a more accurate and dynamic stratification of mortality risk in ED patients, particularly in identifying patients who tend to be overlooked due to atypical symptoms.

Skrining Fitokimia, Kadar Total Flavonoid dan Antioksidan Daun Cocor Bebek

Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. or in Indonesia known as cocor bebek, this plants grow well in temperate and tropical regions. Cocor bebek is used to treat several diseases including skin diseases, wound healing, kidney stones, gallstones, diabetes. The pharmacological activities of cocor bebek leaves have been reported as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial. The objective of this study is to determine the metabolite content of cocor bebek leaves, total flavonoid levels and antioxidant activity. Observations of secondary metabolites of cocor bebek leaves were carried out through qualitative secondary metabolite screening, while total flavonoid levels were carried out quantitatively UV-VIS with quercetin as a comparison, atioksidan activity through DPPH molecular inhibition testing. The results of this study indicate that cocor bebek leaves contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, tannins and phenols. 200gr of cocor bebek leaves obtained % yield extract is 14.63%. The total favonoid content obtained was 8.77% of quercetin, while the antioxidant inhibition of DPPH molecules obtained IC50 of 97.42 ppm.

Gambaran Capaian Standar Pelayanan Minimal (SPM) Kesehatan dengan Kasus Hipertensi dan Diabetes Melitus di Jawa Timur Tahun 2022

Quality Service Standards or SPM are regulations regarding the type and quality of basic services that must be owned by the state, which at least are obtained by every citizen without exception. The prevalence of hypertension in East Java Province is 36.32%, while the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is 2.6%. This value is estimated by the large population in East Java who suffer from hypertension and DM. The purpose of this study was to describe the description of the achievement of Minimum Service Standards (MSS) indicators in the health sector in cases of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in East Java Province in 2022. The research method was a descriptive study with a retrospective design using secondary data screening on the achievement of MSS service targets in the health sector in cases of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in East Java Province. The research results obtained were that the percentage of achievement of MSS in the health sector in cases of hypertension and DM had increased from 2020 to 2022. As many as 38 regencies/cities in East Java Province had total achievement of MSS for hypertension and DM services in East Java Province at number 58% and 96%. As many as 17 out of 38 districts/cities in East Java Province whose percentage score for achievement of MSS is below the total percentage for achievement of hypertension MSS in East Java Province. Meanwhile, in the achievement of MSS DM, as many as 7 out of 38 districts/cities in East Java Province still have not reached the total percentage of achievement of the MSS DM target.

Development and external validation of a pretrained deep learning model for the prediction of non-accidental trauma

Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is deadly and difficult to predict. Transformer models pretrained on large datasets have recently produced state of the art performance on diverse prediction tasks, but the optimal pretraining strategies for diagnostic predictions are not known. Here we report the development and external validation of Pretrained and Adapted BERT for Longitudinal Outcomes (PABLO), a transformer-based deep learning model with multitask clinical pretraining, to identify patients who will receive a diagnosis of NAT in the next year. We develop a clinical interface to visualize patient trajectories, model predictions, and individual risk factors. In two comprehensive statewide databases, approximately 1% of patients experience NAT within one year of prediction. PABLO predicts NAT events with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.844 (95% CI 0.838–0.851) in the California test set, and 0.849 (95% CI 0.846–0.851) on external validation in Florida, outperforming comparator models. Multitask pretraining significantly improves model performance. Attribution analysis shows substance use, psychiatric, and injury diagnoses, in the context of age and racial demographics, as influential predictors of NAT. As a clinical decision support system, PABLO can identify high-risk patients and patient-specific risk factors, which can be used to target secondary screening and preventive interventions at the point-of-care.

Emycin-E purified from Streptomyces sp. RG1011 from Himalayan soil has antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes deadly infections in human as well as animals. The intricate network of virulence factors and biofilms are the major hindrance for the antibiotics in the successful treatment of the infection. The aim of this study is to isolate, identify and characterize natural antimicrobial agent against S. aureus from natural resources. MethodsHimalayan soils were subjected to primary, secondary and tertiary screening to isolate soil Actinobacteria. Identification and characterization of the isolate was done by various biochemical assays and 16s rDNA sequencing. Partial purification of the potent antimicrobial agent was done by n-butanol from the culture supernatant, TLC and HPLC were performed to purify the active component and subjected to FTIR and ESI-MS analysis. ResultsThe potent isolate RM-1(13) was confirmed as Streptomyces griseus strain RG1011 (NCBI accession no: 0M780275) by biochemical and molecular analysis. The partially purified antimicrobial agent was active against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. The active component was purified by HPLC and identified as Emycin-E by ESI-MS analysis. The Emycin-E has calculated MIC of 0.31 μg/ml against S. aureus ATCC 25923. Emycin-E inhibits the biofilm formation of S. aureus in in vitro microtiter plate assay. ConclusionsThe identified antimicrobial agent was found active against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. We have successfully identified the active compound as Emycin-E by FTIR and ESI-MS analysis. Our study suggests the role of Emycin-E in the inhibition of biofilm formation in S. aureus.

Validation of parameters recommended for secondary screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in Japan

BackgroundBased on the Japanese Pediatric Orthopaedic Association's guidelines, secondary screening and imaging including ultrasonography and radiography, are recommended in infants with limited hip abduction (<70°) or in those with multiple risk factors including the following: asymmetrical skin creases, a family history of developmental dysplasia of the hip, female sex, and pelvic position at delivery. However, there is still little information regarding the usefulness of this guideline. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the risk factors and developmental dysplasia of the hip diagnosed using ultrasound and radiography. MethodsA total of 356 infants (67 boys and 289 girls) underwent secondary ultrasonographic and radiological screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in our hospital. Risk factors were documented from their medical records. The recommended item score, which we defined as an integrated value of the recommended item, was calculated for each patient. The limitation of hip abduction alone was a criterion for secondary screening; therefore, we defined the scores as follows: the limitation of hip abduction scored 2 points and other recommended scores were assigned 1 point. If the recommended item score was 2 points or more, we classified the infants as high-risk. ResultsA total of 280 of 356 infants were included in the high-risk group, which showed a higher ratio of cases with abnormal imaging findings than the low-risk group. According to the multivariate logistic regression analyses among the recommended items, being female, skin asymmetry, and limb limitation were identified as independent risk factors for imaging abnormality and the need for Pavlik harness treatment. ConclusionsThe recommended items for secondary screening based on the Japanese Pediatric Orthopaedic Association's guidelines could be useful for screening infants in need of treatment.

Performance evaluation and yield optimization of L-glutaminase free L-asparaginase from seaweed-associated bacteria

Gracilaria dura associated bacterial diversity revealed 75 isolates, which were screened for L-asparaginase (LA) production. Out of the three positive isolates, upon secondary screening, the strain 4T1C26E identified as Bacillus licheniformis registered the highest (25.2 IU ml−1) LA activity. This isolate was further subjected to yield improvement by optimizing process parameters through Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networking-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO). A 2.5-fold increase in production by using RSM while 4-fold increase by using ANN with respect to un-optimized conditions could be achieved. In the preliminary toxicity analysis on the standard animal model Caenorhabditis elegans, the worms treated with crude LA showed similar growth pattern to the control worms marking the enzyme safe for human applications. The important benefit of LA obtained here is that it possesses no L-glutaminase activity and is free of endotoxins which is suitable for downstream processing thereby reducing chances of the immunogenic responses.

Identifying risk factors for poor multidimensional recovery after major surgery: A systematic review.

A systematic review without meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively summarize preoperative risk factors for multidimensional recovery 4-6 weeks after major surgery (PROSPERO, CRD42022321626). We reviewed three electronic databases between January 2012 and April 2022. The primary outcome was risk factors for multidimensional recovery at 4-6 weeks. A GRADE quality appraisal and a risk of bias assessment were completed. In total, 5150 studies were identified, after which 1506 duplicates were removed. After the primary and secondary screening, nine articles were included in the final review. Interrater agreements between the two assessors for the primary and secondary screening process were 86% (k = 0.47) and 94% (k = 0.70), respectively. Factors associated with poor recovery were found to include ASA grade, recovery tool baseline score, physical function, number of co-morbidities, previous surgery, and psychological well-being. Mixed results were reported for age, BMI, and preoperative pain. Due to the observational nature, heterogeneity, multiple definitions of recovery, and moderate risk of bias of the primary studies, the quality of evidence was rated from very low to low. Our review found that there were few studies assessing preoperative risk factors as predictors for poor postoperative multidimensional recovery. This confirms the need for higher quality studies assessing risk for poor recovery, ideally with a consistent and multi-dimensional definition of recovery.

Development of a pumpless acoustofluidic device for rapid food pathogen detection

Mixing, homogenization, separation, and filtration are crucial processes in miniaturized analytical systems employed for in-vitro biological, environmental, and food analysis. However, in microfluidic systems achieving homogenization becomes more challenging due to the laminar flow conditions, which lack the turbulent flows typically used for mixing in traditional analytical systems. Here, we introduce an acoustofluidic platform that leverages an acoustic transducer to generate microvortex streaming, enabling effective homogenizing of food samples. To reduce reliance on external equipment, tubing, and pump, which is desirable for Point-of-Need testing, our pumpless platform employs a hydrophilic yarn capable of continuous wicking for sample perfusion. Following the homogenization process, the platform incorporates an array of micropillars for filtering out large particles from the samples. Additionally, the porous structure of the yarn provides a secondary screening mechanism. The resulting system is compact, and reliable, and was successfully applied to the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in two different types of berries using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The platform demonstrated a detection limit of 5 CFU g−1, showcasing its effectiveness in rapid and sensitive pathogen detection.

Guidelines, position statements, and advisories for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in rural populations: A systematic review protocol.

Globally, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which include type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), are associated with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Health disparities exacerbate the burden of NCDs. Notably, rural, compared with urban, populations face greater disparities in access to preventive care, management, and treatment of NCDs. However, there is sparse information and no known literature synthesis on the inclusion of rural populations in documents (i.e., guidelines, position statements, and advisories) pertaining to the prevention of T2D, hypertension, and CVD. To address this gap, we are conducting a systematic review to assess the inclusion of rural populations in documents on the primary prevention of T2D, hypertension, and CVD. This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched 19 databases including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus, from January 2017 through October 2022, on the primary prevention of T2D, hypertension, and CVD. We conducted separate Google® searches for each of the 216 World Bank economies. For primary screening, titles and/or abstracts were screened independently by two authors (databases) or one author (Google®). Documents meeting selection criteria will undergo full-text review (secondary screening) using predetermined criteria, and data extraction using a standardized form. The definition of rurality varies, and we will report the description provided in each document. We will also describe the social determinants of health (based on the World Health Organization) that may be associated with rurality. To our knowledge, this will be the first systematic review on the inclusion of rurality in documents on the primary prevention of T2D, hypertension, and CVD. Ethics approval is not required since we are not using patient-level data. Patients are not involved in the study design or analysis. We will present the results at conferences and in peer-reviewed publication(s). PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42022369815.

Pengembangan Buku Saku Berdasarkan Studi Identifikasi Tanaman Obat Pada Masyarakat Suku Serawai Bengkulu Selatan

This research is a research and development of teaching materials in the form of a pocketbook based on the study of the identification of medicinal plants in the Serawai people of South Bengkulu. The purpose of this study was to determine the medicinal plants, the content of secondary metabolite phytochemical compounds in each plant, and the validity and responses of students to the developed pocketbook. The development model used is the research and development (R&amp;D) model of Bord and Gall (1983) which is limited to the seventh stage, namely the revision of the product from the limited trial results. From the research, 19 (nineteen) medicinal plants were selected that were used by the Serawai people of South Bengkulu. The results of secondary metabolite screening showed that the medicinal plants found contained various levels of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. The validity of the pocketbook from the study of the identification of medicinal plants in the Serawai tribal community obtained an average value of 84.3% for the material aspect and 91.7% for the media aspect which was included in the very appropriate category. Student responses regarding the pocket book of medicinal plants developed obtained a value the percentage of material aspects, media, benefits are 85.8%, 88.0%, and 87.0%, respectively with an average of 86.9% which were included in the very good criteria. Student also give a positive response to the product being developed with a 100 % interest percentage.&#x0D; Keywords: Pocket Book, Medicinal Plants, Serawai Tribe, Secondary Metabolites

Cryotherapy for the Treatment of Tracheal Stenosis: A Systematic Review.

Tracheal stenosis (TS) is an iatrogenic sequela after intubation or tracheostomy that is increasing despite technological improvement and skilled respiratory care in the ICU. According to the studies, the rate of TS varies from 10 to 22%, but only 1-2% of these stenoses are severe and present with inspiratory dyspnea that does not respond to medical management. Bronchoscopy is considered the most appropriate diagnostic test, and laser surgery and tracheobronchial stenting are the most commonly performed procedures for tracheal stenosis. However, alternative treatment options, including cryotherapy for inoperable patients, have yet to be studied widely. As the number of patients requiring ICU admission with mechanical intubation is increasing, it is crucial to acknowledge this complication and consider alternative management options. Here we present a review of the use of cryotherapy for post-intubation tracheal stenosis. Pubmed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases were inquired for studies performed using the keywords'airway stricture' OR 'airway obstruction' AND 'post-intubation' OR 'post-extubation' OR 'tracheostomy'AND 'cryotherapy'. After the primary and secondary screening, five studies were included in the analysis. We included 67 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 50.2 (range: 42-55) years. Tracheal stenosis and subglottic stricture were the most common sites of stenosis. Twenty-nine patients were treated with cryotherapy only, while the rest 38 patients had cryotherapy followed by balloon dilation. After the intervention, 48 patients experienced improvement, five experienced no change in the symptoms, 13 patients were asymptomatic before the treatment, and one died. No complication was reported in 65 patients, with only minor complications reported in rest. Although, there is no clear treatment protocol for patients with inoperable tracheal stenosis. Our review demonstrates that cryotherapy for inoperable tracheal stenosis can be an acceptable alternative treatment with significant clinical improvement. Additionally, cryotherapy has fewer adverse effects compared to other treatment options.

Isolation, characterization and identification of cellulase (Endo-β-1,4-glucanase) producing bacteria from diverse locations

&#x0D; The objective of the study was to isolate cellulase producing bacteria from natural sources and identify the bacterial isolates that produce thermostable enzyme. Bacteria were isolated from samples collected from different locations like mango leaf litter, termite gut, composting yard (municipal solid waste, compost, and soil), soil from decaying paper waste, decaying wood, and saline coastal belt soil by enrichment in broth containing 1% cellulose and subsequent culturing on plates and the purified cultures stored in slants of the solidified agar medium of the same composition as enrichment medium. Primary screening of the isolates for cellulase (Endo β-1,4-glucanase) production was done by growing them on Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) agar medium and screening using indicator dye Congo red. Secondary screening of the positive isolates showing cellulolytic Index &gt; 4 was done by crude cellulase enzyme extraction and assay using 1% CMC in 1N citrate buffer (pH 5.0) at different pH values (4.8- 7.0) and temperatures (35- 70℃). Cellulase activity (EA) in U/mL was calculated based on the absorbance change per min. which depends on the amount of reducing sugar produced by the enzyme catalysed conversion of CMC to reducing sugar. Isolates were characterized morphologically and biochemically and six isolates (Gram -ve: T1, MSW, C1, S2 and Gram +ve: W2, P) having significantly higher EA were selected for DNA extraction. DNA was quantified and the DNA of four isolates (MSW, S2, W2, P) were selected for sequence analysis. The 16S rDNA sequencing was carried out through PCR amplification and Blast using NCBI blast similarity search tool resulted in the identification of MSW, S2, W2 as E.coli, Sulfitobacter pontiacus, Bacillus subtilis respectively and P as Bacillus cereus and Rhodococcus erythropolis strain e1. Isolates showed significantly higher cellulase activity (EA) at pH 6.2 and at varying temperatures. Bacterial isolates P and C2 showed significantly higher activity at 40℃, MSW at 60℃ and others at 50℃ (EA ranging from 0.0054 – 0.0604 U/mL). Isolates W2, P, S2 had EA ranging from 0.006 - 0.03 U/mL at 70℃. This study showed that the cellulase producers could be grown at different temperatures (40 - 70℃) on cellulose based substrate. In this study the substrate specificity indicates that the crude enzyme is an endo- β-1,4-glucanase that plays a prominent role in initiating and sustaining the hydrolytic process and randomly cleaves cellulose into glucose and olygomeric polysaccharides. Hence by selecting samples with cellulosic substance from different locations with extreme environmental conditions like high temperature, high salinity it is possible to isolate cellulolytic bacteria producing cellulase enzymes that are stable at higher processing temperatures and other harsh conditions which is of importance in industrial applications.&#x0D; Keywords: Endo-β-1,4-glucanase, Cellulolytic index, Cellulase activity, Thermostable

Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Levansucrase From Bacillus lichniformans MJ8

The ability to produce levansucrase was estimated in fifty Bacillus spp. isolates obtained from various sources. One isolate was found to be the higher producer of this enzyme through primary and secondary screening, which was performed by estimating levansucrase activity. It was found to be 6.05 U/ml. The results show, after identification by the Vitek 2 compact system with 92% probability and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, that this isolate is Bacillus licheniformis, designated in this study as MJ8, and registered in the Gene Bank under the accession number OM672244.1. Then, the gene of (SacB) was studied in detail. It contained 1449 nucleotides (accession number ON811641.1), expressed for 482 amino acids and 29 amino-acid as signal peptides. A recombinant plasmid, pET28a(+), with the levansucrase (SacB) gene, was over expressed in high efficiency E. coli BL21 (DE3). Then the enzyme was purified in three steps; firstly, it was precipitated with ammonium sulfate 40-80%. Secondly, DEAE cellulose ion exchange chromatography was applied then the gel filtration chromatography. The activity of levansucrase at the final purification steps reached 48.65 U/ml with a purification fold of 18.0 and a recovery of 48.9%. The levansucrase characterization was also studied. It was found that the molecular weight by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration methods was 43 kDa and 47 kDa, respectively, and the optimum temperature activity and stability were 45 ◦C, 30-35 ◦C, respectively while the pH activity and stability were 6.0, and 7.0, The levan was produced from cloned (SacB) levansucrase, separated, purified, and identified by NMR, AFM, and SEM analyses showed that its structure mostly consists of fructose residues.

Screening Ethanol-Producing Yeast Origin from Pineapple Honey Ananas comosus (L.) Merr var Quenn

The availability of fossil-based fuels will gradually decrease while the amount required increases. This has prompted research to find alternative energy sources, including bioethanol. Bioethanol, as an alternative energy source, can be used as a transportation fuel better than fossil-based fuels because ethanol has a high octane number, laminar velocity and heat of vaporisation. Meanwhile, the level of carbon and hydrocarbon emissions is low so it can increase combustion efficiency in vehicles. In addition, the use of bioethanol as fuel is environmentally friendly and renewable. Ethanol can be produced through a fermentation process using ethanol-producing yeast. Pineapple honey is known for its high sugar and other nutrient content, so it is supposed that many types of yeast can grow well in it. This study aims to isolation and screening of bioethanol-producing yeast from Pineapple Honey. This study was carried out by yeast isolation method, primary yeast screening, secondary yeast screening, and characterisation of selected yeast isolates. Data on ethanol production by yeast isolates were analysed by ANOVA with α=0.05 using the R studio program. This primary isolation and screening phase found eight yeast isolates capable of fermenting glucose and producing acid and gas in the test medium. Test ethanol production in DPE medium with 18% glucose content on all isolates showed that all isolates could produce ethanol with a range of 4.20-10.35%. Isolates of IK4 showed the highest ethanol production ability (10.35%) (p&lt;0.5%) in significant contrast to the other seven isolates. Based on macroscopic and microscopic morphological characterisations, IKM 4 isolates show similarities to the genus Saccharomyces&#x0D; Keywords: ethanol, pineapple, yeasts

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing and Secondary Metabolite Screening Confirm Fusarium graminearum C16 Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Products as Decalin-Containing Diterpenoid Pyrones.

Fusarium graminearum is a causal organism of Fusarium head blight in cereals and maize. Although a few secondary metabolites produced by F. graminearum are considered disease virulence factors, many molecular products of biosynthetic gene clusters expressed by F. graminearum during infection and their associated role in the disease are unknown. In particular, the predicted meroterpenoid products of the biosynthetic gene cluster historically designated as "C16" are likely associated with pathogenicity. Presented here are the results of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing experiments disrupting the polyketide synthase and terpene synthase genes associated with the C16 biosynthetic gene cluster in F. graminearum. Culture medium screening experiments using transformant strains were profiled by UHPLC-HRMS and targeted MS2 experiments to confirm the associated secondary metabolite products of the C16 biosynthetic gene cluster as the decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones, FDDP-D and FDDP-E. Both decalin-containing diterpenoid pyrones were confirmed to be produced in wheat heads challenged with F. graminearum in growth chamber trials. The extent to which the F. graminearum C16 biosynthetic gene cluster is dispersed within the genus Fusarium is discussed along with a proposed role of the FDDPs as pathogen virulence factors.

Anal Cancer and Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia Risk among Patients Treated for HPV-Related Gynecological Diseases-A Systematic Review.

The most important causative agent of neoplasms in the anogenital area is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Due to the anatomical proximity of the genital and anus area and the ease with which HPV infection is transmitted, it seems that patients after the treatment of HPV-related gynecological diseases may have an increased risk of developing a second HPV-related neoplasm anal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and anal cancer (AC) among patients after the treatment of HPV-related gynecological diseases. We conducted a comprehensive review of the available literature from multiple databases. The study was performed following Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2009 guidelines. Moreover, we assessed the quality of each study using QUADAS-2. Twenty-five studies were included in the final analysis. Patients after the treatment of HPV-related gynecological diseases have a significantly higher risk of AC (mean standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 5.387, mean incidence risk (IR) = 0.096%, mean IR per 100,000 person-years = 10.37) and AIN (mean IR = 23.683%) compared to the population risk. patients with HPV-related gynecological diseases should constitute a group for which an appropriate primary and secondary screening for AC should be introduced.

Prevalence and risk factors for silicosis among a large cohort of stone benchtop industry workers

ObjectivesHigh silica content artificial stone has been found to be associated with silicosis among stone benchtop industry (SBI) workers. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of...

Virtual screening–molecular docking–activity evaluation of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) swingle bark in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

BackgroundThe dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The objective of this study was to explore the therapeutic basis of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle for the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on Virtual Screening–Molecular Docking–Activity Evaluation technology.MethodsBy searching the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology TCMSP Database and Analysis Platform, 89 compounds were obtained from the chemical components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Then, after preliminarily screening the compounds based on Lipinski’s rule of five and other relevant conditions, the AutoDock Vina molecular docking software was used to evaluate the affinity of the compounds to ulcerative colitis-related target proteins and their binding modes through use of the scoring function to identify the best candidate compounds. Further verification of the compound’s properties was achieved through in vitro experiments.ResultsTwenty-two compounds obtained from the secondary screening were molecularly docked with ulcerative colitis-related target proteins (IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt) using AutoDock Vina. The free energies of the highest scoring compounds binding to the active cavity of human IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt proteins were − 8.7, − 8.0, − 9.2, − 7.7, and − 8.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The potential compounds, dehydrocrebanine, ailanthone, and kaempferol, were obtained through scoring function and docking mode analysis. Furthermore, the potential compound ailanthone (1, 3, and 10 µM) was found to have no significant effect on cell proliferation, though at 10 µM it reduced the level of pro-inflammatory factors caused by lipopolysaccharide.ConclusionAmong the active components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, ailanthone plays a major role in its anti-inflammatory properties. The present study shows that ailanthone has advantages in cell proliferation and in inhibiting of inflammation, but further animal research is needed to confirm its pharmaceutical potential.

LC-MS profiling-based non-targeted secondary metabolite screening for deciphering cosmeceutical potential of Malaysian algae.

Application of natural resources from the marine environment in the cosmeceutical industry is gaining great attention. This study pursues to discover the cosmeceutical potential of two Malaysian algae, Sargassum sp. and Kappaphycus sp. by determining their antioxidant capacity and assessing the presence of their secondary metabolites with cosmeceutical potential using non-targeted metabolite profiling. Metabolite profiling using Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (Q-TOF) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in the Electrospray Ionization (ESI) mode resulted in 110 putative metabolites in Sargassum sp. and 47 putative metabolites in Kappaphycus sp. and were grouped according to their functions. To the best of our knowledge, the bioactive compounds of both algae have not been studied in any great detail. This is the first report to explore their cosmeceutical potential. Six antioxidants were detected in Sargassum sp., including fucoxanthin, (3S, 4R, 3'R)-4-Hydroxyalloxanthin, enzacamene N-stearoyl valine, 2-hydroxy-hexadecanoic acid, and metalloporphyrins. Meanwhile, three antioxidants detected in Kappahycus sp., namely Tanacetol A, 2-fluoro palmitic acid and idebenone metabolites. Three antioxidants are found in both algae species, namely, 3-tert-Butyl-5-methylcatechol, (-)-isoamijiol, and (6S)-dehydrovomifoliol. Anti-inflammatory metabolites such as 5(R)-HETE, protoverine, phytosphingosine, 4,5-Leukotriene-A4, and 5Z-octadecenoic acid were also found in both species. Sargassum sp. possesses higher antioxidant capacity as compared to Kappahycus sp. which may be linked to its number of antioxidant compounds found through LC-MS. Hence, our results conclude that Malaysian Sargassum sp. and Kappaphycus sp. are potential natural cosmeceutical ingredients as we aim to produce algae cosmeceutical products using native algae.