Severe Health Research Articles

Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Liver Carcinoma: The Role of Iron Metabolism and Its Modulation.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant contributor to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Iron, a central co-factor in various metabolic pathways, plays an essential role in liver function, but its dysregulation can lead to severe health consequences. Accumulation of iron within hepatic cells over time is linked to increased liver injury and is strongly associated with sensitive exposure to a range of conditions, including cirrhosis, fibrosis and ultimately, HCC. This review explores the intricate interplay between iron metabolism and HCC within the context of HBV infection. Hepatic iron overload can arise from liver injury and disruptions in iron homeostasis, causing hepatic necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, ultimately culminating in carcinogenesis. Moreover, alterations in serum iron components in HBV-related scenarios have been observed to impact the persistence of HBV infection. Notably, the progression of HBV-associated liver damage exhibits distinct characteristics at various stages of liver disease. In addition to elucidating the complex relationship between iron metabolism and HCC in the context of HBV infection, this review also investigates the prognostic implications of systemic iron levels for HCC. Furthermore, it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between iron metabolism and HCC, extending the discussion to the context of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. By shedding light on these multifaceted connections, this review aims to contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of HBV-associated HCC and potentially identify novel therapeutic avenues for intervention.

An Uncommon Case of Plasmodium vivax Malaria with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: Rare Case Report with Review of Literature.

Malaria is a severe health issue in India despite government efforts. Malaria has many complications, some of which can be life-threatening. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a prominent malaria complication, besides renal failure, cerebral malaria, pulmonary edema, and anemia. We report a young man with Plasmodium vivax malaria who developed septic shock due to DIC. A 25-year-old male had a fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea for 5 days. On clinical examination, the patient was in distress and had a fever of 102.6°F with a blood pressure of 86/46 mmHg. A complete blood count revealed anemia, leukocytopenia, and severe thrombocytopenia. Peripheral blood smear findings showed a P. vivax parasite in red blood cells with the presence of a few schistocytes. Further coagulation tests showed raised prothrombin, partial thromboplastin time, and d-dimer. DIC and septic shock required critical care unit admission. Conservative treatment with artesunate and lumefantrine completely cured him. This unusual case shows that P. vivax causes severe malaria and its morbid consequences. It stresses early diagnosis and treatment to prevent mortality and morbidity.

Biofabricated silver nanoparticles from Calotropis procera: A potential antimicrobial solution against pathogenic bacteria

Calotropis procera has the potential as a traditional medicinal plant that offers a diverse array of healing treatments. It was used in conventional medicine to remedy several ailments, including diarrhea and snakebites. This study examines the antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles derived from the floral and latex components of C. procera. The nanoparticles were tested for their effectiveness against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. For characterization, the synthesized nanoparticles underwent thorough analysis using UV spectroscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After the reduction process, the FTIR analysis revealed that some functional biomolecules found in plants form a coating on the nanoparticles, serving as organic agents that stabilize the nanoparticles. The size of nanoparticles analyzed with SEM falls in the 30 to 130 nm range. Furthermore, the synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested as antimicrobial agents against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, well-known microorganisms that can produce ulceration phases and severe health consequences. After a comprehensive examination, it was found that the silver nanoparticles have significant antibacterial effectiveness, particularly against S. aureus, a primary bacterium responsible for causing different ailments. The remarkable antibacterial efficacy of the silver nanoparticles synthesized in an environment-friendly manner underscores its potential applications in combating the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Evaluation of the Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG ELISA: a novel peptide multiplexing approach.

Lyme Borreliosis (LB), or Lyme disease, is a growing health concern caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) bacteria transmitted through tick bites, and untreated cases can lead to severe health complications. Existing serology tests, while valuable, have low sensitivity in early infection stages where diagnosis is vital, interpretation variability, and false positives from cross-reactivity, while direct detection methods also suffer from low sensitivity, due to the inconsistent presence of Bbsl components in clinical samples. This study validated the diagnostic performance of the novel Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on scaffold-displayed peptide antigens, using 120 specific immunodominant epitopes selected from 37 antigenic bacterial proteins corresponding to the main pathogenic Bbsl genospecies. Using 220 serum samples from Scottish patients with early, late, and disseminated LB, the assay's sensitivity was compared with that of the LIAISON Borrelia IgG CLIA, while specificity was assessed with 198 control samples, including healthy individuals and patients with diseases that are humorally similar. The Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG assay demonstrated comparable performance to the LIAISON Borrelia IgG in disseminated and late LB (Lyme neuroborreliosis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, and Lyme arthritis). Notably, the Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG showed significantly higher sensitivity in patients with suspected erythema migrans, while maintaining high specificity. The Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG ELISA offers a promising advancement in LB diagnostics, demonstrating its potential for more accurate and timely diagnosis, particularly in the early stages of LB infection.IMPORTANCELyme Borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacteria, poses significant health risks if undiagnosed or diagnosed late. Current diagnostic tests have limitations, especially in early-stage detection. This study validates the Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, demonstrating superior sensitivity in early LB detection while maintaining high specificity. The Epitogen Lyme Detect IgG comprises a suite of 120 immunodominant IgG epitopes/peptides from 37 bacterial antigens, covering the main LB-causing species: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia mayonii. The novel design of multiplexing peptide antigens onto a scaffold to facilitate expression, correct folding, and orientation of the relevant peptides offers a promising advancement, potentially leading to more accurate and timely LB diagnoses and improving patient outcomes.

The impact of stress on sleep quality: a mediation analysis based on longitudinal data.

This study evaluates the potential mechanisms through which stress affects sleep quality and examines the mediating roles of rumination, social anxiety, emotion-focused coping strategies, and smartphone dependence in the relationship between stress and sleep quality. From October 2023 to April 2024, we conducted three surveys with 426 university students and utilized structural equation modeling to explore the mechanisms by which stress impacts sleep quality. Stress not only significantly predicts sleep quality but also significantly affects sleep quality through rumination, emotion-focused coping strategies, and smartphone dependence as independent mediators. Additionally, stress influences sleep quality through both dual-mediation and triple-mediation paths. Stress has a significant direct and indirect impact on sleep quality. This study reveals the complex mechanisms through which stress affects sleep quality. Improving individuals' sleep quality requires not only considering the influence of real-life stressors but also examining the intersecting effects between stress and factors such as ruminative thinking, social anxiety, smartphone dependency, and emotion-focused coping strategies. The intense social competition in Chinese society exacerbates the decline in sleep quality, highlighting the need for the government to implement more policies aimed at maintaining the physical and mental health of the population to alleviate the increasingly severe sleep issues and mental health crisis.

Bouncing back from life's perturbations: Formalizing psychological resilience from a complex systems perspective.

Experiencing stressful or traumatic events can lead to a range of responses, from mild disruptions to severe and persistent mental health issues. Understanding the various trajectories of response to adversity is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems. Researchers have identified four commonly observed response trajectories to adversity, from which the resilient is the most common one. Resilience refers to the maintenance of healthy psychological functioning despite facing adversity. However, it remains an open question how to understand and anticipate resilience, due to its dynamic and multifactorial nature. This article presents a novel formalized framework to conceptualize resilience from a complex systems perspective. We use the network theory of psychopathology, which states that mental disorders are self-sustaining endpoints of direct symptom-symptom interactions organized in a network system. The internal structure of the network determines the most likely trajectory of symptom development. We introduce the resilience quadrant, which organizes the state of symptom networks on two domains: (1) healthy versus dysfunctional and (2) stable versus unstable. The quadrant captures the four commonly observed response trajectories to adversity along those dimensions: resilient trajectories in the face of adversity, as well as persistent symptoms despite treatment interventions. Subsequently, an empirical illustration, by means of a proof-of-principle, shows how simulated observations from four different network architectures lead to the four commonly observed responses to adversity. As such, we present a novel outlook on resilience by combining existing statistical symptom network models with simulation techniques. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTERISATION OF TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN CONCENTRATIONS OF GASEOUS AMMONIA AND NITROGEN OXIDES IN TYPICAL URBAN ATMOSPHERE

Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is a well-known contributor to secondary particle formation and canlead to severe environmental degradation and human health outcomes. In the context of the verylimited knowledge about updated data on NH3 levels in urban areas, this paper presents the results ofa one-year (Apr 2023 – Mar 2024) measurement campaign of NH3 concentrations conducted at theurban background site in Zabrze, located in the central part of the Upper Silesian Industrial District(USID) (southern Poland), which could be considered one of the European hotspots. The research wasperformed using an automatic ammonia analyzer Model T201 by Teledyne API, which provides dataon the levels of NH3 and other gaseous nitrogen compounds (NO (nitrogen oxide), NO2 (nitrogendioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides) at hourly time resolution. Consequently, this enabled an analysisof specific temporal variations of NH3 concentrations, and therefore allowed the identification ofits possible emission sources and insight into processes involving ammonia. The results obtained inthis study revealed that ammonia stood out from nitrogen oxides and other atmospheric pollutants– with high NH3 concentrations recorded during spring and summer, which is related to the highintensity of gaseous NH3 formation under warm meteorological conditions. A different situationwas observed in the hourly NH3 concentration distribution scheme, which was manifested by muchless visible diurnal variations of NH3 levels, with no characteristic morning maximum, as well asthe occurrence of a broad afternoon maximum in the summer. In summary, anthropogenic sourceshad a significant impact on NH3 concentrations in the area under consideration, with a greater roleof traffic in the case of NOx, and a biomass and fossil fuel combustion and/or industrial sources –for NH3. Local meteorological conditions also had a notable influence on NH3 levels, of which airtemperature (positive correlation) and wind speed (negative correlation) were found to be the mostimportant. The ongoing research is planned to be continued, as it can provide valuable scientific datafor the development of air quality protection strategies and programmes in urban areas, especially inthe field of reducing emissions of gaseous precursors of particulate matter.

Two Endogenous Endophthalmitis Cases Accompanying Nephrological Condition in Diabetic Patients

Aims: This report aims to highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention in cases of endogenous endophthalmitis, with particular focus on its nephrological etiology and associated systemic infections. Presentation of Case: Two cases of endogenous endophthalmitis were observed in patients with nephrological complications. Case 1 involved a 50-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, who presented with severe visual impairment in the right eye due to Staphylococcus aureus sepsis from a hemodialysis catheter infection. Despite aggressive treatment with intravitreal and systemic antibiotics, the patient’s visual prognosis was poor. Case 2 involved a 65-year-old woman with acute pyelonephritis and undiagnosed diabetes, presenting with unilateral visual loss and ocular inflammation. Systemic and intravitreal antibiotics, alongside corticosteroids, led to a favorable outcome with a final visual acuity of 7/10. Discussion: Diabetic patients with nephrological conditions are particularly susceptible to endogenous endophthalmitis due to compromised immunity and increased risk of systemic infections. Both cases underscore the link between systemic infections, particularly in patients with renal or diabetic conditions, and endogenous endophthalmitis. Prompt recognition of ocular symptoms in patients with systemic infections is critical, as appropriate intervention can preserve visual function. The role of broad-spectrum antibiotics, intravitreal injections, and systemic infection control is emphasized. Conclusion: These cases illustrate the importance of multidisciplinary intervention in managing endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to nephrological infections. While outcomes vary depending on disease severity and patient health, rapid diagnosis and treatment are vital to improving prognosis and preserving vision.

Sexual Victimization History and Emotion Regulation in Daily Life: A Role for Stress Sensitization.

Relative to other types of traumatic experiences, a lifetime history of sexual violence (SV) has been linked with more persistent and severe mental health outcomes, but the reasons for this discrepancy have not been clearly established. Stress sensitization, or the amplification of responses to daily stressors as a function of trauma history, offers one possible explanation. Using ecological momentary assessment, the current study tested stress sensitization effects in daily life for individuals with a history of SV, focusing on emotion regulation as an outcome. Smartphone surveys were delivered four times per day over a 2-week period to assess relationships between prior SV exposure, daily stressors, and emotion regulation in an undergraduate sample (N = 122). As expected, individuals with lifetime exposure to SV evidenced increased emotion dysregulation and maladaptive emotion regulation in response to daily stressors relative to nonexposed peers, even after accounting for cumulative trauma. However, the SV and non-SV groups did not differ significantly on state adaptive emotion regulation. Instead, experiencing daily stressors was associated with increased adaptive emotion regulation for individuals in both groups. Broadly, results suggest that SV is uniquely associated with increased sensitivity to daily stressors, manifested as emotion dysregulation and use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies to regulate emotions. These findings are consistent with emerging research on the neurobiology of trauma and with an emphasis on emotion regulation skills in leading interventions for SV-exposed individuals. Stress sensitization warrants additional attention as a factor linking SV and mental health problems.

The Relationship Between Hair Zinc Levels, Feeding Patterns, and Infectious Diseases on The Incidence of Stunting in Children Aged 24-59 Months in The City of North Jakarta, Province of DKI Jakarta

Globally, stunting is a severe public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income nations like Indonesia. It is typified by stunted growth and development due to recurrent infections and chronic malnutrition. North Jakarta has a 19.8% stunting incidence, according to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey. This indicates the critical need for additional research into the factors contributing to stunting, such as hair zinc levels, dietary habits, and infectious infections. This study employs an observational case-control design conducted in North Jakarta in March 2024. Stunting incidence and hair zinc levels are significantly correlated (p=0.000), affecting 87.5% of children with low hair zinc levels. Stunting is also correlated considerably (p=0.000) with incorrect feeding patterns; 75.7% of children who exhibit these patterns are stunted. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant correlation (p=0.806) between the incidence of stunting and a history of infectious illnesses. The mother's level of education, the child's age, gender, and family income did not significantly correlate with stunting.

Association of Body Mass Index (BMI) with Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle among Undergraduate Dental Students in a Private Dental College in Bangladesh

Background: Obesity can lead to severe health problems and elevate the risk of diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes due to metabolic changes. Undergraduate dental students often struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eating habits due to academic pressures. BMI, a standard obesity measure, is simple to calculate and assess nutritional status, helping to identify and prevent obesity-related diseases in at-risk individuals. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed among 253 students of Sapporo Dental College, a private dental college in Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh, to reveal the prevalence of overweight and obesity according to BMI and its association with dietary habits, physical activities, and lifestyles among them. Data was collected using a self-written, anonymous, semi-structured questionnaire using the convenient sampling technique between July 2023 and September 2023. Result: Among the 253 participants, females (n = 190, 75.10%) are more than males (n = 63, 25%). The prevalence of normal weight, underweight, overweight, and obesity among the participants was 132 (37.93%), 31 (8.91%), 56 (16.09%), and 129 (37.07%), respectively, based on BMI. 84% of obese students were taken 1 meal from outside per day (p values < 0.05). 52% obese students did not engage in any form of physical activity on a weekly basis (p value 0.03). 55.5% obese students slept for < 6 hours every night (p-value 0.04). Conclusion: Early modifications of lifestyle improve health. Annual screenings help to prevent obesity. Fitness and diet programs can reduce dental students' chronic disease risk. Study participants are future physicians. Thus, dental students should be physically active and aware of their eating and sleep habits to reduce obesity, which might influence patients' outlooks. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2024; 14(2):15-20

Depression, anxiety, and stress in the Chilean Educational System: children and adolescents post-pandemic prevalence and variables

The mental health of children and adolescents in the Chilean Educational System (ChES) has become a severe post-pandemic public health problem. This cross-sectional study, which included 1,174 children and adolescents from five Chilean regions, used the DASS-21 scale, focusing on determining the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as identifying associated risk factors. The results exposed a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress (60.2%, 63.6%, and 50.2%, respectively). Risk factors for depression involve being female, having separated parents, being in high school, having a cell phone, difficulty sleeping, ruminative thoughts, and low self-esteem. For anxiety, factors included being female, being 12 years old, owning a cell phone, having sleep problems, having ruminations, having low self-esteem, and being an atheist. For stress, factors were identified as being female, owning a cell phone, sleep problems, ruminations, low self-esteem, being atheist, as well as extensive use of social networks. The research underscores the urgent need for intervention by educational authorities, given the marked deterioration in the mental health of children and adolescent students in the ChES, to prevent long-term consequences.

Knowledge framework and emerging trends of invasive pulmonary fungal infection: A bibliometric analysis (2003-2023).

The rising number of immunocompromised people has increased concerns about fungal infections as a severe public health issue. Invasive pulmonary fungal infections (IPFIs) are prevalent and often fatal, particularly for those with weakened immune systems. Understanding IPFIs is crucial. The work aims to offer a concise overview of the field's characteristics, main research areas, development paths, and trends. This study searched the Web of Science Core Collection on June 5, 2024, collecting relevant academic works from 2003 to 2023. Analysis was conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix Package in R, Microsoft Excel 2019, and Scimago Graphica. The study indicated that the USA, the University of Manchester, and Denning DW led in productivity and impact, while the Journal of Fungi topped the list in terms of publication volume and citations. High-frequency terms include "fungal infection," "invasive," "diagnosis," and "epidemiology." Keyword and trend analysis identified "influenza," "COVID-19," "invasive pulmonary aspergillosis," and "metagenomic next-generation sequencing" as emerging research areas. Over the last 2 decades, research on IPFI has surged, with topics becoming more profound. These insights offer key guidance on current trends, gaps, and the trajectory of IPFI studies.

PBDEs and dechlorane plus contamination in community e-waste recycling: Environmental and health implications in Northeastern Thailand

Electronic waste (e-waste) poses significant environmental and health risks in Thailand due to both domestic production and international imports. A notable portion of this waste is processed in small-scale, community-based workshops, often located in poorer regions, where safety regulations are improperly enforced or entirely ignored. This study focuses on the Kalasin province in Northern Thailand, a region with numerous such workshops, where no comprehensive analysis of exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and dechlorane plus (DP) has been conducted. The study's objective was to quantify these toxic substances in environmental and biological samples to assess its contamination and human health risks. Environmental samples, including soil, dust, sediment, ash, eggs, crabs, snails, fish, and rice, were collected from e-waste processing sites and compared with control areas. Blood samples from e-waste workers and a control group were also analysed. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry operated in negative ion chemical ionization (GC-NCI-MS) was used to quantify PBDEs and DP isomers. Results showed significantly higher concentrations of these toxic compounds in e-waste sites compared to control areas. E-waste workers also had elevated levels of these substances in their blood, suggesting exposure through contaminated dust and food. These findings underscore the severe environmental contamination and health risks associated with improper e-waste management, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory measures and improved recycling practices to safeguard both environmental and public health.

Risk assessment of hydrogen leakage and explosion in a liquid hydrogen facility using computational analysis

In this study, the dispersion and explosion of liquid hydrogen (LH2) in leakage accidents are investigated using the Flame Accelerator Simulator (FLACS) code. The study focus was a liquid hydrogen research facility in Gimhae, South Korea. Simulations were conducted under various conditions by varying the mass flow rates (0.61 and 0.3 kg/s), directions (lateral in areas with minimal structures, lateral towards a tube trailer truck, and downward), and durations (90 and 180 s) of leakage. The results indicated that higher leakage mass flow rates produce a larger flammable cloud volume (FCV), resulting in higher maximum overpressures than that caused by lower flow rates. Downward leakage generally resulted in a larger FCV and higher overpressure than lateral leakage. The explosion characteristics were also influenced by geometry of LH2 facility, including the presence of structures in the leakage path. Contrastingly, leakage duration had a minimal effect on the maximum overpressure because an increased duration causes a greater dilution of hydrogen, only slightly expanding the FCV. According to the overpressure–impulse diagram, higher leakage flow rates cause severe health risks, approaching thresholds for lung rupture and 100% fatality. Contrary to the minor damages caused by lower leakage flow rates. High flow rates, particularly with downward leaks, can cause significant structural damage in brick buildings, potentially leading to partial demolition.

Short-term functional outcome of total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis of femoral head and influence of patient-related factors

Introduction Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a phenomenon vascular supply disruption lead to death of bone cells around the femoral head. The disease is a severe health issue all over the world. Within 2 years about 80 % to 85 % of symptomatic cases will result in collapse of the femoral head. Recovery of hip function after total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be influenced by many factors that vary among different racial/ethnic groups. Most findings in this field have been from Western developed nations, and not much information from developing Asian countries is available.This study aimed to determine the six-month functional outcome and patient–related factors that predict functional recovery in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) undertaking total hip arthroplasty (THA).Methods Between January 2022 and December 2023 there were 143 patients participating in this prospective study. Demographic, medical history and clinical findings were collected from their medical records. The six-month functional outcome was evaluated using the Harris hip score (HHS). The mean age of the participants was 55.90 ± 11.49 years, and the majority (86.7 %) were male. Most patients had excellent (43.4 %) or good outcome (51.7 %).Discussion Our study had some limitations: the length of the follow-up after surgery is short (6 months), that hospital-related factors like the type and volume of the hospital have not been analyzed. Nonetheless, previous observations suggest that most of the improvement in physical function occurs during the first six months following surgery and remains the same for a long time. However, our sample has typical demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with THA for ANFH, suggesting that determinants of the 6-month functional outcome in the current study could apply to other patients undergoing this surgery.Results The determinants of excellent outcome were a higher preoperative HHS (odds ratio (OR): 4.369, 95 % confidence interval (CI) =1.854 – 10.299; p < 0.001) and absence of comorbidity (OR: 2.440, 95 % CI = 1.071 – 5.557, p = 0.034). No demographic (age, gender, body mass index), medical history (using of steroids, alcohol consumption or smoking), or any other clinical parameter (stage or side of the affected hip, time until surgery) had a significant influence on functional outcome.Conclusion Earlier surgery during functional decline and better management of comorbidity may help improve THA outcomes for patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Harnessing gold-ion crosslinked polyphenol-mediated hydrogels with enhanced tissue adhesiveness, antioxidation, and antibacterial for advanced wound care

Improperly treated wounds can lead to infection, prolonged healing time, and severe health complications. Therefore, developing advanced wound healing materials with antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and high adhesiveness is essential to support recovery and minimize risks. In this study, tannic acid-modified gelatin-based hydrogel was developed by crosslinking with gold ions, providing multiple properties to meet the requirements for wound healing. The conjugation of tannic acid (TA) on gelatin provides the hydrogel with antioxidative properties, while its ability to form multiple interactions ensures robust crosslinking and enhanced adhesion ability. Meanwhile, incorporating gold ions (Au3+) strengthens its mechanical properties and adds antibacterial effects. The hydrogel forms rapidly in about 10 seconds, featuring a porous structure and mechanical strength suitable for skin tissue. High tissue adhesion, demonstrated through UTM with an average value of 11.5 kPa, adds to its appeal. The hydrogel illustrated antioxidant capacity through DPPH assay and antibacterial ability against both E. coli and S. aureus, thanks to their inherited properties from TA and Au3+, respectively. The cytocompatibility of hydrogel was also demonstrated through WST-1 assay and live/dead staining, with cell viability for all samples over 82 %. These results underscore the potential of this hydrogel for advanced wound care applications.

Assessment of residues from common pesticides and associated risks in Pakistan.

Pesticide residues have become an escalating concern in Pakistan, raising significant risks to both public health and the environment. This review overviews the current status of pesticide contamination in the country, with a specific focus on residue levels in relation to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and a comparative analysis with regional and global counterparts. Several studies reveal that 30% to 70% of tested food products, including fruits, vegetables, and animal-derived products, especially in Punjab and Sindh, exceed established MRLs. This level of contamination is considerably higher than in neighboring countries such as India, where MRL exceedance ranges from 20 to 30%, and Bangladesh, which reports lower levels due to stricter regulatory efforts. In comparison, developed countries, including those in the European Union and the United States, report less than 5% of food samples exceeding MRLs, often falling below 1% due to stringent safety standards. The high prevalence of pesticide residues in Pakistan poses severe health risks, including neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and cancer, particularly in vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women. Key factors contributing to these elevated pesticide levels include insufficient knowledge of safe pesticide use, the unregulated application of banned or expired products, improper safety protocols, and malfunctioning equipment. A prevailing reliance on pesticides as the sole pest control method further hinders the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. In conclusion, pesticide residue levels in Pakistan are above permissible MRLs compared to regional and global standards, underscoring the need for urgent improvements in pesticide regulation, enforcement, and the promotion of sustainable pest control methods like IPM to better protect human health and the environment.

Detection and classification of breast cancer in mammographic images with fine-tuned convolutional neural networks

ABSTRACT Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and is a severe health issue that affects many people around the world, especially since it is the most deadly cancer in women. By finding it early and using new treatments, patients can overcome this challenge and get back to a healthier life. This study proposed a procedure to fine-tune the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) model with data preprocessing and augmentation in classifying mammogram images called the Hybrid Mammogram Classification and Detection Pipeline (HMCaD). After using CNN for classification because it brings higher confidence in classifying tasks, the YOLOv8 has been applied for localization subtask to detect abnormal positions with predicted bounding boxes. The database is provided by the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) and is protected by the United Kingdom. It comprises 330 samples, including 79 benign, 54 malignant, and 207 normal images. As a result, the classification in our model based on the custom EfficientNetB3 model and seam carving technique received a great validation accuracy, test accuracy, and F1 score throughout three scenarios at 96.73%, 97.59%, and 97.58%, respectively. Furthermore, the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve also has a surprise result of 0.96 (i.e. AUC = 0.96 ). Moreover, YOLOv8 for detecting abnormal positions in our study achieved 83.22% in Intersection over Union (IoU). This led to the research reaching good results in classifying and detecting breast cancer by considering several performance metrics.

Salmon-IgM Functionalized-PLGA Nanosystem for Florfenicol Delivery as an Antimicrobial Strategy against Piscirickettsia salmonis.

Salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS), caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis, has been the most severe health concern for the Chilean salmon industry. The efforts to control P. salmonis infections have focused on using antibiotics and vaccines. However, infected salmonids exhibit limited responses to the treatments. Here, we developed a poly (D, L-lactide-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-nanosystem functionalized with Atlantic salmon IgM (PLGA-IgM) to specifically deliver florfenicol into infected cells. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared via the double emulsion solvent-evaporation method in the presence of florfenicol. Later, the PLGA-NPs were functionalized with Atlantic salmon IgM through carbodiimide chemistry. The nanosystem showed an average size of ~380-410 nm and a negative surface charge. Further, florfenicol encapsulation efficiency was close to 10%. We evaluated the internalization of the nanosystem and its impact on bacterial load in SHK-1 cells by using confocal microscopy and qPCR. The results suggest that stimulation with the nanosystem elicits a decrease in the bacterial load of P. salmonis when it infects Atlantic salmon macrophages. Overall, the IgM-functionalized PLGA-based nanosystem represents an alternative to the administration of antibiotics in salmon farming, complementing the delivery of antibiotics with the stimulation of the immune response of infected macrophages.