Review Article Research Articles

Management of diabetes-related hyperglycaemic emergencies in advanced chronic kidney disease: Review of the literature and recommendations.

Despite the substantial progress in the management of diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains one of the most common complications. Although uncommon, diabetic emergencies [diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS)] can still occur in stage 4 and 5 CKD, at times with less typical clinical manifestations due to the altered pathophysiology, presence of chronic metabolic acidosis and effect of haemodialysis on glycaemic control and metabolic parameters. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature and provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of DKA, euglycaemic DKA and HHS in people with advanced CKD. Guidance on the management of diabetes-related emergencies mainly focuses on individuals with preserved renal function or early-stage CKD. Existing literature is limited, and recommendations are based on expert opinions and case reports. Given the clinical need for amended guidelines for this population, we are proposing a management algorithm for DKA and HHS based on clinical and metabolic parameters. In this review article, we propose treatment algorithms for diabetes-related hyperglycaemic emergencies in people with advanced CKD. Further research is needed to validate our proposed algorithms.

Nanomaterials for diabetes: diagnosis, detection and delivery.

537 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus, a problem of glucose management that is related to a number of major health risks, including cardiovascular diseases. There is a need for new, efficient formulations of diabetic medications to address this condition and its related consequences because existing treatments have a number of drawbacks and limits. This encouraged the development of treatment plans to get around some of these restrictions, like low therapeutic drug bioavailability or patients' disobedience to existing therapies. Approaches based on nanotechnology have a lot of promise to enhance the treatment of diabetic patients. In order to manage blood glucose, this review article highlights recent developments and explores the potential applications of different materials (polymeric, ceramic, dendrimers, etc.) as nanocarriers for the delivery of insulin and other antidiabetic medications. Using an injectable and acid-degradable polymeric network produced by the electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged dextran nanoparticles loaded with insulin and glucose-specific enzymes, we reviewed a glucose-mediated release approach for the self-regulated delivery of insulin, in which, after a degradable nano-network was subcutaneously injected into type 1 diabetic mice,in vivoexperiments confirmed that these formulations improved glucose management. In addition, a discussion of silica-based nanocarriers, their potential for treating diabetes and controlling blood glucose levels, and an explanation of the role of dendrimers in diabetes treatment have been covered. This is done by utilizing the properties of silica nanoparticles, such as their tuneable particle and pore size, surface chemistry, and biocompatibility. The article summarized the significance of nanomaterials and their uses in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes overall, illuminating the field's potential and outlining its prospects for the future.

Breaking boundaries in microbiology: customizable nanoparticles transforming microbial detection.

The detection and identification of microorganisms are crucial in microbiology laboratories. Traditionally, detecting and identifying microbes require extended periods of incubation, significant manual effort, skilled personnel, and advanced laboratory facilities. Recent progress in nanotechnology has provided novel opportunities for detecting and identifying bacteria, viruses, and microbial metabolites using customized nanoparticles. These improvements are thought to have the ability to surpass the constraints of existing procedures and make a substantial contribution to the development of rapid microbiological diagnosis. This review article examines the customizability of nanoparticles for detecting bacteria, viruses, and microbial metabolites and discusses recent cutting-edge studies demonstrating the use of nanotechnology in biomedical research.

Ischemic preconditioning: what else can it do...? Review Article.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can enhance maximal strength likely due to neural priming. Cruz et al., (2024) examined the neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for the ergogenic effect. Although key neurophysiological measures remained largely unchanged, voluntary activation and maximal strength were greater following IPC than sham-IPC. While the mechanistic evidence remains inconclusive, the greater maximal strength provides further evidence of the ergogenic benefit of IPC. Researchers should continue examining the broader functional implications of IPC.

Multimodal Technologies for Remote Assessment of Neurological and Mental Health.

Automated remote assessment and monitoring of patients' neurological and mental health is increasingly becoming an essential component of the digital clinic and telehealth ecosystem, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This review article reviews various modalities of health information that are useful for developing such remote clinical assessments in the real world at scale. We first present an overview of the various modalities of health information-speech acoustics, natural language, conversational dynamics, orofacial or full body movement, eye gaze, respiration, cardiopulmonary, and neural-which can each be extracted from various signal sources-audio, video, text, or sensors. We further motivate their clinical utility with examples of how information from each modality can help us characterize how different disorders affect different aspects of patients' spoken communication. We then elucidate the advantages of combining one or more of these modalities toward a more holistic, informative, and robust assessment. We find that combining multiple modalities of health information allows for improved scientific interpretability, improved performance on downstream health applications such as early detection and progress monitoring, improved technological robustness, and improved user experience. We illustrate how these principles can be leveraged for remote clinical assessment at scale using a real-world case study of the Modality assessment platform. This review article motivates the combination of human-centric information from multiple modalities to measure various aspects of patients' health, arguing that remote clinical assessment that integrates this complementary information can be more effective and lead to better clinical outcomes than using any one data stream in isolation.

MTORC2: A neglected player in aging regulation.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in various biological processes, through integrating external and internal signals, facilitating gene transcription and protein translation, as well as by regulating mitochondria and autophagy functions. mTOR kinase operates within two distinct protein complexes known as mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), which engage separate downstream signaling pathways impacting diverse cellular processes. Although mTORC1 has been extensively studied as a pro-proliferative factor and a pro-aging hub if activated aberrantly, mTORC2 received less attention, particularly regarding its implication in aging regulation. However, recent studies brought increasing evidence or clues for us, which implies the associations of mTORC2 with aging, as the genetic elimination of unique subunits of mTORC2, such as RICTOR, has been shown to alleviate aging progression in comparison to mTORC1 inhibition. In this review, we first summarized the basic characteristics of mTORC2, including its protein architecture and signaling network. We then focused on reviewing the molecular signaling regulation of mTORC2 in cellular senescence and organismal aging, and proposed the multifaceted regulatory characteristics under senescent and nonsenescent contexts. Next, we outlined the research progress of mTOR inhibitors in the field of antiaging and discussed future prospects and challenges. It is our pleasure if this review article could provide meaningful information for our readers and call forth more investigations working on this topic.

The Rise of Virtual Health Care: Transforming the Health Care Landscape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Review Article.

The rise of virtual healthcare underscores the transformative influence of digital technologies in reshaping the healthcare landscape. As technology advances and the global demand for accessible and convenient healthcare services escalates, the virtual healthcare sector is gaining unprecedented momentum. Saudi Arabia, with its ambitious Vision 2030 initiative, is actively embracing digital innovation in the healthcare sector. In this narrative review, we discussed the key drivers and prospects of virtual healthcare in Saudi Arabia, highlighting its potential to enhance healthcare accessibility, quality, and patient outcomes. We also summarized the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in the digital transformation of healthcare in the country. Healthcare services provided by Seha Virtual Hospital in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest and Middle East's first virtual hospital, were also described. Finally, we proposed a roadmap for the future development of virtual health in the country. The integration of virtual healthcare into the existing healthcare system can enhance patient experiences, improve outcomes, and contribute to the overall well-being of the population. However, careful planning, collaboration, and investment are essential to overcome the challenges and ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of virtual healthcare in the country.

E-waste: mechanisms of toxicity and safety testing.

Currently, information on the toxicity profile of the majority of the identified e-waste chemicals, while extensive and growing, is admittedly fragmentary, particularly at the cellular and molecular levels. Furthermore, the toxicity of the chemical mixtures likely to be encountered by humans during and after informal e-waste recycling, as well as their underlying mechanisms of action, is largely unknown. This review paper summarizes state-of-the-art knowledge of the potential underlying toxicity mechanisms associated with e-waste exposures, with a focus on toxic responses connected to specific organs, organ systems, and overall effects on the organism. To overcome the complexities associated with assessing the possible adverse outcomes from exposure to chemicals, a growing number of new approach methodologies have emerged in recent years, with the long-term objective of providing a human-based and animal-free system that is scientifically superior to animal testing, more effective, and acceptable. This encompasses a variety of techniques, typically regarded as alternative approaches for determining chemical-induced toxicities and holds greater promise for a better understanding of key events in the metabolic pathways that mediate known adverse health outcomes in e-waste exposure scenarios. This is crucial to establishing accurate scientific knowledge on mixed e-waste chemical exposures in shorter time frames and with greater efficacy, as well as supporting the need for safe management of hazardous chemicals. The present review paper discusses important gaps in knowledge and shows promising directions for mechanistically anchored effect-based monitoring strategies that will contribute to the advancement of the methods currently used in characterizing and monitoring e-waste-impacted ecosystems.

Proline Analogues.

Within the canonical repertoire of the amino acid involved in protein biogenesis, proline plays a unique role as an amino acid presenting a modified backbone rather than a side-chain. Chemical structures that mimic proline but introduce changes into its specific molecular features are defined as proline analogues. This review article summarizes the existing chemical, physicochemical, and biochemical knowledge about this peculiar family of structures. We group proline analogues from the following compounds: substituted prolines, unsaturated and fused structures, ring size homologues, heterocyclic, e.g., pseudoproline, and bridged proline-resembling structures. We overview (1) the occurrence of proline analogues in nature and their chemical synthesis, (2) physicochemical properties including ring conformation and cis/trans amide isomerization, (3) use in commercial drugs such as nirmatrelvir recently approved against COVID-19, (4) peptide and protein synthesis involving proline analogues, (5) specific opportunities created in peptide engineering, and (6) cases of protein engineering with the analogues. The review aims to provide a summary to anyone interested in using proline analogues in systems ranging from specific biochemical setups to complex biological systems.

Fluorescent carbon dots for sensing applications: a review.

Luminescent carbon dots (CDs) are important class of nanomaterials with fantastic photoluminescence (PL) properties, great biocompatibility, extraordinary solubility in water, minimal expense, and so on. There are many methods for their preparation and they are mainly classed into two groups, top-down and bottom-up approaches. In order to understand the origin of fluorescence in quantum CDs, three mechanisms have been proposed namely molecular state, surface state, and quantum confinement phenomenon. Fluorescent CDs have significant application in the fields of biochemical sensing, photocatalysis, bioimaging, delivery of drugs, and other related fields. In this review article the application of quantum dots as detecting component, for the sensing of different targets, has been summed up. In fact, the detection of several analytes including, anions, cations, small molecules, polymers, cells, and microscopic organisms has been discoursed. Moreover, the future aspects of CDs as detecting resources have been explored.

Dissecting the role of cannabinoids in vascular health and disease.

Cannabis, often recognized as the most widely used illegal psychoactive substance globally, has seen a shift in its legal status in several countries and regions for both recreational and medicinal uses. This change has brought to light new evidence linking cannabis consumption to various vascular conditions. Specifically, there is an association between cannabis use and atherosclerosis, along with conditions such as arteritis, reversible vasospasm, and incidents of aortic aneurysm or dissection. Recent research has started to reveal the mechanisms connecting cannabinoid compounds to atherosclerosis development. It is well known that the primary biological roles of cannabinoids operate through the activation of cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2. Manipulation of the endocannabinoid system, either genetically or pharmacologically, is emerging as a promising approach to address metabolic dysfunctions related to obesity. Additionally, numerous studies have demonstrated the vasorelaxant properties and potential atheroprotective benefits of cannabinoids. In preclinical trials, cannabidiol is being explored as a treatment option for monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension. Although existing literature suggests a direct role of cannabinoids in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the correlation between cannabinoids and other vascular diseases was only reported in some case series or observational studies, and its role and precise mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and update previously published studies. This review article aims to summarize the latest clinical and experimental research findings on the relationship between cannabis use and vascular diseases. It also seeks to shed light on the potential mechanisms underlying these associations, offering a comprehensive view of current knowledge in this evolving field of study.

Small molecule inhibitors of the VEGF and tyrosine kinase for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer accounts for most deaths due to cancer in women, majorly in developing nations. The culprit behind this disease is the human papillomavirus(HPV) which accounts for more than 90% of cervical cancer cases. The viral strains produce proteins that favor the knocking down of the apoptosis process and continuous growth of cells in the cervix leading to tumor growth. Proangiogenic growth factors, such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins, and other endothelial growth factors (EGF), are secreted by tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment, which further advances the development of cancer. The extracellular domain of receptor tyrosine kinases is employed by ligands (like VEGF and EGF) to engage and activate them by inducing receptor dimerization, which facilitates the cascade impact of these factors. The tyrosine kinase domains of each receptor autophosphorylate each other, activating the receptor and initiating signaling cascades that promote angiogenesis, migration, proliferation, and survival of endothelial cells. Cancer cells benefit from its modified signaling pathways, which cause oncogenic activation. Upon early cervical cancer detection, the second-line therapy strategy involves blocking the signaling pathways with VEGF and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This review paper highlights the genesis of cervical cancer and combating it using VEGF and tyrosine kinase inhibitors by delving into the details of the currently available inhibitors. Further, we have discussed the inhibitor molecules that are currently in various phases of clinical trials. This paper will surely enhance the understanding of cervical cancer and its treatment approaches and what further interventions can be done to alleviate the disease currently serving as a major health burden in the developing world.

Acute Calculus Cholecystitis: An Update: Review Article

Acute Calculus Cholecystitis: An Update: Review Article

A Glance at Common Digestive Diseases in Rabbits

Rabbits are cherished pets and valuable animals in various fields, including agriculture and science. The popularity of pet rabbits has surged, with various breeds such as the Lionhead Rabbit, Holland Lop Rabbit, Mini Rex Rabbit, Polish Rabbit, and Dutch Rabbit gaining traction. With proper diet and living conditions, rabbits can live up to ten to twelve years. However, domestic rabbits are prone to several infectious diseases, including parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections. The most common ailments in rabbits are skin conditions, respiratory infections, and digestive system issues. Understanding these common diseases is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of rabbits. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the prevalent illnesses affecting rabbits, detailing their causes, symptoms, prevention methods, and available treatments.

Body MRI in pediatrics: where we are and what the future holds.

Body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used for disease diagnosis, characterization, and monitoring in children of all ages. MRI has numerous advantages when compared to other imaging modalities, including a lack of ionizing radiation, superior soft tissue image contrast, and ability to provide objective, quantitative assessments. As MRI continues to evolve, pediatric body MRI examinations of the future will certainly be different than our current and past protocols. In this review article, we will discuss the present and likely future states of pediatric body MRI, including the increasing application of quantitative MRI methods, faster imaging techniques and implementation of abbreviated targeted protocols, and the growing use of artificial intelligence methods.

Towards the automation of systematic reviews using natural language processing, machine learning, and deep learning: a comprehensive review

Systematic reviews (SRs) constitute a critical foundation for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation across various disciplines, particularly in healthcare and beyond. However, the inherently rigorous and structured nature of the SR process renders it laborious for human reviewers. Moreover, the exponential growth in daily published literature exacerbates the challenge, as SRs risk missing out on incorporating recent studies that could potentially influence research outcomes. This pressing need to streamline and enhance the efficiency of SRs has prompted significant interest in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to automate various stages of the SR process. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current AI methods employed for SR automation, a subject area that has not been exhaustively covered in previous literature. Through an extensive analysis of 52 related works and an original online survey, the primary AI techniques and their applications in automating key SR stages, such as search, screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, are identified. The survey results offer practical insights into the current practices, experiences, opinions, and expectations of SR practitioners and researchers regarding future SR automation. Synthesis of the literature review and survey findings highlights gaps and challenges in the current landscape of SR automation using AI techniques. Based on these insights, potential future directions are discussed. This review aims to equip researchers and practitioners with a foundational understanding of the basic concepts, primary methodologies, and recent advancements in AI-driven SR automation while guiding computer scientists in exploring novel techniques to invigorate further and advance this field.

High-performance grout for post-tensioned tendons (Review Paper)

High-performance grout for post-tensioned tendons (Review Paper)

Focused review on factors affecting martensitic stainless steels and super martensitic stainless steel passive film in the oil and gas field

AbstractMartensitic and super martensitic stainless steels are widely used in the oil and gas industry for general corrosion mitigation in the presence of sweet corrosion (CO2) and sour corrosion (H2S), providing a cost-effective alternative to more expensive exotic corrosion-resistant alloys. Martensitic stainless steel is an approved material for construction when selecting tubular CO2 injection wells. This work aims to review the published literature on the subject of the operation limits of martensitic stainless steel and super martensitic stainless steel in high temperatures and high pressure under corrosive environments. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) mechanisms on martensitic and super martensitic stainless steel surfaces are thoroughly analyzed. In this review paper, we have analyzed the factors that play a crucial role in passive film growth and passivity breakdown. The present work is to review the state of the art of mechanism responsible for SCC and SSCC susceptibility in different modified martensitic stainless steel materials, which are applied to the industry and lab scale. We have reviewed the effect of different concentrations of molybdenum content on SCC and SSCC susceptibility of conventional martensitic stainless steel, modified martensitic stainless steel, and super martensitic stainless steel. The effect of tempering temperature on the SCC and SSCC performance of the martensitic and super martensitic stainless steel was also studied. We also studied the effect of different concentrations of chromium on the improved corrosion-resistant properties and stability of passivation film.

A structural review on reduced switch count and hybrid multilevel inverters

Classical multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies have gained widespread interest in industry and academia because of the improved qualities they offer over their two-level counterparts. MLIs are characterized by reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and high power conversion efficiency. Classical MLI topologies, however, are not without drawbacks; generally, they require many components as the number of output waveform levels is increased, resulting in high cost and complex implementation. Furthermore, MLIs based on flying capacitors have issues with capacitor voltage balancing and high inrush currents. As a result, this has prompted researchers to develop reduced component count (RCC) or reduced switch count (RSC) and hybrid topologies to achieve high power quality, but at reduced cost and complexity in comparison to classical MLI topologies. This article evaluates the merits and demerits of recently proposed reduced switch count and hybrid topologies, identifies challenges and opportunities, and proposes further research and development for the improvement of multilevel inverters. This review paper will be helpful to those conducting research in the field of MLI technology.

Ordering the alphabet soup: Strategies to improve consistency and develop a framework of tools for fisheries science vocabulary

Quantitative methods for assessing the status of marine fish populations began in the 19th century with simple catch-curve analysis and have evolved through the decades to use more advanced integrated statistical modeling. The corresponding assessment documents that communicate model estimates to other scientists and fisheries managers, generally, have grown in length and complexity, often describing hundreds of parameter estimates and population dynamics. These documents use a wide range of synonyms or similar terms that can vary either within a single assessment document or among other documents within or across fisheries management regions. The lack of standardization of terms used in assessment documents can lead to challenges in scientific reviews, communicating scientific results to fisheries managers, and for understanding assessments from other management regions. We analyzed the text of 134 assessment documents used to communicate the results of assessment software to managers from the varying management regions in the United States, Australia, and European International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to quantify the presence of synonyms or similar terms that are often used interchangeably and highlight ways in which the output language could be harmonized without modifying meaning. Next, we developed an open source web-based dictionary and schema for fisheries science where the community can propose and adopt terms to create an agreed upon terminology. Finally, looking forward to future development, we propose approaches to leverage pre-existing frameworks such as Google coding standards to guide the development of tools to merge long-term ecological data sets, name objects in code bases, and report output. While this guidance is tailored to fisheries practitioners working within the U.S. management system, we aim to align with international standards to increase consistency across the international fisheries science community.