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Aim: In previous studies, the researchers observed an increase in insulin secretion in STZ‐treated diabetic rats following treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of Securigera securidaca (HESS) seeds. This study focuses on the relationship between the antioxidant properties of HESS with changes in diabetic pancreatic tissue and the gene expression of factors that impact insulin secretion. Methods: In this controlled experimental study, three varying doses of HESS were administered to three groups of diabetic rats induced by STZ. Oxidative stress indicators like total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde were assessed in both pancreatic and liver tissues. Pancreatic histology was studied post‐haematoxylin staining. Insulin and FGF21 levels in the blood were measured using the ELISA method. The expression of Nrf2 and FGF21 genes in the pancreas and liver, along with MafA and PDX‐1 genes in the pancreas, was quantified using real‐time PCR. Results: The administration of HESS in varying doses led to a dose‐dependent rise in blood insulin levels and a decrease in blood glucose levels and oxidative stress. By reducing oxidative stress, HESS treatment lowered the heightened levels of NRF2 and FGF21 in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats, improving pancreatic tissue health. As oxidative stress decreased, the expression of MafA and PDX1 genes in the pancreas approached levels seen in healthy rats. Conclusion: HESS elicits an increase in insulin secretion through the mitigation of oxidative stress and tissue damage, as well as the modulation of gene expression related to the insulin transcription factors PDX‐1 and MafA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis, a major global health issue, is marked by excessive collagen deposition that impairs liver function. Noninvasive methods for the direct visualization of collagen content are crucial for the early detection and monitoring of fibrosis progression. This study investigates the potential of spectral photoacoustic imaging (sPAI) to monitor collagen development in liver fibrosis. Utilizing a novel data-driven superpixel photoacoustic unmixing (SPAX) framework, we aimed to distinguish collagen presence and evaluate its correlation with fibrosis progression. We employed an established diethylnitrosamine (DEN) model in rats to study liver fibrosis over various time points. Our results revealed a significant correlation between increased collagen photoacoustic signal intensity and advanced fibrosis stages. Collagen abundance maps displayed dynamic changes throughout fibrosis progression. These findings underscore the potential of sPAI for the noninvasive monitoring of collagen dynamics and fibrosis severity assessment. This research advances the development of noninvasive diagnostic tools and personalized management strategies for liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon essential oil (LEOs) is used as a bioactive compound with unique health properties as a medicine or dietary supplement. Nevertheless, essential oils are chemical compounds sensitive to light, oxidation, and thermal processes. Therefore, encapsulation technique can be a good way to protect them from degradation and evaporation. In current study, biopolymeric nanocapsules containing lemon essential oils (LEOs) were prepared by the emulsion method. The nanocapsules were characterized by their particle size and Encapsulation efficiency (%) ranged from 339.3 to 553.3 nm and 68.09% to 85.43%, respectively. Long-term storage (30 days) under different temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C) conditions showed that nanocapsules stored at 4 °C were more stable than samples stored at higher temperatures. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity were measured to evaluate the values of antioxidant activity of LEOs and nanocapsules. The free LEO and nanocapsules were investigated for its antibacterial activity against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) using disk diffusion followed by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Our results indicated that the encapsulated LEOs had a significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as compared to the free LEO. The LEOs nanocapsules in CS and Hicap can be suggested as an important natural alternative with suitable stability, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties to overcome the challenges associated with the direct application of these bioactive compounds in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there is an increasing demand for remote monitoring technologies to reduce patient and provider exposure. One field that has an increasing potential is teleguided ultrasound, where telemedicine and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) merge to create this new scope. Teleguided POCUS can minimize staff exposure while preserving patient safety and oversight during bedside procedures. In this paper, we propose the use of teleguided POCUS supported by AI technologies for the remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients by non-experienced personnel including self-monitoring by the patients themselves. Our hypothesis is that AI technologies can facilitate the remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients through the utilization of POCUS devices, even when operated by individuals without formal medical training. In pursuit of this goal, we performed a pilot analysis to evaluate the performance of users with different clinical backgrounds using a computer-based system for COVID-19 detection using lung ultrasound. The purpose of the analysis was to emphasize the potential of the proposed AI technology for improving diagnostic performance, especially for users with less experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the effect of gestational hypertension on neonatal hemoglobin levels. This cohort study was performed on 150 pregnant women, 60 of whom had gestational hypertension and 90 were healthy. Participants were selected using sequential and quota non-probability sampling methods, respectively. The data were collected from interviews and examination forms. The newborns' umbilical cords were clamped 30-60 sec after the delivery in both groups. Umbilical cord blood samples were taken to determine neonatal hemoglobin levels and sent to the laboratory immediately. Independent t-test was used to compare the two groups in terms of mean hemoglobin; general linear model with an identical link function was used to compare the two groups in terms of mean hemoglobin, considering the effect of confounding variables. SPSS software version 25 was used for the statistical analysis of the data. The statistical significance level in this study was considered to be 0.05. The mean neonatal hemoglobin level in women with gestational hypertension was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (16.73±1.81 gr/dl vs. 15.56±1.79, P<0.001). This difference remained significant after adjusting for demographic and background variables as well as medical records of the participants (P=0.008). The results revealed the hemoglobin level of newborns of mothers who had gestational hypertension, was higher than newborns of healthy mothers. Therefore, performing proper screening tests and knowledge of the hemoglobin level in these infants routinely helps the healthcare staff to prevent, decide and provide more and more useful services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was done with the aim of encapsulation of fish oil with a ratio of 3:1 (oil: coating) with coatings of maltodextrin, sodium caseinate, whey protein concentrate and modified starch with different ratios by freeze dryer and in order to achieve the maximum encapsulation efficiency was optimized using a mixture design. Optimizing the concentration of different walls for microencapsulation using numerical and graphical optimization revealed that the optimal wall composition contains maltodextrin (15.16%), sodium caseinate (20%), whey protein concentrate (20%) and modified starch (19.84%) with the encapsulation efficiency was 89.3%.The results showed that according to the difference in the wall compositions and their ratios, the particle size, poly dispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficiency had different values. So that the size of the particles varied from 0.34 μm to 1.3 μm, and the PDI varied from 0.1 to 0.92. Evaluation of oxidative stability in optimal microcapsule powder and free fish oil stored at 0 and 32% humidity during 21 days of storage showed that encapsulated oil at zero humidity had higher oxidative stability during the storage period. In addition, the increase in humidity in the storage environment of microcapsules increased the intensity of oxidation in the treatments stored in 32% humidity. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of microencapsulation technique is a practical and effective method to increase the oxidative stability of fish oil for use in the food and drug industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the protein and oleosomes of sesame seeds were extracted individually and used to prepare a gel composed of gelatin, protein, and oleosomes. Mixtures of gelatin and sesame seeds protein were prepared, and oleosomes with different percentages (0, 10, 20 and 30% of their weight) were used. Different amounts of oleosomes in the composite gel samples were examined for their morphological, rheological, and textural properties. The results of the viscoelastic properties of different composite gel samples indicated that a higher percentage of oleosomes would increase the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (η*). The storage modulus of all gel samples was greater than the loss modulus, suggesting a solid behavior. So, in the sample with 30% oleosome, the storage modulus and the loss modulus reached 143,440 Pascals and 44,530 Pascals. The hardness and breaking force in samples containing 30% oleosome reached 1.29 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.02, respectively. In general, it can be said that composite gels based on gelatin-sesame seed protein modified with oleosome can be used as a part of food components in various dairy products, gelatin desserts, lean meat products and the production of useful products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection with B-mode and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CUS) imaging often varies between subjects, especially in patients with background cirrhosis. Various factors contribute to this variability, including the tumor blood flow, tumor size, internal echoes, and its location in livers with diffuse fibro-cirrhotic changes. Objective: Towards improving lesion detection, this study evaluates a vasodilator, hydralazine, to enhance the visibility of HCC by reducing its blood flow relative to the surrounding liver tissue. Methods: HCC were analyzed for tumor visibility measured for B-mode, CUS, and hydralazine-augmented-contrast ultrasound (HyCUS) in an autochthonous HCC rat model. 21 tumors from 12 rats were studied. B-mode and CUS images were acquired before hydralazine injection. Rats received an intravenous hydralazine injection of 5 mg/kg,then images were acquired 20 min later. Four rats were used as controls. The difference in echo intensity of the lesion and the surrounding tissue was used to determine the visibility index (VI). Results: The visibility index for HCC was found to be significantly improved with the use of HyCUS imaging compared to traditional B-mode and CUS imaging. The visibility index for HCC was 16.5 ± 2.8 for HyCUS, compared to 5.3 ± 4.8 for B-mode and 4.1 ± 3.8 for CUS. The differences between HyCUS and the other imaging modalities were statistically significant, with p-values of 0.001 and 0.02, respectively. Additionally, when compared to control cases, HyCUS showed higher discrimination of HCC (VI = 6.4 ± 1.2) with a p-value of 0.003, while B-mode (VI = 6.7 ± 1.4,p = 0.5) and CUS (VI = 6.4 ± 1.2,p = 0.3) showed lower discrimination. Conclusion: Vascular blood flow modulation by hydralazine enhances the visibility of HCC. HyCUS offers a potential problem-solving method for detecting HCC when B-mode and CUS are unsuccessful, especially with background fibro-cirrhotic liver disease. Future evaluation of the approach in humans will determine its translatability for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sexual dysfunction is a common complication in women with multiple sclerosis due to limitation in physical and mental functioning. Expressive writing as a psychological intervention can significantly improve sexual dysfunction in women with other diseases. Aim. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of expressive writing on sexual dysfunction in Iranian women with multiple sclerosis. Methods. A randomized controlled trial with a Solomon four-group design was conducted on 116 Iranian women with MS in February 2021. Participants were randomly assigned into two control subgroups of A1 (without pretest) and A2 (with pretest) and two intervention subgroups of B1 (without pretest) and B2 (with pretest). Expressive writing was conducted for six weeks at home including morning pages (writing three pages about everything that comes to mind everyday), date with inner child (once a week), and performing weekly creative assignments. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using MSISQ-19 before the intervention in two groups of A2 and B2 and follows in immediately, four weeks and eight weeks after the intervention in all subgroups. The control group was provided with routine care of treatment. Data were analyzed using the intention to treat method. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results. Twenty-nine women were analyzed in each subgroup. Although expressive writing had a positive and significant effect on primary, tertiary, and overall sexual dysfunction in B2 intervention subgroup compared with A2 control subgroup (P ≤ 0.001), it could not improve secondary sexual dysfunction. Since tertiary sexual dysfunction was related to psychological aspects and the present intervention was also a subset of psychotherapy, most of the changes were observed at this level, which included a decrease of 7-8 points. Comparison between the two groups of with and without pretest in each of the control and intervention groups revealed that completing the pretest questionnaire did not have a significant impact on sexual dysfunction score. Conclusion. As a cost-effective and noninvasive intervention, expressive writing can be used along with the main treatment for women suffering from multiple sclerosis to improve sexual dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, structural, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chitosan-coated (0.5 and 1% CH) nanoliposomes containing hydrolyzed protein of Spirulina platensis and its stability in simulated gastric and intestine fluids. The chitosan coating of nanoliposomes containing Spirulina platensis hydrolyzed proteins increased their size and zeta potential. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) test showed an effective interaction between the hydrolyzed protein, the nanoliposome, and the chitosan coating. Increasing the concentration of hydrolyzed protein and the percentage of chitosan coating neutralized the decreasing effect of microencapsulation on the antioxidant activity of peptides. Chitosan coating (1%) resulted in improved stability of size, zeta potential, and poly dispersity index (PDI) of nanoliposomes, and lowered the release of the hydrolyzed Spirulina platensis protein from nanoliposomes. Increasing the percentage of chitosan coating neutralized the decrease in antibacterial properties of nanoliposomes containing hydrolyzed proteins. This study showed that 1% chitosan-coated nanoliposomes can protect Spirulina platensis hydrolyzed proteins and maintain their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study evaluates quantitative ultrasound (QUS) texture features with machine learning (ML) to enhance the sensitivity of B-mode ultrasound (US) for the detection of fibrosis at an early stage and distinguish it from advanced fibrosis. Different ML methods were evaluated to determine the best diagnostic model. Methods: 233 B-mode images of liver lobes with early and advanced-stage fibrosis induced in a rat model were analyzed. Sixteen features describing liver texture were measured from regions of interest (ROIs) drawn on B-mode images. The texture features included a first-order statistics run length (RL) and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). The features discriminating between early and advanced fibrosis were used to build diagnostic models with logistic regression (LR), naïve Bayes (nB), and multi-class perceptron (MLP). The diagnostic performances of the models were compared by ROC analysis using different train-test sampling approaches, including leave-one-out, 10-fold cross-validation, and varying percentage splits. METAVIR scoring was used for histological fibrosis staging of the liver. Results: 15 features showed a significant difference between the advanced and early liver fibrosis groups, p < 0.05. Among the individual features, first-order statics features led to the best classification with a sensitivity of 82.1–90.5% and a specificity of 87.1–89.8%. For the features combined, the diagnostic performances of nB and MLP were high, with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) approaching 0.95–0.96. LR also yielded high diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.91–0.92) but was lower than nB and MLP. The diagnostic variability between test-train trials, measured by the coefficient-of-variation (CV), was higher for LR (3–5%) than nB and MLP (1–2%). Conclusion: Quantitative ultrasound with machine learning differentiated early and advanced fibrosis. Ultrasound B-mode images contain a high level of information to enable accurate diagnosis with relatively straightforward machine learning methods like naïve Bayes and logistic regression. Implementing simple ML approaches with QUS features in clinical settings could reduce the user-dependent limitation of ultrasound in detecting early-stage liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with metabolic disorders including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species and nitrogen activators. In these cases, some of the body's innate factors are activated to cope with these dangerous situations. The purpose of the review is to explain the collaboration between the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in homeostasis and body metabolism with a focus on diabetes. Materials and methods: This review is based on searching the PubMed database, SCOPUS, Elsevier and citation lists of relevant publications. Subject heading and key words used include diabetes, oxidative stress, inflammation, NRF2, and FGF21. Only articles in English were included. Results: NRF2 and FGF21 are two attractive biomarkers for the diagnosis of specific metabolic disorders and therapeutic targets, which have been implicated as therapeutic targets for the management of diabetic complications. The combination of both factors leads to the regulation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses and metabolic pathways. Conclusions: Given most studies of NRF2- and FGF21- -based therapeutic interventions in animal models and the possibility of not achieving the same results in humans, further clinical studies are needed to determine the efficacy of NRF2 and FGF21 in treatment of patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning for medical imaging not only requires sufficient amounts of data for training and testing but also that the data be independent. It is common to see highly interdependent data whenever there are inherent correlations between observations. This is especially to be expected for sequential imaging data taken from time series. In this study, we evaluate the use of statistical measures to test the independence of sequential ultrasound image data taken from the same case. A total of 1180 B-mode liver ultrasound images with 5903 regions of interests were analyzed. The ultrasound images were taken from two liver disease groups, fibrosis and steatosis, as well as normal cases. Computer-extracted texture features were then used to train a machine learning (ML) model for computer-aided diagnosis. The experiment resulted in high two-category diagnosis using logistic regression, with AUC of 0.928 and high performance of multicategory classification, using random forest ML, with AUC of 0.917. To evaluate the image region independence for machine learning, Jenson–Shannon (JS) divergence was used. JS distributions showed that images of normal liver were independent from each other, while the images from the two disease pathologies were not independent. To guarantee the generalizability of machine learning models, and to prevent data leakage, multiple frames of image data acquired of the same object should be tested for independence before machine learning. Such tests can be applied to real-world medical image problems to determine if images from the same subject can be used for training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: One of the essential phases of root canal treatment is root canal obturation. Solid or semi-solid materials are the most common obturating materials (paste or softened form). Sealer is a biomaterial that enables the sealing process to be carried. This study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory response to Adseal sealer and Sure-Seal Root sealer in rats. Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted on 28 Wistar rats that were divided into four groups of seven animals per group based on four time periods (7, 14, 30 and 60 days). Each rat received subcutaneous implants containing Adseal sealer (Meta Biomed, Cheongju, Korea) and Sure-Seal Root sealer (Sure Dent Corporation, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) tubes as well as an empty tube as a control. After the insertion of the tubes, the first to fourth groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 30 and 60, respectively, by injecting a high dose of anesthetics. Subsequently, the histopathologic features of the samples were investigated. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 26) using Freidman, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: On day 7, the severity of inflammation was higher in the Adseal sealer and Sure-Seal Root sealer groups compared to the control group. Moreover, on day 14, the level of inflammation was higher in the Sure-Seal Root sealer group than the Adseal sealer and control groups. In addition, on days 30 and 60, the severity of inflammation was similar in both the case and control groups and decreased in all samples. Formation of granulation tissue was observed in all samples on day 14. There was fibrosis tissue in the Sure-Seal Root sealer samples (71.4%) on day 60; however, no fibrosis tissue was observed in the Adseal sealer and control groups. Conclusion: It is concluded that the Sure-Seal Root sealer might lead to a more inflammatory response compared to the Ad Seal sealer. However, due to decreasing inflammation in sealers over time, both sealers are biocompatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-component nanocomposites based on chitosan, cellulose/chitosan nanofibers, and essential oils were developed in this study through solution casting technique. Both surface and structural properties of the nanocomposites were characterized. Surface morphology results revealed that the chitosan nanofibers were more localized at the films' surface than the cellulose nanofibers, leading to enhanced hydrophobicity (contact angle = 95°). Moreover, the essential oils were distributed as micrometer-scale oil domains at the films' surfaces, making them heterogeneous, leading to a much more hydrophilic character (contact angle = 30–36°). X-ray diffraction results revealed the disrupting role of nanofibers on the crystalline structure of chitosan; however, upon the addition of essential oils, the crystalline network was less affected than the pure chitosan film. The enhanced stiffness of the films in the presence of nanofibers was demonstrated by dynamic mechanical analysis. In contrast, the addition of essential oils highly reduced the stiffness, making the films much more flexible, which could benefit food packaging applications. Antibacterial properties were highly increased in the presence of essential oils, and the barrier properties were also improved, especially by the use of chitosan nanofibers. In conclusion, the developed nanofiber-loaded chitosan films could be considered innovative packaging to promote food conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of application of medicinal herbs during pregnancy has increased significantly among women over the past years; however, the safety and efficacy of medicinal herbs during pregnancy are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to categorize the predictors of self-medication with herbal remedies during pregnancy based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 300 pregnant women referred to Kashan health center to receive prenatal care services in 2020. The study participants were randomly selected using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. The data collection tool was a two-part researcher made questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire included demographic information, midwifery information, and questions related to women's awareness about herbal medicine. The second part of the questionnaire was designed based on the theory of planned behavior including attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, intention, and behavior performance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and SPSS version 18.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 28. 7±5.4 years (range, 15–45 years), the majority were housewives (88.3%) and had secondary education (39.3%). A total of 164 women (57. 1%) used medicinal herbs during pregnancy. The individual's attitude towards herbal medicines consumption, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control was correlated with behavioral intention (P < 0.05). Similarly, subjective norms were the most predictor of using herbal medicine among pregnant women (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings revealed that more than 50 % of pregnant women used medicinal herbs during pregnancy. The present study showed that the individual's attitude towards herbal medicines consumption, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control was correlated with intention of herbal medicine use among pregnant women. Likewise, subjective norms were the most predictor of herbal medicine use among pregnant women. The TPB should be addressed in planning health education programs and modifying health behaviors, including self-medication, especially during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual dysfunction has many factors in multiple sclerosis, but there is no reliable treatment for this challenge. Objective: Determining effective sexual function or dysfunction interventions in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: To find the relevant published interventional studies that at least had an English abstract or in Persian, we searched International Statistical Institute, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar from January 1990 to June 2021. The results were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 568 articles, 41 were included after deleting the duplicate and irrelevant articles. Studies were divided into 2 groups of sexual function (n = 27) and dysfunction (n = 14). Interventions in each category have 4 subgroups: psychoeducational, exercise and rehabilitation, and medical and multi-type interventions. For improving sexual function, more than half of psychoeducational interventions showed a significant improvement after interventions (p = 0.0003). In sexual dysfunction studies, most of the interventions (n = 13/14) had improved at least one subscale of sexual dysfunction. Medical interventions were effective on men's sexual dysfunction, and psychoeducational interventions had been more effective in women's sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: Psychoeducational and medical interventions are the commonest effective interventions. The psychoeducational studies conducted specifically on women had a positive impact, and only 4 articles with medical interventions were specifically targeted at men, which had a positive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste is one of the major threats to the environment, and an urgent need to replace synthetic plastics with sustainable materials is progressively growing. Herein, sustainable films based on chitosan, Satureja , and Thyme essential oils (EOs), and chitosan nanofibers (NF) were developed for the first time. To this end, 1% (w/w) of EOs and 2 wt% of NF were incorporated into the chitosan solution. Despite the very similar chemical structure of carvacrol and thymol, which are the major constituents of Satureja and Thyme EOs, respectively, they imposed notably different effects on the physicochemical properties of chitosan films. Thyme EO was more efficient at establishing hydrogen bonds with chitosan. The disruptive effect of EOs on the crystalline network of chitosan was demonstrated through X-ray diffraction analysis. Satureja and Thyme EOs decreased and increased the barrier property of the chitosan films against water vapor, respectively. However, the barrier property was greatly improved in the presence of chitosan nanofibers. Satureja EO exhibited a more efficient antibacterial property against E. coli rather than Thyme EO. The fruits and vegetables, coated by the chitosan/EO/NF system, were less perished as compared with the control and chitosan-coated samples indicating the promising potential of the developed system to be used as edible and sustainable films and coatings due to their enhanced antibacterial and barrier properties. Unlabelled Image • Hybridizing Satureja and Thyme essential oils led to enhanced antibacterial property. • Chitosan nanofibers significantly enhanced barrier property of the films. • Despite similar structure of the oils, they affected the physicochemical properties of the films very differently. • The optimum formulation was used to coat strawberries and cherry tomatoes. • The enhanced antibacterial and barrier properties significantly decreased the perishing process of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis, a severe non-reversible process, is one of the most critical risk factors in developing hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Detection of liver fibrosis at an early stage is therefore essential for better patient management. Ultrasound (US) imaging can provide a noninvasive alternative to biopsies. This study evaluates quantitative US texture features to improve early-stage versus advanced liver fibrosis detection. 157 B-mode US images of different liver lobes acquired from early and advanced fibrosis rat cases were used for analysis. 5-6 regions of interest were placed on each image. Twelve quantitative features that describe liver texture changes were extracted from the images, including first-order histogram, run length (RL), and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). The diagnostic performance of individual features was high with AUC ranging from 0.80 to 0.94. Logistic regression with leave-one-out cross-validation was used to evaluate the performance of the combined features. All features combined showed a slight improvement in performance with AUC = 0.95, sensitivity = 96.8%, and specificity = 93.7%. Quantitative US texture features characterize liver fibrosis changes with high accuracy and can differentiate early from advanced disease. Quantitative ultrasound, if validated in future clinical studies, can have a potential role in identifying fibrosis changes that are not easily detected by visual US image assessments.

Modulating aberrant tumor microvasculature provides unique opportunities for enhancing ultrasound imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound to evaluate the potential of a potent vasodilator, hydralazine, to attenuate blood flow in HCC while enhancing it in the surrounding liver tissue. The "steel effect," where blood flow is diverted from the lesion to the surrounding tissue aims to enhance lesion-tissue contrast. Methods: HCC was induced in six rats by oral ingestion of diethylnitrosamine for 12 weeks. 10 tumors were studied to assess the enhancement in HCC tumors and surrounding tissue. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound images (CEUS) of each tumor were acquired before and after hydralazine injection. The enhancement of images was analyzed for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of HCC enhancement. Peak enhancement (PE) was calculated, representing the maximum signal intensity reached during the transit of the contrast bolus for both the tumor and the surrounding tissue. Intravenous administration of hydralazine significantly reduced CEUS signals in HCC tumors. The visual examination of images showed that the enhancement of tumors dramatically decreased after hydralazine injection. On the other hand, the surrounding tissue showed an increased enhancement. PE for the HCC changed from (71.8 ± 5) pre hydralazine to (28.7± 4.9), a 61.7% reduction after hydralazine injection, p=0.01. Future studies validating the technique in clinical settings for enhancing lesion-tissue contrast may allow physicians greater precision and accuracy in HCC surveillance for early detection of small tumors.

Background: We aimed to explore whether maternal asymptomatic hepatitis B (HB) infection effects on pre-term rupture of membranous (PROM), stillbirth, preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, or antepartum hemorrhage., Methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and ISI web of science from 1990 to Feb 2015. In addition, electronic literature searches supplemented by searching the gray literature (e.g., conference abstracts thesis and the result of technical reports) and scanning the reference lists of included studies and relevant systematic reviews. We explored statistical heterogeneity using the, I2 and tau-squared (Tau2) statistical tests., Results: Eighteen studies were included. Preterm rupture of membranous (PROM), stillbirth, preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension and antepartum hemorrhage were considerable outcomes in this survey. The results showed no significant association between inactive HB and these complications in pregnancy. The small amounts of P -value and chi-square and large amount of I2 suggested the probable heterogeneity in this part, which we tried to modify with statistical methods such as subgroup analysis., Conclusion: Inactive HB infection did not increase the risk of adversely mentioned outcomes in this study. Further, well-designed studies should be performed to confirm the results.