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Background: Treatment of locally advanced non small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is based on (chemo)radiotherapy, which may cause acute lung toxicity: radiation pneumonitis (RP). Its frequency seems to increase by the use of adjuvant durvalumab therapy., Aims: To identify clinical, dosimetric, and radiomic factors associated with grade (G)≥2 RP and build a prediction model based on selected parameters., Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients receiving radiation therapy between 2015 and 2019 for LA-NSCLC. Baseline computed tomography scanners were segmented to extract radiomic features from the "Lung - Tumor" volume. Variables associated with the risk of G≥2 RP in the descriptive analysis were then selected for explanatory analysis, followed by predictive analysis., Results: 153 patients were included in 4 centers (51 with G≥2 RP). Factors associated with G≥2 RP included a high initial hemoglobin level, dosimetric factors (mean dose to healthy lungs, lung V20Gy and V13Gy), the addition of maintenance durvalumab, and 7 radiomic features (intensity distribution and texture). Other factors were associated with an increased risk of G≥2 RP in our explanatory model, such as older age, low Tiffeneau ratio, and a decreased initial platelet count. The best-performing predictive model was a random forest-based learning model using clinical, dosimetric, and radiomic variables, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.72 (95%CI [0.63; 0.80]) versus 0.64 for models using one type of data., Conclusion: The addition of radiomic features to clinical and dosimetric ones improves prediction of the occurrence of G≥2 RP in patients receiving radiotherapy for lung cancer., Competing Interests: Disclosure Cécile Evin: Merck, Léo Razakamanantsoa : none, François Gardavaud: none, Léa Papillon: employed by SOPHiA GENETICS, Hamza Boulaala: employed by SOPHiA GENETICS, Loïc Ferrer: employed by SOPHiA GENETICS, Olivier Gallinato: employed by SOPHiA GENETICS, Thierry Colin: employed by SOPHiA GENETICS, Sondos Ben Moussa: none, Yara Harfouch: none, Jean-Noël Foulquier: none, Sophie Guillerm: none, Jean-Emmanuel Bibault: none, Florence Huguet : BMS, Merck, MSD, Amgen, Mathilde Wagner: none, Eleonor Rivin del Campo: none., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The combination of two spectrometers in dual-laser Raman devices without the need for moving parts represents a significant advancement. This study focuses on design and fabrication of a dual spectrometer with no moving components, allowing data to be gathered using a single detector. This instrument consists of two Czerny-Turner optical arrangements which is symmetrically merged. Dual spectrometer single detector has two light inputs, each of them, concentrating the light separately on a one linear charge-coupled device detector through two independent optical paths. In this innovative spectrometer design, no optical moving parts are used, and therefore, the wavelength displacement error in repeating the spectroscopic experiment is zero. The independent nature of the optical paths enables the optimization of each spectrometer arrangement without affecting the other. The final spectrometer has a spectral resolution of 4.6 and 6.11 cm - 1 for Full Width at Half Maximum across the wavelength ranges of 532 to 708 nm and 784.65 to 1100 nm, respectively. Switching between the two different acquisition setups can be done seamlessly and quickly, with the ability to record approximately 2000 spectra per second. Standard neon and mercury-argon lamps' atomic radiation spectra, along with Raman scattering data from a cyclohexane standard sample, were successfully recorded using laser wavelengths of 532 nm and 784.65 nm., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on clinical outcomes in patients receiving (chemo)radiation therapy (RT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is debated. The objective of this study was to compare efficacy and safety according to HIV status in patients with SCCA treated with C/RT., Methods and Materials: Between January 2015 and April 2020, 488 patients with a known HIV status (17.6% HIV+) were treated with radiation therapy for SCCA and included in the FFCD-ANABASE multicentric prospective cohort. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival, colostomy-free survival, response rate at 4 to 6 months, cancer-specific survival, relapse-free survival, and severe acute and late toxicity were compared between HIV+ and HIV- patients., Results: The median follow-up was 35.8 months. HIV+ patients were younger (P < .01) and predominantly male (P < .01). Intensity modulated radiation therapy was performed in 80.7% of patients, and 80.9% received concurrent chemotherapy. A higher proportion of HIV+ patients received induction chemotherapy compared with HIV- patients. No statistically significant difference in overall treatment time or severe acute and late toxicities was found between HIV+ and HIV- patients. In univariate analyses, OS (HR = 2.1 [CI 95% 1.2;3.5], P = .007), locoregional recurrence-free survival (HR = 1.7 [1.1;2.7], P = .02), and colostomy-free survival (HR = 1.7 [1.1;2.6], P = .01) were significantly shorter in HIV+ patients than in HIV- patients. Response rate, cancer-specific survival, and relapse-free survival were not significantly different. The recurrence site was significantly different according to HIV status. In the multivariate analysis, prognostic factors for OS were a World Health Organization performance status of ≥1 for the whole population, as well as HIV+ status for the subgroup of women., Conclusions: HIV+ patients treated with chemo-RT for SCCA have poorer clinical outcomes, especially women. No difference was found in toxicity according to HIV status with intensity modulated radiation therapy technique., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In France, radiation oncologists are predominantly men with only 44 % of women. Many studies have highlighted gender disparities in medicine. The main objective of our study was to assess the impact of discriminations on radiation oncologists' career., Materials and Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire, adapted from the one used by the ESMO W4O group, was sent to all radiation oncologists in France between March and June 2022. It included questions related to professional experience, gender, socio-ethnicity, sexual orientation, and personal life., Results: Among the 999 radiation oncologists and 168 residents in France, 225 questionnaires were collected (19.2 %). Among the respondents, 60 % were women and 25 % were residents. The mean age was 39.2 years (range: 25-78). The career satisfaction rate was 92 %, with no gender difference. Gender was considered to have a negative impact on the career development by 65 % of women. Social origin was an obstacle to career development for 37 % of all the respondents, and ethnic origin for 25 %. Sixty two percent of women reported having experienced inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment in their workplace, 38 % felt that having a child had "extremely" or "very" much impacted their career versus 8.5 % of men (p < 0.001). The most popular proposals for improvement were the creation of a network of women radiation oncologists with specific educational programs and the addition of quotas in institutions and key positions., Conclusions: This study is the first one assessing the various type of discrimination experienced by radiation oncologists in France. We make a few proposals for improvement of training and working conditions, regardless of the origin and gender., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

This comprehensive review was carried out to integrate all the data published in the electronic databases (Scopus, etc.) over the past two decades about the distribution, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of Astragalus L. Although Astragalus is one of the largest genera of flowering plants in Iran, limited phytochemical screening of this genus has been reported. Cycloartane triterpene glycosides, labdane diterpenoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides are the major identified compounds. Pharmacological studies revealed significant properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, etc. Moreover, ethnopharmacological studies of Astragalus sp. showed that this genus is used for gastrointestinal, fractures, joint pains, and skin problems in different localities of Iran. Tragacanth gum, as the main product of some Astragalus sp. with economic value, shows proper biological activities and uses as an emulsifier in food industries. This review might be helpful for researchers to find new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses and food supplements.

The tight-binding method is used to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of borophene nano-ribbons (BNRs) in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. Most BNRs exhibit metallic characteristics due to edge bands. Additionally, the appearance of Landau levels (LLs) is strongly influenced by the edge states, contrasting with the sheet platform which produces distinct LLs. We also investigated single atomic vacancy disorders in BNRs and observed localized vacancy states (LVSs) resulting from atomic disorder. Both LVSs and LLs are influenced by the edge states, underscoring that the electronic and magnetic properties of BNRs are strongly edge-dependent. This aspect is crucial for consideration in experimental, theoretical, and computational studies.

Background: Standard care for non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is chemoradiotherapy, data about elderly patients are scarce., Methods: All consecutive patients treated for non-metastatic SCCA from the French multicenter FFCD-ANABASE cohort were included. Two groups were defined according to age: elderly (≥75 years) and non-elderly (<75)., Results: Of 1015 patients, 202 (19.9%) were included in the elderly group; median follow-up was 35.5 months. Among the elderly, there were more women (p = 0.015); frailer patients (p < 0.001), fewer smokers (p < 0.001) and fewer HIV-infected (p < 0.001) than in the non-elderly group. Concomitant chemotherapy and inguinal irradiation were less frequent (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04). In the elderly group; 3-year overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and colostomy-free survival (CFS) were 82.9%, 72.4% and 78.0%, respectively; complete response rate at 4-6 months was 70.3%. There were no differences between groups for all outcomes and toxicity. In multivariate analyses for the elderly, PS ≥ 2 and locally-advanced tumors were significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 3.4 and HR = 2.80), RFS (HR = 2.4 and HR = 3.1) and CFS (HR = 3.8 and HR = 3.0); and treatment interruption with poor RFS (HR = 1.9)., Conclusion: In the FFCD-ANABASE cohort, age did not influence tumor and tolerance outcomes of non-metastatic SCCA. Optimal curative treatment should be offered to elderly patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The rising incidence of breast cancer has been a significant source of concern in the medical community. Regarding the adverse effects and consequences of current treatments, cancers' health, and socio-economical aspects have become more complicated, leaving research aimed at improved or new treatments on top priority. Medicinal herbs contain multitarget compounds that can control cancer development and advancement. Owing to Nigella Sativa's elements, it can treat many disorders. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a natural chemical derived from the black seeds of Nigella sativa Linn proved to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. TQ interferes in a broad spectrum of tumorigenic procedures and inhibits carcinogenesis, malignant development, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis owing to its multitargeting ability. It effectively facilitates miR-34a up-regulation, regulates the p53-dependent pathway, and suppresses Rac1 expression. TQ promotes apoptosis and controls the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. It has also been shown to diminish the phosphorylation of NF-B and IKK and decrease the metastasis and ERK1/2 and PI3K activity. We discuss TQ's cytotoxic effects for breast cancer treatment with a deep look at the relevant stimulatory or inhibitory signaling pathways. This review discusses the various forms of polymeric and non-polymeric nanocarriers (NC) and the encapsulation of TQ for increasing oral bioavailability and enhanced in vitro and in vivo efficacy of TQ-combined treatment with different chemotherapeutic agents against various breast cancer cell lines. This study can be useful to a broad scientific community, comprising pharmaceutical and biological scientists, as well as clinical investigators., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Please declare any financial or personal interests that might be potentially viewed to influence the work presented. Interests could include consultancies, honoraria, patent ownership or other. If there are none state ‘there are none’., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound (VOC), is one of the main gaseous pollutants from commercial cooking. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a laboratory-scale ozone-assisted indirect plasma method for formaldehyde removal using response surface methodology (RSM). A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was used for ozone generation. Inlet HCHO concentration, ozone concentration, and residence time were considered the design parameters, and formaldehyde removal efficiency (response 1) and energy yield (response 2) were considered response parameters. The optimized models showed a positive correlation between the predicted and experimental outcomes. Inlet ozone concentration, the most significant parameter in the removal efficiency model, represented a positive correlation with this response in most parts of the operating region. The optimal point with the highest desirability (i.e., D 1 point) was obtained at the inlet HCHO concentration of 120 ppm, inlet ozone concentration of 40 ppm, and reaction time of 11.35 s within the parameter ranges studied, resulting in 64% removal efficiency and 2.64 g/kWh energy yield. At the point with the second highest desirability (D 2 ), 100% removal efficiency along with 0.7 g/kWh energy yield was achieved indicating the very good performance of the process. The indirect plasma approach used in this study presented a successful performance in terms of removal efficiency along with acceptable energy yield compared to other plasma-assisted processes reported in the literature. The results suggested that ozone-assisted indirect plasma treatment can be utilized as an efficient alternative method for formaldehyde removal in commercial kitchens, while efficiency or energy yield should be prioritized for optimizing operating conditions., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestsThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, with a high relapse rate. Delayed symptom onset observed in 70-80% of patients leads to diagnosis in advanced stages commonly associated with chronic liver disease. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade therapy has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic option in the clinical management of several advanced malignancies, including HCC, due to the activation of exhausted tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and improved outcomes of T-cell function. However, many people with HCC do not respond to PD-1 blockade therapy, and the diversity of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) restricts their clinical utility. Therefore, numerous effective combinatory strategies, including combinations with anti-PD-1 antibodies and other therapeutic methods ranging from chemotherapy to targeted therapies, are evolving to improve therapeutic outcomes and evoke synergistic anti-tumor impressions in patients with advanced HCC. Unfortunately, combined therapy may have more side effects than single-agent treatment. Nonetheless, identifying appropriate predictive biomarkers can aid in managing potential immune-related adverse events by distinguishing patients who respond best to PD-1 inhibitors as single agents or in combination strategies. In the present review, we summarize the therapeutic potential of PD-1 blockade therapy for advanced HCC patients. Besides, a glimpse of the pivotal predictive biomarkers influencing a patient's response to anti-PD-1 antibodies will be provided., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Purpose: The aim of the present retrospective study was to report outcomes after hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) for resected brain metastases (BM)., Patients and Methods: We reviewed results of patients with resected BM treated with postoperative HSRT (3×7.7Gy to the prescription isodose 70%) between May 2013 and June 2020. Local control (LC), distant brain control (DBC), overall survival (OS), leptomeningeal disease relapse (LMDR), and radiation necrosis (RN) occurrence were reported., Results: Twenty-two patients with 23 brain cavities were included. Karnofsky Performance status (KPS) was≥70 in 77.3%. Median preoperative diameter was 37mm [21.0-75.0] and median planning target volume (PTV) was 23 cm 3 [9.9-61.6]. Median time from surgery to SRT was 69 days [7-101] and 48% of patients had a local relapse on pre-SRT imaging. Median follow-up was 17.5 months [1.6-95.9]. One and two-year LC rates were 60.9 and 52.2% respectively. One and 2-year DBC rates were 45.5 and 40.9%. Median OS was 16.5 months. Four patients (18.2%) presented LMDR during follow-up. RN occurred in 6 patients (27.2%). Three factors were associated with OS: ECOG-PS (P=0.009), KPS (P=0.04), cystic or solid nature of the metastasis before surgery (P=0.037). Several factors were related to RN occurrence: PTV diameter and volume, Normal brain V21, V21 and V24 isodoses volumes., Conclusion: HSRT is the most widely used scheme for larger brain cavities after surgery. The optimal dose and scheme remain to be defined as well as the optimal delay between postoperative SRT and surgery. Dose escalation may be necessary, especially in case of subtotal resection., (Copyright © 2022 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Owing to their metalloid characteristics with high electrical conductivity, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have attracted considerable research attention as prospective cathodes for hybrid supercapacitors. Unfortunately, they usually exhibit low rate performance as well as poor longevity, which does not meet the demands of hybrid supercapacitors. The nanocomposite constructed from reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and TMPs with a highly porous nature can effectively overcome the above-mentioned issues, greatly widening their utilization. In this work, we fabricated nanosheet-assembled hollow copper-nickel phosphide spheres (NH-CNPSs) by the controllable phosphatizing of copper-nickel-ethylene glycol (CN-EG) precursors. Then, porous NH-CNPSs were embedded in rGO texture (NH-CNPS-rGO) to form a unique porous nanoarchitecture. The obtained NH-CNPS-rGO has several advantages benefiting as the cathode electrode, such as (i) the hollow structure as well as porous nanosheets are conducive to fast electrolyte diffusion, (ii) the electrical conductivity of NH-CNPS is further enhanced when coupled with the rGO texture, hence promoting electron transfer in the whole structure, (iii) wrapping NH-CNPSs within the rGO texture endows the nanocomposite with much better structural stability, resulting in longer durability of the electrode, And (iv) the porous structures generated in the nanocomposite provide a perfect space for reducing the mass transfer resistance and accessing the electrolyte, thereby boosting the reaction kinetics. The tests demonstrated that the optimal NH-CNPS-rGO electrode revealed a capacity of up to 1075 C g -1 , a superior rate capacity, and exceptional longevity of 94.7%. Moreover, a hybrid supercapacitor (NH-CNPS-rGO‖AC) equipped with the NH-CNPS-rGO-cathode electrode and activated carbon (AC)-anode electrode represented a satisfactory energy density of 64 W h kg -1 at 801 W kg -1 and amazing longevity (91.8% retention after 13 000 cycles), which endorses the promising potential of NH-CNPS-rGO for high-efficiency supercapacitors. This research showcases an appropriate method to engineer hollow TMP-rGO nanocomposites as effective materials for supercapacitors.

Objective: Cigarette smoke (CS) contains compounds such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress caused by excessive ROS eventually leads to germ cell apoptosis and male infertility. The leaves of Cichorium intybus (chicory) are rich in natural antioxidants, but their protective effects on the adverse effects of CS on testicular tissue have not been studied., Materials and Methods: 24 Wistar rats were classified into four groups: control, extract: treatment with chicory extract (200 mg/kg body weight/day) for 13 weeks, smoke: exposed to CS for 13 weeks, and smoke + extract: exposed to CS and treated with the C. intybus extract. Histological and biochemical analyses and apoptosis assay were done, and Ahr, and Cyp1a1 expression was determined., Results: Treatment with C. intybus compensated for the reduction of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids caused by CS. Chicory extract reduced free radicals and improved antioxidant status. The lowest and highest percentage of apoptotic cells was observed in the extract and smoke groups, respectively, while simultaneous treatment with C. intybus extract led to a significant reduction of apoptotic cells. The mean Ahr levels in the control, extract, smoke and smoke + extract groups were 1.00±0.57, 1.93±0.25, 5.98±0.42, and 0.62±0.22, respectively (p˂0.05). The mean levels of Cyp1a1 expression in the control, extract, smoke and smoke + extract groups were 1.00±0.31, 2.28±0.65, 5.55±0.40, and 0.21±0.23 (p˂0.05)., Conclusion: The C. intybus extract probably affected Cyp1a1 expression by downregulation of Ahr. These led to a decrease in free radicals and apoptosis, and an improvement in antioxidant status., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.

Chirality is a critical issue in pharmaceutics, forensic chemistry, therapeutic drug monitoring, doping control, toxicology, or environmental investigations as enantiomers of a chiral compound can exhibit different activities, i.e., one enantiomer can have the desired effect while the other one can be inactive or even toxic. To monitor enantioselective metabolism or toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic mechanisms in extremely low content in biological or environmental matrices, sample preparation is vital. The present review describes current status of development of liquid-phase microextraction approaches such as hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME), electromembrane extraction (EME), dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), and supramolecular solvent-based microextraction (SSME), used for sample preparation of enantiomers/chiral compounds. The advantages and limitations of the above techniques are discussed. Attention is also focused on chiral separation approaches commonly applied to study the stereo-selective metabolism or toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic mechanisms of enantiomers in the biological and environmental samples.

Aims: The EXTREME regimen is the standard for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, many patients have a poor performance status and/or comorbidities, making them unfit for this regimen. We have treated them with carboplatin and cetuximab (simplified EXTREME regimen) since 2007. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and tolerance of this regimen in this frail population., Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients treated with the simplified EXTREME regimen for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC in three academic hospitals between 2007 and 2017 was carried out. The primary end point was overall survival. Secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and toxicity., Results: One hundred and three patients were included. The median age was 63 years, 40% had performance status 2-3. The median follow-up was 30.2 months. The median overall survival and PFS were 7.2 and 3.7 months, respectively. The median overall survival was 10.1 months in patients with performance status 0-1 versus 4.6 months in patients with performance status 2-3 (P = 0.01). ORR was 39%. Acute grade 3-4 haematological and non-haematological toxicity rates were 25.2% and 27.2%, respectively. Patients with grade 1 or more skin toxicity had a higher ORR (hazard ratio = 3.44; P = 0.03), a prolonged overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.37; P < 0.0001) and PFS (hazard ratio = 0.29; P < 0.0001). During treatment, 29% of patients had pain reduction, 13.5% had weight gain and 17.2% had an improvement in performance status., Conclusions: This is the largest cohort of patients treated with simplified EXTREME for HNSCC. It was well tolerated, with a high ORR. Interestingly, skin toxicity correlated with treatment efficacy., (Copyright © 2022 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present work, for the first time, fully green maltodextrin nanosponges (MDNSs) as extraction phases for the preparation of magnetic sorbents were introduced. All of the raw materials and synthetic methodologies used to prepare MDNSs follow the principles of green chemistry. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and moxifloxacin) were used as model analytes to assess the extraction performance of MDNSs in magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) procedure. Under the optimized conditions, the developed MSPE was coupled with HPLC-UV to sensitively quantify trace levels of four FQs in tap water, wastewater, and river water samples. The proposed MSPE-HPLC-UV method provided wide linearity in the range of 0.25-500.0 ng mL -1 with determination coefficients ≥0.9997. Low limits of detection (LODs ≤0.06 ng mL -1 ) and quantification (LOQs ≤0.20 ng mL -1 ) were achieved. Furthermore, the developed green extraction phases compared with all other maltodextrin-based extraction phases were promising., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study employed thin-film solid-phase microextraction procedure as a simple, sensitive, green, and solvent-free method for the co-extraction of multi-classes herbicides from cereal samples before HPLC-UV analysis. To provide an efficient sorbent, electrospun nanofibers of the crosslinked polyacrilonitril/ϒ-cyclodextrin-metal-organic framework (PAN/ϒ-CD-MOF) were successfully fabricated and assessed as a new thin-film adsorbent. Under the optimal conditions (desorption solvent: acetonitrile, desorption time: 5 min, sample solution pH: 7.0, salt concentration: 15% (w/w), and extraction time: 15 min), good linearity in the range of 2.5-1250.0 ng/mL (r 2  ≥ 0.992) was obtained. The detection limits were 0.75-2.50 ng/mL. The extraction recoveries and relative recoveries were 64.9-75.7% and 92.9-106.1%, respectively. The method showed good precision as the relative standard deviations were ≤ 6.3%. Finally, the developed method was applied efficiently for trace analysis of the herbicides in wheat, rice, and barley samples. Generally, the proposed method provided a simple, sensitive, environmentally friendly, and relatively fast approach., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite recent advances, the prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinomas remains poor, even for patients with resectable tumors. For these latter, new approaches based on neoadjuvant treatment have been developed. Two components are used: chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT). Indeed, pre-operative RT has many advantages in terms of efficacy and tolerance. It increases notably the chances of subsequent complete tumor resection. Several prospective trials are currently ongoing to clarify its place in the therapeutic arsenal. Another crucial question is to know which is the best RT technique: conventional normofractionated chemoradiotherapy or hypofrationated stereotactic body RT?, (Copyright © 2022 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Accumulating proofs signify that pleiotropic effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are not allied to their differentiation competencies but rather are mediated mainly by the releases of soluble paracrine mediators, making them a reasonable therapeutic option to enable damaged tissue repair. Due to their unique immunomodulatory and regenerative attributes, the MSC-derived exosomes hold great potential to treat neurodegeneration-associated neurological diseases. Exosome treatment circumvents drawbacks regarding the direct administration of MSCs, such as tumor formation or reduced infiltration and migration to brain tissue. Noteworthy, MSCs-derived exosomes can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and then efficiently deliver their cargo (e.g., protein, miRNAs, lipid, and mRNA) to damaged brain tissue. These biomolecules influence various biological processes (e.g., survival, proliferation, migration, etc.) in neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Various studies have shown that the systemic or local administration of MSCs-derived exosome could lead to the favored outcome in animals with neurodegeneration-associated disease mainly by supporting BBB integrity, eliciting pro-angiogenic effects, attenuating neuroinflammation, and promoting neurogenesis in vivo. In the present review, we will deliver an overview of the therapeutic benefits of MSCs-derived exosome therapy to ameliorate the pathological symptoms of acute and chronic neurodegenerative disease. Also, the underlying mechanism behind these favored effects has been elucidated., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

A novel tandem extraction method based on electromembrane extraction (EME) and slug flow microextraction (SFME) was developed for the extraction of some narcotics (methamphetamine, methadone, tramadol, and buprenorphine) from biological samples. The analytes were quantified by corona discharge-ion mobility spectrometry (CD-IMS). In this method, initially, analytes were extracted using an EME procedure (step-1). After that, the acceptor solution of the first step containing target analytes was applied in an SFME procedure (step-2) as a donor solution for further preconcentration. In the second step, analytes were extracted from an aqueous solution into an organic extractant. The optimum EME and SFME conditions were as follows: type of supported liquid membrane: 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether containing 10% v/v di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, acceptor solution pH: 1.0, sample solution pH: 4.0, voltage: 248 V, extraction time: 17.5 min, tilting number of glass capillary tube: 10 times, type of the organic extractant: toluene, the concentration of NaOH solution: 400 mM. Under optimum extraction conditions, good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.50-750.0 ng/mL with coefficients of determination (r 2 ) ≥ 0.991. The limits of detection and quantification were achieved in the range of 0.15-3.5 ng/mL and 0.50-12.0 ng/mL, respectively. The inter-day and intra-day precisions (n = 3) provided RSDs lower than 12.8% and 12.7%, respectively. Enrichment factors and extraction recoveries of the analytes were in the range of 255.7 to 505.4 and 37.6-78.3%, respectively. Comparing the EME/HPLC-UV with EME-SFME/CD-IMS showed that using the tandem extraction method improved the enrichment factors by more than 2.7 times and limits of detection and quantification by more than 15 times. Finally, this procedure was used to quantify target analytes in plasma and urine samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts to declare., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this study, electromembrane extraction (EME) combined with micro-EME (µ-EME) was used for the selective extraction of Cr(VI) from food samples (milk powder, Ocimum basilicum, and fish samples). Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the quantification of Cr(VI). Under the optimized extraction conditions, the extraction recovery of Cr(VI) was 73.7%. This proposed method provided a linear range from 0.01 to 5.0 ng/mL and the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.003 and 0.010 ng/mL. The %RSD (n = 5) was in the range of 11.2-11.8% at 0.05, 1.0 and 2.5 ng/mL of Cr(VI), and the enrichment factor was 584. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analysis of SRM 2700 as a certified reference material (CRM) and result was in good agreement with the certified value., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The essential oils of leaf, flower, immature and mature fruit from Ferula pseudalliacea (Apiaceae) which grow wildly in Iran as an endemic plant were obtained by hydro-distillation and subsequently analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The oils obtained in yields 0.4-4.0% (w/w) and the analysis of GC-MS/FID chromatogram was resulted in the identification of 43-47 compounds, representing 90.9 - 96.7% of the total oils. α-Pinene was the main compound in all samples. The oils exhibited mild activity against Bacillus pumilus , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus with or more than 15 mm zones of growth inhibition and MIC values of 9-15 mg/ml. Essential oil of immature and mature fruits showed potent antioxidant activity with IC 50 values of 35.4 ± 0.4 and 39.1 ± 0.4 µg/mL, respectively. So, this plant as an antibacterial and antioxidant agent can be useful in food and medicine industry. [Formula: see text].

In this work, gel electro-membrane extraction (G-EME) combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used for the determination of zinc ions (Zn 2+ ) in water samples. For the first time, the effect of the presence of three types of complexing agents such as phenanthroline (Phen), crown ethers (12C4, 15C5, 18C6), and ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) on the extraction efficiency of zinc ions was studied. In addition, the electroendosmosis (EEO) flow as an unwanted actuator was monitored in the presence and absence of complexing agents. By applying 50 V electrical potential across the membrane, the positive charged Zn 2+ ions were migrated from a donor phase (pH 5.0) through the agarose gel membrane (pH 5.0, containing a complexing agent) into the acceptor phase (pH 3.0). The obtained results showed that the highest extraction recoveries were obtained when crown ethers, especially 1% (w/v) 18C6 was added to the gel membrane. In addition, EEO flow was decreased in the presence of all complexing agents (except EDTA), probably due to the increase in electrical resistance. Using the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantification (LOQ), and extraction recovery% (ER%) were 5.0 μg L -1 , 15.0 μg L -1, and 92.5%, respectively. In the end, the applicability of the developed approach was successfully evaluated to determine Zn 2+ in tap, mineral, and river water samples., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

We investigate the dynamic optical transition of monolayer silicene in the presence of external electric and exchange fields within the low-energy tight-binding model. Applying external electric and exchange fields breaks the silicene band structure spin and valley degeneracies. Three phases of silicene corresponding to different strengths of perpendicular electric field with respect to the spin-orbit coupling (Δ z < Δ so , Δ z = Δ so and Δ z > Δ so ) are considered. We obtain the spin-valley-dependent optical responses to the incoming circularly polarized light using the Kubo formula. We show and discuss how the magnitude and direction of the transverse and longitudinal optical responses of such a system change with the electric and exchange fields. Our calculations suggest that the intraband part of the longitudinal optical response as well as the initial point of the interband part have strong dependencies on the exchange field. Furthermore, we show that one of the spin subbands plays a dominant role in the response to polarized light. Depending on the type of incident light polarization, the dominant subband may change. Our results shed light on the relation between silicene dynamic optical responses and externally applied fields., (© 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Therapeutic peptides have an important effect on physiological function and human health, so it is momentous to quantify and detect low levels of these biomolecules in biological samples for treatment and diagnostic purposes. In the present study, an efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method was developed based on stearic acid-functionalized magnetic hydroxyapatite nanocomposite (MHAP/SA) as a novel and cost-effective adsorbent for extraction of five hypothalamic-related peptides (goserelin, octreotide, triptorelin, somatostatin, and cetrorelix) from biological samples. To characterize the morphology and physicochemical properties of MHAP/SA, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM), CHNS elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were applied. Under optimum conditions, the proposed method (MSPE-HPLC-UV) represented favorable linearity with R 2  ≥ 0.9987, suitable intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD ≤ 6.9% and RSD ≤ 8.1%, respectively, n = 3), and limits of detection and quantification in the range of 0.75-1.12 ng mL -1 and 2.50-3.75 ng mL -1 , respectively. Eventually, the proposed method was used for the extraction and quantification of target therapeutic peptides in plasma and urine samples, and satisfactory relative recoveries were achieved in the range of 90.6-110.3%., (© 2021. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)