Search

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]

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]

Encapsulation in liposome structure can be used as a protective carrier system for bioactive compounds during processing and storage under different conditions. Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) extracted from algae with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties can be applied to produce raw materials for functional foods. Therefore, in the present study, phycobiliprotein pigment was extracted from Gracilaria algae and the amounts of pigment was investigated. Also, nanoliposomes containing PBPs coated by chitosan (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%) were prepared and their physicochemical properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. The mean diameter of nanoliposomes and Polydispersity index (PDI) ranged from 336.9 to 577.7 nm and 0.25 to 0.28 in nanocarriers, respectively. The highest values of nanoliposome encapsulation efficiency of PBPs (83.98%) were obtained under optimal conditions in nanoliposomes with 1.5% chitosan coating. The results showed that the antimicrobial activity of the treatments increased significantly after encapsulation in the nanoliposome. In addition, the antioxidant activity of PBPs increased significantly after nanoencapsulation in liposomes. So that the EC50 level decreased to 81.27 and 107.67 ppm in DPPH and ABTS tests in nanoliposomes with 1.5% chitosan coating, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, it can be realized that nanocoating with chitosan effectively increases its stability, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Therefore, in order to increase the stability of natural compounds during different processes, it is recommended. [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]

In recent years, the aquatic waste as a source of bioactive peptides has been considered by many researchers. Bioactive peptides require protective methods to increase physical stability and, controlled release and optimize efficacy during oral delivery. The aim of this study was to develop an oral phospholipid nanoliposomal system incorporated with bioactive peptides derived from fish protein hydrolysate of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with separating fractions of peptide in range of 3 kDa to 30 kDa in chitosan coating (0.5%, 1% w/v) by the alkalase enzyme. The results showed that chitosan coating greatly improved the stability of nano-liposomes. The average particle size was in the range of 333.9-533.9 nm with a zeta potential of -54.03 to +46.3 and a poly dispersity index (PDI) of 0.2- 0.54 in nano-liposomes. The Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%) values were significantly influenced by changes in the concentration of chitosan and the maximum EE% (72.57± 0.51) was observed in the nano-liposome containing peptide with 3 kDa fractions coated with 1% chitosan. Study on the invitro releasing rate of the peptide showed the effect of the coating on the slower release and peptide stability in nano-liposomes.Physical stability evaluation determined a faster release of the peptide from the liposomes after freezing/thawing and freeze-drying / rehydration processes. The results of long-term storage of nano-liposomes at temperatures of 4 and 20 ° C indicated that chitosan coating increased the stability of nano-liposomes by adding membrane thickness and increasing repulsion between the particles. The results of this study showed that encapsulation of bioactive peptide in the liposomal system could be a useful approach for direct application of peptides with bioactive potential in food and drug industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

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.

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.