Search

This case report describes congenital ichthyosis in a Maltese dog, a condition, which has not previously been reported in this breed. The dog presented with several dry, tightly adhering scales showing a multi-focal appearance. The histology revealed severe orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia with an irregular granular layer without epidermolysis. Non-epidermolytic ichthyosis (NI) has strong breed predilection in dogs, and its morphological features vary by breed while the microscopic changes are similar. It is likely to be the first reported case of congenital ichthyosis in a Maltese dog showing a different morphological appearance compared to other breeds with a higher prevalence of NI.

Hanna Jung, Gun Jik Kim, Tak-hyuk Oh Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Tak-hyuk OhDepartment of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of KoreaTel +82-53-200-5665Fax +82-53-426-4765Email ohhidongii@gmail.comAbstract: Mucormycosis is a rare, life-threatening, and opportunistic fungal infection that usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. Rhinocerebral and pulmonary manifestations are the common form. The rare form of gastrointestinal mucormycosis occur in all parts of the alimentary tract, with emphasis on the stomach being the most common site. Primary gastric mucormycosis following traumatic injury is an extremely rare form that is usually lethal; thus, only a few cases of survival have been reported even after early diagnosis and aggressive surgical resection, combined with antifungal treatment. We herein report a case of delayed-onset gastric mucormycosis in a polytrauma patient without predisposing factors, which was successfully treated by antifungal medical therapy alone with no surgical debridement.Keywords: antifungal antibiotics, fungal infection, melena, mucormycosis, multiple trauma

Ann Vincent1, Mary O Whipple1, Connie A Luedtke2, Terry H Oh3, Richa Sood1, Robin L Smith1, Aminah Jatoi4 1Department of Medicine, 2Department of Nursing, 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 4Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Objective: Fibromyalgia is a troubling disease characterized by chronic pain. This study explored whether pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms are worse among women who had undergone a hysterectomy with or without an oophorectomy versus those who had not. Methods: Consecutive women who were seen at the Fibromyalgia Treatment Program at a tertiary medical center between 2001 and 2004 and who completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) at initial evaluation were included in this study. Results: A total of 813 women were included; 328 had had a hysterectomy. Total FIQ scores from women who had had a hysterectomy were higher (worse symptoms) than those who had not (58.1 vs 56.4, P = 0.002). FIQ subscale scores of pain (P = 0.003), fatigue (P = 0.030), stiffness (P = 0.035), and depression (P = 0.008) were also worse in women who had had a hysterectomy. Similar to the FIQ, SF-36 physical component scores were worse in women who had had a hysterectomy (P = 0.045). Conclusion: Pain and other fibromyalgia symptom severity was worse in women who had had a hysterectomy with or without an oophorectomy. Keywords: fibromyalgia, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, symptom severity, surgical menopause

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of rheumatic diseases and their association with symptom severity, quality of life (QoL), and treatment outcome in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).Method: Our study contained 536 FM patients who completed a brief, interdisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment programme (FTP) at our institution, with emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the 36-item Short Form Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36) were completed at initial evaluation and at 6 and 12 months after the FTP. The presence of inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) was determined by physician diagnoses. A two-sample t-test and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to compare the rheumatic and non-rheumatic groups.Results: Thirty-six patients (6.7%) had documented IRD. At baseline, the rheumatic group had poorer scores in SF-36 physical functioning (p = 0.02), pain index (p = 0.01), and physical component summary (p = 0.009) than the non-rheumatic group. After treatment, both groups tended to improve; however, the rheumatic group had significantly less improvement on the FIQ subscales in pain (p = 0.01) and missed work days (p = 0.01), as well as in the SF-36 physical functioning (p = 0.01), pain index (p = 0.049), and physical component summary (p = 0.049) compared with the non-rheumatic group.Conclusions: The frequency of rheumatic diseases in patients with FM seen at FTP was 6.7%. FM patients with rheumatic diseases were found to have worse SF-36-assessed pain and physical health and less improvement in these measures following treatment from FTP than patients without rheumatic diseases. FM patients with rheumatic disease may require additional intervention to address underlying rheumatic disease-related limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After spinal cord injury, the disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier by activation of matrix metalloprotease is a critical event leading to infiltration of blood cells, inflammatory responses and neuronal cell death, contributing to permanent neurological disability. Recent evidence indicates that fluoxetine, an anti-depressant drug, is shown to have neuroprotective effects in ischaemic brain injury, but the precise mechanism underlying its protective effects is largely unknown. Here, we show that fluoxetine prevented blood-spinal cord barrier disruption via inhibition of matrix metalloprotease activation after spinal cord injury. After a moderate contusion injury at the T9 level of spinal cord with an infinite horizon impactor in the mouse, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally and further administered once a day for indicated time points. Fluoxetine treatment significantly inhibited messenger RNA expression of matrix metalloprotease 2, 9 and 12 after spinal cord injury. By zymography and fluorimetric enzyme activity assay, fluoxetine also significantly reduced matrix metalloprotease 2 and matrix metalloprotease 9 activities after injury. In addition, fluoxetine inhibited nuclear factor kappa B-dependent matrix metalloprotease 9 expression in bEnd.3, a brain endothelial cell line, after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation. Fluoxetine also attenuated the loss of tight junction molecules such as zona occludens 1 and occludin after injury in vivo as well as in bEnd.3 cultures. By immunofluorescence staining, fluoxetine prevented the breakdown of the tight junction integrity in endothelial cells of blood vessel after injury. Furthermore, fluoxetine inhibited the messenger RNA expression of chemokines such as Groα, MIP1α and 1β, and prevented the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, and reduced the expression of inflammatory mediators after injury. Finally, fluoxetine attenuated apoptotic cell death and improved locomotor function after injury. Thus, our results indicate that fluoxetine improved functional recovery in part by inhibiting matrix metalloprotease activation and preventing blood-spinal cord barrier disruption after spinal cord injury. Furthermore, our study suggests that fluoxetine may represent a potential therapeutic agent for preserving blood-brain barrier integrity following ischaemic brain injury and spinal cord injury in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact and long-term benefit of a brief 1(1/2)-day fibromyalgia treatment program. DESIGN: We assessed 6-12-mo outcome of 521 participants who underwent a 1½-day interdisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment program in a tertiary medical center. We administered three self-reported instruments: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, the Short Form-36 Health Status Questionnaire, and a satisfaction survey, at baseline, and 6-12 mos after completing the fibromyalgia treatment program. The difference in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Short Form-36 scores before and after the fibromyalgia treatment program was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score was decreased by a mean (SD) of 7.2 (17.7) points at follow-up (P < 0.001). All Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire subscales improved significantly at follow-up (all P < 0.001), except depression score (P = 0.67). The Short Form-36 scores improved significantly in all areas at follow-up (all P < 0.001), except general health perception (P = 0.58) and role emotional (P = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: A brief 1½-day fibromyalgia treatment program improves symptoms and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia for 6-12 mos. Further clinical investigations are needed to compare this fibromyalgia treatment program with other programs and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features, treatment strategies, and outcome of dysphagia in patients with inclusion body myositis.Design: Retrospective review of all 26 patients (20 women, 6 men, mean age of 72.2 yrs) with inclusion body myositis-associated dysphagia seen in 1997-2001 at our institution.Results: Twenty-four patients (92%) had a dysphagia evaluation. Cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction was noted in all nine patients who had barium swallow studies. Eighteen patients (69%) underwent one or more interventional procedures: cricopharyngeal myotomy (10), pharyngoesophageal dilation (6), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (6), and botulinum injection of the upper esophageal sphincter (2). Dysphagia tended to worsen with time. Symptomatic improvement was noted with cricopharyngeal myotomy (63%) and pharyngoesophageal dilation (33%). The Mendelsohn maneuver seemed helpful in maintaining oral intake in the three patients in whom it was recommended. Thirteen patients died during follow-up at a mean age of 81 yrs. The cause of death was identified in eight and in all cases was because of the respiratory complications of aspiration.Conclusions: Dysphagia is a progressive condition in patients with inclusion body myositis and often leads to death from aspiration pneumonia. Treatment targeting cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction, such as the Mendelsohn maneuver, will benefit from further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bleeding is a major complication of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). This study investigated whether the use of metal hemoclips to close EMR-induced ulcers after gastric EMR was effective in preventing delayed bleeding.Methods: This single-center study retrospectively examined the records for 150 lesions of 140 consecutive patients (107 men and 33 women) with a mean age of 61 years (range, 38-81 years) who underwent EMR. For 60 patients, moderate to severe immediate bleeding occurred during the procedure, and the ulcers had been closed using metal hemoclips (clip group). In the remaining 90 cases, the immediate bleeding was absent or mild, and hemoclips were not used (nonclip group). Postprocedure bleeding (delayed bleeding) was analyzed.Results: Overall, delayed bleeding occurred with 14 (9.3%) of the 150 lesions. Delayed bleeding occurred less frequently in the clip group (2 of 60 lesions; 3.3%) than in the nonclip group (12 of 90 lesions; 13.3%; p = 0.04). Of the 60 clip group ulcers, 37 (62%) were completely closed, and none showed delayed bleeding. The median number of hemoclips used for ulcer closure was 10 (range, 4-22), and the median time for ulcer closure was 14 min (range, 4-40 min).Conclusions: Prophylactic closure of gastric EMR-induced ulcers with hemoclips reduced delayed bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients with inflammatory myopathy-associated dysphagia.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with inflammatory myopathy-associated dysphagia seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001.Results: A total of 783 patients were diagnosed as having inflammatory myopathy during the 5-year study period. Of these, 62 patients (41 women and 21 men; mean age, 68.6 years) had inflammatory myopathy-associated dysphagia: 26 with inclusion body myositis (IBM), 18 with dermatomyositis, 9 with polymyositis, and 9 with overlap syndrome. Dysphagia was a presenting symptom in 13 patients (21%), with the highest incidence in the IBM group. Videofluoroscopic examinations revealed pharyngeal pooling and impaired oropharyngeal and cricopharyngeal function. The benefits of swallowing compensation techniques and exercises were difficult to establish. Interventional procedures were performed in 24 patients (39%) and most frequently (62%) in patients with IBM, with cricopharyngeal myotomy being most beneficial. Patients with IBM had the least symptomatic improvement. Overall, 11 patients died during the median follow-up of 38 months, with respiratory failure due to aspiration pneumonia as the most common cause. Mortality was high in patients who required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (7/11, 64%), and 1- year mortality was highest (31%) in those with dermatomyositis.Conclusion: Dysphagia is a serious and at times presenting problem in patients with inflammatory myopathy. It occurs most frequently and appears to be most refractory in patients with IBM. The mortality rate was high in patients who required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and the 1-year mortality rate was the highest in patients with dermatomyositis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients referred to a fibromyalgia treatment program at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients referred to the Mayo Fibromyalgia Treatment Program between February 2003 and July 2003 were invited on their initial visit to participate in a survey regarding CAM use during the previous 6 months. An 85-question survey that addressed different CAM domains was used. RESULTS: Of the 304 patients invited to participate, 289 (95%) completed the survey (263 women and 26 men). Ninety-eight percent of the patients had used some type of CAM therapy during the previous 6 months. The 10 most frequently used CAM treatments were exercise for a specific medical problem (48%), spiritual healing (prayers) (45%), massage therapy (44%), chiropractic treatments (37%), vitamin C (35%), vitamin E (31%), magnesium (29%), vitamin B complex (25%), green tea (24%), and weight-loss programs (20%). CONCLUSION: CAM use is common in patients referred to a fibromyalgia treatment program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an excellent multifunctional electrocatalyst that is based on non-precious metal is critical for improving the electrochemical processes of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) in alkaline media. This study demonstrates that incorporating Mo into Co 3 O 4 facilitated the formation of rich oxygen vacancies (Vo), which promotes effective nitrate adsorption and activation in urea electrolysis. Subsequently, in situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to explore the active sites in Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 under OER, indicating the oxygen vacancies are first filled with OH • in Mo-Co 3 O 4 ; facilitated the pre-oxidation of low-valence Co, and promoted the reconstruction/deprotonation of intermediate Co-OOH • . Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 electrocatalysts show impressive HER, OER, and UOR with low overpotentials of 141 mV, 220 mV, and 1.32 V, respectively, at 10 mA cm -2 in an alkaline medium. Furthermore, in situ/Operando Raman spectroscopy results reveal the importance of CoOOH active sites for enhanced electrochemical performance in Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 compared to the pure Co 3 O 4 . The urea electrolyzer with Mo-Co 3 O 4 electrocatalysts acts as an anode and the cathode delivers 1.42 V at 10 mA cm -2 . A viable approach to creating effective UOR electrocatalysts involves synergistic engineering exploiting doping and oxygen vacancies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Most deep anomaly detection models are based on learning normality from datasets due to the difficulty of defining abnormality by its diverse and inconsistent nature. Therefore, it has been a common practice to learn normality under the assumption that anomalous data are absent in a training dataset, which we call normality assumption. However, in practice, the normality assumption is often violated due to the nature of real data distributions that includes anomalous tails, i.e., a contaminated dataset. Thereby, the gap between the assumption and actual training data affects detrimentally in learning of an anomaly detection model. In this work, we propose a learning framework to reduce this gap and achieve better normality representation. Our key idea is to identify sample-wise normality and utilize it as an importance weight, which is updated iteratively during the training. Our framework is designed to be model-agnostic and hyperparameter insensitive so that it applies to a wide range of existing methods without careful parameter tuning. We apply our framework to three different representative approaches of deep anomaly detection that are classified into one-class classification-, probabilistic model-, and reconstruction-based approaches. In addition, we address the importance of a termination condition for iterative methods and propose a termination criterion inspired by the anomaly detection objective. We validate that our framework improves the robustness of the anomaly detection models under different levels of contamination ratios on five anomaly detection benchmark datasets and two image datasets. On various contaminated datasets, our framework improves the performance of three representative anomaly detection methods, measured by area under the ROC curve.

Wearable piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are increasingly significant in healthcare and energy harvesting applications due to their ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical signals. In this study, we developed PENGs by incorporating crab shell powder (CS-NFs) into electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers to enhance their piezoelectric properties. The PVDF-CS-NFs (PC-NFs) composites were evaluated for structural, thermal, and piezoelectric performance. The 1.5 wt% CS-NFs composite exhibited a notable improvement, with a maximum output voltage of 19 V under mechanical deformation, significantly higher than pristine PVDF NFs. Furthermore, the device demonstrated excellent sensitivity in real-time respiratory monitoring when applied to various body locations, including the chest, throat, and mask. Additionally, the PC-NFs-based PENGs were capable of charging a 2.2 µF capacitor to 2 V within 180 s and powering 56 LEDs. These results underscore the potential of using sustainable crab shell waste in biocompatible, eco-friendly piezoelectric devices for wearable sensors and energy harvesting applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: S Divya reports financial support was provided by Yeungnam University. S Divya reports a relationship with Yeungnam University that includes: employment and funding grants. If there are other authors, they 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 © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

In this study, mycosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are fabricated via Pleurotus sajor-caju mushroom extract, and their potential medical and environmental applications are demonstrated. The biosynthesized ZnONPs were assessed for their antibacterial, anticancer, and biodecolorization potential efficiency. They were also characterized and morphologically analyzed by UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, Zeta potential, and GC-MS analysis. The UV visible spectrum analysis of synthesized ZnONPs analyzed outcome 354 nm was the SPR peak that the nanoparticles displayed. The characteristic Zn-O bond was indicated by a strong peak in the FT-IR study at 432.05 cm -1 . Based on XRD analysis, P. sajor-caju mediated ZnONPs were crystalline nature, with an average nano particle size of 14.21 nm and a polydispersity directory of 0.29. The nanoparticles exhibit modest constancy, as shown by their zeta potential value of - 33.2 mV. The presence of oxygen and zinc was verified by EDX analysis. The ZnONPs were found to be spherical in shape and crystalline nature structure, with smooth surface morphology and a mean particle size of 10 nm using HR-TEM and SAED analysis. The significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus (6.2 ± 0.1), S. mutans (5.4 ± 0.4), and B. subtilis (5.2 ± 0.1 mm) was demonstrated by the synthesized ZnONPs made using mushroom extract. It was discovered that when the concentration of mushroom extract was increased together with synthesized ZnONPs, the bactericidal activity increased considerably. A higher concentration of ZnONPs demonstrated superior antibacterial activity across the ZnONPs ratio tests. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that ZnONPs, even at low doses, had a substantial number of cytotoxic effects on liver cancer cells (LC 50 values 47.42 µg/mL). The effectiveness test revealed that acid blue 129 was degraded. The best decolorization of acid blue 129 at 72.57% after 3 h of soaking serves as evidence for the theory that myco-synthesized ZnONPs by P. sajor-caju mushroom can function as catalysts in reducing the dye. The mycosynthesized ZnONPs from P. sajor-caju extract, and its potential for antibacterial, anticancer, and decolorization are in this investigation. The mycosynthesized ZnONPs suggest a novel use for nanoparticles in the creation of environmental and medicinal products., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The field of energy storage and conversion materials has witnessed transformative advancements owing to the integration of advanced in situ characterization techniques. Among them, numerous real-time characterization techniques, especially in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning TEM (STEM) have tremendously increased the atomic-level understanding of the minute transition states in energy materials during electrochemical processes. Advanced forms of in situ/operando TEM and STEM microscopic techniques also provide incredible insights into material phenomena at the finest scale and aid to monitor phase transformations and degradation mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries. Notably, the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) is one the most significant factors that associated with the performance of rechargeable batteries. The SEI critically controls the electrochemical reactions occur at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Intricate chemical reactions in energy materials interfaces can be effectively monitored using temperature-sensitive in situ STEM techniques, deciphering the reaction mechanisms prevailing in the degradation pathways of energy materials with nano- to micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Further, the advent of cryogenic (Cryo)-TEM has enhanced these studies by preserving the native state of sensitive materials. Cryo-TEM also allows the observation of metastable phases and reaction intermediates that are otherwise challenging to capture. Along with these sophisticated techniques, Focused ion beam (FIB) induction has also been instrumental in preparing site-specific cross-sectional samples, facilitating the high-resolution analysis of interfaces and layers within energy devices. The holistic integration of these advanced characterization techniques provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes in energy materials. This review highlights the recent progress in employing state-of-the-art characterization techniques such as in situ TEM, STEM, Cryo-TEM, and FIB for detailed investigation into the structural and chemical dynamics of energy storage and conversion materials.

Developing lightweight, highly active surfaces with a high level of performance and great stability is crucial for ensuring the dependability of energy harvesting and conversion devices. Aerogel-based electrocatalysts are an efficient option for electrocatalytic hydrogen production because of their numerous benefits, such as their compatibility with interface engineering and their porous architecture. Herein, we report on the facile synthesis of a nanorod-like molybdenum sulfide-reduced graphene oxide (M-rG) aerogel as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The 3D architecture of the network-like structure of the M-rG hybrid aerogel was created via the hydrothermal technique, using a saturated NaCl solution-assisted process, where the MoS 2 was homogeneously incorporated within the interconnected rGO aerogel. The optimized M-rG-300 aerogel electrocatalyst had a significantly decreased overpotential of 112 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 for the HER in alkaline conditions. The M-rG-300 also showed a higher level of reliability. The remarkable efficiency of the HER involving the M-rG-300 is principally attributed to the excellent connectivity between the rGO and MoS 2 in the aerogel structure. The efficient interconnection influenced the achievement of a larger electrochemically active surface area, increased electrical conductivity, and the exposure of more active sites for the HER. Furthermore, the creation of a synergistic effect in the M-rG-300 aerogel is the most probable mechanism to boost the electrocatalytic activity.

Currently, one of the primary challenges that human society must overcome is the task of decreasing the amount of energy used and the adverse effects that it has on the environment. The daily increase in liquid waste (comprising organic pollutants) is a direct result of the creation and expansion of new companies, causing significant environmental disruption. Water contamination is attributed to several industries such as textile, chemical, poultry, dairy, and pharmaceutical. In this study, we present the successful degradation of methylene blue dye using g-C 3 N 4 (GCN) mixed with WO 3 and V 2 O 5 composites (GCN/WO 3 /V 2 O 5 ternary composite) as a photocatalyst, prepared by a simple mechanochemistry method. The GCN/WO 3 /V 2 O 5 ternary composite revealed a notable enhancement in photocatalytic performance, achieving around 97% degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB). This performance surpasses that of the individual photocatalysts, namely pure GCN, GCN/WO 3 , and GCN/V 2 O 5 composites. Furthermore, the GCN/WO 3 /V 2 O 5 ternary composite exhibited exceptional stability even after undergoing five consecutive cycles. The exceptional photocatalytic activity of the GCN/WO 3 /V 2 O 5 ternary composite can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of metal-free GCN and metal oxides, resulting in the alteration of the band gap and suppression of charge recombination in the ternary photocatalyst. This study offers a better platform for understanding the characteristics of materials and their photocatalytic performance under visible light conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) molds were used for the production of large-area and inexpensive superhydrophobic polymer films. A controlled anodization methodology was developed for the fabrication of hierarchical micro-nanoporous (HMN) AAO imprint molds (HMN-AAO), where phosphoric acid was used as both an electrolyte and a widening agent. Heat generated upon repetitive high-voltage (195 V) anodization steps is effectively dissipated by establishing a cooling channel. On the HMN-AAO, within the hemispherical micropores, arrays of hexagonal nanopores are formed. The diameter and depth of the micro- and nanopores are 18/8 and 0.3/1.25 µm, respectively. The gradual removal of micropatterns during etching in both the vertical and horizontal directions is crucial for fabricating HMN-AAO with a high aspect ratio. HMN-AAO rendered polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films with respective water contact angles (WCAs) of 153° and 151°, respectively. The increase in the WCA is 80% for PC (85°) and 89% for PMMA (80°). On the PC and PMMA films, mechanically robust arrays of nanopillars are observed within the hemispherical micropillars. The micro-nanopillars on these polymer films are mechanically robust and durable. Regular nanoporous AAO molds resulted in only a hydrophobic polymer film (WCA = 113-118°). Collectively, the phosphoric acid-based controlled anodization strategy can be effectively utilized for the manufacturing of HMN-AAO molds and roll-to-roll production of durable superhydrophobic surfaces.

The development of environmentally friendly technology is vital to effectively address the issues related to environmental deterioration. This work integrates ZnO-decorated MoS 2 (MZ) to create a high-performing PVDF-based PVDF/MoS 2 -ZnO (PMZ) hybrid polymer composite film for sonocatalytic organic pollutant degradation. An efficient synergistic combination of MZ was identified by altering the ratio, and its influence on PVDF was assessed using diverse structural, morphological, and sonocatalytic performances. The PMZ film demonstrated very effective sonocatalytic characteristics by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) dye with a degradation efficiency of 97.23%, whereas PVDF only degraded 17.7%. Combining MoS 2 and ZnO reduces electron-hole recombination and increases the sonocatalytic degradation performance. Moreover, an ideal piezoelectric PVDF polymer with MZ enhances polarization to improve redox processes and dye degradation, ultimately increasing the degradation efficiency. The degradation efficiency of RhB was seen to decrease while employing isopropanol (IPA) and p-benzoquinone (BQ) due to the presence of reactive oxygen species. This suggests that the active species •O 2 and •OH are primarily responsible for the degradation of RhB utilizing PMZ2 film. The PMZ film exhibited improved reusability without substantially decreasing its catalytic activity. The superior embellishment of ZnO onto MoS - and •OH are primarily responsible for the degradation of RhB utilizing PMZ2 film. The PMZ film exhibited improved reusability without substantially decreasing its catalytic activity. The superior embellishment of ZnO onto MoS 2 and effective integration of MZ into the PVDF polymer film results in improved degrading performance.

In this study, a highly efficient CoFe 2 O 4 -anchored g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite with Z-scheme photocatalyst was developed by facile calcination and hydrothermal technique. To evaluate the crystalline structure, sample surface morphology, elemental compositions, and charge conductivity of the as-synthesized catalysts by various characterization techniques. The high interfacial contact of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) with g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets reduced the optical bandgap from 2.67 to 2.5 eV, which improved the charge carrier separation and transfer. The photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B) aqueous pollutant suspension under visible-light influence was used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation activity of the efficient CoFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composite catalyst. The heterostructured spinel CoFe 2 O 4 anchored g-C 3 N 4 photocatalysts (PCs) with Z-scheme show better photocatalytic degradation performance for both organic dyes. Meanwhile, the efficiency of aqueous MB and Rh B degradation in 120 and 100 min under visible-light could be up to 91.1% and 73.7%, which is greater than pristine g-C 3 N 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 catalysts. The recycling stability test showed no significant changes in the photo-degradation activity after four repeated cycles. Thus, this work provides an efficient tactic for the construction of highly efficient magnetic PCs for the removal of hazardous pollutants in the aquatic environment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This review provides a thorough examination of small molecule-based fluorescence chemosensors tailored for bioimaging applications, showcasing their unique ability to visualize biological processes with exceptional sensitivity and selectivity. It explores recent advancements, methodologies, and applications in this domain, focusing on various designs rooted in anthracene, benzothiazole, naphthalene, quinoline, and Schiff base. Structural modifications and molecular engineering strategies are emphasized for enhancing sensor performance, including heightened sensitivity, selectivity, and biocompatibility. Additionally, the review offers valuable insights into the ongoing development and utilization of these chemosensors, addressing current challenges and charting future directions in this rapidly evolving field., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The sustainable catalytic efficacy of transition metal oxides (TMO) and rare earth element-based oxides positions them as pivotal materials for effectively treating contaminated wastewater. This study successfully synthesized a series of Ce@MnO 2 photocatalysts using a straightforward hydrothermal method. These photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized for their optical properties, structural morphology, and phase purity. Among the synthesized materials, the Ce@MnO 2 (40:60) exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Acebutolol (ACB), achieving a remarkable degradation efficiency of 92.71% within 90 min under visible light irradiation. This superior performance is attributed to the increased presence of active species and the efficient separation of photogenerated carriers. Additionally, the photocatalytic reaction mechanism was elucidated, highlighting the catalyst's surface charge properties which significantly enhanced performance in a solution with pH 8. The outstanding photo-response in the visible spectrum renders this method not only cost-effective but also environmentally benign, presenting a promising approach for large-scale water purification., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The development of effective oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR) on heterostructure electrocatalysts with specific interfaces and characteristics provides a distinctive character. In this study, heterostructure nanocubes (NCs) comprising inner cobalt oxysulfide (CoOS) NCs and outer CoFe (CF) layered double hydroxide (LDH) are developed using a hydrothermal methodology. During the sulfidation process, the divalent sulfur ions (S 2- ) are released from the breakdown of the sulfur source and react with the Co-precursors on the surface leading to the transformation of CoOH nanorods into CoOS nanocubes. Further, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses reveal that the interactions at the interface of the CF@CoOS NCs significantly altered the electronic structure, thus enhancing the electrocatalytic performance. The optimal catalysts exhibited effective OER and UOR activities, the attained potentials are 1.51 and 1.36 V. This remarkable performance is attributable to the induction of electron transfer from the CoFe LDH to CoOS, which reduces the energy barrier of the intermediates for the OER and UOR. Furthermore, an alkaline water and urea two-cell electrolyzer assembled using CF@CoOS-2 NCs and Pt/C as the anode and cathode requires a cell voltage of 1.63 and 1.56 V along with a durability performance., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This study examined the tensile strength and biocompatibility properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel tissue regeneration scaffolds with polylactic acid (PLA) mesh fabric added as reinforcement, with a focus on the impact of heat treatment temperature and the number of layers of the PLA mesh fabric. The hydrogel scaffolds were prepared using a freeze-thaw method to create PVA hydrogel, with the PLA mesh fabric placed inside the hydrogel. The swelling ratio of the PVA/PLA hydrogel scaffolds decreased with increasing layer number and heat treatment temperature of the PLA mesh. The gel strength was highest when five layers of PLA mesh fabric were added, heat-treated at 120 °C, and confirmed to be properly placed inside the hydrogel by SEM images. The MTT assay and DAPI staining using HaCaT cells demonstrated that the cell proliferation was uninterrupted throughout the experimental period, confirming the biocompatibility of the scaffold. Therefore, we confirmed the possibility of using PLA mesh fabric as a reinforcement for PVA hydrogel to improve the strength of scaffolds for tissue regeneration, and we confirmed the potential of PLA mesh fabric as a reinforcement for various biomaterials.

The conflict between stiffness and toughness is a fundamental problem in engineering materials design. However, the systematic discovery of microstructured composites with optimal stiffness-toughness trade-offs has never been demonstrated, hindered by the discrepancies between simulation and reality and the lack of data-efficient exploration of the entire Pareto front. We introduce a generalizable pipeline that integrates physical experiments, numerical simulations, and artificial neural networks to address both challenges. Without any prescribed expert knowledge of material design, our approach implements a nested-loop proposal-validation workflow to bridge the simulation-to-reality gap and find microstructured composites that are stiff and tough with high sample efficiency. Further analysis of Pareto-optimal designs allows us to automatically identify existing toughness enhancement mechanisms, which were previously found through trial and error or biomimicry. On a broader scale, our method provides a blueprint for computational design in various research areas beyond solid mechanics, such as polymer chemistry, fluid dynamics, meteorology, and robotics.

The Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency regularly update, revise, and develop new content for the Korean sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidelines. These professional bodies respond to changing epidemiological trends and evolving scientific evidence, and consider advances in laboratory diagnostics and research. The principal recommendations of the 2023 Korean STI guidelines in terms of viral infection follow: 1) If genital herpes recurs more than 4-6 times annually, suppressive therapy with acyclovir 400 mg orally 2 times/day or famciclovir 250 mg orally 2 times/day or valacyclovir 500 mg orally once a day (for patients with <10 episodes/year) or valacyclovir 1 g orally once daily (for patients with ≥10 episodes/year) is recommended to prevent recurrence; 2) molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is not recommended as a routine test for STI status, nor for determination of HPV vaccination status; and 3) patients should inform their current sexual partners about anogenital warts because the types of HPV that cause such warts can be passed to partners. These guidelines will be updated every 5 years and will be revised when new knowledge on STIs becomes available and there is a reasonable need to improve the guidelines. Physicians and other healthcare providers can use the guidelines to assist in the prevention and treatment of STIs., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (© The Korean Urological Association.)

As an excellent alternative to petroleum-based food packaging materials, a novel green hybrid composite film with an excellent interconnected network structure was successfully fabricated by integrating chitosan (chi), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and lignin nanoparticles (LNP), including the desired amount of plasticizer glycerol (gly). Overall, 36 combinations were developed and investigated for superior biocomposite film formation. Among the various concentration ratios, the 40:35:25 chi-MCC-gly film provided well-organized film formation, good physicochemical properties, mechanical stability, efficient water contact angle, reduced water solubility, and lower water vapor permeability (11.43 ± 0.55 × 10 -11  g.m -1 .s -1 .Pa -1 ). The performance of the chi-MCC-gly film further enhanced by the homogeneous incorporation of ∼100 nm LNP. With 1 % LNP addition, the tensile strength of the film increased (28.09 MPa, 47.10 % increase) and the water vapor permeability reached a minimum of 11.43 × 10 -11 g.m -1 .s -1 .Pa -1 , which proved the impact of LNP in composite films. Moreover, the films showed excellent resistance to thermal shrinkage even at 100 °C and exhibited nearly 100 % UV blocking efficiency at higher LNP concentrations. Interestingly, the green composite films extended the shelf life of freshly cut cherry tomatoes to seven days without spoilage. Overall, the facile synthesis of strong, insoluble, UV-blocking, and thermally stable green composite films realized for food packaging applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Tae Hwan Oh reports financial support was provided by Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Bones are the most common site of prostate cancer metastasis. Other common sites of metastases include the distant lymph nodes, liver, thorax, brain, and digestive system. However, cutaneous metastases from prostate cancer are extremely rare., Patient Concerns: We present a case of a 61-year-old man with scalp nodules without any cancer history., Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma through an incisional biopsy for his scalp nodules. The patient presented with a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 10.2 ng/mL; imaging examinations revealed extraprostatic extension, lymph node involvement, and multiple bone metastases., Intervention: The patient was treated with androgen deprivation therapy with leuprolide acetate (7.5 mg every month) and abiraterone acetate (1000 mg daily)., Outcomes: The scalp metastases resolved without adverse effects, and the serum prostate-specific antigen level decreased to 0.02 ng/mL., Lessons: Cutaneous metastasis, especially scalp metastasis from prostate cancer, is extremely rare. If there is a rash or nodule on the skin, it is necessary to evaluate it carefully and to confirm it through a biopsy., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclosure., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The use of marine waste derived chitosan (CS) for the synthesis of nanomaterials is considered as one of the effective routes for bio-waste management and recovering functional products. Herein, CS capped silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs-CS) with potential anticancer and dye pollutants adoption properties have been synthesized photochemically under direct sunlight. To obtain, CS, shrimp shell waste was subjected to a serious of standard demineralization, deproteinization and deacetylation processes. The electronic absorption peak (400 nm) denoting surface plasmonic resonance of Ag NPs and infrared peaks relevant to CS (3364 cm -1 of OH/NH 2 , 2932 cm -1 of CH, and 1647 cm -1 of -CO) exhibited peaks confirmed the formation of CS-Ag NPs. Ag NPs-CS exhibited anticancer activity against Human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549), the maximum cell death noticed at the concentration of 20 μg/mL and 70 μg/mL was 20 and 52 %, respectively. An aqueous Ag NPs-CS (100 μg/mL) was degraded ≥95 % of mixed dye target solution (25 mg/mL) containing equal volume of cationic dye (Methylene blue and Rhodamine B) and anionic dye (methyl orange). Therefore, these findings suggest that the shrimp shell waste derived CS can be used for the synthesis of CS-Ag NPs with potential biomedical and environmental applications., 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 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A key challenge in the development of sustainable water-splitting (WS) systems is the formulation of electrodes by efficient combinations of electrocatalyst and binder materials. Cellulose, a biopolymer, can be considered an excellent dispersing agent and binder that can replace high-cost synthetic polymers to construct low-cost electrodes. Herein, a novel electrocatalyst was fabricated by combining Fe 2 O 3 and Ni on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) without the use of any additional binder. Structural characterization techniques confirmed the formation of the Fe 2 O 3 -Ni nanocomposite. Microstructural studies confirmed the homogeneity of the ~50 nm-sized Fe 2 O 3 -Ni on MCC. The WS performance, which involves the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), was evaluated using a 1 M KOH electrolyte solution. The Fe 2 O 3 -Ni nanocomposite on MCC displayed an efficient performance toward lowering the overpotential in both the HER (163 mV @ 10 mA cm -2 ) and OER (360 mV @ 10 mA cm -2 ). These results demonstrate that MCC facilitated the cohesive binding of electrocatalyst materials and attachment to the substrate surface. In the future, modified cellulose-based structures (such as functionalized gels and those dissolved in various media) can be used as efficient binder materials and alternative options for preparing electrodes for WS applications.

In the field of electrocatalysis, single-atomic-layer tungsten, copper, and cobalt oxide on CeO 2 , ethylene diamine (ED) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported materials shows tremendous potential. Despite the enormous interest in single metal atom oxide (SMAO) catalysts, it is still very difficult to directly convert readily available bulk metal oxide into single atom oxide. It is crucial and tough to create high performance materials for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline environment. Herein, a single tungsten, copper and cobalt atom oxide (SMAO) anchored on the CeO 2 atomic layer and overall components deposited on the rGO (rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCuCo) is prepared through a one-pot sonication technique. The presence of SMAO is identified by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) imaging. The electrocatalytic performance of final rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCuCo-30 nanocomposite for the OER in 1 M KOH electrolyte is evidenced by providing low overpotential of 283 mV at 10 mA cm -2 . The Tafel slope for OER using rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCuCo-30 electrocatalysts is 57.03 mV dec -1 . The electrocatalytic activity of rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCuCo-30 nanocomposites for OER was noticeably increased when compared to bare CeO 2 nanorods (401 mV), rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCo-30 (345 mV), rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCu-30 (340 mV) and rGO-ED-CeO 2 -WCuCo-20 (321 mV) samples., 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: The prevalence of GERD and treatment costs are continuously rising in Korea, and the importance of primary health care clinics where the most treatment of actual patients is conducted is increasing. In this study, the diagnosis of GERD, selection of therapeutic drugs, and treatment methods in primary health care clininics were investigated through a large-scale multi-dimensional surveys., Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, the study data of 18,010 patients with GERD were retrospectively investigated based on eletronic medical record at 542 primary health care clinics in Korea., Results: Among all GERD patients, endoscopy was used for diagnosis in 16.11% of cases, and the most frequently performed in gastroenterology department (28.85%). The average BMI and the proportion of patients in stages 1 to 3 of obesity were highest in the ERD group, and the majority of the severity of ERD group was mild. Symptoms of the patients with GERD were mainly heartburn, gastric acid reflux, and chest pain. Drug treatment was performed in most of the patients with GERD, and PPI was the main drug, and Esomeprazol was prescribed the most among the main ingredients, and the ratio of PPI alone was high. The rate of symptom improvement after GERD treatment was slightly higher in the ERD group (75.91%) and the NERD group (74.36%) than in the GERD diagnosed without endoscopy group (63.89%)., Conclusions: In domestic primary health care clinics, the majority were diagnosed with GERD without endoscopy on the basis of symptoms. The most preferred treatment for GERD was PPI, which was prescribed alone in the majority.

Centella asiatica (CA) is a medicinal plant widely used in the East, with many of its phytoconstituents remaining unexplored. In this study, compounds were extracted and identified from C. asiatica to determine its medicinal properties. Phytochemical screening was conducted on shoot, callus, and cell suspension extracts, revealing the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and steroids in all three cultures, with no alkaloids detected. IC50 values were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts, with the highest value observed for cell suspension culture (20 µg/mL), followed by shoot culture (19 µg/mL), and then callus extract (10 µg/mL), with ascorbic acid as the standard at an IC50 value of 26.25 µg/mL. Finally, density functional theory was used to analyze the structure-activity relationships of the identified compounds from C. asiatica extract. The results suggest that ultrasonic-assisted extraction yielded the highest recovery and antioxidant activity, with a scavenging activity of 79%. This study provides valuable insights into the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of C. asiatica , which may have implications for its use in traditional medicine and future drug development.

Photocatalysts workable under direct sunlight are the safe and cost-effective option for water purification. The nanocomposites of strontium oxide and zinc oxide (SZ NCs) were synthesized using coprecipitation method. The respective precursors of SZ NCs were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis and subsequently thermally treated to yield SZ NCs. The SZ NCs with different ZnO composition was synthesized by varying the concentration of ZnO precursor from 0.2 to 1 M. The structural properties of SZ NCs evaluated using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential thermal analysis DTA). The optical properties of SZ NCs studied using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic study. The trend observed in the intensity of XRD peaks indicated the occurrence of Zn doping in the crystalline lattice of SrO and the formation of SrO-ZnO composite. Upon incorporation of 1 M of ZnO precursor, the grain size of the SrO was decreased from 49.3 to 27.6 nm. The weight loss in the thermal analysis indicates the removal of carbonates from the sample upon heating and shows the formation of an oxide structure. UV-Vis spectra confirmed that the presence of SrO enhanced the sunlight absorption of SZ NCs. The increase in the composition of ZnO precursors increased the bandgap of SrO (2.09 eV) to the level of ZnO (3.14 eV). SZ NCs exhibited heterostructure morphology, where the nanosized domains with varying shapes (layered and rod-like) were observed. Under direct sunlight conditions, SZ NCs prepared using 1 M/0.6 M of SrO/ZnO precursors exhibited 15-20 % higher photocatalytic efficiency than neat SrO and ZnO. In precise, 1 mg of this SZ NC was degraded 98 % of malachite green dye dissolved in water (10 ppm) under direct sunlight. Additionally, the thermal stability results showed that 18 % decomposition was obtained due to the degradation impurities in SrO/ZnO catalysts and the XRD results revealed that no structural change is obtained in SrO/ZnO photocatalysts after stability test. The SZ NCs can be effectively used as safe and economic sunlight photocatalysts for water purification in remote areas without the electricity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)

In the past 15 years or more, interest in polymer-mediated nanofibers (NFs), a significant class of nanomaterials, has grown. Although fibers with a diameter of less than 1 mm are frequently commonly referred to as NFs, and are typically defined as having a diameter of less than several hundreds of nanometers. Due to the increased antibiotic resistance of many diseases nowadays, NFs with antibacterial activity are quite important. A flexible technique for creating NFs with the desired characteristics is called electrospinning. This research article describes how to make electrospun NFs of tannic acid (TA) with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as the template. As a result, the absorbance of the obtained NFs has been raised without forming any additional peaks in the spectral ranges. The obtained NF has a gradual increase in intensity, and the FT-IR data show that the TA is present in the NFs. FE-SEM images show that the NFs are discovered to be completely bead-free. Since TA reduced the viscosity of the spinning solution while marginally increasing solution conductivity, PVDF NFs have a greater average fiber diameter (AFD) than NFs of TA with PVDF, which is likely a result of the TA solutions in it. The findings showed that TA greatly decreased S. aureus and E. coli' s ability to attach. The acquired NFs created in this work may have significant potential for reducing the pathogenicity of S. aureus and E. coli as well as their ability to build biofilms.

An effective catalyst for the removal of antibiotic pollutants which severely impact water bodies and the environment is most favorable. In this study, g-C 3 N 4 (gCN) and nitrogen-doped Bi 2 MoO 6 (gCN-NBM) heterostructures are developed using a solvothermal process with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) pollutants under visible-light irradiation. The experimental results confirm that nitrogen-doped Bi 2 MoO 6 (NBM) nanomaterials were dispersed on the gCN surface, and a close combination of NBM and gCN leads to the efficient photocatalytic performance of TC. The photocatalytic efficiency of the heterostructure catalysts is four-fold higher than those of the pristine Bi 2 MoO 6 catalysts owing to the excellent photogenerated charge separation and reduced recombination rate. Photocurrent measurements and electrochemical impedance spectra results disclose that the prepared heterostructure catalysts exhibit efficient photo-induced charge transfer. The electron spin resonance spectra and quenching experiments results reveal that superoxide radicals ( . O 2 - ) play a major role in TC degradation. This study presents a promising approach for designing efficient visible-light photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications., 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Clinical attempts of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have increased in recent years; however, it also has life-threatening complications. Massive fluid and transfusion resuscitation, shock status, or low cardiac output status during ECPR may lead to ascites and interstitial edema, resulting in secondary abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS)., Case Presentation: A 43-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department due to cardiac arrest. Due to refractory ventricular fibrillation, ECPR was initiated. Approximately, 3 h after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, abdominal distension and rigidity developed. Therefore, ACS was suspected. Decompression laparotomy was required to relieve elevated intra-abdominal pressure., Conclusions: We report a case of a patient with OHCA who developed lethal ACS after ECPR. Despite this, the patient was able to recover from several major crises. Regardless of how lethal the patient is, if compartment syndrome develops in any part of the body, we should aggressively consider surgical decompression., (© 2023. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticle-loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon (Ag/CNSAC). The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM with EDS, FT-IR, and BET analysis. The XRD, XPS, and EDS data provided convincing proof that Ag loaded on CNSAC is formed. The energy dispersive spectrum analysis and X-ray diffraction pattern both supported the face-centered cubic and amorphous structures of Ag/CNSAC. The SEM micrographs showed the inner surface development of Ag NPs and many tiny pores in CNSAC. The photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye by the Ag/CNSAC photocatalyst was investigated. This effective degradation of MB dye by Ag/CNSAC is attributed to the cooperative action of Ag as a photocatalyst and CNSAC as a catalytic support and adsorbent. In tests with gram-positive and negative bacteria including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), the as-synthesized Ag/CNSAC showed outstanding antibacterial efficiency. Additionally, this study demonstrates a workable procedure for creating an affordable and efficient Ag/CNSAC for the photocatalytic eradication of organic contaminants., 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 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present article describes the building of a small-molecule web server, CBPDdb, employing R-shiny. For the generation of the web server, three compounds were chosen, namely coumarin, benzothiazole and pyrazole, and their derivatives were curated from the literature. The two-dimensional (2D) structures were drawn using ChemDraw, and the .sdf file was created employing Discovery Studio Visualizer v2017. These compounds were read on the R-shiny app using ChemmineR, and the dataframe consisting of a total of 1146 compounds was generated and manipulated employing the dplyr package. The web server is provided with JSME 2D sketcher. The descriptors of the compounds are obtained using propOB with a filter. The users can download the filtered data in the .csv and .sdf formats, and the entire dataset of a compound can be downloaded in .sdf format. This web server facilitates the researchers to screen plausible inhibitors for different diseases. Additionally, the method used in building the web server can be adapted for developing other small-molecule databases (web servers) in RStudio. Database URL: https://srampogu.shinyapps.io/CBPDdb&#95;Revised/., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Chitosan (CS), a promising potential biopolymer with exquisite biocompatibility, economic viability, hydrophilicity, and chemical modifications, has drawn interest as an alternative material for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fabrication. However, CS in its original form exhibited low proton conductivity and mechanical stability, restricting its usage in PEM development. In this work, chitosan was functionalized (sulfonic acid (-SO 3 H) groups)) to enhance proton conductivity. The sulfonated chitosan (sCS) was blended with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer, along with the incorporation of functionalized SiO 2 (-OH groups), for fabricating chitosan-based composite proton exchange membranes to enhance microbial fuel cell (MFC) performances. The results show that adding functionalized inorganic fillers (fSiO 2 ) into the membrane enhances the mechanical, thermal, and anti-biofouling behavior. From the results, the PVDF/sCS/fSiO 2 composite membrane exhibited enhanced proton conductivity 1.0644 × 10 -2 S cm -1 at room temperature and increased IEC and mechanical and chemical stability. Furthermore, this study presents a revolutionary way to generate environmentally friendly natural polymer-based membrane materials for developing PEM candidates for enhanced MFC performances in generating bioelectricity and wastewater treatment.

In this study, novel V 2 O 5 -decorated garlic peel biochar (VO/GPB) nanocomposites are prepared via the facile hydrothermal technique. As-synthesized VO/GPB is characterized by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The surface morphology of the as-prepared samples was predicted by SEM analysis, which shows that the block-like V 2 O 5 was uniformly decorated on the stone-like GPB surface. The elemental mapping analysis confirms the VO/GPB composite is composed of the following elements: C, O, Na, Mg, Si, P, K, and V, without any other impurities. The photocatalytic activity of the VO/GPB nanocomposite was examined by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under the irradiation of visible light; 84% degradation efficiency was achieved within 30 min. The reactive oxidative species (ROS) study reveals that hydroxyl and superoxide radicals play an essential role in MO degradation. Moreover, the antioxidant action of the VO/GPB nanocomposite was also investigated. From the results, the VO/GPB composite has higher antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid; the scavenging effect increased with increasing concentrations of VO/GPB composite until it reached 40 mg/L, where the scavenging effect was the highest at 93.86%. This study will afford innovative insights into other photocatalytic nanomaterials with effective applications in the field of photocatalytic studies with environmental compensation.

Customer demand for natural packaging materials in the food industry has increased. Biocomposite films developed using boiled rice water could be an eco-friendly and cost-effective packaging product in the future. This study reports the development of bio-based films using waste materials, such as boiled rice water (matrix) and Pistacia vera shells (reinforcement material), using an adapted solution casting method. Several film combinations were developed using various concentrations of plasticizing agent (sorbitol), thickening agent (oil and agar), and stabilizing agents (Arabic gum, corn starch, and Pistacia vera shell powder). Various packaging properties of the film were analyzed and examined to select the best bio-based film for food packaging applications. The film fabricated with Pistacia vera shell powder in the biocomposite film exhibited a reduced water solubility, swelling index, and moisture content, as compared to polyethene packaging material, whereas the biocomposite film exhibited poor antimicrobial properties, high vapor transmission rate, and high biodegradability rate. The packaging properties and characterization of the film indicated that the boiled rice water film with Pistacia vera shell powder was suitable for packaging material applications.

Nanomaterials (NMs) synthesized from natural sources have been attracting greater attention, due to their intrinsic advantages including biocompatibility, stimuli-responsive property, nontoxicity, cost-effectiveness, and non-immunogenic characteristics in the biological environment. Among various biomedical applications, a breakthrough has been achieved in the development of drug delivery systems (DDS). Biocompatibility is necessary for treating a disease safely without any adverse effects. Some components in DDS respond to the physiological environment, such as pH, temperature, and functional group at the target, which facilitates targeted drug release. NM-based DDS is being applied for treating cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and dermal and ophthalmic diseases. Metal nanomaterials and carbon quantum dots are synthesized and stabilized using functional molecules extracted from natural sources. Polymers, mucilage and gums, exosomes, and molecules with biological activities are directly derived from natural sources. In DDS, these functional components have been used as drug carriers, imaging agents, targeting moieties, and super disintegrants. Plant extracts, biowaste, biomass, and microorganisms have been used as the natural source for obtaining these NMs. This review highlights the natural sources, synthesis, and application of metallic materials, polymeric materials, carbon dots, mucilage and gums, and exosomes in DDS. Aside from that, challenges and future perspectives on using natural resources for DDS are also discussed.