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The test-retest reliability of the University of Indianapolis School of Occupational Therapy Student Self-Assessment for Professional Behaviors was investigated. Twenty-seven first year and 31 second year students participated in the study. Results indicated that 31 (83.78%) of 37 academic questions answered by first year students were significant for test-retest reliability and 6 (16.22%) of 37 questions were not significant at alpha level 0.05. Of the 74 combined academic and clinical questions answered by second year students, 56 (75.68%) were significant for test-rest reliability and 18 (24.32%) were not significant at alpha level 0.05. To further examine results, 5 second year students participated in a focus group. Focus group results revealed themes regarding tool impressions, individual differences, and question display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome plays a key role in the pathogenesis and disease activity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While research has focused on the bacterial microbiome, recent studies have shifted towards host genetics and host-fungal interactions. The mycobiota is a vital component of the gastrointestinal microbial community and plays a significant role in immune regulation. Among fungi, Candida species, particularly Candida albicans ( C. albicans ), have been extensively studied due to their dual role as gut commensals and invasive pathogens. Recent findings indicate that various strains of C. albicans exhibit considerable differences in virulence factors, impacting IBD's pathophysiology. Intestinal fungal dysbiosis and antifungal mucosal immunity may be associated to IBD, especially Crohn's disease (CD). This article discusses intestinal fungal dysbiosis and antifungal immunity in healthy individuals and CD patients. It discusses factors influencing the mycobiome's role in IBD pathogenesis and highlights significant contributions from the scientific community aimed at enhancing understanding of the mycobiome and encouraging further research and targeted intervention studies on specific fungal populations. Our article also provided insights into a recent study by Wu et al in the World Journal of Gastroenterology regarding the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of CD., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this manuscript., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a condition associated with a high concentration of uric acid (UA) in the bloodstream and can cause gout and chronic kidney disease. The gut microbiota of patients with gout and HUA is significantly altered compared to that of healthy people. This article focused on the complex interconnection between alterations in the gut microbiota and the development of this disorder. Some studies have suggested that changes in the composition, diversity, and activity of microbes play a key role in establishing and progressing HUA and gout pathogenesis. Therefore, we discussed how the gut microbiota contributes to HUA through purine metabolism, UA excretion, and intestinal inflammatory responses. We examined specific changes in the composition of the gut microbiota associated with gout and HUA, highlighting key bacterial taxa and the metabolic pathways involved. Additionally, we discussed the effect of conventional gout treatments on the gut microbiota composition, along with emerging therapeutic approaches that target the gut microbiome, such as the use of probiotics and prebiotics. We also provided insights into a study regarding the gut microbiota as a possible novel therapeutic intervention for gout treatment and dysbiosis-related diagnosis., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by the gradual and age-related deterioration of nerve cells in the central nervous system. The histopathological features observed in the brain affected by AD are the aberrant buildup of extracellular and intracellular amyloid-β and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles consisting of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Axonal transport is a fundamental process for cargo movement along axons and relies on molecular motors like kinesins and dyneins. Kinesin's responsibility for transporting crucial cargo within neurons implicates its dysfunction in the impaired axonal transport observed in AD. Impaired axonal transport and dysfunction of molecular motor proteins, along with dysregulated signaling pathways, contribute significantly to synaptic impairment and cognitive decline in AD. Dysregulation in tau, a microtubule-associated protein, emerges as a central player, destabilizing microtubules and disrupting the transport of kinesin-1. Kinesin-1 superfamily members, including kinesin family members 5A, 5B, and 5C, and the kinesin light chain, are intricately linked to AD pathology. However, inconsistencies in the abundance of kinesin family members in AD patients underline the necessity for further exploration into the mechanistic impact of these motor proteins on neurodegeneration and axonal transport disruptions across a spectrum of neurological conditions. This review underscores the significance of kinesin-1's anterograde transport in AD. It emphasizes the need for investigations into the underlying mechanisms of the impact of motor protein across various neurological conditions. Despite current limitations in scientific literature, our study advocates for targeting kinesin and autophagy dysfunctions as promising avenues for novel therapeutic interventions and diagnostics in AD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Durairajan, Selvarasu, Singh, Patnaik, Iyaswamy, Jaiswal, Williams and Huang.)

The zelkovamycin family is a class of cyclic octapeptides with potent antibacterial and antiviral activity. Due to their unique chemical structures and excellent bioactivity, zelkovamycins have consistently attracted the interest of synthetic chemists. However, only the total synthesis of zelkovamycin and zelkovamycin G has been reported until now. The current work presents, for the first time, the synthesis of zelkovamycin analogues, along with their anticancer activity assessment. Firstly, the corresponding chain peptide based on the amino acid sequence of zelkovamycin H was synthesized using the Fmoc solid-phase peptide strategy. This was followed by cyclization under high dilution conditions to obtain compound 21 , and its structure was elucidated by NMR analysis. The results confirm that compound 21 is not the natural product of zelkovamycin H. We deduced that during the synthesis of peptide 12 , the D-Abu residue epimerized to the L-Abu form, leading to the formation of peptide 20 , which blocked our efforts during the synthesis of zelkovamycin H. Two more analogues, 22 and 23, were synthesized by changing the structure of amino acid residues using the same strategy. The anticancer activity of analogues 21 - 23 against Huh-7 cells was evaluated in vitro; however, their IC 50 values were >50 μM.

Various extracts are tested for anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory properties on in vitro models. RBL-2H3 cells are widely used in allergic or immunological studies. FCεRI and its downstream signaling cascades, such as MAPK, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, are important allergic or inflammatory signaling mechanisms in mast and basophil cells. This systematic review aims to study common signaling pathways of the anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory compounds on RBL-2H3 cells. We selected the relevant research articles published after 2015 from the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. The risk of bias of the studies was assessed based on the modified CONSORT checklist for in vitro studies. The cell lines, treatments, assay, primary findings, and signaling pathways on RBL-2H3 cells were extracted to synthesize the results. Thirty-eight articles were included, and FCεRI and its downstream pathways, such as Lyn, Sky, PLCγ, and MAPK, were commonly studied. Moreover, the JAK/STAT pathway was a potential signaling mechanism in RBL-2H3 cells. However, the findings based on RBL-2H3 cells needed to be tested along with human mast cells to confirm its relevance to human health. In conclusion, a single plant extract may act as an anti-inflammatory reagent in RBL-2H3 cells via multiple signaling pathways besides the MAPK signaling pathway.

A surge in the number of anthropogenic pollutants has been caused by increasing industrial activities. Nanoplastics are spotlighted as a new aquatic pollutant that are a threat to microbes and larger organisms. Our previous study showed that the subinhibitory concentrations of aquatic pollutants such as phenol and formalin act as signaling molecules and modulate global gene expression and metabolism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of a new type of anthropogenic contaminant, polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics, on the expression of key virulence factors in zoonotic pathogen Edwardsiella piscicida and the assessment of potential changes in the susceptibility of zebrafish as a model host. The TEM data indicated a noticeable change in the cell membrane indicating that PS particles were possibly entering the bacterial cells. Transcriptome analyses performed to identify the differentially expressed genes upon PS exposure revealed that the genes involved in major virulence factor type VI secretion system (T6SS) were down-regulated. However, the expression of T6SS-related genes was recovered from the PS adapted E. piscicida when nanoplastics are free. This demonstrated the hypervirulence of pathogen in infection assays with both cell lines and in vivo zebrafish model. Therefore, this study provides experimental evidence elucidating the direct regulatory impact of nanoplastics influx into aquatic ecosystems on fish pathogenic bacteria, notably influencing the expression of virulence factors., 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 © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The symbiotic community of microorganisms in the gut plays an important role in the health of the host. While many previous studies have been performed on the interactions between the gut microbiome and the host in mammals, studies in fish are still lacking. In this study, we investigated changes in the intestinal microbiome and pathogen susceptibility of zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) following chronic antibiotics exposure. The chronic antibiotics exposure assay was performed on zebrafish for 30 days using oxytetracycline (Otc), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Smx/Tmp), or erythromycin (Ery), which are antibiotics widely used in the aquaculture industry. The microbiome analysis indicated that Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the gut microbiome of the zebrafish used in this study. However, in Smx/Tmp-treated zebrafish, the compositions of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria were changed significantly, and in Ery-treated zebrafish, the compositions of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were altered significantly. Although alpha diversity analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the richness, beta diversity analysis revealed a community imbalance in the gut microbiome of all chronically antibiotics-exposed zebrafish. Intriguingly, in zebrafish with dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, the pathogen susceptibility to Edwardsiella piscicida , a representative Gram-negative fish pathogen, was reduced. Gut microbiome imbalance resulted in a higher count of goblet cells in intestinal tissue and an upregulation of genes related to the intestinal mucosal barrier. In addition, as innate immunity was enhanced by the increased mucosal barrier, immune and stress-related gene expression in the intestinal tissue was downregulated. In this study, we provide new insight into the effect of gut microbiome dysbiosis on pathogen susceptibility.

Natively unfolded tau has a low propensity to form aggregates, but in tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau aggregates into paired helical filaments (PHFs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Multiple intracellular transport pathways utilize kinesin-1, a plus-end-directed microtubule-based motor. Kinesin-1 is crucial in various neurodegenerative diseases as it transports multiple cargoes along the microtubules (MT). Kinesin-1 proteins cannot progress along MTs due to an accumulation of tau on their surfaces. Although kinesin-1-mediated neuronal transport dysfunction is well-documented in other neurodegenerative diseases, its role in AD has received less attention. Very recently, we have shown that knocking down and knocking out of kinesin-1 heavy chain (KIF5B KO) expression significantly reduced the level and stability of tau in cells and tau transgenic mice, respectively. Here, we report that tau interacts with the motor domain of KIF5B in vivo and in vitro, possibly through its microtubule-binding repeat domain. This interaction leads to the inhibition of the ATPase activity of the motor domain. In addition, the KIF5B KO results in autophagy initiation, which subsequently assists in tau degradation. The mechanisms behind KIF5B KO-mediated tau degradation seem to involve its interaction with tau, promoting the trafficking of tau through retrograde transport into autophagosomes for subsequent lysosomal degradation of tau. Our results suggest how KIF5B removal facilitates the movement of autophagosomes toward lysosomes for efficient tau degradation. This mechanism can be enabled through the downregulation of kinesin-1 or the disruption of the association between kinesin-1 and tau, particularly in cases when neurons perceive disturbances in intercellular axonal transport.

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported online in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy on Jul 25 2024 (see record 2025-07042-001). In the original article, there was an error in the calculations that led to the overstatement of the symptom severity of the veteran sample. Specifically, sum scores for the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom checklist (PCL-5) were scored using a 1-5 Likert scale rather than the appropriate 0-4 Likert scale. As a result, although it was stated that participants in the veteran sample exhibited clinical levels of PTSD based on the >33 PCL-5 threshold associated with a PTSD diagnosis, the levels actually reflected moderate posttraumatic stress symptoms. In addition, estimates of significantly reliable change in PCL-5 scores after an ayahuasca intervention (from 87.5% to 71.4%) were modified, and the threshold criteria for clinically significant changes (posttreatment scores <28) were removed because several participants met these criteria at baseline, thus impacting the interpretation of treatment outcomes.] Objective: Although ayahuasca-a plant-based psychedelic-is discussed as promising in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), evidence so far remains limited to retrospective case reports and qualitative surveys. No study to date has examined whether ayahuasca results in prospective and clinically meaningful changes in trauma symptoms across individuals with PTSD symptoms., Method: To address this gap, we conducted a convergent mixed-methods case series study on eight military veterans with PTSD who participated in a 3-day ayahuasca intervention in Central America. Clinically meaningful changes from pre- to posttreatment and at a 3-month follow-up were assessed in three ways using: (a) PTSD checklist-5 (PCL-5); (b) experience sampling measurement of momentary PTSD and mood symptoms; and (c) an open-ended survey on perceived benefits., Results: The majority (87.5%; 7/8) of participants demonstrated reliable and/or clinically significant changes in PCL-5 symptoms by posttreatment, which were maintained by 70% (5/7) of veterans by the 3-month follow-up. On average, veterans also reported significant improvements in momentary PTSD symptoms, as well as negative and positive affect in daily life posttreatment, with 63% (5/8) reporting moderate-to-large improvements in these domains. Broad themes characterizing the perceived benefits of ayahuasca included deep positive emotions, decentering/acceptance, and purpose in life; adverse acute experiences were, however, reported., Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support for the clinically meaningful and lasting benefits of a brief ayahuasca intervention on PTSD/mood symptoms in military veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

We present the first evidence that sub-anesthetic ketamine infusions for treatment resistant depression (TRD) may facilitate deprescription of long-term benzodiazepine/z-drugs (BZDRs). Long-term BZDR prescriptions are potentially harmful yet common, partly because of challenging withdrawal symptoms. Few pharmacological interventions have evidence for facilitating BZDR discontinuation, and none in patients actively suffering from TRD. In this ambi-directional cohort study, discontinuation of long-term (>6 month) BZDRs was attempted in 22 patients with severe unipolar or bipolar TRD receiving a course of six subanesthetic ketamine infusions over four weeks. We investigated the rates of successful BZDRs deprescription, trajectories of acute psychological withdrawal symptoms, and subsequent BZDRs abstinence during a mean follow-up of 1 year (primary outcome). Clinically significant deteriorations in depression, anxiety, sleep, and/or suicidality during the acute BZDR discontinuation phase were measured by repeated standardized scales and analyzed by latent growth curve models and percent correct classification analysis. Of the 22 eligible patients, all enrolled in this study and 91% (20/22) successfully discontinued all BZDRs by the end of the 4-week intervention, confirmed by urinary analyses. Less than 25% of discontinuers experienced any significant worsening of anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, or suicidality during treatment. During follow-up (mean [range] duration, 12 [3-24] months), 64% (14/22) of patients remained abstinent from any BZDRs. These preliminary results suggest that ketamine infusions for TRD may facilitate the deprescription of BZDRs, even in patients with active depressive symptoms and significant comorbidity. Further investigation is warranted into this potential novel application of ketamine., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Context: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by endocrine and neuropsychiatric problems including hyperphagia, anxiousness, and distress. Intranasal carbetocin, an oxytocin analog, was investigated as a selective oxytocin replacement therapy., Objective: To evaluate safety and efficacy of intranasal carbetocin in PWS., Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial with long-term follow-up., Setting: Twenty-four ambulatory clinics at academic medical centers., Participants: A total of 130 participants with PWS aged 7 to 18 years., Interventions: Participants were randomized to 9.6 mg/dose carbetocin, 3.2 mg/dose carbetocin, or placebo 3 times daily during an 8-week placebo-controlled period (PCP). During a subsequent 56-week long-term follow-up period, placebo participants were randomly assigned to 9.6 mg or 3.2 mg carbetocin, with carbetocin participants continuing at their previous dose., Main Outcome Measures: Primary endpoints assessed change in hyperphagia (Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials [HQ-CT]) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale [CY-BOCS]) during the PCP for 9.6 mg vs placebo, and the first secondary endpoints assessed these same outcomes for 3.2 mg vs placebo. Additional secondary endpoints included assessments of anxiousness and distress behaviors (PWS Anxiousness and Distress Behaviors Questionnaire [PADQ]) and clinical global impression of change (CGI-C)., Results: Because of onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment was stopped prematurely. The primary endpoints showed numeric improvements in both HQ-CT and CY-BOCS which were not statistically significant; however, the 3.2-mg arm showed nominally significant improvements in HQ-CT, PADQ, and CGI-C scores vs placebo. Improvements were sustained in the long-term follow-up period. The most common adverse event during the PCP was mild to moderate flushing., Conclusions: Carbetocin was well tolerated, and the 3.2-mg dose was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in hyperphagia and anxiousness and distress behaviors in participants with PWS., Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT03649477., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Spray-dried plasma (SDP) contain a variety of functional proteins that play an immunomodulatory role. To evaluate the potential of SDP to stimulate the immune system, day-old Ross 708 male broiler chicks (200) were allocated randomly to five dietary treatments. Treatment 1 (CX) comprised chicks fed basal unmedicated corn-soybean meal (SBM) without the addition of SDP. Treatment 2 (MX) includes chicks fed unmedicated corn-SBM basal containing Bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) at 0.055 g/kg diet. Treatments 3 (SDP1), 4 (SDP2), and 5 (SDP3) contained chicks given unmedicated corn-SBM basal, into which SDP was included at 10, 20, and 30 g/kg diet, respectively. On d 7, 14, and 21, chicks' body weight and FCR were calculated. Additionally, leucocyte counts, oxidative status, and IgY concentrations were determined in blood. On d 23, fecal populations of selected indicator bacteria species were determined. Results showed that FCR for SP3 was superior ( p < 0.05) to other treatments. Likewise, heterophil numbers decreased in MX and SDP treatments compared to CX. Circulating IgY concentration was higher for SDP dietary treatments ( p < 0.05) compared to MX. In conclusion, dietary SDP at 30 g/kg enhanced immune surveillance by increasing circulating IgY levels, maintaining a normal oxidative state, and increasing gut Bifidobacteria, thereby improving chick growth performance.

Nano-fertilizers are a new tool that can be used to address plant production challenges, and it addresses such nutrient deficiencies through smart agriculture approaches. Iron (Fe) is a vital element for several metabolic and physiological processes; however, Fe deficiency is common in poorly fertile soils (sand soil) and in arid areas. Therefore, additional research is required to select the most efficient form of iron absorbance. This research was implemented on broad bean plants ( Vicia faba L. var. major Harz) to examine the impact of three iron sources: nano-iron (FeNPs, T1), iron sulfate (T2), and chelated iron (T3) as a foliar spray on the morphological properties, physiological attributes, and nutritional status of these plants compared to the untreated plants (control). The obtained results showed that foliar spraying with FeNPs, chelated iron and sulphate iron fertilizers increased plant height by 35.01%, 26.2, and 20.4%; leaf area by 38.8%, 18.3%, and 8.1%; the fresh weight of the plant by 47%, 32.8%, and 7.3%; the dry weight of the plant by 52.9%, 37.3%, and 11.2%; and the number of branches by 47%, 31.3%, and 25.6 %, respectively, compared to the control treatment (CT). Furthermore, the application of FeNPs, chelated iron, and sulphate iron fertilizers improved the number of pods by 47.9%, 24.8%, and 6.1%; the number of seeds by 32.8%, 7.9%, and 2.8%; and seed weight by 20.8%, 9.1%, and 5.4%, compared to control treatment (CT). Additionally, foliar application of FeNPs showed the highest values of photosynthesis rate ( Pn ), water-use efficiency (WUE), total chlorophyll, and phytohormones (IAA, GA3) compared to all the other treatments. The anatomical structure revealed an enhancement of leaf size and thickness (epidermis cells and mesophyll tissue) affected by FeNPs treatment compared to other treatments. Foliar application of FeNPs also improved the total content of carbohydrates, crude protein, element content (N, P, K, Ca, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu), and some amino acids such as lysine, arginine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and tyrosine in the seeds of broad beans. Based on the above results, the maximum values of all tested measurements were observed when FeNPs were used as the foliar spraying followed by chelated and sulphate iron fertilizers. Therefore, these findings suggest that using FeNPs, as a foliar treatment, could be a promising strategy for reducing the Fe deficiency in sandy soil and enhancing plant growth, pod yield, and pod quality of broad bean plants in addition to being environmentally favored in arid areas.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) is a ubiquitous obligatory intracellular parasite which infects over 40 million Americans and causes toxoplasmosis. Inside the human body, T. gondii can damage tissues and invade vital organs., Methods: This study evaluated the association of T. gondii infection and liver disease using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010, with a sample size of 3371 participants (age 20-80 years). Toxoplasma infection was determined by the level of T. gondii IgG antibody in serum samples. Liver disease was assessed by liver injury biomarkers and the Fatty Liver Index (US-FLI). The evaluation of the association between T. gondii infection and liver disease included the calculation of the Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RRMH), Rho-Scott chi-square bivariate analyses, design-based t-tests, and linear and logistic regression models which were adjusted for demographic and anthropometric covariates., Results: Mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly more elevated in the T. gondii IgG-positive (IgG+) participants as compared to T. gondii -negative (IgG-) participants, p = 0.0435 and 0.0310, respectively. In linear regression analysis, exposure to T. gondii IgG+ had statistically significant positive associations with AST ( p = 0.0211), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( p = 0.0221), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) ( p = 0.0258) after adjusting for BMI, age, gender, and race. T. gondii exposure was associated with an elevated relative risk of chronic liver disease (CLD) (RRMH = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.51). This association was more pronounced in certain occupations, such as construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing, where Toxoplasma infection is more common ( p = 0.0477). Moreover, Toxoplasma infection increased the odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 6.99, 95% CI = 1.85-26.32, p = 0.0237)., Conclusion: T. gondii IgG+ antibody was significantly associated with liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP) and an increased risk of CLD and NAFLD. Moreover, the association of Toxoplasma with CLD was more evident in specific occupations where the prevalence of Toxoplasma was high. The findings of this study provide insight into utilizing liver biomarkers and US-FLI to assess the health complications of Toxoplasma when imaging tests are not accessible.

Food safety is a critical problem that impacts everyone worldwide. Many countries around the world are becoming increasingly reliant on the availability and safety of their food supply. Despite growing public consciousness about food-related dangers, the growth in food poisoning cases implies that individuals continue to make food consumption, food storage, and food preparation decisions that are less than optimal from a health and safety standpoint. The aim of this study was to assess Saudi Arabia's households' knowledge and practices of food safety. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge of food safety and practices among a group of households in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp), and emails communications were distributed. A total of 309 adults (age range 18-59 years) participated in the study. In general, there were no differences between regions regarding the knowledge of food safety. Additionally, most of the participants had good practices of food safety. The findings of our study show that the gender, age, and educational level are factors that have an impact on the knowledge of food safety among respondents. Regarding food safety practices, in general, the results show that the participants had good practices. Therefore, organizations should focus on educational programs, training, holding workshops and activities in public places such as malls, schools, and home visit to improve and increases food safety knowledge and practices.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic in March 2020. Global efforts have been made to prevent the disease from spreading through political decisions and personal behaviors, all of which rely on public awareness. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of dietary habits on weight and physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp) and email communication. A total of 472 adults (age range, 18-59 years), over half of the study population (68.0%) being females, 55.5% being between 19 and 29 years old, 15.0%-between 30 and 39 years old, and 11.2%-older than 50 years old, participated in the study. Our results indicated that the overall body weight was slightly increased among the 50+ age group (47.2%, p > 0.05), but it highly increased among the 30-39-years-old age group (32.4%, p > 0.05) as compared to before the pandemic lockdown period. Therefore, our results show that a significant difference ( p < 0.05) was found for all the assessments: weight status, physical activity patterns, hours spent on screen time, homemade meals, and changes in dietary habits before and during the full COVID-19 curfew period. This study demonstrated that changes in eating habits were commonly reported among the participants who represented the full COVID-19 curfew period and that changes in eating habits and decreased physical activity led to weight gain.

Background: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold-standard psychotherapeutic treatment for pediatric negative valence disorders. However, some youths do not respond optimally to treatment, which may be due to variations in neural functioning., Methods: We systematically reviewed functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in youths with negative valence disorders to identify pre- and post-treatment neural correlates of CBT response., Results: A total of 21 studies were identified, of overall weak to moderate quality. The most consistent findings across negative valence disorders consisted of associations of treatment response with pre- and post-treatment task-based activation and/or functional connectivity within and between the prefrontal cortex, the medial temporal lobe, and other limbic regions. Associations of CBT response with baseline and/or post-treatment activity in the striatum, precentral and postcentral gyri, medial and posterior cingulate cortices, and parietal cortex, connectivity within and between the default-mode, cognitive control, salience, and frontoparietal networks, and metrics of large-scale brain network organization, were also reported, although less consistently., Limitations: The poor quality and limited number of studies and the important heterogeneity of study designs and results considerably limit the conclusions that can be drawn from this literature., Conclusions: Despite these limitations, these findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting youths presenting certain patterns of brain function may respond better to CBT, whereas others may benefit from alternative or augmented forms of treatment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Maternal diet supplementation with pro- and prebiotics is associated with decreased incidence of diarrhea and greater piglet performance. This study investigated the impact adding whole ground oat as a prebiotic, alone or in combination with a probiotic, yeast culture (YC) ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ), to sow gestation and lactation rations had on milk protein composition, piglet growth, and incidence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). Diets: control (CON), CON + yeast culture (YC) [5 g/kg], CON + oat (15% inclusion rate) (Oat) or CON+ YC [5 g/kg] + Oat (15%) were fed the last 30 days of gestation and throughout lactation (18-21 days). Shotgun proteome analysis of day 4 and 7 postpartum milk found 36 differentially abundant proteins (P-adj < 0.1) in both Oat and YC supplemented sows relative to CON. Notable was the increased expression of antimicrobial proteins, lactoferrin and chitinase in milk of Oat and YC sows compared to CON. The levels of IgA, IgM (within colostrum and milk) and IgG (within milk) were similar across treatments. However, colostral IgG levels in Oat-supplemented sows were significantly lower ( p < 0.05) than that of the control sows, IgG from Oat-supplemented sows displayed greater reactivity to E. coli -antigens compared with CON and YC. Piglets from sows that consumed Oat alone or in combination weighed significantly more ( p < 0.05) at birth compared to CON and YC. However, piglets in the Oat + YC group weighed less at weaning and had the lowest weight gain ( p < 0.05) postweaning, compared with CON. Taken together with the observation that piglets of either YC- or Oat-fed sows had less PWD compared to CON and YC+ Oat suggests that Oat or YC supplementation positively impacts piglets through expression of certain milk-associated immune and antimicrobial proteins.

Background: Kava is an important neuroactive medicinal plant. While kava has a large global consumer footprint for its clinical and recreational use, factors related to its use lack standardization and the tissue-specific metabolite profile of its neuroactive constituents is not well understood., Results: Here we characterized the metabolomic profile and spatio-temporal characteristics of tissues from the roots and stems using cross-platform metabolomics and a 3D imaging approach. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the highest content of kavalactones in crown root peels and lateral roots. Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) imaging revealed a unique tissue-specific presence of each target kavalactone. X-ray micro-computed tomography analysis demonstrated that lateral roots have morphological characteristics suitable for synthesis of the highest content of kavalactones., Conclusions: These results provide mechanistic insights into the social and clinical practice of the use of only peeled roots by linking specific tissue characteristics to concentrations of neuroactive compounds., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press GigaScience.)

Objective: Symptom accommodation is an important interpersonal construct associated with more severe symptoms, lower levels of functioning, and worse treatment outcomes across various mental health conditions, including social anxiety. Research on this phenomenon is surprisingly absent in Chinese culture, where interpersonal relationships are highly emphasized. This may be due to the absence of a valid Chinese symptom accommodation measure for individuals with social anxiety symptoms. The current study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Family Accommodation Scale Anxiety-Adult Report (FASA-AR) in Chinese adults., Methods: Three hundred and seventy-five Chinese undergraduate students with social anxiety symptoms completed a battery of self-report measures assessing symptom accommodation in relation to social anxiety symptoms and related impairments, as well as overall symptoms of anxiety and depression., Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model of symptom accommodation, with factors named Participation in symptom-related behaviors and Modification of functioning. The multiple indicators multiple causes model indicated the indicators of the FASA-AR, mainly the participation in symptom-related behaviors subscale, were not invariant across gender. Internal consistency for the FASA-AR total score and subscale scores was good. Convergent validity of the FASA-AR was evidenced by significant positive association with ratings of social anxiety symptoms, social anxiety related impairments, and anxiety symptoms. Divergent validity was supported by non-significant relation with depression symptoms. Nearly all participants (94.7%) endorsed being accommodated to some extent in the past month., Conclusion: Symptom accommodation is an important construct and is related to social anxiety symptoms among Chinese adults. The FASA-AR demonstrated a clear two-factor latent structure and possessed good psychometric properties that can validly and reliably assess symptom accommodation of social anxiety among Chinese adults., (Copyright © 2020 Lou, Zhou, Lebowitz, Williams and Storch.)

Peanut allergy is usually lifelong and accidental exposure impose formidable risk. The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of peanut proteins complexed to polyphenol extracts to reduce allergic response in C3H/HeJ mice. Mice were sensitized to peanut flour followed by exposure to amino acid diets fortified with peanut protein-polyphenol aggregates of either with low (15%; w/w) or high (40%; w/w) complexation ratios of blueberry (BB-Low and BB-High) and cranberry (CB-Low and CB-High) extracts. Treatment groups on diets with high complexation ratios of blueberry and cranberry aggregates showed significant reduction in peanut specific plasma Immunoglobulin E (IgE). Western blot analysis of spleen lysates showed CD63 protein expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in blueberry and cranberry complexed peanut protein supplemented diet groups. Our results demonstrate for the first time that complexation of polyphenols to peanut flour can potentially lower plasma IgE of peanut-sensitized C3H/HeJ mice., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society publishes guidelines on perioperative care, but these guidelines should be validated prospectively., Objective: To evaluate the association between compliance with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Gynecologic/Oncology guideline elements and postoperative outcomes in an international cohort., Study Design: The study comprised 2101 patients undergoing elective gynecologic/oncology surgery between January 2011 and November 2017 in 10 hospitals across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Patient demographics, surgical/anesthesia details, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol compliance elements (pre-, intra-, and postoperative phases) were entered into the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Interactive Audit System. Surgical complexity was stratified according to the Aletti scoring system (low vs medium/high). The following covariates were accounted for in the analysis: age, body mass index, smoking status, presence of diabetes, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, preoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, operating time, surgical approach (open vs minimally invasive), intraoperative blood loss, hospital, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery implementation status. The primary end points were primary hospital length of stay and complications. Negative binomial regression was used to model length of stay, and logistic regression to model complications, as a function of compliance score and covariates., Results: Patient demographics included a median age 56 years, 35.5% obese, 15% smokers, and 26.7% American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III-IV. Final diagnosis was malignant in 49% of patients. Laparotomy was used in 75.9% of cases, and the remainder minimally invasive surgery. The majority of cases (86%) were of low complexity (Aletti score ≤3). In patients with ovarian cancer, 69.5% had a medium/high complexity surgery (Aletti score 4-11). Median length of stay was 2 days in the low- and 5 days in the medium/high-complexity group. Every unit increase in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guideline score was associated with 8% (IRR, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.95; P<.001) decrease in days in hospital among low-complexity, and 12% (IRR, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.93; P<.001) decrease among patients with medium/high-complexity scores. For every unit increase in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guideline score, the odds of total complications were estimated to be 12% lower (P<.05) among low-complexity patients., Conclusion: Audit of surgical practices demonstrates that improved compliance with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Gynecologic/Oncology guidelines is associated with an improvement in clinical outcomes, including length of stay, highlighting the importance of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery implementation., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polypores are cosmopolitan mushrooms, widely investigated for their beneficial properties in combatting multidrug resistant pathogens. The present study focuses on the need for new, naturally sourced antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds from mushrooms. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the phenolic extract of strains of Trametes polyzona (Pers.) Justo, were investigated. Strains of T. polyzona were analyzed for total phenolic content, Trolox antioxidant equivalent, DPPH radical scavenging and antibacterial activities. The amplification of the ribosomal DNA-ITS fragments from DNA of selected mushrooms was carried out using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. The antibacterial activity of phenolic extracts of T. polyzona was comparable to the antibiotics, ceftazidime and erythromycin. T. polyzona extracts inhibited the growth of the different strains of K. pneumoniae , E. coli , S. aureus , and S. enterica tested in this study. The results of the study demonstrate that, T. polyzona can be a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2019.)

Exposure to hog barn organic dust contributes to occupational lung diseases, which are mediated by inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Isoprostanes-a family of eicosanoids produced by oxidation of phospholipids by oxygen radicals-are biomarkers of pulmonary oxidative stress. Importantly, 8-isoprostane has been implicated as a key biomarker and mediator of oxidative stress because it is a potent pulmonary vasoconstrictor. Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables hold promise for preventing or reducing effects of oxidative stress-related diseases including chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here, we investigated 8-isoP and oxidant production by organic dust-exposed airway epithelial cells and the inhibitory effects of an extract from calyces of the sorrel plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa , on oxidant-producing pathways. Confluent cultures of normal human tracheobronchial epithelial cells were pretreated or not with 1% sorrel extract prior to 5% dust extract (DE) exposure. Following DE treatments, live cells, cell-free supernatants, or cell extracts were evaluated for the presence of 8-isoprostane, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical, peroxynitrite, and catalase activity to evaluate sorrel's inhibitory effect on oxidative stress. The well-known radical scavenging antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), was used for comparisons with sorrel. DE exposure augmented the production of all radicals measured including 8-isoprostane ( p value < 0.001), which could be inhibited by NAC or sorrel. Among reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated in response to DE exposure, sorrel had no effect on H 2 O 2 production and NAC had no significant effect on NO · production. The observations reported here suggest a possible role for sorrel in preventing 8-isoprostane and oxidant-mediated stress responses in bronchial epithelial cells exposed to hog barn dust. These findings suggest a potential role for oxidative stress pathways in mediating occupational lung diseases and antioxidants within sorrel and NAC in reducing dust-mediated oxidative stress within the airways of exposed workers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

In a study using a randomized crossover approach, cyclists ( n = 20, overnight fasted) engaged in three 75 km time trials while ingesting water (WAT) or carbohydrate (0.2 g/kg every 15 min) from bananas (BAN) or a 6% sugar beverage (SUG). Blood samples were collected pre-exercise and 0 h, 1.5 h, and 21 h post-exercise and analyzed for natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity activity (NKCA) using pure NK cell populations. The two carbohydrate trials (BAN, SUG) compared to WAT were associated with higher post-exercise glucose and lower cortisol, total blood leukocyte, neutrophil, and NK cell counts (interaction effects, p < 0.001). The immediate post-exercise increase in NK cell counts was higher in WAT (78%) compared to BAN (32%) and SUG (15%) trials ( p ≤ 0.017). The 1.5 h post-exercise decrease in NK cell counts did not differ after WAT (-46%), BAN (-46%), and SUG (-51%) trials. The pattern of change in post-exercise NKCA differed between trials ( p < 0.001). The 1.5 h post-exercise decreases in NKCA were 23%, 29%, and 33% in the WAT, BAN, and SUG trials, respectively, but trial contrasts did not differ significantly. Carbohydrate ingestion from BAN or SUG attenuated immediate post-exercise increases in leukocyte, neutrophil, and NK cell counts, but did not counter the 1.5 h decreases in NK cell counts and NKCA.

This study investigates the anti-allergic properties of peanut skin polyphenols (PSP)-enriched peanut (PN) protein aggregates. PSP was blended with PN flour at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40% (w/w). Rat basophil leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) were sensitized with either anti-DNP-IgE or PN-allergic plasma followed by co-exposure to unmodified PN flour (control) or PSP-PN protein aggregates and Ca 2+ ionophore, ionomycin. Immunoblotting and staining were performed to measure the IgE binding capacity of PSP-PN aggregates. Results showed that 30% PSP-PN aggregate significantly reduced β-hexosaminidase and histamine levels by 54.2% and 49.2%, respectively compared with control. Immunoblotting results revealed 40% PSP-PN aggregates significantly decreased IgE binding by 19%. The phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK was significantly reduced while phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK increased upon PSP-PN protein aggregate exposure to the cells. Our results show that aggregation of PSP to PN proteins reduces allergic response by inhibiting Ca 2+ -induced MAPK-dependent cell degranulation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We describe a protocol for the synthesis of linear polyesters containing pendant epoxide functionality and their incorporation into a nanosponge with controlled dimensions. This approach begins with synthesis of a functionalized lactone which is key to the pendant functionalization of the resulting polymer. Valerolactone (VL) and allyl-valerolactone (AVL) are then copolymerized using ring-opening polymerization. Post-polymerization modification is then used to install an epoxide moiety on some or all of the pendant allyl groups. Epoxy-amine chemistry is employed to form nanoparticles in a dilute solution of both polymer and small molecule diamine crosslinker based on the desired nanosponge size and crosslinking density. Nanosponge sizes can be characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging to determine the dimension and distribution. This method provides a pathway by which highly tunable polyesters can create tunable nanoparticles, which can be used for small molecule drug encapsulation. Due to the nature of the backbone, these particles are hydrolytically and enzymatically degradable for a controlled release of a wide range of hydrophobic small molecules.

Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States. Norovirus is shed in high numbers in the feces and vomitous of infected individuals. Contact surfaces contaminated with bodily fluids harboring infectious virus particles serve as vehicles for pathogen transmission. Environmental stability of NoV and its resistance to many conventional disinfectants necessitate effective inactivation strategies to control the spread of virus. We investigated the efficacy of two commercial disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide (7.5%) and a chlorine dioxide (0.2%)-surfactant-based product using a fogging delivery system against human NoV GI.6 and GII.4 Sydney strains as well as the cultivable surrogate, feline calicivirus (FCV) dried on stainless steel coupons. Log 10 reductions in human NoV and FCV were calculated utilizing RNase RT-qPCR and infectivity (plaque) assay, respectively. An improved antiviral activity of hydrogen peroxide as a function of disinfectant formulation concentration in the atmosphere was observed against both GII.4 and FCV. At 12.4 ml/m 3 , hydrogen peroxide achieved a respective 2.5 ± 0.1 and 2.7 ± 0.3 log 10 reduction in GI.6 and GII.4 NoV genome copies, and a 4.3 ± 0.1 log 10 reduction in infectious FCV within 5 min. At the same disinfectant formulation concentration, chlorine dioxide-surfactant-based product resulted in a respective 1.7 ± 0.2, 0.6 ± 0.0, and 2.4 ± 0.2 log 10 reduction in GI.6, GII.4, and FCV within 10 min; however, increasing the disinfectant formulation concentration to 15.9 ml/m 3 negatively impacted its efficacy. Fogging uniformly delivered the disinfectants throughout the room, and effectively decontaminated viruses on hard-to-reach surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide delivered by fog showed promising virucidal activity against FCV by meeting the United States EPA 4-log 10 reduction criteria for an anti-noroviral disinfectant; however, fogged chlorine dioxide-surfactant-based product did not achieve a 4-log 10 inactivation. Future investigation aimed at optimizing decontamination practices is warranted.

Peanut allergy is a worldwide health concern. In this study, the natural binding properties of plant-derived polyphenols to proteins was leveraged to produce stable protein-polyphenol complexes comprised of peanut proteins and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) or lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) pomace polyphenols. Protein-bound and free polyphenols were characterized and quantified by multistep extraction of polyphenols from protein-polyphenol complexes. Immunoblotting was performed with peanut-allergic plasma to determine peanut protein-specific IgE binding to unmodified peanut protein, or to peanut protein-polyphenol complexes. In an allergen model system, RBL-2H3 mast cells were exposed to peanut protein-polyphenol complexes and evaluated for their inhibitory activity on ionomycin-induced degranulation (β-hexosaminidase and histamine). Among the evaluated polyphenolic compounds from protein-polyphenol complex eluates, quercetin, - in aglycone or glycosidic form - was the main phytochemical identified to be covalently bound to peanut proteins. Peanut protein-bound cranberry and blueberry polyphenols significantly decreased IgE binding to peanut proteins at p < 0.05 (38% and 31% decrease, respectively). Sensitized RBL-2H3 cells challenged with antigen and ionomycin in the presence of protein-cranberry and blueberry polyphenol complexes showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in histamine and β-hexosaminidase release (histamine: 65.5% and 65.8% decrease; β-hexosaminidase: 60.7% and 45.4% decrease, respectively). The modification of peanut proteins with cranberry or blueberry polyphenols led to the formation of peanut protein-polyphenol complexes with significantly reduced allergenic potential. Future trials are warranted to investigate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of these protein-polyphenol complexes and the role of quercetin in their hypoallergenic potential.

A broad suite of 87 contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including 26 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 23 non-PBDEs halogenated FRs (NPHFRs), 16 organophosphate esters (OPEs), 4 perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), 13 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 5 emerging perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) or precursors, were determined in 30 individual Caspian tern (listed as a threatened species in the U.S. State of Michigan) eggs collected in 2013 and 2014 from Michigan nesting sites on Two Tree Island (St, Mary's River), Charity Reef (Saginaw Bay) and Channel-Shelter Island (a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) in Saginaw Bay). The same CEC suite was determined in 10 herring gull eggs on the Pipe Island Twins in the lower St. Mary's River. In tern eggs, the order of concentrations were ΣPFSA (mean: 793 ng/g wet weight (ww); range: 116-4690 ng/g ww) > ΣPFCAs (131; 30.4-506 ng/g ww) ≈ ΣPBDEs (86.7; 32.4-189 ng/g ww) » ΣNPHFRs (0.67; ND-4.3 ng/g ww) ≈ ΣOPEs (0.46; ND-2.89 ng/g ww). Compared to gull eggs collected from the same area, tern egg exposure contained significantly lower concentrations of ΣPBDE, but with up to 10 times greater mean concentrations of ΣPFSAs and ΣPFCAs. This study highlights the importance of consistent monitoring in eggs of different Great Lakes birds of PBDEs, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFEtCHxS) given that: 1) PBDE concentrations in all analyzed avian eggs exceeded or approached a concentration of 29 ng/g ww, which for birds is the current Canadian FEQG (Federal Environmental Quality Guideline); 2) ΣPBDE concentrations were comparable to lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) values reported in the literature; 3) PFOS concentrations in Caspian tern eggs were extremely high with many eggs across sites exceeding 1 ppm, and with the greatest being up to 4.7 ppm; and 4) PFEtCHxS, a potentially persistent and bioaccumulative substance, showed a detection frequency of 100% in 40 of the analyzed eggs., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Proanthocyanidins are oligomeric flavonoids found in plant sources, most notably in apples, cinnamon, grape skin and cocoa beans. They have been also found in substantial amounts in cranberry, black currant, green tea, black tea and peanut skins. These compounds have been recently investigated for their health benefits. Proanthocyanidins have been demonstrated to have positive effects on various metabolic disorders such as inflammation, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. Another upcoming area of research that has gained widespread interest is microRNA (miRNA)-based anticancer therapies. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA segments, which plays a crucial role in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Currently, miRNA based anticancer therapies are being investigated either alone or in combination with current treatment methods. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and investigate the potential of naturally occurring proanthocyanidins in modulating miRNA expression. We will also assess the strategies and challenges of using this approach as potential cancer therapeutics.

Objective: The authors evaluated whether Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Performance-in-Practice products in training increases trainee knowledge of MOC processes and is viewed by trainees as a useful activity., Methods: Six child and adolescent psychiatry fellowships used MOC products in continuity clinics to assess their usefulness as training tools. Two surveys assessed initial knowledge of MOC and usefulness of the activity., Results: Forty-one fellows completed the initial survey. A majority of first-year fellows indicated lack of awareness of MOC in contrast to a majority of second-year fellows who indicated some awareness. Thirty-five fellows completed the second survey. A majority of first- and second-year fellows found the activity easy to execute and would change something about their practice as a result., Conclusions: Using MOC products in training appears to be a useful activity that may assist training programs in teaching the principles of self- and peer-learning.

Ayurveda is considered as one of the oldest of the traditional systems of medicine (TSMs) accepted worldwide. The ancient wisdom in this traditional system of medicine is still not exhaustively explored. The junction of the rich knowledge from different traditional systems of medicine can lead to new avenues in herbal drug discovery process. The lack of the understanding of the differences and similarities between the theoretical doctrines of these systems is the major hurdle towards their convergence apart from the other impediments in the discovery of plant based medicines. This review aims to bring into limelight the age old history and the basic principles of Ayurveda. This would help the budding scholars, researchers and practitioners gain deeper perspicuity of traditional systems of medicine, facilitate strengthening of the commonalities and overcome the challenges towards their global acceptance and harmonization of such medicinal systems.

Chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in the basin of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America include per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) classified as perfluoroalkyl acids. We investigated several PFASs, and specifically 13 C4-C16 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 4 (C4, C6, C8 and C10) perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFEtCHxS) and selected precursors (e.g. perfluorobutane sulfonamide and perfluorooctane sulfonamide) in herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs collected in 2012-2013 from 19 Canadian and U.S. colony sites across the Great Lakes. C6, C8 and C10 PFSAs, PFEtCHxS, and C7-14 and C16 PFCAs were quantifiable at >97% of the 114 egg samples. PFEtCHxS concentrations ranged from n.d. to 3.1ng/g ww (highest in Lake Michigan eggs). Mean Σ4PFSA (92 to 97% perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) and Σ9PFCA concentration ranges were 44 to 740 and 4.8 to 118ng/g ww, respectively. Σ4PFSA showed a clear increasing concentration trend from the northwest to the southeast colonies. Also, Σ4PFCA to Σ9PFSA concentration ratios in gull eggs were greater in eggs from Lake Superior relative to colonies in the other lakes. PFOS concentrations in some egg samples were greater than some of the known lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) measured and reported in captive bird model studies. This study showed the increasing complexity of PFAS-CECs, and emphasized the importance of continuing monitoring of bioaccumulative PFAS in Great Lakes herring gulls., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the Laurentian Great Lakes basin of North America, an increasing number of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) are being investigated, including legacy and replacement flame retardants (FRs). In the present study, 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 23 non-PBDEs halogenated FRs (NPHFRs) and 16 organophosphate ester FRs (OPE-FRs) were analyzed in 100 individual eggs collected in 2012 and 2013 and in 15 egg pools of herring gulls collected in 2012 from 20 colonies across the entire Laurentian Great Lakes basin. For CEC-FRs in eggs from all colonies, 14 PBDEs, 12 NPHFRs and 9 OPE-FRs were quantifiable in at least one of the 115 analyzed samples. The mean sum PBDE (Σ14PBDE) concentrations ranged from 244 to 657 ng/g wet weight (ww), and on average were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than the Σ12NPHFR concentrations (13.8-35.6 ng/g ww), and 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than Σ9OPE-FR concentrations (0.31-2.14 ng/g ww). Mean Σ14PBDE and sum of syn- and anti-Dechlorane Plus isomer (Σ2DDC-CO) concentrations in eggs from colonies within Laurentian Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) were in most cases greater than in eggs from nearby colonies outside of AOCs. Comparing CEC-FR concentrations in eggs collected in 2012-2013 to those previously measured in eggs collected approximately 7 years earlier (2006 and 2008) showed that Σ7PBDE (BDE-28, -47, -100, -99, -154,-153 and -183) mean concentrations in eggs from 6 colonies were approximately 30% less than they were in eggs from the same colonies from the earlier time period, whereas 3 current-use FR (BDE-209, HBCDD and Σ2DDC-CO) concentrations were significantly greater (p<0.05) than previously measured. Between 2006 and 2013 there were significant changes in individual PBDE patterns for BDE-71, -138, -153, -203, -206 and -207. Among all of the examined CEC-FRs, concentrations of Σ4PBDE (BDE-47, -99, -100 and -153) and HBCDD in gull eggs from all colonies were greater than or comparable to their lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) based on in ovo egg injection studies. Overall, the current profiles of a broad suite of FRs in Laurentian Great Lakes herring gull eggs highlights the need to better understand e.g., exposure-effect implications and metabolism of FRs, i.e. OPE-FRs, and emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring of CEC-FRs whose concentrations appear to be increasing, including BDE-209, HBCDD and DDC-COs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Craving is a core feature of tobacco use disorder as well as a significant predictor of smoking relapse. Studies have shown that appetitive smoking-related stimuli (e.g., someone smoking) trigger significant cravings in smokers impede their self-control capacities and promote drug seeking behavior. In this review, we begin by an overview of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies investigating the neural correlates of smokers to appetitive smoking cues. The literature reveals a complex and vastly distributed neuronal network underlying smokers' craving response that recruits regions involved in self-referential processing, planning/regulatory processes, emotional responding, attentional biases, and automatic conducts. We then selectively review important factors contributing to the heterogeneity of results that significantly limit the implications of these findings, namely between- (abstinence, smoking expectancies, and self-regulation) and within-studies factors (severity of smoking dependence, sex-differences, motivation to quit, and genetic factors). Remarkably, we found that little to no attention has been devoted to examine the influence of personality traits on the neural correlates of cigarette cravings in fMRI studies. Impulsivity has been linked with craving and relapse in substance and tobacco use, which prompted our research team to examine the influence of impulsivity on cigarette cravings in an fMRI study. We found that the influence of impulsivity on cigarette cravings was mediated by fronto-cingulate mechanisms. Given the high prevalence of cigarette smoking in several psychiatric disorders that are characterized by significant levels of impulsivity, we conclude by identifying psychiatric patients as a target population whose tobacco-smoking habits deserve further behavioral and neuro-imaging investigation.

New facility-level methane (CH4) emissions measurements obtained from 114 natural gas gathering facilities and 16 processing plants in 13 U.S. states were combined with facility counts obtained from state and national databases in a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate CH4 emissions from U.S. natural gas gathering and processing operations. Total annual CH4 emissions of 2421 (+245/-237) Gg were estimated for all U.S. gathering and processing operations, which represents a CH4 loss rate of 0.47% (±0.05%) when normalized by 2012 CH4 production. Over 90% of those emissions were attributed to normal operation of gathering facilities (1697 +189/-185 Gg) and processing plants (506 +55/-52 Gg), with the balance attributed to gathering pipelines and processing plant routine maintenance and upsets. The median CH4 emissions estimate for processing plants is a factor of 1.7 lower than the 2012 EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) estimate, with the difference due largely to fewer reciprocating compressors, and a factor of 3.0 higher than that reported under the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. Since gathering operations are currently embedded within the production segment of the EPA GHGI, direct comparison to our results is complicated. However, the study results suggest that CH4 emissions from gathering are substantially higher than the current EPA GHGI estimate and are equivalent to 30% of the total net CH4 emissions in the natural gas systems GHGI. Because CH4 emissions from most gathering facilities are not reported under the current rule and not all source categories are reported for processing plants, the total CH4 emissions from gathering and processing reported under the EPA GHGRP (180 Gg) represents only 14% of that tabulated in the EPA GHGI and 7% of that predicted from this study.

The recent growth in production and utilization of natural gas offers potential climate benefits, but those benefits depend on lifecycle emissions of methane, the primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas. This study estimates methane emissions from the transmission and storage (T&S) sector of the United States natural gas industry using new data collected during 2012, including 2,292 onsite measurements, additional emissions data from 677 facilities and activity data from 922 facilities. The largest emission sources were fugitive emissions from certain compressor-related equipment and "super-emitter" facilities. We estimate total methane emissions from the T&S sector at 1,503 [1,220 to 1,950] Gg/yr (95% confidence interval) compared to the 2012 Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) estimate of 2,071 [1,680 to 2,690] Gg/yr. While the overlap in confidence intervals indicates that the difference is not statistically significant, this is the result of several significant, but offsetting, factors. Factors which reduce the study estimate include a lower estimated facility count, a shift away from engines toward lower-emitting turbine and electric compressor drivers, and reductions in the usage of gas-driven pneumatic devices. Factors that increase the study estimate relative to the GHGI include updated emission rates in certain emission categories and explicit treatment of skewed emissions at both component and facility levels. For T&S stations that are required to report to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), this study estimates total emissions to be 260% [215% to 330%] of the reportable emissions for these stations, primarily due to the inclusion of emission sources that are not reported under the GHGRP rules, updated emission factors, and super-emitter emissions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tonsillectomy as a single procedure in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)., Study Design: Prospective multi-institutional study evaluating adults with tonsillar hypertrophy scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy as an isolated surgery., Setting: Tertiary care medical centers within the US Department of Defense., Subjects and Methods: Adult subjects with tonsillar hypertrophy who were already scheduled for tonsillectomy were enrolled from October 2010 to July 2013. Subjects underwent physical examination, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Berlin Questionnaire, and polysomnogram before surgery and after. Collected data included demographics, questionnaire scores, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and lowest saturation of oxygen., Results: A total of 202 consecutive subjects undergoing tonsillectomy were enrolled. The final analysis included 19 subjects testing positive for OSA. The mean age was 27.9 years; mean body mass index, 29.6; median tonsil size, 3; and most frequent Friedman stage, 1. The AHI before surgery ranged from 5.4 to 56.4 events per hour. The mean AHI decreased from 18.0 to 3.2 events per hour after surgery, a reduction of 82%. The responder rate--with subjects achieving at least a 50% reduction of AHI to a value <15--was 94.7%. Following tonsillectomy, there were statistically significant reductions in median lowest saturation of oxygen level and Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Berlin scores., Conclusions: Adult tonsillectomy alone has beneficial effect in OSA management, particularly in young overweight men with large tonsils, moderate OSA, and low Friedman stage., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.)

Equipment- and site-level methane emissions from 45 compressor stations in the transmission and storage (T&S) sector of the US natural gas system were measured, including 25 sites required to report under the EPA greenhouse gas reporting program (GHGRP). Direct measurements of fugitive and vented sources were combined with AP-42-based exhaust emission factors (for operating reciprocating engines and turbines) to produce a study onsite estimate. Site-level methane emissions were also concurrently measured with downwind-tracer-flux techniques. At most sites, these two independent estimates agreed within experimental uncertainty. Site-level methane emissions varied from 2-880 SCFM. Compressor vents, leaky isolation valves, reciprocating engine exhaust, and equipment leaks were major sources, and substantial emissions were observed at both operating and standby compressor stations. The site-level methane emission rates were highly skewed; the highest emitting 10% of sites (including two superemitters) contributed 50% of the aggregate methane emissions, while the lowest emitting 50% of sites contributed less than 10% of the aggregate emissions. Excluding the two superemitters, study-average methane emissions from compressor housings and noncompressor sources are comparable to or lower than the corresponding effective emission factors used in the EPA greenhouse gas inventory. If the two superemitters are included in the analysis, then the average emission factors based on this study could exceed the EPA greenhouse gas inventory emission factors, which highlights the potentially important contribution of superemitters to national emissions. However, quantification of their influence requires knowledge of the magnitude and frequency of superemitters across the entire T&S sector. Only 38% of the methane emissions measured by the comprehensive onsite measurements were reportable under the new EPA GHGRP because of a combination of inaccurate emission factors for leakers and exhaust methane, and various exclusions. The bias is even larger if one accounts for the superemitters, which were not captured by the onsite measurements. The magnitude of the bias varied from site to site by site type and operating state. Therefore, while the GHGRP is a valuable new source of emissions information, care must be taken when incorporating these data into emission inventories. The value of the GHGRP can be increased by requiring more direct measurements of emissions (as opposed to using counts and emission factors), eliminating exclusions such as rod-packing vents on pressurized reciprocating compressors in standby mode under Subpart-W, and using more appropriate emission factors for exhaust methane from reciprocating engines under Subpart-C.

Facility-level methane emissions were measured at 114 gathering facilities and 16 processing plants in the United States natural gas system. At gathering facilities, the measured methane emission rates ranged from 0.7 to 700 kg per hour (kg/h) (0.6 to 600 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm)). Normalized emissions (as a % of total methane throughput) were less than 1% for 85 gathering facilities and 19 had normalized emissions less than 0.1%. The range of methane emissions rates for processing plants was 3 to 600 kg/h (3 to 524 scfm), corresponding to normalized methane emissions rates <1% in all cases. The distributions of methane emissions, particularly for gathering facilities, are skewed. For example, 30% of gathering facilities contribute 80% of the total emissions. Normalized emissions rates are negatively correlated with facility throughput. The variation in methane emissions also appears driven by differences between inlet and outlet pressure, as well as venting and leaking equipment. Substantial venting from liquids storage tanks was observed at 20% of gathering facilities. Emissions rates at these facilities were, on average, around four times the rates observed at similar facilities without substantial venting.

Peanut skin is a rich source of polyphenols, such as proanthocyanidins. Peanut skin proanthocyanidins mainly consist of a subgroup called procyanidins. Peanut-based procyanidins contain oligomers of both type A and type B procyanidins. Recent studies have shown that peanut skin extracts exert protection against hepatic steatosis induced on rats fed with a high-fat diet. Studies have shown that proanthocyanidins protect against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The mechanism of CVD protection and hypolipidemic effect of peanut skin procyanidins has been gradually revealed in recent years. Due to the high molecular weight of procyanidins, they are not readily absorbed through the gut barrier. It is hypothesized that procyanidins exert their effect by inhibiting the absorption of dietary lipid and chylomicron secretion by enterocytes. In this review, we aim to highlight the hypolipidemic effects of peanut skin polyphenols and discuss the various molecular mechanisms, with which the polyphenols may exert the lipid-lowering function observed by weighing the absorption characteristics as well as gene expression mechanism responsible for lipid homeostasis.

Peanut skin is a rich source of polyphenols including procyanidins and is shown to have hypolipidemic properties. This study investigated the bioavailability of peanut skin polyphenols using a rat model. First, the bioavailability of peanut skin polyphenols in rat plasma was evaluated. Our results showed procyanidin A2 levels in plasma peaked within 30 min of ingestion. The results of a second study show that peanut skin extract supplemented in addition to oil gavage resulted in significant decrease in plasma triglyceride and VLDL within 5h. In the third study, rats were given a Western type diet for 5 weeks with peanut skin extract at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. The main effects observed were lowering of total blood lipid and reduction of the plasma fatty acids profile. Our results suggest that procyanidin A may impart a key role of hypolipidemic effect seen in peanut skin polyphenols., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Metformin is an oral biguanide used for type II diabetes. Epidemiologic studies suggest a link between metformin use and reduced risk of breast and other types of cancers. ErbB2-expressing breast cancer is a subgroup of tumors with poor prognosis. Previous studies demonstrated that metformin is a potent inhibitor of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells; metformin treatment extends the life span and impedes mammary tumor development in ErbB2 transgenic mice in vivo. However, the mechanisms of metformin associated antitumor activity, especially in prevention models, remain unclear. We report here for the first time that systemic administration of metformin selectively inhibits CD61(high)/CD49f(high) subpopulation, a group of tumor-initiating cells (TIC) of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-ErbB2 mammary tumors, in preneoplastic mammary glands. Metformin also inhibited CD61(high)/CD49f(high) subpopulation in MMTV-ErbB2 tumor-derived cells, which was correlated with their compromised tumor initiation/development in a syngeneic tumor graft model. Molecular analysis indicated that metformin induced downregulation of ErbB2 and EGFR expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of ErbB family members, insulin-like growth factor-1R, AKT, mTOR, and STAT3 in vivo. In vitro data indicate that low doses of metformin inhibited the self-renewal/proliferation of cancer stem cells (CSC)/TICs in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. We further demonstrated that the expression and activation of ErbB2 were preferentially increased in CSC/TIC-enriched tumorsphere cells, which promoted their self-renewal/proliferation and rendered them more sensitive to metformin. Our results, especially the in vivo data, provide fundamental support for developing metformin-mediated preventive strategies targeting ErbB2-associated carcinogenesis.