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Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry analysis of bisphenol A and its analogues in bottled tea beverages with dynamic pH focusing

Yahaya N, Huang ZA, Yan B, Chen DDY

Food Chem, 2022 Mar 15;372:131220.
PMID: 34607048 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131220

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of bisphenol A and its analogues at the ng/mL level in bottled tea beverages is presented. This method utilized a dynamic pH junction to focus the analyte into a more concentrated zone, based on the electrophoretic mobility difference of analytes in the sample matrix and background electrolytes in capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS). The optimised analyte focusing led to enhanced signal detection with average peak heights for five bisphenols of 53-170 folds higher than conventional injections. Under optimised conditions, the method showed good linearity in the range of 0.1-100 ng/mL, excellent limits of detection (0.03-0.04 ng/mL), good analyte recovery (80.3-118.1%) with acceptable relative standard deviations (<12%). The limits of quantifications were below the maximum permissible content of bisphenol A set by the European Commission for this product. This method was used to quantitatively analyse bisphenols in six different kinds of bottled tea beverages, making it a promising tool for practical applications.
Fulltext Imaging of skin birefringence for human scar assessment using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography aided by vascular masking

Gong P, Chin L, Es'haghian S, Liew YM, Wood FM, Sampson DD, et al.

J Biomed Opt, 2014 Dec;19(12):126014.
PMID: 25539060 DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.19.12.126014

We demonstrate the in vivo assessment of human scars by parametric imaging of birefringence using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). Such in vivo assessment is subject to artifacts in the detected birefringence caused by scattering from blood vessels. To reduce these artifacts, we preprocessed the PS-OCT data using a vascular masking technique. The birefringence of the remaining tissue regions was then automatically quantified. Results from the scars and contralateral or adjacent normal skin of 13 patients show a correspondence of birefringence with scar type: the ratio of birefringence of hypertrophic scars to corresponding normal skin is 2.2 ± 0.2 (mean ± standard deviation ), while the ratio of birefringence of normotrophic scars to normal skin is 1.1 ± 0.4 . This method represents a new clinically applicable means for objective, quantitative human scar assessment.
Fulltext Comparative efficacy and safety of interventions for preventing chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in adult cancer patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Wilairat P, Kengkla K, Kaewpanan T, Kaewthong J, Ruankon S, Subthaweesin C, et al.

Eur J Hosp Pharm, 2020 Mar;27(2):103-110.
PMID: 32133137 DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2018-001649

OBJECTIVE: To examine the comparative efficacy and safety of interventions for preventing chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM) in adult cancer patients.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central systematically for the randomised control trials (RCTs) of interventions for preventing OM. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from both direct and indirect evidence. The primary outcome was any grade of OM. Secondary outcomes were mild-moderate OM, severe OM and adverse events, such as taste disturbance and gastrointestinal adverse events. This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016052489.
RESULTS: A total of 29 RCTs with 2348 patients (median age, 56.1 years; 57.5% male) were included. Cryotherapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of OM than control (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.68), and zinc sulphate (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.97), but not significantly lower than sucralfate and palifermin. No significant differences were observed between cryotherapy and control for taste disturbance and gastrointestinal adverse events. Palifermin was associated with the highest risk of taste disturbance.
CONCLUSIONS: This NMA suggests that cryotherapy was the most effective intervention for preventing chemotherapy-induced OM with a safety profile similar to control, but not significantly lower than sucralfate and palifermin. Large RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Fulltext The effectiveness of homeopathy in relieving symptoms and reducing antibiotic use in patients with otitis media: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Perry R, Huntley AL, Lai NM, Teut M, Martin DD, van der Werf ET

Heliyon, 2024 Oct 30;10(20):e39174.
PMID: 39640837 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39174

AIM: This systematic review of clinical trial evidence aims to determine whether homeopathy can effectively relieve symptoms and reduce antibiotic use in patients diagnosed with otitis media (OM).
METHODS: Seven databases and four trial registries were searched. Eligible studies included randomised- and non-randomised-controlled-trials in patients diagnosed with OM. Studies on Individualised- and non-Individualised-Homeopathy (IH, non-IH) were included, and controls were inactive and/or active treatment. Primary outcomes were clinical-improvement and antibiotic-use. Data extraction, Risk of Bias and certainty of evidence (GRADE) were performed using established methodology.
RESULTS: Nine studies (IH = 4, non-IH = 5) comprising seven Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs) and two non-RCTs (nRCTS) compared homeopathy with placebo (n = 2) or standard care (n = 7). 4/7 included RCTs reported statistically significant individual outcomes at relevant time points (symptom score, MEE, and antibiotic use) favouring homeopathy. However, heterogeneity of study designs, homeopathic interventions and outcome measures hindered the pooling of data for most outcomes, except for antibiotic use (non-IH). Add-on non-IH reduced filled antibiotic prescriptions by 46 % (RR = 0.54 [95%CI: 0.28, 1.06], P = 0.07, I2 = 12 %), but this did not reach statistical significance. Most studies demonstrated that the homeopathy group had less adverse events than the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: The evidence base for the effectiveness of homeopathy and OM treatment is modest in study number, size, and risk of bias assessment. Individual RCTs report positive effects on clinical improvement and/or antibiotic use at relevant time points with homeopathy with no safety issues. Due to heterogeneity, the current evidence is insufficient to satisfactorily answer whether homeopathy is effective for clinical improvement and reducing antibiotic use in patients with OM. A Core Outcome Set for OM for future research is warranted to improve the potential for meta-analyses and strengthen the evidence base.
l-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation Increases Blood Folate Concentrations to a Greater Extent than Folic Acid Supplementation in Malaysian Women

Henderson AM, Aleliunas RE, Loh SP, Khor GL, Harvey-Leeson S, Glier MB, et al.

J Nutr, 2018 Jun 01;148(6):885-890.
PMID: 29878267 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy057

BACKGROUND: Folic acid fortification of grains is mandated in many countries to prevent neural tube defects. Concerns regarding excessive intakes of folic acid have been raised. A synthetic analog of the circulating form of folate, l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (l-5-MTHF), may be a potential alternative.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of folic acid or l-5-MTHF supplementation on blood folate concentrations, methyl nutrient metabolites, and DNA methylation in women living in Malaysia, where there is no mandatory fortification policy.
METHODS: In a 12-wk, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial, healthy Malaysian women (n = 142, aged 20-45 y) were randomly assigned to receive 1 of the following supplements daily: 1 mg (2.27 μmol) folic acid, 1.13 mg (2.27 μmol) l-5-MTHF, or a placebo. The primary outcomes were plasma and RBC folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations. Secondary outcomes included plasma total homocysteine, total cysteine, methionine, betaine, and choline concentrations and monocyte long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) methylation.
RESULTS: The folic acid and l-5-MTHF groups had higher (P
Fulltext First sequence of influenza D virus identified in poultry farm bioaerosols in Sarawak, Malaysia

Bailey ES, Fieldhouse JK, Alarja NA, Chen DD, Kovalik ME, Zemke JN, et al.

Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines, 2020;6:5.
PMID: 32190346 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-020-0105-9

In 2018, our team collected aerosols samples from five poultry farms in Malaysia. Influenza D virus was detected in 14% of samples. One sample had an 86.3% identity score similar to NCBI accession number MH785020.1. This is the first molecular sequence of influenza D virus detected in Southeast Asia from a bioaerosol sample. Our findings indicate that further study of role of IDV in poultry is necessary.
Simultaneous preconcentration and determination of sulfonamide antibiotics in milk and yoghurt by dynamic pH junction focusing coupled with capillary electrophoresis

Semail NF, Abdul Keyon AS, Saad B, Kamaruzaman S, Mohamad Zain NN, Lim V, et al.

Talanta, 2022 Jan 01;236:122833.
PMID: 34635223 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122833

A dynamic pH junction was used in capillary electrophoresis (CE-DAD) to on-line preconcentrate, separate, and determine trace amounts of sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) in milk and yoghurt samples in this study. A sample matrix with 0.15% acetic acid and 10% methanol (MeOH) at a pH of 4.0, and a background electrolyte (BGE) that contained 35 mM sodium citrate with 10% MeOH at a pH of 8.5, and an acidic barrage of 0.4% acetic acid with 10% MeOH at a pH of 2.5 were utilised to achieve a stacking effect for SAs through a dynamic pH junction. Under optimised conditions, the proposed preconcentration method showed good linearity (30-500 ng/mL, r2 ≥ 0.9940), low limits of detection (LODs) of 4.1-6.3 ng/mL, and acceptable analytes recovery (81.2-106.9%) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 5.3-13.7 (n = 9). The limits of quantification (LOQs) were below the maximum residue limit approved by the European Union (EU) in this type of matrices. Sensitivity enhancement factors of up to 129 were reached with the optimised dynamic pH junction using CE with a diode array detector (DAD). The method was used to determine SAs in fresh milk, low-fat milk, full-cream milk, and yoghurt samples.
Fulltext Molecular investigations of a locally acquired case of melioidosis in Southern AZ, USA

Engelthaler DM, Bowers J, Schupp JA, Pearson T, Ginther J, Hornstra HM, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2011 Oct;5(10):e1347.
PMID: 22028940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001347

Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacillus, primarily found in soils in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. A recent case of melioidosis in non-endemic Arizona was determined to be the result of locally acquired infection, as the patient had no travel history to endemic regions and no previous history of disease. Diagnosis of the case was confirmed through multiple microbiologic and molecular techniques. To enhance the epidemiological analysis, we conducted several molecular genotyping procedures, including multi-locus sequence typing, SNP-profiling, and whole genome sequence typing. Each technique has different molecular epidemiologic advantages, all of which provided evidence that the infecting strain was most similar to those found in Southeast Asia, possibly originating in, or around, Malaysia. Advancements in new typing technologies provide genotyping resolution not previously available to public health investigators, allowing for more accurate source identification.
Fulltext Calretinin-expressing islet cells: a source of pre- and post-synaptic inhibition of non-peptidergic nociceptor input to the mouse spinal cord

Davis OC, Dickie AC, Mustapa MB, Boyle KA, Browne TJ, Gradwell MA, et al.

bioRxiv, 2023 Jun 05.
PMID: 37333120 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.01.543241

Unmyelinated non-peptidergic nociceptors (NP afferents) arborise in lamina II of the spinal cord and receive GABAergic axoaxonic synapses, which mediate presynaptic inhibition. However, until now the source of this axoaxonic synaptic input was not known. Here we provide evidence that it originates from a population of inhibitory calretinin-expressing interneurons (iCRs), which correspond to lamina II islet cells. The NP afferents can be assigned to 3 functionally distinct classes (NP1-3). NP1 afferents have been implicated in pathological pain states, while NP2 and NP3 afferents also function as pruritoceptors. Our findings suggest that all 3 of these afferent types innervate iCRs and receive axoaxonic synapses from them, providing feedback inhibition of NP input. The iCRs also form axodendritic synapses, and their targets include cells that are themselves innervated by the NP afferents, thus allowing for feedforward inhibition. The iCRs are therefore ideally placed to control the input from non-peptidergic nociceptors and pruritoceptors to other dorsal horn neurons, and thus represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic pain and itch.
Fulltext Calretinin-expressing islet cells are a source of pre- and post-synaptic inhibition of non-peptidergic nociceptor input to the mouse spinal cord

Davis OC, Dickie AC, Mustapa MB, Boyle KA, Browne TJ, Gradwell MA, et al.

Sci Rep, 2023 Jul 18;13(1):11561.
PMID: 37464016 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38605-9

Unmyelinated non-peptidergic nociceptors (NP afferents) arborise in lamina II of the spinal cord and receive GABAergic axoaxonic synapses, which mediate presynaptic inhibition. However, until now the source of this axoaxonic synaptic input was not known. Here we provide evidence that it originates from a population of inhibitory calretinin-expressing interneurons (iCRs), which correspond to lamina II islet cells. The NP afferents can be assigned to 3 functionally distinct classes (NP1-3). NP1 afferents have been implicated in pathological pain states, while NP2 and NP3 afferents also function as pruritoceptors. Our findings suggest that all 3 of these afferent types innervate iCRs and receive axoaxonic synapses from them, providing feedback inhibition of NP input. The iCRs also form axodendritic synapses, and their targets include cells that are themselves innervated by the NP afferents, thus allowing for feedforward inhibition. The iCRs are therefore ideally placed to control the input from non-peptidergic nociceptors and pruritoceptors to other dorsal horn neurons, and thus represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic pain and itch.
A Novel Evaluation Framework for Medical LLMs: Combining Fuzzy Logic and MCDM for Medical Relation and Clinical Concept Extraction

Alamoodi AH, Zughoul O, David D, Garfan S, Pamucar D, Albahri OS, et al.

J Med Syst, 2024 Aug 31;48(1):81.
PMID: 39214943 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02090-y

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a crucial element of modern technology, especially in the healthcare sector, which is apparent given the continuous development of large language models (LLMs), which are utilized in various domains, including medical beings. However, when it comes to using these LLMs for the medical domain, there's a need for an evaluation platform to determine their suitability and drive future development efforts. Towards that end, this study aims to address this concern by developing a comprehensive Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach that is specifically designed to evaluate medical LLMs. The success of AI, particularly LLMs, in the healthcare domain, depends on their efficacy, safety, and ethical compliance. Therefore, it is essential to have a robust evaluation framework for their integration into medical contexts. This study proposes using the Fuzzy-Weighted Zero-InConsistency (FWZIC) method extended to p, q-quasirung orthopair fuzzy set (p, q-QROFS) for weighing evaluation criteria. This extension enables the handling of uncertainties inherent in medical decision-making processes. The approach accommodates the imprecise and multifaceted nature of real-world medical data and criteria by incorporating fuzzy logic principles. The MultiAtributive Ideal-Real Comparative Analysis (MAIRCA) method is employed for the assessment of medical LLMs utilized in the case study of this research. The results of this research revealed that "Medical Relation Extraction" criteria with its sub-levels had more importance with (0.504) than "Clinical Concept Extraction" with (0.495). For the LLMs evaluated, out of 6 alternatives, ( A 4 ) "GatorTron S 10B" had the 1st rank as compared to ( A 1 ) "GatorTron 90B" had the 6th rank. The implications of this study extend beyond academic discourse, directly impacting healthcare practices and patient outcomes. The proposed framework can help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions regarding the adoption and utilization of LLMs in medical settings.
Global Study of Social Odor Awareness

Sorokowska A, Groyecka A, Karwowski M, Frackowiak T, Lansford JE, Ahmadi K, et al.

Chem. Senses, 2018 08 24;43(7):503-513.
PMID: 29955865 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy038

Olfaction plays an important role in human social communication, including multiple domains in which people often rely on their sense of smell in the social context. The importance of the sense of smell and its role can however vary inter-individually and culturally. Despite the growing body of literature on differences in olfactory performance or hedonic preferences across the globe, the aspects of a given culture as well as culturally universal individual differences affecting odor awareness in human social life remain unknown. Here, we conducted a large-scale analysis of data collected from 10 794 participants from 52 study sites from 44 countries all over the world. The aim of our research was to explore the potential individual and country-level correlates of odor awareness in the social context. The results show that the individual characteristics were more strongly related than country-level factors to self-reported odor awareness in different social contexts. A model including individual-level predictors (gender, age, material situation, education, and preferred social distance) provided a relatively good fit to the data, but adding country-level predictors (Human Development Index, population density, and average temperature) did not improve model parameters. Although there were some cross-cultural differences in social odor awareness, the main differentiating role was played by the individual differences. This suggests that people living in different cultures and different climate conditions may still share some similar patterns of odor awareness if they share other individual-level characteristics.
Fulltext Corrigendum: Marital Satisfaction, Sex, Age, Marriage Duration, Religion, Number of Children, Economic Status, Education, and Collectivistic Values: Data from 33 Countries

Sorokowski P, Randall AK, Groyecka A, Frackowiak T, Cantarero K, Hilpert P, et al.

Front Psychol, 2017;8:1728.
PMID: 29021774 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01728

[This corrects the article on p. 1199 in vol. 8, PMID: 28785230.].
Fulltext Marital Satisfaction, Sex, Age, Marriage Duration, Religion, Number of Children, Economic Status, Education, and Collectivistic Values: Data from 33 Countries

Sorokowski P, Randall AK, Groyecka A, Frackowiak T, Cantarero K, Hilpert P, et al.

Front Psychol, 2017;8:1199.
PMID: 28785230 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01199
Fulltext Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1

Klionsky DJ, Abdel-Aziz AK, Abdelfatah S, Abdellatif M, Abdoli A, Abel S, et al.

Autophagy, 2021 Jan;17(1):1-382.
PMID: 33634751 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.

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