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Fulltext The potential of medical device industry in technological and economical context

Maresova P, Penhaker M, Selamat A, Kuca K

Ther Clin Risk Manag, 2015;11:1505-14.
PMID: 26491337 DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S88574

The high quality of public health improves not only healthy life expectancy, but also the productivity of labor. The most important part of the health care sector is the medical technology industry. The aim of this study is to analyze the current situation in the medical device industry in Europe, its potential strengths and weaknesses in the context of topical economic and demographic development. The contribution specifies an analysis of the economic state of the medical device industry in the context of demographic development of European Union's macroeconomic indicators and views of experts in the field of medical device development, concerning the opportunities for entities involved in the medical device market. There is fierce competition on the European market. The innovative activity is stable and well regulated by responsible authorities. Worldwide, the medical device market is expected to grow.
Jatropha gossypiifolia L. and its biologically active metabolites: A mini review

Wu Q, Patocka J, Nepovimova E, Kuca K

J Ethnopharmacol, 2019 Apr 24;234:197-203.
PMID: 30695706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.01.022

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) is popularly known as bellyache bush or black physic nut and is widely used in local / traditional medicine due to the various biological activities attributed to its different parts, including its leaves, roots, and latex.
AIM OF THE STUDY: In this review, we aim to update and discuss the chemistry, specific pharmacology, and toxicological activities of Jatropha gossypiifolia and its bioactive metabolites.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were searched with the name "Jatropha gossypiifolia" and the term "bioactive metabolites". All studies on the chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the plant up to December 2018 were included in this review.
RESULTS: Jatropha gossypiifolia leaves are considered to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and insecticidal properties. The root and stem have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The seeds and fruits can be used against influenza and as a sedative, analgesic or anti-diarrheal agents. The latex is bactericidal and molluscicidal. Topical application of latex is used to treat wounds and bites of venomous animals. The diluted form is usually used for the treatment of diarrhoea by indigenous peoples.
CONCLUSIONS: The main pharmacological activities of Jatropha gossypiifolia include anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticholinesterase, and antihypertensive activities. Species of Jatropha are notably known for their toxic potential, and their toxicity is primarily related to the latex and seed contents. However, the potential mechanisms of these pharmacological activities have not been fully explored. We hope this review will help to further inform the potential utilization of Jatropha gossypiifolia in complementary and alternative medicine.
Fulltext E-learning as valuable caregivers' support for people with dementia - A systematic review

Klimova B, Valis M, Kuca K, Masopust J

BMC Health Serv Res, 2019 Nov 01;19(1):781.
PMID: 31676005 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4641-9

BACKGROUND: Present demographic trends show a considerable rise in elderly populations with aging disorders, such as dementia. The current article focused on the exploitation of e-learning as an informal support for caregivers of people with dementia and considered its benefits and limitations to provide proper and relevant care for this target group of people as well as maintain the quality of life of their caregivers.
METHODS: The methodology of this study is based on a literature review of accessible peer-review articles from three recognized databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The findings of the selected studies were compared and evaluated.
RESULTS: The findings showed that e-learning educational programs/courses helped caregivers feel more confident about dementia care, reduced their perceived stress and enhanced their feelings of empathy, understanding and concern.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study reveal that the exploitation of e-learning as a support tool, especially for informal caregivers, in the management of dementia may be a promising method, but its implementation requires professional training of informal caregivers in the use of this technology. More evidence-based studies are needed on this topic.
Decoding of the coupling between the brain and facial muscle reactions in auditory stimulation

Soundirarajan M, Kuca K, Krejcar O, Namazi H

Technol Health Care, 2021 Nov 19.
PMID: 34842201 DOI: 10.3233/THC-213528

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the reactions of different organs to external stimuli is an important area of research in physiological science.
OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we investigated the correlation between the brain and facial muscle activities by information-based analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and electromyogram (EMG) signals using Shannon entropy.
METHOD: The EEG and EMG signals of thirteen subjects were recorded during rest and auditory stimulations using relaxing, pop, and rock music. Accordingly, we calculated the Shannon entropy of these signals.
RESULTS: The results showed that rock music has a greater effect on the information of EEG and EMG signals than pop music, which itself has a greater effect than relaxing music. Furthermore, a strong correlation (r= 0.9980) was found between the variations of the information of EEG and EMG signals.
CONCLUSION: The activities of the facial muscle and brain are correlated in different conditions. This technique can be utilized to investigate the correlation between the activities of different organs versus brain activity in different situations.
Fulltext Effect Of An Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Intake On The Delay Of Cognitive Decline: Role Of Secoiridoid Oleuropein?

Klimova B, Novotný M, Kuca K, Valis M

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 2019;15:3033-3040.
PMID: 31754302 DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S218238

Currently, there is an increase in the number of the world's aging population. This aging process is often connected with cognitive decline of some functions such as memory or speed processing loss. Since Alzheimer's disease cannot be cured yet, considerable efforts are being made to at least delay this cognitive decline among elderly in order to maintain and prolong the quality of their life. This can also be achieved by non-pharmacological approaches such as performing physical activities, cognitive training, or adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). One of the components of MedDiet - extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) - has considerable health benefits. The purpose of this review is to examine the effect of EVOO intake on the delay of cognitive decline among the elderly. The methodology is based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in three acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the regular intake of EVOO is associated with enhanced cognitive functions, which means that this oil may have a neuroprotective effect and could positively prevent the development of dementia, especially Alzheimer's dementia. It is believed that secoiridoid oleuropein is responsible for this effectiveness. Furthermore, there is also a need of more randomized controlled studies or longitudinal observational studies to be performed to confirm the efficacy of the beneficial health effect of EVOO on the delay of cognitive decline.
Fulltext Multi-Biometric System Based on Cutting-Edge Equipment for Experimental Contactless Verification

Kolda L, Krejcar O, Selamat A, Kuca K, Fadeyi O

Sensors (Basel), 2019 Aug 26;19(17).
PMID: 31455045 DOI: 10.3390/s19173709

Biometric verification methods have gained significant popularity in recent times, which has brought about their extensive usage. In light of theoretical evidence surrounding the development of biometric verification, we proposed an experimental multi-biometric system for laboratory testing. First, the proposed system was designed such that it was able to identify and verify a user through the hand contour, and blood flow (blood stream) at the upper part of the hand. Next, we detailed the hard and software solutions for the system. A total of 40 subjects agreed to be a part of data generation team, which produced 280 hand images. The core of this paper lies in evaluating individual metrics, which are functions of frequency comparison of the double type faults with the EER (Equal Error Rate) values. The lowest value was measured for the case of the modified Hausdorff distance metric - Maximally Helicity Violating (MHV). Furthermore, for the verified biometric characteristics (Hamming distance and MHV), appropriate and suitable metrics have been proposed and experimented to optimize system precision. Thus, the EER value for the designed multi-biometric system in the context of this work was found to be 5%, which proves that metrics consolidation increases the precision of the multi-biometric system. Algorithms used for the proposed multi-biometric device shows that the individual metrics exhibit significant accuracy but perform better on consolidation, with a few shortcomings.
Fulltext Breast Cancer Detection Using Infrared Thermal Imaging and a Deep Learning Model

Mambou SJ, Maresova P, Krejcar O, Selamat A, Kuca K

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Aug 25;18(9).
PMID: 30149621 DOI: 10.3390/s18092799

Women's breasts are susceptible to developing cancer; this is supported by a recent study from 2016 showing that 2.8 million women worldwide had already been diagnosed with breast cancer that year. The medical care of a patient with breast cancer is costly and, given the cost and value of the preservation of the health of the citizen, the prevention of breast cancer has become a priority in public health. Over the past 20 years several techniques have been proposed for this purpose, such as mammography, which is frequently used for breast cancer diagnosis. However, false positives of mammography can occur in which the patient is diagnosed positive by another technique. Additionally, the potential side effects of using mammography may encourage patients and physicians to look for other diagnostic techniques. Our review of the literature first explored infrared digital imaging, which assumes that a basic thermal comparison between a healthy breast and a breast with cancer always shows an increase in thermal activity in the precancerous tissues and the areas surrounding developing breast cancer. Furthermore, through our research, we realized that a Computer-Aided Diagnostic (CAD) undertaken through infrared image processing could not be achieved without a model such as the well-known hemispheric model. The novel contribution of this paper is the production of a comparative study of several breast cancer detection techniques using powerful computer vision techniques and deep learning models.
Fulltext Smart and Climate-Smart Agricultural Trends as Core Aspects of Smart Village Functions

Adesipo A, Fadeyi O, Kuca K, Krejcar O, Maresova P, Selamat A, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2020 Oct 22;20(21).
PMID: 33105622 DOI: 10.3390/s20215977

Attention has shifted to the development of villages in Europe and other parts of the world with the goal of combating rural-urban migration, and moving toward self-sufficiency in rural areas. This situation has birthed the smart village idea. Smart village initiatives such as those of the European Union is motivating global efforts aimed at improving the live and livelihood of rural dwellers. These initiatives are focused on improving agricultural productivity, among other things, since most of the food we eat are grown in rural areas around the world. Nevertheless, a major challenge faced by proponents of the smart village concept is how to provide a framework for the development of the term, so that this development is tailored towards sustainability. The current work examines the level of progress of climate smart agriculture, and tries to borrow from its ideals, to develop a framework for smart village development. Given the advances in technology, agricultural development that encompasses reduction of farming losses, optimization of agricultural processes for increased yield, as well as prevention, monitoring, and early detection of plant and animal diseases, has now embraced varieties of smart sensor technologies. The implication is that the studies and results generated around the concept of climate smart agriculture can be adopted in planning of villages, and transforming them into smart villages. Hence, we argue that for effective development of the smart village framework, smart agricultural techniques must be prioritized, viz-a-viz other developmental practicalities.
Fulltext Consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age - a scoping review

Maresova P, Javanmardi E, Barakovic S, Barakovic Husic J, Tomsone S, Krejcar O, et al.

BMC Public Health, 2019 Nov 01;19(1):1431.
PMID: 31675997 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7762-5

BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of the increasing number of ageing people in the world is arguably the most significant economic, health and social challenge that we face today. Additionally, one of the major epidemiologic trends of current times is the increase in chronic and degenerative diseases. This paper tries to deliver a more up to date overview of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age and provide a more detailed outlook on the research that has gone into this field.
METHODS: First, challenges for seniors, including chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age, are specified. Second, a review of seniors' needs and concerns is performed. Finally, solutions that can improve seniors' quality of life are discussed. Publications obtained from the following databases are used in this scoping review: Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct. Four independent reviewers screened the identified records and selected relevant publications published from 2010 to 2017. A total of 1916 publications were selected. In all, 52 papers were selected based on abstract content. For further processing, 21 full papers were screened."
RESULTS: The results indicate disabilities as a major problem associated with seniors' activities of daily living dependence. We founded seven categories of different conditions - psychological problems, difficulties in mobility, poor cognitive function, falls and incidents, wounds and injuries, undernutrition, and communication problems. In order to minimize ageing consequences, some areas require more attention, such as education and training; technological tools; government support and welfare systems; early diagnosis of undernutrition, cognitive impairment, and other diseases; communication solutions; mobility solutions; and social contributions.
CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review supports the view on chronic diseases in old age as a complex issue. To prevent the consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age related problems demands multicomponent interventions. Early recognition of problems leading to disability and activities of daily living (ADL) dependence should be one of essential components of such interventions.
JNK signaling in cancer cell survival

Wu Q, Wu W, Fu B, Shi L, Wang X, Kuca K

Med Res Rev, 2019 11;39(6):2082-2104.
PMID: 30912203 DOI: 10.1002/med.21574

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is involved in cancer cell apoptosis; however, emerging evidence indicates that this Janus signaling promotes cancer cell survival. JNK acts synergistically with NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and other signaling molecules to exert a survival function. JNK positively regulates autophagy to counteract apoptosis, and its effect on autophagy is related to the development of chemotherapeutic resistance. The prosurvival effect of JNK may involve an immune evasion mechanism mediated by transforming growth factor-β, toll-like receptors, interferon-γ, and autophagy, as well as compensatory JNK-dependent cell proliferation. The present review focuses on recent advances in understanding the prosurvival function of JNK and its role in tumor development and chemoresistance, including a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying JNK-mediated cancer cell survival. There is a focus on the specific "Yin and Yang" functions of JNK1 and JNK2 in the regulation of cancer cell survival. We highlight recent advances in our knowledge of the roles of JNK in cancer cell survival, which may provide insight into the distinct functions of JNK in cancer and its potential for cancer therapy.
Fulltext Phytoantioxidant Functionalized Nanoparticles: A Green Approach to Combat Nanoparticle-Induced Oxidative Stress

Balkrishna A, Kumar A, Arya V, Rohela A, Verma R, Nepovimova E, et al.

Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2021;2021:3155962.
PMID: 34737844 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3155962

Nanotechnology is gaining significant attention, with numerous biomedical applications. Silver in wound dressings, copper oxide and silver in antibacterial preparations, and zinc oxide nanoparticles as a food and cosmetic ingredient are common examples. However, adverse effects of nanoparticles in humans and the environment from extended exposure at varied concentrations have yet to be established. One of the drawbacks of employing nanoparticles is their tendency to cause oxidative stress, a significant public health concern with life-threatening consequences. Cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory problems and diabetes are among the oxidative stress-related disorders. In this context, phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles could be a novel and effective alternative. In addition to performing their intended function, they can protect against oxidative damage. This review was designed by searching through various websites, books, and articles found in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. To begin with, oxidative stress, its related diseases, and the mechanistic basis of oxidative damage caused by nanoparticles are discussed. One of the main mechanisms of action of nanoparticles was unearthed to be oxidative stress, which limits their use in humans. Secondly, the role of phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles in oxidative damage prevention is critically discussed. The parameters for the characterization of nanoparticles were also discussed. The majority of silver, gold, iron, zinc oxide, and copper nanoparticles produced utilizing various plant extracts were active free radical scavengers. This potential is linked to several surface fabricated phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids and phenols. These phytoantioxidant functionalized nanoparticles could be a better alternative to nanoparticles prepared by other existing approaches.
Fulltext Chitosan-Urea Nanocomposite for Improved Fertilizer Applications: The Effect on the Soil Enzymatic Activities and Microflora Dynamics in N Cycle of Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Kondal R, Kalia A, Krejcar O, Kuca K, Sharma SP, Luthra K, et al.

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Aug 27;13(17).
PMID: 34502927 DOI: 10.3390/polym13172887

The impact of polymer-based slow-release urea formulations on soil microbial N dynamics in potatoes has been sparingly deciphered. The present study investigated the effect of a biodegradable nano-polymer urea formulation on soil enzymatic activities and microflora involved in the N cycling of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The nano-chitosan-urea composite (NCUC) treatment significantly increased the soil dehydrogenase activity, organic carbon content and available potassium compared to the conventional urea (CU) treatment. The soil ammonical nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) contents and urease activity were significantly decreased in the NCUC-amended soil. The slow urea hydrolysis rate led to low concentrations of NH4+-N and NO3--N in the tested potato soil. Furthermore, these results corroborate the low count of ammonia oxidizer and nitrate reducer populations. Quantitative PCR (q-PCR) studies revealed that the relative abundance of eubacterial (AOB) and archaeal ammonia-oxidizing (AOA) populations was reduced in the NCUC-treated soil compared to CU. The abundance of AOA was particularly lower than AOB, probably due to the more neutral and alkaline conditions of the tested soil. Our results suggest that the biodegradable polymer urea composite had a significant effect on the microbiota associated with soil N dynamics. Therefore, the developed NCUC could be used as a slow N-release fertilizer for enhanced growth and crop yields of potato.

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