Seagrasses are unique marine flowering plants. Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle (family Hydrocharitaceae), a new record for the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea, was the grass of choice. A comparative study on Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle (leaves, roots and rhizomes) was done to determine the plant organ that shows the highest antiproliferative and antioxidant activities. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The total flavonoid content was estimated by the aluminum chloride assay. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis was performed to detect the chemical functional groups in the extract. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was done for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of phenolic compounds. UPLC-ESI-TOF–MS was performed for metabolomics profiling of the extract. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH scavenger percentage method. Antiproliferation assay against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 was performed for the three seagrass organs. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured after treatment with three extracts against MCF-7 cell line. The highest phenolic content is found in the leaves, while roots exhibited the highest DPPH scavenger percentage. The total concentration of phenolic compounds detected by HPLC was leaves > rhizomes > roots. Also leaves exhibit the highest antiproliferative activity and mitochondrial membrane potential depletion effect against MCF-7 cell line tested. UPLC-ESI-TOF–MS metabolite profiling of leaves detected different secondary and primary metabolites to which the activity was retained. Leaves are a new candidate to be used in the treatment of cancer. Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle leaves extract is a new nutraceutical candidate. Further in-depth studies are required on Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle leaves.

Removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater is essential as it is potentially toxic and carcinogenic in nature. Bioremediation of heavy metals using microalgae is a novel technique and has several advantages such as microalgae remove metals in an environmentally friendly and economic manner. The present study deals with modeling and optimization of the phycoremediation of Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater. The initial concentration of Cr(VI), initial pH, and inoculum size were considered as input factors, and the percentage removal of Cr(VI) was chosen as a response. An accurate data-driven genetic programming model was developed with the experimental data of other scientists to find a relation between the percentage removal of Cr(VI) and all input parameters. To maximize the removal of Cr(VI), the grey wolf optimization technique was applied to determine the optimal values of input parameters. These optimum input parameters are difficult to get through experimentation using the trial-and-error method. The established modelling and optimization technique is generic and can be applied to any other experimental study.

Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic progressive condition that prompts generous physical and mental morbidity. Choosing the best kind of management and medication dosage prevents new episodes of high disease activity during therapy because of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This can lead to cessation or inefficacy of the treatment, or complete non-responsiveness to specific medications. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is a well-established aspect in IBD. One of the exemplary instances of PGx is thiopurines, which are frequently utilized as IBD therapy. This study aimed to evaluate specific gene polymorphism involved in the toxicity and efficacy of Azathioprine (AZA) use in the management in Egyptian patients and to find the correlation between the polymorphism of Nudix Hydrolase15 (NUDT15) gene (rs116855232), The Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) gene (rs1800460) and Inosine Triphosphatase (ITPA) gene (rs1127354) which are involved in the metabolism of the medications utilized in IBD management. This prospective study was performed in 150 patients with IBD. All patients were treated with 2 mg/kg per day AZA (Imuran, GlaxoSmithKline®) for at least 3 months at therapeutic doses to induce remission. Subsequent treatment of AZA. The minimum follow-up period for those who did not experience ADR was one year. Among the studied patients, one hundred twenty-nine patients were treated with combination regimen of steroids (oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day). Also, treatment failure was considered among the patients who could not tolerate AZA side effects, or there was no improvement after dose modification. The most identifiable adverse effect among the studied population was anemia followed by leukopenia and myelosuppression. SNPs genotype TPMT (rs1800460) and ITPA gene (rs1127354) were significantly related to adverse effects among IBD patients receiving Azathioprine treatment. There was a lack of any variants in the NUDT15 genotype among the Egyptian population. Further research is required in to clarify the relationship between NUDT15 PGx and AZA-ADRs. The effect of NUDT15 PGx on toxicity and ADRs as yet necessitates to be elucidated. Studies with a larger sample size and involving different ethnicities are also necessary.

Achillea filipendulina (L.) is an important medicinal plant and an Asian species of the Asteraceae family. A. filipendulina that grows in Central and Southwest Asia. It was chosen for study with the aim of screening biologically active compounds in the essential oil of the aerial parts and the antioxidant, antimalarial and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of its extract. Essential oil was extracted by using Clevenger apparatus. Extraction was done by Soxhlet apparatus with solvents of n-hexane, DCM (dichloromethane) and MeOH (methanol), and then, fractionation of extracts was accomplished through various chromatographic techniques including VLC (vacuum liquid chromatography) approach and SPE (solid phase extraction) technique. Approximately 79% of A. filipendulina essential oil components were recognized by the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), of which monoterpenes were 63.2% the most abundant components, except for terpenes, other compounds such as fatty acids, phenols, aromatic compounds and ketones were identified, as well antimalarial activity test was done by β-hematin formation assay and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was accomplished by Ransod kit, then antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrzyl) free radical scavenging technique. Preliminary phytochemical screening of MeOH and DCM extracts was done by TLC (thin layer chromatography) and total phenol assay. Monoterpenoids were the main component of the aerial part’s essential oil. Among different extracts, MeOH extract had significant antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities with RC50 (mg/mL) = 0.0707 and IC50 = 12.8741 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover DCM extract had significant antimalarial activities with IC50 (mg/mL) = 0.2511. Among the fractions, 40% and 60% Sep-Pak fraction of MeOH extract had stronger xanthine oxidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The 40% fraction of MeOH extract showed the strongest antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities, which might be related to the presence of phenolic compounds. The 80% VLC fraction of DCM extract also indicated the strong antimalarial activities. As this plant revealed a high content of phenols along with high antioxidant, antimalarial and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities, it could have great medicinal value. Our results suggested the possible use of A. filipendulina in development of highly potent new pure medicinal compounds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world's survival in jeopardy. Although the virus has been contained in certain parts of the world after causing so much grief, the risk of it emerging in the future should not be overlooked because its existence cannot be shown to be completely eradicated. This study investigates the impact of vaccination, therapeutic actions, and compliance rate of individuals to physical limitations in a newly developed SEIQR mathematical model of COVID-19. A qualitative investigation was conducted on the mathematical model, which included validating its positivity, existence, uniqueness, and boundedness. The disease-free and endemic equilibria were found, and the basic reproduction number was derived and utilized to examine the mathematical model's local and global stability. The mathematical model's sensitivity index was calculated equally, and the homotopy perturbation method was utilized to derive the estimated result of each compartment of the model. Numerical simulation carried out using Maple 18 software reveals that the COVID-19 virus's prevalence might be lowered if the actions proposed in this study are applied. It is the collective responsibility of all individuals to fight for the survival of the human race against COVID-19. We urged that all persons, including the government, researchers, and health-care personnel, use the findings of this research to remove the presence of the dangerous COVID-19 virus.

The most commonly utilized samples for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) are nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and oropharyngeal swabs. However, there are some drawbacks. For SARS-CoV-2 detection, induced sputum might be analyzed and may be equivalent to pharyngeal swabs. This study was done to assess the potential superiority of induced sputum over NPS for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Sixty symptomatic COVID-19 patients who attended Fayoum University Hospitals in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Paired NPS and induced sputum samples were collected from each subject on the third and tenth days after symptoms began for RT-qPCR SARS-COV2 diagnosis. At day 3, 52 (86.7%) of NPS and 48 (80.00%) of induced sputum specimens had positive RT-qPCR results with a significant statistical difference (P = 0.001). At day 10, 41 induced sputum samples (68.3%) were negative, while 19 (31.7%) were positive. Only three (5.0%) of the 19 positive induced sputum samples tested positive for NPS. NPS samples had a higher viral load than induced sputum samples at day 3 [25 (41.7%) vs. 23 (38.3%)]. At day 10, induced sputum samples had a higher viral load than NPS [9 (15.0%) vs. 6 (10.0%)]. A statistically significant positive correlation between the viral load value of the NPS and the induced sputum sample at day 3 (r = 0.497, p = 0.00) denoting similarity in the results of the two types of samples. By ROC analysis, the highest area under the curve for the overall CT value of the induced sputum was (0.604), with a statistically significant difference (p value = 0.0418). In the early stages of the disease, induced sputum and NPS tests had comparable results, but NPS yielded more false negative results later in the disease course than an induced sputum sample, which yielded higher sample positivity and viral load than NPS. Furthermore, induced sputum collection is a straightforward, non-invasive, and risk-free method. As a result, induced sputum could be useful for COVID-19 confirmation in patients with radiologically or epidemiologically suspected COVID-19 who have a negative NPS or in difficult-to-diagnose COVID-19 patients.

Correction to: Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci (2022) 11:153 http://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-022-00334-9 Following the publication of the original article [1], we were informed that the third author’s name and Figure 1 legend contained the following errors:The third author’s name “Ahmed Yahiya” should be modified to: “Ahmed Yehia Ismaeel”. The correct name is shown in the author list of this Correction.Figure 1 legend “SERPINE1, CEP55 and SMPD3 gene and protein expressions in the studied gastric tissues. a SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes in the studied gastric tissues. b SERPINE1 and SMPD3 proteins in the studied gastric tissues. c CEP55 gene in the studied gastric tissues. d CEP55 protein in the studied gastric tissues. **Highly signifcant diferences (p < 0.001) in gastric cancer tissues than normal tissues” should be modified to: “SERPINE1, CEP55, and SMPD3 genes and proteins expressions in the studied gastric tissues. a CEP55 gene in the studied gastric tissues. b CEP55 protein in the studied gastric tissues. c SERPINE1 and SMPD3 proteins in the studied gastric tissues. d SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes in the studied gastric tissues. **High significant differences (p < 0.001) in gastric cancer tissues than normal tissues.”The original article has been corrected as above.Abdel-Tawab MS et al (2022) Evaluation of CEP55, SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes and proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in gastric carcinoma in Egyptian patients. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 11:153. http://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-022-00334-9Article Google Scholar Download referencesAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptMarwa Sayed Abdel-Tawab & Naglaa Adly Abd ElazeemDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptHanan FouadFaculty of Medicine, Suez Governorate, Attaka, Galala University, Suez Governorate, 43711, EgyptHanan FouadDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptAhmed Yehia IsmaeelDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptAhmed Abd-Eltawab TammamDepartment of Physiology, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaAhmed Abd-Eltawab TammamDepartment of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptAlzhraa M. FahmyDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptSaeed ShaabanDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Suez Governorate, EgyptSoha Mahmoud Abdel-SalamAuthorsMarwa Sayed Abdel-TawabView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarHanan FouadView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarAhmed Yehia IsmaeelView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarAhmed Abd-Eltawab TammamView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarAlzhraa M. FahmyView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarSaeed ShaabanView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarSoha Mahmoud Abdel-SalamView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarNaglaa Adly Abd ElazeemView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Marwa Sayed Abdel-Tawab.Publisher's NoteSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Reprints and PermissionsCite this articleAbdel-Tawab, M.S., Fouad, H., Ismaeel, A.Y. et al. Correction: Evaluation of CEP55, SERPINE1 and SMPD3 genes and proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in gastric carcinoma in Egyptian patients. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 12, 16 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-023-00355-yDownload citationPublished: 09 February 2023DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-023-00355-yShare this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Nanotechnology is a promising technology in many fields including agriculture. So, this investigation aimed to study effect of curcumin (CUR) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nano-compositeat 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg L−1 on physiochemical attributes of sunflower plants grown under salinity stress (3000 ppm). Results showed that salinity stress significantly reduced all growth indiceslike plant height, number of leaves/plant, fresh and dry weight of shoot and leaf area accompanied by significant increases in proline content, secondary metabolites (total phenolic compound contents and flavonoids), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase increased significantly. The decreases in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids due to salinity stress were non-significant. On the other hand, curcumin with polyvinyl alcohol (CUR-PVA) nano-composite at all concentrations significantly promoted all vegetative growth parameters, total photosynthetic pigments, secondary metabolites, antioxidant enzyme activities accompanied by significant decreases in proline content, MDA and H2O2 either in plant irrigated with tap water or saline solution relative to corresponding control. CUR-PVA nano-composite at 20 mg L−1 was the most optimum treatment either in plant irrigated with tape water or saline solution since it caused the highest significant increases in vegetative growth parameters, total photosynthetic pigments, secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzyme activities accompanied by highest significant decreases in proline content, MDA and H2O2 relative to control. In brief that CUR-PVA nano-composite employs no ticeable effect in decreasing the deleterious effect of salinity on quality of sunflower.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has hit many countries worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to reduce disease burden. Many commercial kits have become available, but their performance needs to be assessed. This study aimed at evaluation of the diagnostic performance of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Antigen detection (RAD) kits for detecting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Five hundred sixty-four Nasopharyngeal swab specimens sent to Molecular Laboratory at Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing collected from 564 subjects who attended the outpatient clinic for sample collection were randomly selected. All samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 PCR using Viasure. Each time a recent kit was introduced, 94 samples, previously tested using Viasure, were used to determine the performance characteristics of the recent kit in comparison with Viasure, including Fast Track Diagnostics (FTD), DNA Technology, QiaPrep, Xpress SARS-CoV-2, ID NOW COVID-19 assay and Artron COVID-19 Antigen test kit. Upon comparison, FTD, DNA Technology, QiaPrep, Xpress SARS-CoV-2 and ID Now showed positive percent agreement, 100%, 100%, 97.7%, 100%, 100% negative percent agreement, 86%, 100%, 98.8%, 90%, 100%, respectively. The RAD kit results, when compared with RT-PCR, showed high sensitivity at cycle threshold (Ct) < 30, low sensitivity at Ct ≥ 30, while specificity was 100%. Fast track, DNA Technology, QiaPrep, Xpress SARS-CoV-2 and ID Now showed good diagnostic performance. Positive RAD rule in SARS-CoV-2 infection, however negative results should be correlated with clinical condition and molecular testing.

Dahab is a tourist city located in the Sinai Peninsula, downstream of the Dahab watershed, as a part of the arid coastal region. Groundwater samples have been collected from the Dahab delta and were tested for salinity, major ions, minor elements, and heavy metals to investigate the geochemical processes deteriorating the groundwater quality. The spatial distribution of major, minor, and trace elements integrated with the geochemical interrelationships using the cumulative salinity bases mixing curves have been utilized to investigate the main source(s) of groundwater recharge and salinization origin in Dahab delta aquifer. The groundwater salinity ranges from 339 upstream of Dahab watershed to 53,216 mg/L downstream in the delta area. The groundwater varies from fresh, brackish, and saline water. The spatial distributions of major ions, minor elements (Si, and Br), and heavy metals (B and Sr) confirm that the recharge comes from the upstream watershed. According to the mixing model curves, groundwater quality has declined due to interactions with the aquifer matrix, mixing with seawater, and rejected brine from the reverse osmosis desalination plants. The fresh/brackish groundwater classes have been recorded in the northwestern part of the study area close to the basement rocks, where the Quaternary aquifer receives considerable recharge through the underneath fractures, joints, and faults that enhance the subsurface recharge. The samples with a high saline groundwater class have been recorded in the eastern and southern parts of the delta, demonstrating the effects of seawater intrusion. Based on WHO guideline criteria, the assessment of groundwater for various uses has determined that most groundwater samples from the alluvial aquifer (91%) are unfit for human consumption. The Water Quality Index indicates that the groundwater in the southern part of the delta is not suitable for all uses due to mixing with the seawater, and injection of rejected brine water from the desalination plants. In the north, groundwater is unfit for drinking and aquatics, excellent for recreation, marginal for irrigation, and fair for livestock. The groundwater in coastal arid region aquifers has deteriorated due to seawater intrusion.

Honeybees provide a wealth of valuable natural products containing health-promoting bioactive compounds, including honey, bee bread, bee venom, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. In the present study, we investigated the chemical composition of four honeybee products (bees, honey, royal jelly, and bee bread) derived from three medicinal plants (marjoram, trifolium, and citrus) using headspace GC-MS. GC-MS analysis coupled with the headspace method resulted in identification of 24 volatile compounds in marjoram honey, 14 volatile compounds in trifolium honey, and 25 volatile compounds in citrus honey, e.g., some of these compounds appeared in all three types of honey aroma, which are 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl) and other unique compounds specific for each type where 23 compounds were from marjoram bees, 38 compounds from trifolium bees, and about 37 compounds were identified in citrus bees where 2,4-decadienal, (E, E) and methyl N-methyl anthranilate were common in all. Furthermore, the volatile compounds of all three types of royal jelly aroma were acetic acid, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 8-nonen-2-one and furfural where one compound appeared in both marjoram and trifolium royal jelly that is 2-furancarboxaldehyde,5-(Hydroxymethyl) and the volatile compounds in marjoram and citrus are 2,3-butanediol and 5-methylfurfural also only one volatile compound appear in both trifolium and citrus royal jelly that is furfur alcohol, Finally, 3 compounds from marjoram bee bread, 30 volatile compounds from trifolium bee bread, and 3 volatile compounds in citrus bee bread were identified. A detailed metabolomic analysis of the four honey product groups revealed an intriguing chemical diversity, with each sample exhibiting its own chemical fingerprint.

CD155 is an immune checkpoint protein that interacts with ligands on natural killer cells to regulate the tumor associated immunity. CD155 overexpression has been detected in many human cancer types. CD155 and its pathways are promising tumor immunotherapy targets. We aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD155 in invasive breast carcinomas and to correlate such expression with the pathological parameters of the tumors and also with natural killer - tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (NK-TILs) density in breast carcinomas tissue as highlighted by CD56 immunostaining. This study included 78 cases of breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against CD155 which was detected on the tumor cells and CD56 as a marker for stromal NK cells. CD155 expression by the tumor cells was detected in 30.8% of the cases and correlated significantly with advanced prognostic stage, Estrogen receptor (ER) and Progesterone receptor (PR) negativity, high Ki-67 index and Human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) enriched molecular subtype. High stromal TILs CD56 expression was detected in 28.2% of the cases and correlated significantly with high histologic grade, PR negativity, HER2 neu over-expression, high Ki-67 index, high stromal TILs and more aggressive molecular subtypes; triple negative breast cancer, HER2 enriched and Luminal B-HER2 positive. Finally, statistically significant direct correlation was detected between Tumor cells CD155 expression and high TILs CD56 expression. Our results support tumor cell CD155 expression and TILs CD56 expression in breast cancers that are high grade, TILs rich and hormone receptors negative, highlighting those cases as possible candidates for CD155 targeted therapy.

Sunset yellow (E110) has largely been used as food coloring agent. Complaints accumulated on E110 for possible detrimental effects on the immune functions such as allergenicity in the children. In this study, the effects of different doses of E110 on embryonic development of chicken primary lymphoid organs, thymus and bursa of Fabricius were determined by means of histological, histomorphometrical and histochemical methods. A total of 250 fertilized eggs from the Ross 508 line were used in the study. The eggs were divided into 5 groups as non-treated, sham-exposed and 100 ng/egg, 500 ng/egg, 1000 ng/egg E110-injected groups, each having 50 eggs. In the 1.000 ng/egg E110-administered group, embryonic development of chicken thymus and bursa of Fabricius were retarded. E110 given in ovo before incubation retarded the embryonic development of the avian thymus and bursa of Fabricii. The effect is more pronounced in the 1.000 ng/egg group.

Cisplatin is a wide-ranging antineoplastic drug. Neurotoxicity is one of cisplatin’s side effects that restrict its usage. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective properties of sweet basil oil against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in mice. A docking study was carried out to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of sweet basil oil’s ameliorative influence. Thirty male mice were allocated into three groups as follows: control group, cisplatin group (2.3 mg/kg), and sweet basil oil group (25 µl/kg basil oil + cisplatin 2.3 mg/kg). Cisplatin was given for five successive days, followed by five days of rest, for two cycles, while sweet basil oil was orally administered for 21 successive days. Our results revealed that sweet basil oil’s antioxidant activity ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin in mice’s brains via lowering MDA levels and increasing CAT activity and Nrf2 levels. Also, the anti-apoptotic activity of sweet basil oil was obvious via lowering the gene expression levels of Bid and caspase-3 but did not affect the serum level of P38 MAPK. Changes in acetylcholinesterase activity, serotonin and dopamine levels induced by cisplatin were significantly alleviated by sweet basil oil. Sweet basil oil can be used as a food supplement to guard against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Early prediction of non-invasive ventilation failure by using clinical parameters and scoring systems is a promising strategy for reducing mortality in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Our aim was to assess predictors of non-invasive ventilation failure in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the prognostic role of mid-regional proadrenomedullin. Forty-five patients were enrolled, comprising thirty-six males and nine females with mean age 63.4 ± 9.22 years. Mid-regional proadrenomedullin could not predict non-invasive ventilation outcome, while acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score, blood pH, arterial carbon dioxide and platelet count had predictive value. Prediction of non-invasive ventilation outcome in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients is multifactorial and mid-regional proadrenomedullin alone could not predict this outcome.

Being the most widely used construction material, concrete health is considered a very important aspect from the structural point of view. Microcracks in concrete cause water and chlorine ions to enter the structure, causing the concrete to degrade and the reinforcement to corrode, posing an unacceptable level of structural risk. Hence repair of these cracks in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way is in the interest of various researchers. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is an effective way considered by various researchers to heal those concrete cracks along with an important environmental contribution of CO2 (carbon dioxide) sequestration in the process. As the current concentration of CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere is about 412 ppm, it possesses a deadly threat to the environmental issue of global warming. The use of bacteria for MICP can not only be a viable solution to repairing concrete cracks but also can play an important role of CO2 arrestation in carbonate form. This will help in carbon level management to lessen the adverse effects of this greenhouse gas on the atmospheric environment, particularly on the climate. To overcome the insufficiency of studies concentrating on this aspect, this review article focuses on the metabolic pathways and mechanisms of MICP and highlights the value of MICP for CO2 arrestation/sequestration from the atmosphere during the process of self-healing of concrete cracks, which is also the novelty of this work. An overview of recent studies on the implementation of MICP in concrete crack repair is used to discuss and analyse the factors influencing the effectiveness of MICP in the process, including various approaches used for CO2 sequestration. Furthermore, this investigation concentrates on finding the scope of work in the same field for the most effective ways of CO2 sequestration in the process of self-healing cracks of concrete. In a prospective study, MICP can be an effective technology for CO2 sequestration in concrete crack repair, as it can reduce adverse environmental impacts and provide greener environment. This critical study concludes that MICP can bear a significant role in arrestation/sequestration of CO2, under proper atmospheric conditions with a cautious selection of microorganisms and its nutrient for the MICP procedure.

Sepia melanin (SM) is a natural photothermal biopolymer. Its biomedical applications are limited due to its poor solubility and bioavailability. This study aims to prepare a soluble formulation of sepia melanin to enhance its solubility, in turn, its bioavailability, and its use in photothermal therapy of cancer. SM was extracted from a sepia ink sac and prepared as insoluble powdered (SM) which is identified by FTIR, 1H-NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope. SM was self-assembled using tween 80 into dispersed nanoparticles (SM-NP-Tw). The prepared SM-NP-Tw were fully characterized. The photothermal performance of SM-NP-Tw was assessed. Dark and photocytotoxicity of SM-NP-Tw was studied on HepG2 cells using two wavelengths (660 nm and 820 nm). The insoluble powdered (SM) exhibited a spherical nanoparticle-like shape as revealed by scanning electron microscope and was soluble only in an alkaline aqueous solution. TGA of SM showed high resistance to thermal degradation indicating good thermal stability. The prepared SM-NP-Tw exhibited a spherical shape with mean sizes of 308 ± 86 nm and a zeta potential of − 25 mv. The cell viability decreased significantly upon increasing the concentration and upon radiation at 820 nm. The results of UV–Vis spectroscopy and the photothermal performance revealed that melanin can absorb light in a wide range of wavelengths including near the IR region; thus, it can emit sufficient heat to kill cells through the photoheat conversion effects. Sepia melanin nanoparticles self-assembled into tween-based nanostructures could be a promising natural platform for photothermal cancer therapy.

In recent years, solar photovoltaic technology has experienced significant advances in both materials and systems, leading to improvements in efficiency, cost, and energy storage capacity. These advances have made solar photovoltaic technology a more viable option for renewable energy generation and energy storage. However, intermittent is a major limitation of solar energy, and energy storage systems are the preferred solution to these challenges where electric power generation is applicable. Hence, the type of energy storage system depends on the technology used for electrical generation. Furthermore, the growing need for renewable energy sources and the necessity for long-term energy solutions have fueled research into novel materials for solar photovoltaic systems. Researchers have concentrated on increasing the efficiency of solar cells by creating novel materials that can collect and convert sunlight into power. This study provides an overview of the recent research and development of materials for solar photovoltaic devices. The use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, is becoming increasingly important to address the growing energy demand and mitigate the impact of climate change. Hence, the development of materials with superior properties, such as higher efficiency, lower cost, and improved durability, can significantly enhance the performance of solar panels and enable the creation of new, more efficient photovoltaic devices. This review discusses recent progress in the field of materials for solar photovoltaic devices. The challenges and opportunities associated with these materials are also explored, including scalability, stability, and economic feasibility. The development of novel materials for solar photovoltaic devices holds great potential to revolutionize the field of renewable energy. With ongoing research and technological advancements, scientists and engineers have been able to design materials with superior properties such as higher efficiency, lower cost, and improved durability. These materials can be used to enhance the performance of existing solar panels and enable the creation of new, more efficient photovoltaic devices. The adoption of these materials could have significant implications for the transition toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system. However, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as scalability, stability, potential environmental effects, and economic feasibility, before these materials can be widely implemented. Nonetheless, the progress made in this field is promising and continued reports on the research and development of materials for solar photovoltaic devices are crucial for achieving a sustainable future. The adoption of novel materials in solar photovoltaic devices could lead to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system, but further research and development are needed to overcome current limitations and enable large-scale implementation.

Recently, transition-metal oxides have represented an exciting research topic, especially their fundamental and technological aspects. Here, vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (V2O5-NPs) were synthesized through the thermal decomposition of ammonium meta-vanadate. In the current study, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of V2O5-NPs to develop and regulate the V2O5 structure for adsorption applications. The obtained nanoparticles were inspected by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and differential thermogravimetric analysis, which proved the formation of the nanorod structure. The ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra revealed a 2.26 eV band gap for V2O5-NPs that correlates with indirect optical transitions. The photocatalytic activity of the V2O5-NPs was investigated by methylene blue (MB) degradation in aqueous solutions. An initial concentration of 25 ppm, a temperature of 40 °C, 40 mg of adsorbent mass, and 1 h of contact time were the optimal conditions for the efficient removal of MB that could reach up to 92.4%. The mechanism of MB photocatalytic degradation by V2O5-NPs is explained. The photodegradation data better fit with the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. The reaction kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermally prepared V2O5-NPs offer a simple and efficient approach for selective MB removal from an aqueous medium.

Every year thousands of people die from atherosclerosis. This heart disease causes artery hardening, which impairs blood flow. For this type of disease, the primary treatment is the application of stents. Observing the importance of the application of stents in the treatment of atherosclerosis, the present work aimed to carry out a systematic review of the literature on the applicability of computational fluid dynamics in the design of stents for coronary arteries. To achieve the objective of this work, a review protocol was used. According to the method employed, we selected 16 articles to be read and analyzed in detail. Based on these studies, it was possible to verify that the works had two primary goals. The first was to model blood flow precisely to have CFD as a simulation and design tool. The second was to search for geometries of better performance, considering flow parameters that are believed to affect the stent lifespan—increasing time for stent replacement. Regarding the mathematical models for blood flow, it was verified that non-Newtonian models in transient regimes presented the best results. Regarding stent geometry, it was found that strut geometry and stent thickness can greatly influence wall shear stress parameters, which affect restenosis formation, and that the design of stents with innovative geometries has the potential to increase the lifespan of arterial stents. After completing the work, a document that serves as a knowledge base for works that apply stents as a treatment and support material for further research was obtained.