Articles

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous, progressive disease characterized not only by pathological changes in the lungs but also by significant extrapulmonary manifestations and serious concomitant diseases. The current problem for the study is the features of the relationship between COPD and adipose tissue since there are contradictory data in the literature. This review presents studies that claim that obesity aggravates the course of COPD, as well as the results of studies that describe the “obesity paradox” in patients with COPD. Due to the lack of unambiguous data, it is necessary to continue studying this problem to optimize the tactics of managing this group of patients and draw up clear recommendations for patients with COPD.

Treatment for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains elusive. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), an analog of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a high-affinity TrkB agonist, has been proposed as a viable therapeutic alternative to BDNF in crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and promoting growth, differentiation, maintenance, and survival of neurons. Here, we expand on our previous study investigating the therapeutic role of DHF on the cortical and hippocampal brain regions of the Tg26 mice, an animal model of HAND. We detected increased immunoreactivity for ion channels (SUR1, TRPM4) and the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4), suggesting an ionic and osmotic imbalance in the brains of Tg26 mice. Tg26 mice also exhibited loss of synaptic stability (SYN, SYP) and nicotinamide metabolism (NAMPT, SIRT1) that were associated with astrogliosis. Furthermore, Tg26 mice demonstrated increased iNOS and reduced HO-1/NRF2 expressions, implicating increased ER and oxidative stress. DHF treatment in Tg26 mice reversed these pathological changes. These data suggest crosstalk among TrkB, Akt, and related transcription factors (NF-κB, STAT3, and NRF2) as an underlying mechanism of Tg26-associated pathology in the brain. Finally, taken together with our prior study, these results further highlight a therapeutic role of DHF in promoting neuroprotection in HAND that may be applied in conjunction with current antiviral therapies.

Background: Human 30kb coronaviruses entered through the ACE-2 receptors causing fibrosis of the lungs and causing six million deaths worldwide. Here, we have investigated the mutations, deletions and insertions of the recent JN.1 omicron coronaviruses to demonstrate that coronaviruses have reached the pre-elimination stage. Methods: We multi-aligned the genomes of recent JN.1 variants using NCBI Virus Portal and CLUSTAL-Omega. The spike proteins are multi-aligned using MultAlin software and CLUSTAL-Omega.Results: The 17MPLF spike insertion was confirmed to compensate 24LPP, 31S, 69HV, 145Y, 211N and 483V deletions. The 49nt deletions in the 3’-UTR were found in 4997 JN.1 sequences although 26nt deletion was initiated previously in JN.1 as well as BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1 and XBB.1.5 omicron viruses. We first compare 3-D structures of spike proteins with or without 17MPLF four amino acids insertion and nine amino acids deletions using SWISS MODELLING. The JN.1 viruses caused a more stable trimeric spike involving Thr342, Lys436, Lys440, His441, Ser442, Gly443, Tyr445, Lys479, Ser489, Tyr490, Arg493, Pro494, Thr495, and Gln501 amino acids to interact with ACE-2 receptors. The FLiRT spike mutations were found in most KP.2 variants and other changes occurred at the NH2 terminus.Conclusion: We claimed that pre-death changes were initiated in JN.1 COVID-19 lineages and computer simulation showed that the Howard spike with 17MPLF spike insertion appeared more stable than the Oppentrons-spike without 17MPLF insertion. Surely, conflicts of COVID-19 spike sequences must be resolved.

Objective: This study aims to compare the short-, medium-, and long-term efficacy of trigger point local anesthetic injection and stabilization splint use for myofascial orofacial pain.Materials and methods: Group 1 comprised 15 patients who received trigger point local anesthetic injections (LAI), while Group 2 comprised 15 patients who were treated with a stabilization splint (SS). Analysis of pain-free maximum mouth opening (MMO) measurements, jaw disability checklists (JDC), short-form McGill pain questionnaires (SF-MPQ), and Visual analog scales (VAS) were used for comparison between the groups.Results: The LAI group showed a significantly greater increase in pain-free MMO in all terms (p < 0.001) and had significantly lower values on the JDC in both the medium (p = 0.026) and the long term (p = 0.006). The SF-MPQ was significantly lower in the medium term (p = 0.001) in the LAI group; the VAS showed a significantly greater decrease in the short (p = 0.016) and medium terms (p < 0.001) in the LAI group.Conclusion: The results indicate that a treatment choice can be made between TN lidocaine injection and occlusal splint based on patient tolerance.

Introduction: In many developing countries, particularly in Africa, the use of renal biopsy (RB) in clinical nephrology is severely lacking. The objectives were to describe the anatomoclinical and etiological profile of these biopsied nephropathies, as well as the factors associated with the etiology of the nephropathies.Patients and method: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study from 1 April 2020 to 30 October 2022. The patients were selected from the renal biopsy register of the nephrology department of the Thiès Regional Hospital. Sociodemographic, clinical, biological, and histological parameters were studied.Results: 75 renal biopsies were included. The mean age was 33.3 ± 14.8 years, with a male predominance (65.3%). The main indications were nephrotic syndrome in 50.67% of cases. RB was adequate in 82.7%, inadequate in 13.3%, and borderline in 4%. Glomerular nephropathies predominated, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 34.7%, membranous nephropathy (MN) in 17.3%, minimal change disease (MCD) in 10.67%, extracapillary glomerulonephritis (ECGN) in 5.3% and lupus nephritis (LN) in 3.9%. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was found in 9.3%. Chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy (CTIN) accounted for 5.3% of all RB and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) for 4%. The etiologies were primary in 48%, secondary in 28%, and undetermined in 24%. In the bivariate analysis, the etiology was correlated with the mean SBP (p = 0.023), the mean level of hemoglobin (p = 0.028), the levels of GFR (p = 0.017), and the type of kidney disease (p = 0.000).Conclusion: Glomerular nephropathy was more frequent and FSGS was the most common histological lesion found. Primary causes predominated. Associated factors were identified to improve patient management.

Objectives: This study aims to introduce and differentiate between traditional craze lines and a newly identified type of line in enamel, termed an “internal craze line.” This novel classification enhances diagnostic precision and carries significant clinical implications for treatment strategies. The goal is to provide a clear description of these two types of lines, discuss their unique clinical implications, and highlight their differing appearances and staining characteristics, contributing to improved understanding and management of enamel anomalies.Method and materials: Four extracted teeth exhibiting visible and internal craze lines were selected and examined using a stereo microscope to observe the structural characteristics of the lines. Cross-sections of the coronal parts of the teeth were prepared to document the differences between traditional craze lines (extending from the dentin-enamel junction [DEJ] to the enamel surface) and internal craze lines (originating at the DEJ but terminating midway through the enamel). Additionally, intraoral observations were conducted under high magnification to identify the visual differences between the two types of lines, noting that traditional craze lines can be stained while internal craze lines cannot.Results: Microscopic examination revealed two distinct types of lines: traditional craze lines extending from the DEJ to the enamel surface and internal craze lines terminating within the enamel. Intraoral observations confirmed that these lines could be distinguished under high magnification. Traditional craze lines appear as continuous lines reaching the enamel surface and can be stained, whereas internal craze lines are shorter, do not extend to the surface, and cannot be stained.Conclusion: The identification of internal craze lines presents significant clinical implications. Differentiating between traditional and internal craze lines can enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform treatment decisions. Recognizing internal craze lines might indicate different etiologies or risk profiles compared to traditional craze lines, influencing preventive and therapeutic strategies in dental practice. Further research is needed to explore the prevalence, causes, and long-term impacts of internal craze lines.

Latent fingerprints are a common source of information for forensic experts and law enforcement agencies. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates that are prepared in this work are made with silica gel G powder. Latent fingerprint remnants are made up of secretions from the nose, palm, and sebaceous, apocrine, and eccrine glands (sweat). However, the quest for more versatile and effective techniques persisted, leading to the emergence of innovative approaches like Silica Gel G powder. The silicon atoms are linked to –OH groups at the silica gel’s surface. A latent fingerprint is an imprint left by direct contact with a surface or object that is not apparent to the unaided eye. The advantages of using Silica Gel G powder for latent fingerprint visualization underscore its significance as an innovative technique in forensic science. The latent fingerprints were developed on each of the several substrates using Merck Specialties Private Limited’s white-coloured silica gel G powder. There are several techniques in the literature for creating latent fingerprints. The emergence of Silica Gel G powder in forensic science represents a significant breakthrough in the visualization of latent fingerprints. The process of using Silica Gel G powder for latent fingerprint visualization exemplifies the precision and attention to detail required in forensic investigations.

Wheat bran and groundnut shell powder have been used to study the mechanism of diclofenac sodium adsorption from aqueous solution using batch as well as column modes and maximum uptake is 84.3% for wheat bran and 82.4% for groundnut shell powder at pH 6, drug concentration 1mg/L at 298 K for 30min. Isotherm and error analysis reveals that Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms fitted well. Kinetic studies show that the adsorption process follows second-order kinetics and thermodynamic study shows endothermic adsorption process. Column adsorption study is important for industrial scale adsorption and column studies have been carried out using vertical bed and sequential bed adsorption columns at pH 6 which is the optimum pH for maximum adsorption for batch experiments. Vertical and sequential bed columns setup is simple and economical which provides flow under gravity. The effect of varying inlet feed concentration and flow rate on the breakthrough and exhaustion time of columns has been studied to determine the bed capacities of both columns. Thomas model and Yoon-Nelson models fitted well with experimental data for continuous flow column studies.

Conventionally, concrete strength depends on the bonding interface, especially in hydrated products such as calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). As a result, concrete is sensitive under tensile load. With its unique properties, a low fraction of carboxylated nitro-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (NOCNF) from the banana rachis is employed to improve the mechanical performance of the concrete nano structurally. Compressive and flexural strength using the NOCNF content at 0, 0.05, and 0.1 wt. % cured in 7 and 28 days were evaluated. Notably, the compressive strength increased by 16% and flexural strength by 13% at 0.1% NOCNF compared to plain concrete after the 28 curing days. A low NOCNF fraction achieved a good, albeit impossible, performance with the microscale fibers. The nanostructured effect was discussed twofold: an excellent interaction between the NOCNF and the hydrated products and the carboxylic groups on the NOCNF surface enhanced the cement hydration. These data are better than the literature based on the small-diameter cellulose nanofibrils without the carboxyl groups. As a sustainable nanocomponent, NOCNF could be a perfect candidate to improve concrete performance under mechanical load.

A significant obstacle to agricultural productivity that jeopardizes the availability of food is crop diseases and farmer livelihoods by reducing crop yields. Traditional visual assessment methods for disease diagnosis are effective but complex, often requiring expert observers. Recent advancements in deep learning indicate the potential for increasing accuracy and automating disease identification. Developing accessible diagnostic tools, such as web applications leveraging CNNs, can provide farmers with efficient and accurate disease identification, especially in regions with limited access to advanced diagnostic technologies. The main goal is to develop a productive system that can recognize tomato plant diseases. The model was trained on a collection of images of healthy and damaged tomato leaves from PlantVillage using transfer learning techniques. The images from the dataset were cleansed by resizing them from 256 × 256 to 224 × 224 to match the dimensions used in pre-trained models using min-max normalization. An evaluation of VGG16, VGG19, and DenseNet121 models based on performance accuracy and loss value for 7 categories of tomatoes guided the selection of the most effective model for practical application. VGG16 achieved 84.54% accuracy, VGG19 achieved 84.62%, and DenseNet121 achieved 98.28%, making DenseNet121 the chosen model due to its highest performance accuracy. The web application development based on the DenseNet121 architecture was integrated using the Django web framework, which is built on Python. This enables real-time disease diagnosis for uploaded images of tomato leaves. The proposed system allows early detection and diagnosis of tomato plant diseases, helping to mitigate crop losses. This supports sustainable farming practices and increases agricultural productivity.