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The protective effects of melatonin on testis, sperm parameters quality, and in-vitro fertilization in mice following treatment with aflatoxin B1: An experimental study
No full textBackground: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of foods and animal feeds is a public health issue. Exposure to AFB1 induces oxidative stress and can cause male reproductive toxicity. Melatonin (MLT) is a neuro-hormone produced by the pineal gland and the testis and is known as a potent antioxidant.
Objective: This study aims to determine the protective effect of MLT on testicular tissue alterations, sperm parameter indexes, and in vitro fertility assays in mice treated with AFB1. Materials and
Methods: In this experimental study, 28 adult male NMRI mice (8–10 wk old, 25–27 gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, MLT (20 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), AFB1 (50 μg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) and MLT+AFB1. After 35 consecutive days, testis histological changes, sperm quality parameters, the rate of sperm with DNA damage, and in vitro fertilization outcomes up to the blastocyst stage were surveyed and compared between groups.
Results: Our results showed that AFB1 administration induced histological alterations in the testis and significantly decreased all the sperm parameters and in vitro fertility (fertilization and blastocyst formation rates) compared to control. Additionally, the percentages of immature sperms and sperms with DNA damage significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the AFB1-treated group. MLT treatment in the MLT+AFB1 group significantly increased testis quality and sperm parameters and improved in vitro fertilizaton rate and in vitro embryonic development.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that MLT can compensate for the adverse effects of AFB1 on the quality of testicular tissue, sperm parameters, sperm DNA, and in vitro fertilization outcomes
A New Complementary Touch for the Temporal Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap Technique
No full textThe temporal inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique was developed to improve vitreoretinal surgery for large macular holes (MH). However, in addition to the difficulty of the surgical procedure, the main concern is the displacement of the ILM flap due to small fluid leakage into the posterior pole, even in the short time required to close the sclerotomies after fluid–air exchange. A new approach to the temporal inverted ILM flap technique is described here. In this approach, when the ILM flap is inverted over the MH, ILM forceps, while it is closed, are gently pressed over the folded edge and passed over ( just like folding a paper in half), creating an ILM fold mark like the ones used in origami. Thus, it can be seen that the minimal fluid leaking into the posterior pole ventilates the free edge of the flap, but the force formed along the folded edge prevents the flap turnover
A Biometric Comparison Between Myopic and Non-myopic Eyes Treated for Retinopathy of Prematurity
No full textPurpose: This study aims to assess the biometric alterations contributing to myopia in children who have undergone treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and compare these changes with those observed in full-term myopic children. Methods: Children who had undergone ROP treatment were recruited and classified according to their treatment methods. An age-matched group of myopic patients with no history of ROP treatment was also included. Complete perinatal history was collected, and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including cycloplegic refraction, was conducted. The biometric data of children in each study group were gathered using the IOL Master and Pentacam. Results: The study recruited 14 patients in the intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) group, 17 patients in the laser-treated group, and 13 individuals in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two patient groups regarding gestational age, birth weight, and age. In the IVB group, 50% of patients were myopic, compared to 52.9% in the laser-treated group. The incidence of high myopia was significantly higher in the laser-treated group (P < 0.001). In the non-myopic group, changes in refractive error were solely related to changes in axial length (P = 0.003). However, in the myopic group, changes in refractive error were significantly associated with changes in anterior chamber depth (P < 0.001), lens thickness (P < 0.001), and axial length (P = 0.018). Furthermore, myopic children in the ROP group had significantly shorter axial lengths, shallower anterior chambers, thicker lenses, and steeper corneas compared to the control group (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Eyes with a history of ROP treatment, whether myopic or non-myopic, should be considered distinct entities. In patients who have undergone ROP treatment and have not developed myopia, changes in refractive error are primarily influenced by alterations in axial length, rather than changes in the anterior segment. Furthermore, children with myopia and a history of treatment for ROP (either IVB or laser) exhibit different biometric changes compared to myopic children without a history of ROP treatment, further underscoring their unique characteristics
Comparison of Exosome Isolation Techniques for Clinical Applications
No full textAbstract Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with significant potential in clinical applications, particularly in diagnostics and therapeutics. Effective exosome isolation is critical to ensuring their functionality and integrity, especially for clinical uses such as regenerative medicine and cancer therapy. This mini-review provides a comparative analysis of three primary exosome isolation methods: ultracentrifugation (UC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and microfluidic-based techniques. UC, a traditional and widely used method, is effective but lacks scalability and may compromise exosome integrity. SEC offers high purity and scalability, making it a favorable option for clinical-grade applications. Meanwhile, microfluidic-based methods provide high precision and rapid processing, with potential in diagnostic and point-of-care applications, though challenges in scalability limit their use in large-scale production. Overall, SEC shows the most promise for clinical exosome production, with microfluidic techniques offering specialized utility in diagnostics. This review underscores the importance of selecting an appropriate isolation technique to advance exosome-based clinical applications
The Stress Burden and Positive Coping Among the United Arab Emirates Population During Crisis: A Cross-sectional Study from the Pandemic Era
No full textIntroduction: The pandemic crisis created a psychosocial and public health crisis that affected the lives of millions globally. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the stress burden during the pandemic crisis and positive coping among the general population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study employed a crosssectional design to examine the stress burden of the pandemic crisis and positive coping among the general population in the UAE. The study questionnaires were sent to potential participants as an online survey. A total of 465 UAE residents were enrolled between October and December 2021. The stress burden and positive coping were measured using the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire (CoPaQ).
Results: Regarding stress burdens related to the pandemic crisis, only 20.9% (n = 97) of the participants reported no stress burden, while most of the participants had mild to moderate stress burden (124 (26.7%) and 188 (40.4%), respectively). In contrast, 56 participants (12.0%) had severe stress burden related to the pandemic crisis. Positive coping with daytime structure was reported as 102 participants (21.9%) reported highly effective coping, 123 participants (26.5%) reported moderately effective coping, 137 participants (29.5%) reported slightly effective coping, and 103 participants (22.2%) reported ineffective coping. Positive coping with inner resources was reported where most of the participants reported either highly or moderately effective coping (110 (23.7%) and 155 (33.3%), respectively), while only 62 participants (13.3%) reported ineffective coping. Being symptomatic quarantined was significantly associated with positive coping categories of daytime structure but not inner resources, while being infected was significantly associated with both positive coping categories of daytime structure and inner resources. Stress burden was significantly associated with demographic variables (marital status, gender, and age) pandemic-specific variables (quarantined, infected, and symptomatic), and psychological variables (pre-existing conditions and undergoing psychotherapy).
Conclusion: The pandemic crisis has significantly affected the stress burden of the UAE population. The individual differences identified in this study underscore the importance of anticipating the impact of future crises and implementing personalized interventions that address the needs of vulnerable groups
Advanced Carcinoma Endometrium in a Reproductive Age Group Woman: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnosis
No full textIntroduction: Endometrial adenocarcinoma, usually seen in postmenopausal women, can also occur in younger patients and is often associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and obesity.
Case Report: We report a case of a 33-year-old nulligravida woman with a 14-year history of subfertility, who presented with abdominal pain and a large abdominopelvic mass. While initial computed tomography (CT) imaging suggested ovarian malignancy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed significant myometrial invasion, pointing to endometrial carcinoma. An endometrial biopsy confirmed grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, later staged as grade 2 stage 3 with positive pelvic lymph nodes after surgery.
Discussion: Though clinical examination was suggestive of ovarian tumors, imaging helped in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and further management.
Conclusion: This case highlights the critical role of MRI in diagnosing endometrial carcinoma in younger women with atypical symptoms and underscores the importance of awareness among healthcare providers to suspect and appropriately investigate endometrial cancer in this population
Deep Eutectic Solvents: A Review of Syntheses, Properties, and their Applications in Different Fields
No full textOrganic solvents have been the focus of numerous restrictions and legislation recently because of their detrimental impact on the environment and toxicity to human health. In parallel, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as more resilient and eco-friendly solvents and have a wide range of physicochemical benefits associated with their affordability and durability. On the other hand, DESs have other major advantages such as low toxicity, high availability, low flammability, high recyclability, and low volatility from an environmental and technological standpoint, which is why DESs have become a viable substitute for conventional organic solvents over the past ten years. The number of structural combinations encompassed by DESs is tremendous; thus, it is possible to design an optimal DES for each specific enzymatic reaction system. A DES can be used as a solvent or co-solvent, an extractive reagent for an enzymatic product, or a solvent for enzymatic biomass pretreatment in (bio) catalytic processes. In this review, we have attempted to first provide a simple definition of DESs. Then, we have examined the classification of DESs, their preparation techniques, and their description
New Methods of Preparing Calcium Nanomaterials as a Keystone in Biotechnology
No full textThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with nanomaterials science is transforming the design and development of calcium-based nanomaterials. These nanostructures— primarily composed of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and calcium hydroxidehold vast potential in biomedical engineering, targeted cancer therapy, environmental remediation, and biomimetic self-assembly. Recent advances in AI, including generative models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), as well as reinforcement learning and explainable machine learning, now enable the predictive design and data-driven optimization of nanomaterials with high precision. This review presents a structured overview of AI-enabled inverse design, synthesis pathway optimization, property prediction, and molecular simulation in the context of calcium nanomaterials. It also highlights real-world applications where AI-enhanced materials exhibit improved bioactivity, compatibility, and multifunctionality. Despite rapid progress, challenges remain in data standardization, model generalizability, and integration with experimental validation. Continued development of closed-loop AI-experimental systems and scalable design strategies will be key to realizing the full potential of intelligent calcium nanomaterials in advanced healthcare and environmental technologies
AI-based Personalization of Pempek Bunan's Marketing Content on Social Media
No full textThis research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in personalizing marketing content on social media by Pempek Bunan, a small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) based in Palembang. By using AI to manage its digital marketing strategy, Pempek Bunan can tailor its content based on customer preferences, increase consumer engagement, and streamline the process of creating relevant content. A qualitative descriptive research method was used to collect data through interviews and direct observation. This approach allows researchers to gain deeper insights into Pempek Bunan’s experience with AI and how this technology is adapted to meet local business needs. The findings of this research show that AI helps Pempek Bunan develop more personalized content, although challenges such as language style adjustments and creativity limitations still require human intervention. The social construction of technology (SCOT) theory is used to analyze the interactions between relevant social groups, like those between the marketing team and business owners, in the process of AI adoption. This study found that the success of AI adoption depends on negotiation and collaboration between groups to ensure that the technology meets local needs and preferences. This process reflects interpretive flexibility, where AI is understood not only as a technical tool but also as a solution that can be adapted to different social contexts.
Overall, the use of AI in Pempek Bunan’s digital marketing provides tangible benefits, including increased marketing effectiveness and work efficiency. However, the stabilization of this technology is still evolving, with human involvement necessary to ensure content relevance and the sustainability of personalized marketing strategies. This research is expected to provide new insights into the application of AI in MSMEs in Indonesia and open opportunities for the development of smarter and more effective marketing strategies in the future
AI-driven Language Learning: Can ChatGPT Improve Student Speaking Proficiency?
No full textThe advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has provided students with quick and efficient tools to complete written assignments, with ChatGPT emerging as a popular choice. However, the implications of using AI for oral assignments remain underexplored. This study investigates the extent to which ChatGPT aids students in developing their speaking skills and identifies the aspects of speaking that benefit most from AI assistance. The research was conducted at UIN Raden Intan Lampung, involving 41 students from the English Education Department enrolled in a speaking class. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. The findings reveal that 78% of the students were at an intermediate level of English proficiency. While 12.2% of the participants recommended ChatGPT for improving speaking skills, the aspects of speaking where ChatGPT proved most beneficial included grammar (26.8%), fluency (31.7%), content organization (19.5%), and pronunciation (7.3%). Notably, ChatGPT aids in sentence construction, vocabulary enhancement, and organizing content logically, which are crucial for both speech preparation and delivery. Additionally, while 65.9% of students utilized ChatGPT for writing assignments, only 9.8% reported using it for speaking tasks. These results suggest that while AI tools like ChatGPT are valuable in certain areas of language learning, their application in enhancing speaking skills requires further exploration