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Microwave-etched V2C MXene-activated carbon hybrid as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries
No full textActivated carbon (AC) has been widely utilized as an active material in lithium-ion batteries (LIB) due to its stability and abundance. Nevertheless, the performance of AC anode materials alone falls short of competing with hybrid anode materials, which can attain maximum discharge capacity. Recently, a new two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbide, MXene, has shown promising performance as an anode in LIB applications. The combination between AC and MXene has proved to improve battery performance previously. Thus, in this study, the electrode was prepared using a hybrid of activated carbon with vanadium carbide MXene (V2C), which was synthesized by etching V2AlC with in situ of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and lithium fluoride (LiF) at 90 °C for 30 min via microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique. The characterization by XRD pattern shows the appearance of V2C MXene peak at 7.23°, indicating the successful etching from V2AlC MAX. The as-prepared AC/V2C_D at ratio 9:1 revealed excellent electrochemical properties as anode LIB, owned capacity up to 562 mAh g−1 (at 50 mA g−1) with cycling stability and columbic efficiency of 95.87 % and 98.2 %, respectively after 50 cycles. Moreover, AC/V2C_D exhibited the smallest Rct (18.50 Ω), and the discharge capacity of 370.25 mAh g−1 was restored after 60 cycles when the current density returned to 50 mAg−1, implying a good reversibility performance and high endurance for LIB. Furthermore, the fabricated full cell of AC/V2C_D//LiFePO4 exhibits initial discharge and charge capacity at 159.6 and 199.8 mAh g−1, respectively, with 79.9 % of CE and delivers a stable cycling performance with reversible discharge specific capacity of 82.72 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. These promising results prove that the hybrid of AC/V2C_D MXene can be good potential as an anode material in future LIBs applications
Dietary patterns associated with colorectal cancer risk in the Malaysian population: a case–control study with exploratory factor and regression analysis
No full textBackground: Studies on the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk using single food or nutrient approach are widely conducted as opposed to dietary pattern approach. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the major dietary patterns and their association with CRC risk among Malaysians.
Methods: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years old from two teaching hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia were recruited through purposive sampling. Socio-demographic information and anthropometry data were assessed before the colonoscopy procedure, and dietary intake was also recorded using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cases were those patients having histopathologically proven CRC, while controls were those without.
Results: Four major dietary patterns were identified: the allergenic diet, plant-based diet, processed diet, and energy-dense diet pattern. After adjusting for potential covariates, the processed diet pattern was consistently associated with CRC (OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.25-9.52; P = 0.017) while the plant-based diet, energy-dense diet, and allergenic diet were not associated with CRC risk.
Conclusions: The processed diet pattern attributed to a diet high in confectionaries and fast foods was associated with an increased risk of CRC in the Malaysian population. In order to give prevention measures through lifestyle change, more research could be done on the effect of food patterns on faecal microbiota associated with CRC
Dual-action potential of cationic cryptides against infections and cancers
No full textCryptides are a subfamily of bioactive peptides embedded latently in their parent proteins and have multiple biological functions. Cationic cryptides could be used as modern drugs in both infectious diseases and cancers because their mechanism of action is less likely to be affected by genetic mutations in the treated cells, therefore addressing a current unmet need in these two areas of medicine. In this review, we present the current understanding of cryptides, methods to mine them sustainably using available online databases and prediction tools, with a particular focus on their antimicrobial and anticancer potential, and their potential applicability in a clinical setting
Genkwanin: An emerging natural compound with multifaceted pharmacological effects
No full textPlant bioactive molecules could play key preventive and therapeutic roles in chronological aging and the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases, often accompanied by increased oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation. Dietary antioxidants, including genkwanin, could decrease oxidative stress and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines or pathways. The present study is the first comprehensive review of genkwanin, a methoxyflavone found in several plant species. Indeed, natural sources, and pharmacokinetics of genkwanin, the biological properties were discussed and highlighted in detail. This review analyzed and considered all original studies related to identification, isolation, quantification, investigation of the biological and pharmacological properties of genkwanin. We consulted all published papers in peer-reviewed journals in the English language from the inception of each database to 12 May 2023. Different phytochemical demonstrated that genkwanin is a non-glycosylated flavone found and isolated from several medicinal plants such as Genkwa Flos, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Leonurus sibiricus. In vitro and in vivo biological and pharmacological investigations showed that Genkwanin exhibits remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, genkwanin, via activation of glucokinase, has shown antihyperglycemic activity with a potential role against metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Additionally, it revealed cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and assisting against neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, genkwanin showed other biological properties like antitumor capability, antibacterial, antiviral, and dermato-protective effects. The involved mechanisms include sub-cellular, cellular and molecular actions at different levels such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Despite the findings from preclinical studies that have demonstrated the effects of genkwanin and its diverse mechanisms of action, additional research is required to comprehensively explore its therapeutic potential. Primarily, extensive studies should be carried out to enhance our understanding of the molecule's pharmacodynamic actions and pharmacokinetic pathways. Moreover, toxicological and clinical investigations should be undertaken to assess the safety and clinical efficacy of genkwanin. These forthcoming studies are of utmost importance in fully unlocking the potential of this molecule in the realm of therapeutic applications
Unsuccessful treatment outcome and associated risk factors. A prospective study of DR-TB patients from a high burden country, Pakistan
No full textIntroduction: Tuberculosis (TB), a curable and preventable infectious disease, becomes difficult to treat if resistance against most effective and tolerable first line anti-TB drugs is developed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes and predictors of poor outcomes among drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients treated at a programmatic management unit of drug resistant tuberculosis (PMDT) unit, Punjab, Pakistan.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a a PMDT unit in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 271 eligible culture positive DR-TB patients enrolled for treatment at the study site between January 2016 and May 2017 were followed till their treatment outcomes were recorded. World Health Organization's (WHO) defined criteria was used for categorizing treatment outcomes. The outcomes of cured and treatment completed were collectively placed as successful outcomes, while death, lost to follow-up (LTFU) and treatment failure were grouped as unsuccessful outcomes. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed for getting predictors of unsuccessful treatment outcomes. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of the 271 DR-TB patients analysed, nearly half (51.3%) were males. The patient's (Mean ± SD) age was 36.75 ± 15.69 years. A total of 69% patients achieved successful outcomes with 185 (68.2%) patients being cured and 2 (0.7%) completed therapy. Of the remaining 84 patients with unsuccessful outcomes, 48 (17.7%) died, 2 (0.7%) were declared treatment failure, 34 (12.5%) were loss to follow up. After adjusting for confounders, patients' age > 50 years (OR 2.149 (1.005-4.592) with p-value 0.048 and baseline lung cavitation (OR 7.798 (3.82-15.919) with p-value <0.001 were significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
Conclusions: The treatment success rate (69%) in the current study participants was below the target set by WHO (>75%). Paying special attention and timely intervention in patients with high risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes may help in improving treatment outcomes at the study site
Integration of microfluidic channel on electrochemical-based nanobiosensors for monoplex and multiplex analyses: An overview
No full textBackground
Microfluidic devices have evolved into low-cost, simple, and powerful analytical tool platforms. Herein, an electrochemically-based microfluidic nanobiosensor array for monoplex and multiplex detection of physiologically relevant analytes is reviewed. Unlike other analyte detection methods, microfluidics-based embedded electrochemical nanobiosensors are portable, custom electrochemical readers for signal reading.
Methods
Microfluidic devices and electrochemical sensors can be integrated into monoplex or multiplex systems. The integrated system is simple to use and sensitive, and so has great potential as a powerful tool for profiling immune-mediated treatment responses in real time. It may also be developed further as a point-of-care diagnostic device for conducting near-patient tests using biological samples. Therefore, using mutiplex analysis, a biosensor array may detect multiple analytes in a sample solution and provide different outputs for each analyte. A microfluidic electrochemical nanobiosensor, for example, can detect urine glucose, lactate, and uric acid. The microfluidic array of integrated nanobiosensors and electrochemical sensors enables fast and cost-effective selection of high-quality and statistically significant diagnostic data at the point of care. The multiplex analytical test is an important molecular tool for academic research as well as clinical diagnosis. Although key approaches for analysing numerous analytes have been developed, none of them are suitable for point-of-care diagnostics, especially in situations with limited resources.
Significant findings
In this study, monoplex and multiplex microfluidic assays for rapid measurement of single and multiple analytes at the point of care are presented. Since this test can analyse both single and multiple analytes, it is exceptionally specific, easy to use, and inexpensive. The ability of integrated electrochemical-based microfluidic devices with single channel and multiple channels systems to perform monoplex and multiplex analysis simultaneously and independently is the novelty of this review
Natural sources, biological effects, and pharmacological properties of cynaroside
No full textCynaroside is a flavonoid, isolated from several species belonging to the Apiaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Zingiberaceae, Compositae and other families and it can be extracted from seeds, roots, stems, leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, aerial parts, and the whole plant of these species. This paper discloses the current state of knowledge on the biological/pharmacological effects and mode of action to better understand the numerous health benefits of cynaroside. Several research works revealed that cynaroside could have beneficial effects on various human pathologies. Indeed, this flavonoid exerts antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Additionally, cynaroside exhibits its anticancer effects by blocking MET/AKT/mTOR axis by decreasing the phosphorylation level of AKT, mTOR, and P70S6K. For antibacterial activity, cynaroside reduces biofilm development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the incidence of mutations leading to ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella typhimurium was reduced after the treatment with cynaroside. In addition, cynaroside inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which reduced the damage to mitochondrial membrane potential caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It also enhanced the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and lowered that of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Cynaroside abrogated the up-regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p53 protein expression triggered by H2O2. All these findings suggest that cynaroside could be used to prevent certain human diseases
Inflammatory and vascular biomarkers in post-COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 20 biomarkers
No full textSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may inflict a post-viral condition known as post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) or long-COVID. Studies measuring levels of inflammatory and vascular biomarkers in blood, serum, or plasma of COVID-19 survivors with PCS versus non-PCS controls have produced mixed findings. Our review sought to meta-analyse those studies. A systematic literature search was performed across five databases until 25 June 2022, with an updated search on 1 November 2022. Data analyses were performed with Review Manager and R Studio statistical software. Twenty-four biomarkers from 23 studies were meta-analysed. Higher levels of C-reactive protein (Standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.02-0.39), D-dimer (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.09-0.46), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.05-0.54), and leukocytes (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.02-0.66) were found in COVID-19 survivors with PCS than in those without PCS. After sensitivity analyses, lymphocytes (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.48) and interleukin-6 (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.49) were also significantly higher in PCS than non-PCS cases. No significant differences were noted in the remaining biomarkers investigated (e.g., ferritin, platelets, troponin, and fibrinogen). Subgroup analyses suggested the biomarker changes were mainly driven by PCS cases diagnosed via manifestation of organ abnormalities rather than symptomatic persistence, as well as PCS cases with duration of <6 than ≥6 months. In conclusion, our review pinpointed certain inflammatory and vascular biomarkers associated with PCS, which may shed light on potential new approaches to understanding, diagnosing, and treating PCS
Natural Bioactive Compounds Targeting NADPH Oxidase Pathway in Cardiovascular Diseases
No full textCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. According to the WHO report, the morbidity and mortality caused by CVD will continue to rise with the estimation of death going up to 22.2 million in 2030. NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induces endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in sustained oxidative stress and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Seven distinct members of the family have been identified of which four (namely, NOX1, 2, 4 and 5) may have cardiovascular functions. Currently, the treatment and management plan for patients with CVDs mainly depends on the drugs. However, prolonged use of prescribed drugs may cause adverse drug reactions. Therefore, it is crucial to find alternative treatment options with lesser adverse effects. Natural products have been gaining interest as complementary therapy for CVDs over the past decade due to their wide range of medicinal properties, including antioxidants. These might be due to their potent active ingredients, such as flavonoid and phenolic compounds. Numerous natural compounds have been demonstrated to have advantageous effects on cardiovascular disease via NADPH cascade. This review highlights the potential of natural products targeting NOX-derived ROS generation in treating CVDs. Emphasis is put on the activation of the oxidases, including upstream or downstream signalling events
Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation of New Benzamidine Derivatives: Antibiotics for Periimplantitis Causing Pathogen
No full textPeriimplantitis (PI) is complex polymicrobial disease, which destroys implant-supporting tissue. Although facts suggest several synthetic inhibitors of periimplantitis causing bacteria (PCB), but the undesirable side effects of them limits their application. Hence, current investigation was intended to carry out the synthesis, characterization, in vitro antimicrobial evaluation and cytotoxicity (cell viability) analysis of new benzamidine derivatives (NBDs) against periimplantitis causing bacteria. Present study involved synthesis of 2-(4-((4-substituted)carbamothioyl)phenoxy)-N-(4-substituted benzylidene)acetohydrazide (4a-c) by treatment of different aromatic aldehydes with 2-(4-carbamothioylphenoxy)acetohydrazide (3), that was obtained by hydrazination of ethyl 2-(4-carbamothioylphenoxy)acetate (2), the derivative of 4-hydroxybenzothioamide (1). The synthesized compounds (NBDs) were subjected to FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectrometric characterization. All NBDs were further investigated for their antimicrobial potential (MIC and MBC) against P. gingivalis the PCB, using micro-broth dilution method. The NBDs were also tested for their cytotoxicity (cell viability) against HEK 293 cells using MTT assay. The present study successfully synthesized and elucidated the structures of the synthesized NBDs. The NBDs when tested against P. gingivalis exhibited MIC ranging between 62.5-500 μg/mL, whereas NBDs 4a and 4b exhibited MBC of 125 and 62.5 μg/mL respectively. Also, all NBDs exhibited weak cytotoxicity (cell viability more than 80%) against HEK 293 at 7.81 μg/mL. The significant antimicrobial activity of NBDs and higher cell viability (safety) against P. gingivalis supports their potential application in periimplantitis treatment, however these NBDs must be further investigated for the additional in vivo and clinical studies