Herein, we develop a novel smart cotton swab as a diagnostic assay for onsite monitoring of sweat pH changes toward potential applications in monitoring human healthcare and drug exam. Anthocyanin ...(Ac) can be extracted from Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra using a simple procedure. Then, it can be used as a direct dye into cotton fibers using potash alum as mordant (M) to fix the anthocyanin dye onto the surface of the cotton fabric (Cot). This was monitored by generating mordant/anthocyanin nanoparticles (MAcNPs) onto the fabric surface. The cotton sensor assay demonstrated colorimetric changes in the ultraviolet-visible absorbance spectral analysis associated with a blueshift from 588 to 422 nm with increasing the pH of a perspiration simulant fluid. The biochromic performance of the dyed cotton diagnostic assay depended essentially on the halochromic activity of the anthocyanin spectroscopic probe to demonstrate a color change from pink to green due to intramolecular charge transfer occurring on the anthocyanin chromophore. After dyeing, no significant defects were detected in air-permeability and bend length. High colorfastness was investigated for the dyed cotton fabrics.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Two nano-Schiff base complexes CuSB1 and AgHSB2 were investigated by physical and spectroscopic measurements.•The optimized geometrical structures of H2SB, 1, 2 and HOMO–LUMO representations were ...performed by Cluster calculations.•Cu and Ag atoms form square planar and tetrahedral geometries, respectively.•1 and 2 exhibit efficient catalytic activity to prepare different triazoles (3–8). using single pot selective cycloaddition reaction.•The activity of compounds 1–4 against the antimicrobial and fungi had been tested by disc diffusion method.
1,2,3-Triazoles are one of the most important nitrogen-containing five-membered heterocycles and have a wide range of applications in pharmaceuticals, chemical biology, and industry. Therefore, the development of facile and straightforward methodology for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles is of noteworthy interest. Click chemistry represents the most facile, easy and one pot reaction method to synthesize catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction. Nano-scaled bis(2‑hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylidene) ethane-1,2-diamine copperII CuSB1 and nano-silver ethane-1,2-diamine bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylidene) AgHSB2 complexes where H2SB= 1,2-diamino ethane-N,N’-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylidene), were synthesized utilizing ultrasonic green method. The catalysts were examined by elemental analyses, molar conductance, and spectrophotometric tests. The optimized geometrical structures of H2SB, CuSB1, AgHSB2, and HOMO–LUMO representations were performed by Cluster calculations using DMOL3 program. TEM images showed narrower morphology and regular nanostructures of the catalysts. CuSB1 and AgHSB2 exhibit efficient catalytic activity to prepare different triazoles (3–8). using single-pot selective cycloaddition reaction within very short time and excellent yield without presence of biproducts. The complexes CuSB1, AgHSB2 and the triazoles 3, 4, as representative examples, have efficient antimicrobial activity making them promising drugs for treating the bacterial and fungal infections.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Urea released by kidney into blood and urine is a major reason for the gradual loss of kidney function. Therefore, it is of great importance to construct a real-time detection method for Urea. On the ...other side, a sponge-like microporous cellulose acetate (CA) xerogel has been introduced as a low-density biomaterial with various promising applications. In this study, a facile, portable, fast, and highly sensitive microporous CA biopolymer test dipstick, comprising triarylmethane (TAM) as a spectroscopic chromophore and urease (U) enzyme as a catalytic agent, is constructed for colorimetric detection of urea. Identification of urea occurs via proton transfer from the hydroxyl substituent of TAM to ammonia released in an aqueous environment from the hydrolysis of urea/urease reaction. Importantly, TAM probe was in-situ integrated within the generated sponge-like CA dipstick sensor assay (CA-U-TAM). This resulted in ratiometric changes of 131 nm red-shift in the absorption spectra, from 439 nm to 580 nm, as a function of the urea total content in the aqueous medium. Additionally, composition/morphology of the prepared CA-TAM dipstick was explored and revealed the presence of large surface area and high porous scaffolds with a pore size of ∼7.5 μm.
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•Triarylmethane probe was immobilized in-situ onto porous cellulose acetate.•The biocompatible matrix was utilized as a simple onsite biosensor for toxic urea.•Biochromic microporous xerogel introduced a color change against aqueous urea.•Optimized colorimetric properties were monitored at 0.25 wt% of probe.•Detection limit of 400–1900 ppm monitored in time range of 4–9 min.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In our research, we examined the efficacy of an Internet-based stress management program. Our interest in evaluating this type of intervention is based on the increasing accessibility of the Internet ...today, the growth of Internet-based interventions for various psychopathological problems, and the observation that despite the prevalence of stress among university students, only a fraction of students ever seek professional help.
"I'm managing my stress" ("Je gère mon stresse"), an Internet-based self-help program composed of four sessions, was examined in this study. The aforementioned program is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and was inspired by the "Funambule" program in Quebec. Four questionnaires (Perceived Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Scale of Satisfaction in Studies, and General Health Questionnaire) uploaded online were answered thrice: during "preintervention", "postintervention", and "follow-up" stages, the latter of which occurred three months after the intervention. The sample comprised 128 university students, with the majority being women (81.25%). The subjects were divided randomly into two groups (an experimental group and a control group that did not follow the program).
The self-esteem scores of the control group were significantly higher than those of the experimental group at the preintervention stage, but this difference disappeared at the postintervention and follow-up stages. There were also significantly lower scores on the General Health Questionnaire subfactors of somatic symptoms and anxiety/insomnia in the experimental group than in the control group during the postintervention stage, though no differences were observed before the intervention. These differences no longer remained after three months. ANOVA revealed significant effects of the intervention over time in the experimental group. Effects were observed at both the postintervention and follow-up stages for self-esteem, perceived stress, satisfaction in studies, and in the somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia and severe depression aspects of the General Health Questionnaire (Cohen's d = 0.38 to 4.58). In contrast, no effects were observed in the control group.
This type of Internet-based program has the ability to reach a large number of students due to its rather short format and accessibility. It has already shown improvements in terms of the levels of perceived stress, psychological distress and satisfaction with studies. The option of online interventions could appeal specifically to students who do not seek professional help. However, even though these results are promising at the postintervention stage, they are limited, as indicated by the lack of significant differences between the two groups after the initial three months of follow-up. We still, specifically, need to improve this intervention program and, generally, need more research to address the methodological problems raised by this type of intervention.
ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN13709272.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of arginine (ARG), a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in rats by injection of TAA ...(100 mg/kg, i.p) three times per week for six consecutive weeks. TAA-injected rats were administered ARG (100 mg/kg; p.o.) concurrently with TAA for the six consecutive weeks. Blood samples were withdrawn, and rats were sacrificed; liver and brain tissues were isolated. Results of the present study demonstrated that ARG administration to TAA-injected rats revealed a restoration in the serum and brain ammonia levels as well as serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin levels as well as behavioral alterations evidenced by restoration in locomotor activity, motor skill performance, and memory impairment. ARG showed also improvement in the hepatic and neuro-biochemical values, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers. All these results were confirmed by histopathological evaluation as well as ultrastructural imaging of the cerebellum using a transmission electron microscope. Furthermore, treatment with ARG could ameliorate the immunological reactivity of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in the cerebellum and hepatic tissues. From all the previous results, it can be fulfilled that ARG showed a beneficial role in modulating the adverse complications associated with TAA-induced HE in rats via reducing hyperammonemia and downregulating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated apoptosis.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Aging; a biological phenomenon characterized by progressive decline in cellular functions, is considered as a major risk factor of various liver diseases that plays as an adverse prognostic role, ...thus increasing mortality rate. However, diet is the main environmental factor that has a major impact on the aging process whereas; sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate organosulfur compound in cruciferous vegetables, has been reported with myriad biological effects. In the present study, SFN antiaging properties were evaluated on D-galactose (D-Gal)-induced liver aging in rats. For this purpose, forty adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. All animals, except the normal control, were intraperitoneally injected with D-Gal (300 mg/kg/day for 5 days a week) for six consecutive weeks. In the hepatoprotective groups, animals received oral SFN (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) for 6 weeks concurrently with D-GAL. SFN administration improved liver biomarkers through decreasing serum levels of AST, ALT, total and direct bilirubin when compared to D-Gal-aging group. SFN significantly increased hepatic GSH level as well as catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities while counteracted the elevation in hepatic oxidative stress markers; MDA, NO and protein carbonyl in aged rats. SFN abrogated the dysregulation in hepatic Keap-1, Nrf-2 and HO-1and limited the elevation of TNF-α and TGF-β concentrations in aging liver. Histopathologically, SFN decreased the intensity of hepatic fibrous proliferation in D-Gal-induced aging. In conclusion, SFN has shown hepatic anti-aging potential through promoting the antioxidant machinery via regulating Keap-1, Nrf-2 and HO-1 and antioxidant enzyme activities as well as ameliorating oxidative stress, hampering the inflammatory cytokines; TNF-ɑ and TGF-β, and limiting hepatic fibrosis in a dose dependent manner.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Polymer-based electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds containing polycaprolactone (PCL) were encapsulated with co-doped hydroxyapatite (HAP). The modification of HAP includes co-doped thallium ...(Tl+)/vanadate (VO43−) at different contributions of Tl+ ions. The obtained powdered and nanofibrous phases have been investigated upon their structure, morphology, and microstructure. The investigation of the surface morphology indicated that the scaffolds were formed in networked nanofibers with diameters around 0.2–0.8 μm to 43–80 nm for the lowest and the highest Tl ions contents through nanofibers. Besides, the maximum height of the roughness (Rt) increased from 190.2 to 242.7 nm for the powdered compositions, while it started from 395.9 nm and increased to 861.0 nm for the nanofibers scaffolds. Furthermore, the mechanical properties were tested and showed that the toughness increased from 0.56 ± 0.11 to 2.52 ± 0.83 MJ/m3. The contact angle was measured and exhibited a decreasing behavior starting from 101.2 ± 2.5 to 87.6 ± 4.3°. In addition, the antibacterial potency was examined, and the inhibition zone increased up to 21.4 ± 1.1 and 20.4 ± 1.2 mm against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The in vitro culturing of human fibroblasts cell line through the scaffolds showed that the cells were spread and grew robustly upon the compositional variation.
•Nanofibrous scaffold containing polycaprolactone (PCL) was encapsulated with co-doped hydroxyapatite (HAP).•The modification of HAP was carried out using co-doped thallium (Tl+)/vanadate (VO43−).•The surface morphology indicated that the scaffolds were formed in networked nanofibers.•The mechanical properties showed that the toughness was enhanced owing to the encapsulation and modification.•The antibacterial potency of nanofibrous scaffold was enhanced against E. coli and S. aureus.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological consequences. A previous study of our team ...described a brain injury induced by acute intranasal instillation of Cr(VI) in rats, which was characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation. This proposed a high risk of brain damage among Cr(VI) exposed individuals either environmentally or occupationally especially through the nasal cavity. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subacute/subsubacute/subchronic exposure to intranasal potassium dichromate (inPDC) solution in three dose levels (0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg/day for five successive days/week) for 3 different intervals/dose: two weeks, one month, and two months, on the brain of rats. The rats were sacrificed 24 h following the last inPDC dose. The locomotor activity, motor coordination, and object recognition behavior of the rats have been measured. Evaluation of oxidative stress; evidenced by lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione, and inflammatory markers; evidenced by interleukin 1-beta in the brain tissues, as well as the brain PI3K and PKB contents were performed. Furthermore, the brain anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); marker of neurotoxicity was assessed immunohistochemically. Brain histopathological alterations were also studied. The findings of the current study revealed a dose- and time-dependent inPDC-induced brain toxicity in rats, as displayed by the biochemical, immunohistochemical and histopathological evaluation. Behaviorally, the major toxic effects of inPDC were observed on the locomotor and cognition functions, however, minor effects were observed on the motor coordination. The results suggest that short-term exposure to intranasal Cr(VI), in theses doses, does not trigger a major brain injury in rats; however, observation of more toxic alterations in a time-dependent manner is a threat of more sever toxicity upon longer exposure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Nano SCPs AgN3(bpy) 1 and (AgCN)2 (bpy) 2 were prepared by ultrasonic waves.•The structures were investigated by X-ray diffraction of single crystals.•TEM images support nanosized particles of ...NSCPs1 and 2.•Antioxidant, erythrocyte hemolysis and DNA binding were investigated.•Cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities had been investigated.
Ultrasonic self-assembly method was utilized to prepare new nano supramolecular coordination polymers (SCPs), 3∞AgN3(bpy), NSCP1 and 3∞(AgCN)2 (bpy), NSCP2 bpy= 4,4\-bipyridine while the single crystals were prepared at ambient conditions. The silver atom in 1 acquires square planer geometry via coordination to four nitrogen atoms while NSCP2 contains two crystallographically different silver atoms adopting distorted trigonal planar geometry. The structures extend via corrugated catenated (AgN3) or (AgCN) chains which are linked by bpy forming 2D-layer structure. The 2D-layers are interconnected by π–π stacking, H- bonds and argentophilic interactions creating 3D-network structure. TEM images support nanoscale particles of NSCPs1 and 2. NSCPs 1 and 2 had been utilized as potent anticancer and anti-pathogenic micro-organisms. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell viable activity of the NSCPs1 and 2 had been studied against a set of different human cancer cell lines. The higher level of the NSCPs cytotoxicity was recorded against MCF-7 and HePG2 cells. Also, they own a good ability to inhibit the growth of the tested neoplastic cells and a poor effect on the normal cells in comparison with the results of cisplatin. Also, antioxidant activities, erythrocyte hemolysis, DNA binding and antimicrobial activities had been investigated.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Cyclophosphamide (CP), the commonly used chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment, is proven to cause ovarian toxicity and infertility in women. In the present study, we investigated the protective ...effect of genistein (GEN), a phytoestrogen found in the soy protein, against CP-induced ovarian toxicity in rats. Forty female adult rats were allocated into five groups. A normal control group received the vehicle; another group was injected with a single acute intraperitoneal dose of CP (200mg/kg). Three other groups were pretreated with GEN (0.5, 1 or 2mg/kg; s.c.) for 14 days. Sera and ovaries were obtained 48h after CP treatment. Serum levels of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and oestradiol (E2) were detected as well as the ovarian level of reduced glutathione (GSH), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were evaluated. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical detection of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) were conducted. Results of the present study revealed that CP-induced severe ovarian toxicity via decreasing serum levels of AMH and E2 and elevating oxidative stress and inflammation in ovarian tissues. Histologically, CP caused increase in primordial follicles with less graafian follicles and corpora lutea in ovarian tissues as well as severe induction of iNOS. GEN inhibited the severe decrease in serum AMH and E2 with alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation significantly compared to CP-treated group. GEN improved ovarian histology and immunostaining of ovarian iNOS disrupted by CP. Finally, it can be concluded that GEN exerted protective effects against CP-induced ovarian toxicity.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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