The use of normative data has become well-accepted and a common strategy to interpret individual's health outcome scores, which can help in making decisions. The objectives of this study were to ...obtain population normative data for the domains and component summaries of the 36-item SF-36® Health Survey (SF-36), and to evaluate its reliability and construct validity.
This study was conducted using population-based data from the Welsh Health Survey (WHS; 2011–2015). This study used version 2 of the SF-36 (SF-36v2® Health Survey). The descriptive statistics and normative data for the eight domains and two summaries, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS), were calculated. Reliability assessment used internal consistency methods and construct validity assessment used known group comparisons and item–scale correlations.
We performed a secondary analyses of data from the Welsh Health Survey (WHS).
This study included 74,578 participants aged 16 years or older (53.6% were women). Participants aged 16–24 years scored higher on SF-36 scale than older groups on all domains. The SF-36 profiles by age group demonstrated lower scores for older age groups, with the most pronounced differences shown on the physical-related scales. Across the age groups, men had higher PCS and MCS scores than women. All SF-36 domains and PCS and MCS achieved a good to excellent internal consistency reliability exceeding 0.7. The scales demonstrated construct validity by showing associations with a range of factors known to be related to health.
This study provides SF-36 normative data for Wales based on a representative data and confirms the construct validity and reliability of the SF-36.
Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic, is a powerful chemotherapeutic agent effective against multiple types of cancer, particularly lung, breast, bladder and hematologic neoplasia ...(lymphomas and leukemia). However, its therapeutic usage is restricted by its known cardiotoxicity, which is associated with the production of oxidative stress. Enhancing antioxidant capacity represents a promising approach to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Hesperidin (HES), a citrus bioflavonoid, possesses several pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics.
This study was designed to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of DOX and assess the possible cardioprotective role of HES.
Groups of Wistar rats were either treated with DOX (4 mg/kg. bw., once a week for five consecutive weeks, intraperitoneally) or received co-treatment with HES (100 mg/kg. bw./day in distilled water, 5 days in a week for five consecutive weeks, administered orally). Heart and blood samples were obtained for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical assessments.
DOX administration resulted in severe cardiotoxicity, as evidenced by significant elevations in cardiac biomarkers, including Troponin I (CTnI), Creatine kinase (CK-Total), Creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). DOX also elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interferon
(IFN-
), Interleukin 1
(IL-1
), and Tumor necrosis factor
(TNF-
). Furthermore, DOX-induced oxidative stress and substantially reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, including Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Catalase (CAT). Histopathologically, DOX caused severe Zenker's necrosis, cardiomyocyte disarray, sarcoplasmic vacuolizations, cardiomyocyte congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemically, DOX exhibited extensive apoptosis, as indicated by strong positive immuno-localization against anti-caspase-3 antibody. In contrast, co-treatment with HES protected cardiac tissues against cardiotoxicity of DOX, as indicated by the amelioration of histological abnormalities and the normalization of biochemical values.
We can conclude that DOX induces severe cardiotoxicity characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological alterations, and apoptosis. Co-treatment with HES demonstrates significant cardioprotective effects by virtue of its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytoprotective, and antiapoptotic characteristics.
This work is concerned with fabricating ferrite nanoparticles of nickel–zinc with the chemical formula: Ni
0.55
Zn
0.45
Fe
2−
x
Ce
x
O
4
, 0 ≤
x
≤ 0.011 by co-deposition technique and modifying ...their electrical, microscopic, spectroscopic, optical, electrical and dielectric properties as advanced engineering materials through doping with the cerium (Ce) element. XRD patterns displayed that the samples have a monophasic Cerium–Nickel–zinc (CNZ) spinel structure without other impurities for cerium concentration (
x
) ≤ 0.066. Both values of crystallite size and lattice parameters decrease from 33.643 to 23.137 nm and from 8.385 to 8.353 nm, respectively, with the increasing Ce ions substitution content from 0 to 0.066. SEM images indicate that grains of the fabricated compounds are smaller, more perfect, more homogeneous, and less agglomeration than those of the un-doped Ni–Zn nano-ferrites. The maximum intensity of first-order Raman spectral peaks (
E
g
, F2g(2), A1g(2), and A1g(1)) of CNZ ferrite nanoparticles are observed at about (330, 475, 650, 695) cm
−1
, respectively, that confirms the CNZ samples have the cubic spinel structure. The direct and indirect optical energy bandgaps of CNZ samples have a wide spectrum of values from semiconductors to insulators according to cerium concentration. The results showed that the values of dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor, and Ac conductivity and the conductivity transition temperature are sensitive to cerium ions content. AC conductivity exhibited by the CNZ samples has the semiconductor materials behavior, where the AC conductivity increases due to temperature or doping concentration. The results indicate that Ni
0.55
Zn
0.45
Fe
1.944
Ce
0.066
O
4
ferrite nanoparticles may be selected for optoelectronic devices, high-frequency circuits, and energy storage applications.
Deregulation of the antioxidant enzymes was implicated in pathogenesis and complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The data relate the genetic variants of these enzymes to T2DM are ...inconsistent among various populations.
We aimed to explore the association of 13 genetic variants of "superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)" with T2DM susceptibility and the available clinical laboratory data.
A total of 384 individuals were enrolled in this work. Different genotypes of the genes mentioned above were characterized using TaqMan OpenArray Genotyping assays on a Real-Time polymerase chain reaction system.
After age- and sex-adjustment, among the studied 13 variants,
rs17856199 was associated with T2DM under homozygote (OR=3.42; 95% CI:1.04-11.2,
=0.031), and recessive (OR=3.57; 95% CI: 1.11-11.4,
=0.029) comparison models. The
rs2297518*A allele was more frequent among the T2DM cohort (58.1%
35.4%,
<0.001) and showed a dose-response effect; being heterozygote was associated with higher odds for developing DM (OR=4.06, 95% CI=2.13-7.73,
<0.001), whereas being AA homozygote had double the risk (OR=9.06, 95% CI=3.41-24.1,
<0.001). Combined
rs2297518*A and either
rs17856199*A or *C genotype carriers were more likely to develop T2DM. Different associations with sex, BMI, hyperglycemia, and/or hyperlipidemia were evident. The principal component analysis revealed
rs2297518*G, old age, dyslipidemia, high systolic blood pressure, and elevated HbA1c were the main classifiers of T2DM patients.
The oxidative stress-related molecular markers,
rs17856199 and
rs2297518 variants were significantly associated with T2DM risk and phenotype in the study population.
This article discusses the adhesion of C2C12 mouse myoblast cells to a microstructured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface patterned using femtosecond laser pulses. The wettability of the PDMS ...surface can be controlled by changing the writing-pulse energy; a hydrophilic surface is produced by low pulse energy, whereas high pulse energies lead to a superhydrophobic surface. The surface topography also varies with pulse energy. Images acquired with scanning electron microscopy show clear lines at low pulse energy, whereas at high energies, the lines are completely deformed by the presence of micro- and nano-structures. Thus, selective cell growth in the modified regions is affected by the energy of the laser pulses used for surface modification. In addition, the surface geometry (e.g., lines vs grids) of the modified regions affects the shape and alignment of C2C12 cells. Thus, we investigate the degree of cell alignment to modified lines fabricated with the same pulse energy and writing speed but with different inter-line spacings. The degree of alignment is quantified by the average value of a second-order Legendre polynomial. The results reveal that the degree of alignment of C2C12 cells to the surface lines decreases with the increase in spacing between lines.
The wide distribution of infections-related pathogenic microbes is almost related to the contamination of food and/or drinking water. The current applied treatments face some limitations. In the ...current study, k-carrageenan polymer was used as supporting material for the proper/unreleased silver nanoparticles that showed strong antimicrobial activity against six pathogenic bacteria and yeast. The bio-extract of the pupa of green bottle fly was used as the main agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The qualitative investigation of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles was determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis; however, the size of nanoparticles was in range of 30-100 nm, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and particle size analyzer. The proper integration of silver nanoparticles into the polymeric substrate was also characterized through fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM, and tensile strength. The antimicrobial activity of k-carrageenan/silver nanoparticles against Gram positive, Gram negative, and yeast pathogens was highly effective. These results indicate the probable exploitation of the polymeric/nanoparticles composite as an extra stage in water purification systems in homes or even at water treatment plants.
Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the chorionic villi of human placentae (pMSCs) produce a unique array of mediators that regulate the essential cellular functions of their target cells. These ...properties make pMSCs attractive candidates for cell-based therapy. Here, we examined the effects of culturing human natural killer (NK) cells with pMSCs on NK cell functions.
pMSCs were cultured with IL-2-activated and non-activated NK cells. NK cell proliferation and cytolytic activities were monitored. NK cell expression of receptors mediating their cytolytic activity against pMSCs, and the mechanisms underlying this effect on pMSCs, were also investigated.
Our findings show that IL-2-activated NK cells, but not freshly isolated NK cells, efficiently lyse pMSCs and that this response might involve the activating NK cell receptor CD69. Interestingly, although pMSCs expressed HLA class I molecules, they were nevertheless lysed by NK cells, suggesting that HLA class I antigens do not play a significant role in protecting pMSCs from NK cell cytolytic activity. Co-culturing NK cells with pMSCs also inhibited NK cell expression of receptors, including CD69, NKpG2D, CD94, and NKp30, although these co-cultured NK cells were not inhibited in lysing cancer cells in vitro. Importantly, co-cultured NK cells significantly increased their production of molecules with anti-tumor effects.
These findings suggest that pMSCs might have potential applications in cancer therapy.
In the current twenty years, industrial applications of ionic liquids (ILs) have been of paramount attention due to their indisputable positive characteristics like negligible volatility and ...chemical/thermal stability. These brilliant advantages open new horizons towards environmentally friendly application of ILs in several industrial activities like membrane-based CO2 separation, electrolyte, bioprocessing, targeted drug delivery and solar panels. The principal intention of this article is to prepare a comprehensive review on the potential efficiency of IL-based absorbents to separate CO2 acidic contaminant from industrial gaseous streams compared to alkanolamine absorbents as the benchmark. For this purpose, a techno-economic evaluation is presented to compare the cost-effectiveness of ILs compared to alkanolamine absorbents. Finally, major environmental impacts of the ILs applications in industries are discussed and future perspectives towards solving the operational challenges are presented in detail.
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•State-of-the-art review was performed on the efficiency of IL-based absorbents to separate CO2.•A techno-economic analysis was carried out to compare the cost-effectiveness of ILs with alkanolamine absorbents.•Studying major environmental impacts of the ILs applications in industries was conducted.•Discussion of future perspectives towards solving the operational challenges was implemented.
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Avermectins are broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs in veterinary and human medication. The current study aimed to examine the toxic effects of ivermectin (IVM) and doramectin (DRM), ...with or without co-treatment of vitamin E (Vit.E) and selenium (Se) on apoptosis, oxidative stress and male fertility in Wistar rats. Twenty five adult male animals were divided into five groups; G1; was control (CTL) received saline, G2; IVM (0.2 mg/kg b.w), G3; IVM plus Vit.E/Se (80/1.6 mg/kg b.w, respectively), G4; DRM (0.2 mg/kg b.w), and G5; DRM plus Vit.E/Se. Both IVM and DRM were given by subcutaneous (s.c) injections while Vit.E/Se was orally given. All treatments were administered once weekly for four consecutive weeks. By 24 h after the last treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Blood and tissue samples were collected for hematology, serobiochemistry, histopathology, and molecular assays for hepatic/ renal toxicities, oxidative stress, cell viability and fertility parameters. Apoptosis of the hepatic cells obtained from the treated rats was assayed by detection of annexin-V using the flow cytometric assay (FCA). The proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and DNA fragmentation in the treated rats’ testicular tissues were also assayed. Moreover, the direct effects of IVM or DRM with or without concomitant administration of Vit.E/Se on testicular cells isolated from adult rat were also performed in vitro. Apoptosis of those cultured testicular cells in response to the different treatments was assayed by detection of the inhibition-concentration fifty (IC50) using the SRB method, and evaluating the viable versus apoptotic cells microscopically after staining with acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB). In conclusion, both avermectins induced apoptosis in the living and cultured cells, while those antioxidants; Vit.E and Se, reduced the oxidative stress and cytotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro, either. Furthermore, the reprotoxicity and reduced male fertility were seriously evoked by IVM, but not DRM with dramatic ameliorative effect of Vit.E/Se if concomitantly administered. Avermectins, especially ivermectin, should be given according to the dose recommended by the manufacturer company and repeated dosages should be given with Vit.E/Se.
•A polycrystalline with dual phase in nature of cubic and monoclinic structure was observed.•The largest and lowest energy gap values are found to be 4.03 eV and 2.44 eV for Gd and metal ...copper.•White sponge, nanorods, nanoneedles and nanorice shaped morphology has observed by FESEM.•The MIS diode was achieved a minimum ideality factor values of 5.34.•The excellent opto-electronics properties of the developed photodetectors make it suitable for future nano-electronics.
Here we are reporting the development of Gadolinium based copper oxide nanocomposites via a cost-effective low-temperature co-precipitation process. X-ray diffraction study approves the dual phase polycrystalline cubic and monoclinic structure with predominant orientations along (2 2 2) and (0 0 2) directions. A strong &sharp peak is positioned at ~512 cm−1in FT-IR is assigned to metal oxide (Cu-O/Gd-O) network terminal stretching & phonon band. Absorption study reveals strong absorption peaks for the samples prepared from pure copper (Cu) and gadolinium (Gd), however poor absorption was noticed from mixed CuO-Gd2O3nanocomposites.The largest and lowest energy gap values are found to be 4.03 eV and 2.44 eV for Gd and metal copper, respectively. White sponge, nanorods, nanoneedles and nanorice shaped morphology has observed from FESEM analysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectrum unveils the essential elements like Cu, Gd and oxygen. The peak fitting of Gd4d exhibits two major peaks at 143.6 and 155.8 eV binding energies correspond to spin orbit doublet splitting of 12.2 eV between 4d5/2 and 4d3/2, respectively. From I-V study, we observed that the presence of CuO-Gd2O3 nanocomposites at p-Si/Al interface improved the performance of the MIS diode. The excellent opto-electronics properties of the developed photo-detectors make it suitable for future nano-electronics.
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