Diabetes-associated complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis, the main consequences of long-term hyperglycemia, often lead to organ dysfunction, ...disability, and increased mortality. A common denominator of these complications is the myofibroblast-driven excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Although fibroblast appears to be the primary source of myofibroblasts, other cells, including endothelial cells, can generate myofibroblasts through a process known as endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT). During EndMT, endothelial cells lose their typical phenotype to acquire mesenchymal features, characterized by the development of invasive and migratory abilities as well as the expression of typical mesenchymal products such as α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen. EndMT is involved in many chronic and fibrotic diseases and appears to be regulated by complex molecular mechanisms and different signaling pathways. Recent evidence suggests that small RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are crucial mediators of EndMT. Furthermore, EndMT and miRNAs are both affected by oxidative stress, another key player in the pathophysiology of diabetic fibrotic complications. In this review, we provide an overview of the primary redox signals underpinning the diabetic-associated fibrotic process. Then, we discuss the current knowledge on the role of small RNAs in the regulation of EndMT in diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis and highlight potential links between oxidative stress and the dyad small RNAs-EndMT in driving these pathological states.
Writing difficulties frequently manifest comorbidly with reading challenges, and reading is implicated in particular acts of writing, such as reviewing and editing. Despite what is known, however, ...there remain significant barriers to understanding the nature of reading-writing relations, as few studies are comprehensive in the number and types of literacy skills evaluated. This study consists of a secondary data analysis of two studies employing structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate relations among reading and writing components skills independently, using the Direct and Inferential Mediation Model (DIME) of reading comprehension and Not-so-Simple View of Writing (NSVW) as theoretical frameworks.
We examine relations between reading and writing components from these models with a sample of upper elementary students with/at-risk for learning disabilities (
= 405). Lower-order components included word reading, vocabulary, handwriting and spelling. Higher-order components included background knowledge, reading strategies, inferencing, planning, editing, and revision. The literacy outcomes were oral and silent reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing quality and productivity. We systematically build a Reading-to-Writing Mediation (RWM) model by first merging the DIME and NSVW components in a direct effects model (Aim 1), expanding the joint model to include reading and writing fluency (Aim 2), evaluating indirect effects between DIME and NSVW component skills (Aim 3), and finally, evaluating indirect effects with reading and writing fluency (Aim 4).
The findings suggest that higher order fluency and comprehension skills are differentially related to writing activities and products.
The pattern of results helps elucidate the mechanisms of how various reading and writing skills transfer and relate. The results have implications for targeted and implicit instruction in multicomponent interventions and the use of screeners to identify areas of risk.
Stainless steel is renowned for its wide use as a biomaterial, but its relatively high corrosion rate in physiological environments restricts many of its clinical applications. To overcome the ...corrosion resistance of stainless steel bio-implants in physiological environments and to improve its osseointegration behavior, we have developed a unique zein/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite coating on a stainless steel substrate by Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD). The EPD parameters were optimized using the Taguchi Design of experiments (DoE) approach. The EPD parameters, such as the concentration of bio-ceramic particles in the polymer solution, applied voltage and deposition time were optimized on stainless steel substrates by applying a mixed design orthogonal Taguchi array. The coatings were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and wettability studies. SEM images and EDX results indicated that the zein/HA coating was successfully deposited onto the stainless steel substrates. The wettability and roughness studies elucidated the mildly hydrophilic nature of the zein/HA coatings, which confirmed the suitability of the developed coatings for biomedical applications. Zein/HA coatings improved the corrosion resistance of bare 316L stainless steel. Moreover, zein/HA coatings showed strong adhesion with the 316L SS substrate for biomedical applications. Zein/HA developed dense HA crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid, which confirmed the bone binding ability of the coatings. Thus the zein/HA coatings presented in this study have a strong potential to be considered for orthopedic applications.
Purpose
Among the several therapeutic agents available for the management of diabetes mellitus, sulfonylureas such as gliclazide have several advantages. The hypoglycemic effect and bioavailability ...of gliclazide loaded in Isabgol husk mucilage microparticles were assessed. The hypoglycemic effect of drug-loaded microparticles was compared with that of pure gliclazide.
Methods
Gliclazide was incorporated into Isabgol husk mucilage microparticles using an emulsification-crosslinking technique. Gliclazide characterization was performed using a chromatographic method.
Results
Gliclazide loading in the microparticles was up to 91.23 ± 0.981% w/w. The pharmacokinetic parameters for pure gliclazide (control) were different from those of gliclazide loaded in microparticles (test). After oral administration, the AUC
0–24 h
of gliclazide in blood samples of the control and test groups was 10.840 ± 0.018 and 17.608 ± 0.035 μg/(mL h), respectively. In 24 h after oral administration, the percentage reduction from the baseline glucose level in diabetic rabbits was 36.66 ± 4.509% and 98.11 ± 1.018% for the test and control groups, respectively.
Conclusion
The prolonged hypoglycemic effect and increased bioavailability of gliclazide loaded in Isabgol husk microparticles compared with those of pure drug indicate the applicability of the microparticulate formulation as a novel anti-diabetic drug delivery system.
In this study, zein/45S5 bioactive glass (BG) coatings were deposited via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on pretreated pure magnesium (Mg) substrates to control the rapid degradation of magnesium ...and to improve the bioactive properties of Mg implants. The EPD parameters were first optimized on stainless steel (SS), and then, the optimum EPD parameters were applied to obtain zein/BG composite coatings on Mg substrates. The kinetics of the EPD process was studied by plotting the graph between current density and deposition time at fixed applied voltage. The morphology and chemical composition (qualitatively) of the obtained coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. SEM and FTIR results showed that both zein and BG were successfully deposited, and a homogeneous film of zein/BG was formed on the surface of the substrate. The contact angle measurements confirmed that the zein/BG coatings are suitable for the initial protein attachment.
The manuscript describes the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process for zein/bioactive glass coatings on Mg substrates for the first time. The draft contains comprehensive information on the mechanism for EPD process. For example, the preparation of stable suspension, optimization for the concentration of particles in the suspension, and the kinetics of the process are discussed.
Investigating human platelet function in low-oxygen environments is important in multiple settings, including hypobaric hypoxia (e.g., high altitude), sea level hypoxia-related disease, and thrombus ...stability. These studies often involve drawing blood from which platelets are isolated and analysed at atmospheric conditions or re-exposed to low oxygen levels in hypoxia chambers before testing. However, it remains unknown how the in vitro handling of the samples itself changes their dissolved oxygen concentration, which might affect platelet function and experimental results. Here, we prepared healthy donor platelet-rich plasma and washed platelet (WP) suspensions and exposed them to 2% oxygen. We found that the use of hypoxia pre-equilibrated tubes, higher platelet concentrations (>2 × 10
/mL versus 2 × 10
/mL), smaller volumes (600 µL versus 3 mL), and presence of plasma reduced the time for samples to reach 2% oxygen. Notably, oxygen levels decreased below 2% in most suspensions, but also in WP maintained at atmospheric 21% oxygen. Additionally, platelet spreading on fibrinogen was decreased when using hypoxic fibrinogen-coated culture plates regardless of the oxygen percentage (2% or 21%) in which platelet incubation took place. Thus, sample handling and experimental conditions should be carefully monitored in platelet-hypoxia studies as they might compromise results interpretation and comparison across studies.
The integration of knowledge during reading was tested in 1,109 secondary school students. Reading times for the second sentence in a pair (Jane's headache went away) were compared in conditions ...where the first sentence was either causally or temporally related to the first sentence (Jane took an aspirin vs. Jane looked for an aspirin). Mixed-effects explanatory item response models revealed that at higher comprehension levels, sentences were read more quickly in the causal condition. There were no condition-related reading time differences at lower comprehension levels. This interaction held with comprehension- and inference-related factors (working memory, word and world knowledge, and word reading efficiency) in the models. Less skilled comprehenders have difficulty in knowledge-text integration processes that facilitate sentence processing during reading.
Having a good knowledge of the time and cost required to build a tunnel can be very important in reducing uncertainties related to the management of its construction. In this paper, using data ...obtained from the constructed parts of a tunnel, Gaussian process regression (GPR) method is developed to predict the time and cost of the non-constructed parts. Finally, by comparing the results predicted by the GPR model with the actual ones, it was concluded that the developed GPR model has a high potential to reduce uncertainties related to the time and cost of tunnel construction. Also, the ability of GPR model to predict time and cost of tunnel construction was compared with two other methods of support vector regression (SVR) and artificial neural networks (ANN). Finally, the GPR model was superior to the SVR and ANN methods in terms of prediction accuracy
The RECOVERY study documented lower 28-day mortality with the use of dexamethasone in hospitalized patients on invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen with COVID-19 Pneumonia. We aimed to examine ...the practice patterns of steroids use, and their impact on mortality and length of stay in ICU. We retrospectively examined records of all patients with confirmed Covid 19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU of Dubai hospital from January 1st, 2020 – June 30th, 2020. We assigned patients to four groups (No steroids, low dose, medium dose, and high dose steroids). The primary clinical variable of interest was doses of steroids. Secondary outcomes were 28-day mortality and length of stay in ICU”. We found variability in doses of steroid treatment. The most frequently used dose was the high dose. Patients who survived were on significantly higher doses of steroids and had significantly longer stays in ICU. The prescription of steroids in Covid-19 ARDS is variable. The dose of steroids impacts mortality rate and length of stay in ICU, although patients treated with high dose steroids seem to stay more days in ICU.
Many studies have documented a strong association between poor sleep quality and physical inactivity. This study evaluates the association between poor sleep quality and physical inactivity among ...Jazan University students in Saudi Arabia.
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at Jazan University. Cluster random sampling was used to select 440 students. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) were utilized for data collection.
According to the PSQI results, the majority of respondents (63.9%; n = 281) reported having poor sleep quality. The majority of students (62.7%; n = 276) were also physically inactive. Based on DASS-21 criteria, the majority of students (53.4%) were stressed. Sleep quality differed significantly according to participants' physical activity status (
= 0.0090). Among physically active participants, 43.9% reported having good sleep quality. Sleep duration, daytime dysfunctions, and global PSQI differed significantly according to levels of physical activity (
< 0.05 for all). Univariate analysis revealed that being physically active was significantly associated with good sleep quality (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.14-2.54,
< 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression models also demonstrated a significant association between physical activity and good sleep quality (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.15-2.56,
= 0.008).
The majority of Jazan University students had poor sleep quality and were physically inactive. Evidence-based prevention and therapeutic strategies are needed to promote physical activity among university students.
PDF
