Inference on fission timescale from neutron multiplicity measurement in18O+184W

The pre-scission and post-scission neutron multiplicities are measured for the 18O + 184W reaction in the excitation energy range of 67.23−76.37 MeV. Langevin dynamical calculations are performed to infer the energy dependence of fission decay time in compliance with the measured neutron multiplicities. Different models for nuclear dissipation are employed for this purpose. Fission process is usually expected to be faster at a higher beam energy. However, we found an enhancement in the average fission time as the incident beam energy increases. It happens because a higher excitation energy helps more neutrons to evaporate that eventually stabilizes the system against fission. The competition between fission and neutron evaporation delicately depends on the available excitation energy and it is explained here with the help of the partial fission yields contributed by the different isotopes of the primary compound nucleus.

A Systematic Review on Anti-tubercular Therapy Induced Hepatotoxicity

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of major morbidities and mortalities around the globe. One in every three persons suffers from tubercular infection in their lifetime. Antitubercular therapy-induced hepatitis occurs due to toxicity from the primary compound, metabolite, or an immunologically mediated response. Risk factors associated with hepatotoxicity are age, sex, low BMI, hypoalbuminemia, alcohol consumption, HIV, hepatitis B, and C. There are 6 major pathways by which anti-TB drugs are involved in hepatotoxicity including hampering of intracellular calcium homeostasis, derangement of actin fibril assembly that occurs next to the canaliculus, the drug binds to the heme-containing cytochrome p-450 and forms enzyme-drug adduct and produces an immune response, The enzyme- drug addict when gets incorporated to vesicle acts as antigen for the production antibodies, some drugs also inhibit the ? oxidation and respiration and hence reduction in ATP production hence damaging cell and mitochondrial DNA, and some directly leads to apoptosis. Isoniazid is being metabolized to acetyl-isoniazid followed by hydrolysis to acetyl hydrazine via cytochrome P450 enzyme which produces toxic metabolites responsible for hepatotoxicity. Rifampicin activates the cytochrome enzyme and hence stimulates the production of harmful toxic materials leading to ATT-induced hepatotoxicity. It is the duty of the he pharmacist / medical staff has to provide the patient with adequate education about diseases and to inform them about their therapy regarding possible side effects and side effects. Pharmacists / medical staff must also train patients to comply with medication.

Atherosclerosis Amelioration by Allicin in Raw Garlic through Gut Microbiota and Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Modulation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is strongly associated with the gut microbiota and its metabolites, including trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) formed from ʟ-carnitine. Raw garlic juice, with allicin as its primary compound, has been shown to powerfully impact the gut microbiota. This study validated the benefits of raw garlic juice against CVD risk via modulation of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Allicin supplementation significantly decreased serum TMAO in ʟ-carnitine-fed C57BL/6J mice. It also reduced aortic lesions and altered the fecal microbiota in carnitine-induced, atherosclerosis-prone, apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. In human subjects exhibiting high TMAO production, raw garlic juice intake for a week reduced TMAO formation, improved gut microbial diversity, and increased the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria. In in vitro study, raw garlic juice inhibited γ-butyrobetaine (γBB) and trimethylamine (TMA) production by the gut microbiota. Thus, raw garlic juice can potentially prevent cardiovascular disease by decreasing TMAO production through gut microbiota modulation.

A systematic review of the antidepressant effects of curcumin: Beyond monoamines theory

Background: Depression is a severe, chronic, and recurring mental health disorder, which prevalence and morbimortality have increased in recent years. Several theories are proposed to elucidate the mechanisms of depression, such as the involvement of inflammation and the release of cytokines. Alternative treatments have been developed to improve outcomes of the commonly used drugs, and the use of Curcuma longa stands out. Its primary compound is named curcumin that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Aims: Several studies have shown that curcumin may play antidepressant actions and, therefore, this study aimed to perform a systematic review of the antidepressant effects of curcumin to evaluate the impact of this compound in the treatment of this condition. Methods: This systematic review has included studies available in MEDLINE–PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, and the final selection included 10 randomized clinical trials. Conclusion: Curcumin improves depressant and anxiety behavior in humans. It can increase monoamines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and may inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neuronal apoptosis in the brain. Systemically, curcumin enhanced insulin sensitivity, reduced cortisol levels, and reversed metabolic abnormalities. Studies with larger samples and standardized dose and formulation are required to demonstrate the benefits of curcumin in depression treatment since there are many variations in this compound’s use.

Effect of Saffron Extract and Crocin in Serum Metabolites of Induced Obesity Rats

The effect of saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) and its primary compound crocin was studied on an induced obesity rat model. Our study is aimed at investigating and comparing the metabolite changes in obese and obese treated with saffron extract and crocin and at improving the understanding of the therapeutic effect of saffron extract and crocin. Two different doses of saffron extracts and crocin (40 and 80 mg/kg) were incorporated in a high-fat diet (HFD) and were given for eight weeks to the obese rats. The changes in metabolite profiles of the serum were determined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Pattern recognition by multivariate data analysis (MVDA) showed that saffron extract and crocin at 80 mg/kg was the best dosage compared to 40 mg/kg. It also showed that both treatments work in different pathways, especially concerning glucose, lipid, and creatinine metabolism. In conclusion, although the pure compound, crocin, is superior to the saffron crude extract, this finding suggested that the saffron extract can be considered as an alternative aside from crocin in treating obesity.

Essential Oil Hydrodistillation Process from Vietnamese Calamondin (Citrus microcarpa) Peels and GC/MS Analysis of Essential Oils Components

The essential oil of Citrus microcarpa peels was applied in many fields, and the methods to improve the efficiency of citrus exploitation were increasingly concerned. In this study, citrus essential oil was extracted from calamondin by hydrodistillation. This study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting the distillation of essential oils. The highest performance of the distillation process was 2.45 % with optimal conditions (material-water ratio of 1:3 g/mL, time of 2 h, the temperature of 120 ºC). Moreover, calamondin (Citrus microcarpa) peels oil extract was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The primary compound of calamondin essential oil include limonene 96.925 %, β-myrcene 1.424 %, 1R-α-pinene 0.561 %, cyclohexene 0.343 %, 1R-α-pinene 0.561 % and β-cubebene 0.598 %.

Acmella oleracea (L) R. K. Jansen Reproductive Toxicity in Zebrafish: An In Vivo and In Silico Assessment

The plant species Acmella oleracea L. is used in the north of Brazil for the treatment of a range of illnesses, such as tuberculosis, flu, cough, and rheumatism and as an anti-inflammatory agent; besides, hydroethanolic formulations with this species are popularly used as a female aphrodisiac agent. However, currently, there are no studies performed evaluating its effect on embryonic development. Hence, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of the hydroethanolic extract of A. oleracea (EHFAo) on the reproductive performance (parental) and embryonic development (F1 generation) of zebrafish, at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/L. Histopathology of parental gonads after 21 days of exposure to EHFAo reveals few alterations in the ovaries and testes, not impairing the reproduction; an increase of eggs deposition was observed in animals treated with EHFAo at the highest concentrations. Nevertheless, concerning the embryonic development of F1, teratogenic effects were observed including tail deformation, cardiac and yolk edema, scoliosis, and growth retardation; these alterations were more prominent in the groups born from progenitors exposed to the highest concentrations (100 and 200 μg/L.); but only the occurrence of yolk and cardiac edema had a statistically significant difference when compared to the control group. The chromatographic analysis shows that spilanthol (affinin) was the primary compound found in the EHFAo. Hence, in silico assessment was performed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of this molecule and 37 metabolites derived from it. Overall, our data show that the treatment caused no detrimental changes in progenitors regarding their gonads or fertility but caused some potentially teratogenic activity in embryos, which may be due to the action of spilanthol’s metabolites M3, M6, M7, M8, M16, M28, and M31.

Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis with Optimized, Fast-Repetition, and Cyclotorsion Control Excimer Laser to Treat Hyperopic Astigmatism with High Cylinder

Purpose To evaluate the visual outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery to correct primary compound hyperopic astigmatism with high cylinder using a fast repetition rate excimer laser platform with optimized aspheric profiles and cyclotorsion control. Methods Eyes with primary simple or compound hyperopic astigmatism and a cylinder power ≥3.00 D had uneventful femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK with a fast repetition rate excimer laser ablation, aspheric profiles, and cyclotorsion control. Visual, refractive, and aberrometric results were evaluated at the 3- and 6-month follow-up. The astigmatic outcome was evaluated using the Alpins method and ASSORT software. Results This study enrolled 80 eyes at 3 months and 50 eyes at 6 months. The significant reduction in refractive sphere and cylinder 3 and 6 months postoperatively (p<0.01) was associated with an improved uncorrected distance visual acuity (p<0.01). A total of 23.75% required retreatment 3 months after surgery. Efficacy and safety indices at 6 months were 0.90 and 1.00, respectively. At 6 months, 80% of eyes had an SE within ±0.50 D and 96% within ±1.00 D. No significant differences were detected between the third and the sixth postoperative months in refractive parameters. A significant increase in the spherical aberration was detected, but not in coma. The correction index was 0.94 at 3 months. Conclusions Laser in situ keratomileusis for primary compound hyperopic astigmatism with high cylinder (>3.00 D) using the latest excimer platforms with cyclotorsion control, fast repetition rate, and optimized aspheric profiles is safe, moderately effective, and predictable.

Synthesis of La10Si6-2xBi2xO27-x as Possible Electrolyte Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

La10Si6-2xBi2xO27-x (x = 0.22, 0.46 and 0.72) ceramics have been synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The calcination temperature of La10Si6-2xBi2xO27-x was 900°C for 4 hours and the sintering temperature was 1500°C for 5 hours with the heating and cooling rates of 10°C per minute. Crystal structures of La10Si6-2xBi2xO27-x have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Room temperature XRD patterns of La10Si6-2xBi2xO27-x ceramics doped with Bi3+ show hexagonal apatite structure with space group P63/m as the primary compound with minor appearance of La2SiO5 impurity as the secondary compound. As the bismuth oxide content increased the La2SiO5 impurity also increased. La10Si5.56Bi0.44O26.78 has the highest bulk density of 5.2 gcm-3 and good microstructure compared to La10Si5.08Bi0.92O26.54 and La10Si4.56Bi1.44O26.28.