Effects of Topical Ozone Application on Outcomes after Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-linking: An Experimental Study

Purpose: Ozone is a trioxygen molecule that spontaneously degrades into oxygen and oxygen free radicals. This study was designed to assess the effects of topical ozone application on outcomes after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). Methods: Enucleated fresh cadaver yearling sheep eyes (n = 28) were divided into five groups: control (C, n = 6), sham (S, n = 6), ozone only (Z, n = 6), CXL only (X, n = 5), and Ozone + CXL (ZX, n = 5). In all groups, except C, the epithelial layer was removed. In group Z, 20 μg/mL liquid ozone was topically applied. In group X, CXL was performed in the accelerated pulse mode. In group ZX, both CXL and ozone were applied. Post-interventional oxygen levels were determined and corneal confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography were performed. Corneas were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. Results: Pre-interventional central corneal thickness (CCT) was highest in the control group and considerably similar in the remaining groups (P = 0.006). Pre- and post-interventional CCT were significantly different in the ozonated groups (Z and ZX) (P = 0.028; P = 0.043). Demarcation line depths were similar in groups Z, X, and ZX (P = 0.343). Increased stromal tissue reflectivity was observed in groups Z, X, and ZX. Oxygen levels were higher in the ozonated groups (Z and ZX) (P = 0.006), and caspase activity was higher in the CXL groups (X and ZX) (P = 0.028) as compared to the other groups. Group ZX showed tighter, more regular, and parallel fibrils. Conclusion: Ozone increases corneal stromal oxygenation which can probably augment the effect of CXL. Future studies should investigate the safety and feasibility of ozone application during CXL

Web of venom: exploration of big data resources in animal toxin research

Research on animal venoms and their components spans multiple disciplines, including biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, pharmacology, medicine, and more. Manipulating and analyzing the diverse array of data required for venom research can be challenging, and relevant tools and resources are often dispersed across different online platforms, making them less accessible to nonexperts. In this article, we address the multifaceted needs of the scientific community involved in venom and toxin-related research by identifying and discussing web resources, databases, and tools commonly used in this field. We have compiled these resources into a comprehensive table available on the VenomZone website (https://venomzone.expasy.org/10897). Furthermore, we highlight the challenges currently faced by researchers in accessing and using these resources and emphasize the importance of community-driven interdisciplinary approaches. We conclude by underscoring the significance of enhancing standards, promoting interoperability, and encouraging data and method sharing within the venom research community

Modern venomics--Current insights, novel methods, and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit.This work is funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST, www.cost.eu) and based upon work from the COST Action CA19144 – European Venom Network (EUVEN, see https://euven-network.eu/). This review is an outcome of EUVEN Working Group 2 (“Best practices and innovative tools in venomics”) led by B.M.v.R. As coordinator of the group Animal Venomics until end 2021 at the Institute for Insectbiotechnology, JLU Giessen, B.M.v.R. acknowledges the Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG) in the programme “LOEWE – Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-ökonomischer Exzellenz” of Hesse's Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and the Arts. B.M.v.R. and I.K. further acknowledge funding on venom research by the German Science Foundation to B.M.v.R. (DFG RE3454/6-1). A.C., A.V., and G.Z. were supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (grant agreements No. A.C.: 896849, A.V.: 841576, and G.Z.: 845674). M.P.I. is supported by the TALENTO Program by the Regional Madrid Government (2018-T1/BIO-11262). T.H.'s venom research is funded by the DFG projects 271522021 and 413120531. L.E. was supported by grant No. 7017-00288 from the Danish Council for Independent Research (Technology and Production Sciences). N.I. acknowledges funding on venom research by the Research Fund of Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University (project Nos. ABAP20F28, BAP18F26). M.I.K. and A.P. acknowledge support from GSRT National Research Infrastructure structural funding project INSPIRED (MIS 5002550). G.A. acknowledges support from the Slovenian Research Agency grants P1-0391, J4-8225, and J4-2547. G.G. acknowledges support from the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia. E.A.B.U. is supported by a Norwegian Research Council FRIPRO-YRT Fellowship No. 287462

Lifelong learning perception metaphoric of nurses

The aim of the study was to reveal the perceptions of nurses about lifelong learning nurses via metaphors. Qualitative and quantitative study pattern was used. The cosmos of the research was constituted by all the nurses (N: 325) who worked in an official inpatient care institution affiliated to T.C Ministry of Health in Istanbul. Research was realized with 269 volunteer nurses without any pick of sample. An information form collecting data about age, gender, marital status, graduated programme, department worked, total years worked as a nurse, whether they willingly became a nurse to determine the characteristics of the nurses. Each nurse was asked to complete the blanks in the sentence, 'Lifelong learning is like a/an.....................because..................'to reveal the perceptions of the nurses about the lifelong learning. The metaphors were gathered under 5 conceptual categories in terms of purposes-important-benefit of life long learning on the basis of metaphoric expressions. Nurses produced 139 metaphors for life long learning. More than half of the metaphors (95) were represented by a nurse. The remaining 46 metaphors were expressed by 2-20 nurses. The top four metaphors were baby, water, tree, and children, respectively. Most of the nurses regard lifelong learning as a necessity of constant change and development while thinking that learning realizes at every age and every place either consciously or unconsciously and lastly, they render lifelong learning possible, only by learning to learn. According to these conclusions, metaphors may be utilized as a strong research mean in order to reveal, understand and explain individual perceptions and mental images. There is a need for a wide range of qualitative researches analyzing nurses perceptions of lifelong learning and metaphorical analysis of their thoughts concerning lifelong learning. Examination of these researches' results in education programs would provide a big profit in determining nurses points of view towards lifelong learning. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Metaphors used by in-service training nurses for in-service training nurses in Turkey

kaya h., isik b. & caliskan f. (2012) Metaphors used by in-service training nurses for in- service training nurses in Turkey. Journal of Advanced Nursing69(2), 404-414. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06019.x Abstract Aim. To report a study conducted using a qualitative and quantitative study pattern with an aim to reveal the perceptions of in-service training nurses about in-service training nurses via metaphors. Background. The in-service training nurse assumes great responsibility in the effective and efficient implementation of the educational activities in healthcare. In line with this, determining the perceptions of the in-service training nurses about in-service training nurses via metaphors and taking this into consideration in professional activities are important in terms of developing, changing, or questioning the perspectives of the in-service training nurses about their roles and developing their own training nurse identity. Design. This article was designed as qualitative and quantitative study pattern. Methods. The population of the study included 93 in-service training nurses. Data were collected between JuneSeptember 2009. To collect data, each in-service training nurse was asked to complete the blanks in the sentence, The in-service training nurse is like a/an.....................because.................. The data were analysed using qualitative (content analysis) and quantitative (chi-square) data analysis methods. Findings. According to the findings of the study, the in-service training nurses identified 59 metaphors in total. The metaphors were grouped under nine conceptual categories depending on the characteristics they had in common. In cognitive image of the in-service training nurses relating to the concept of in-service training nurse, the outstanding conceptual category was the in-service training nurse as a knowledge provider. Conclusion. The metaphors can be used as a strong research tool in understanding, revealing and explaining the cognitive images of the in-service training nurses

alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Constituents of Linaria kurdica subsp eriocalyx

WOS: 000278891800001PubMed ID: 20614804Three known iridoid glycosides, antirrhide (1), antirrhinoside (2), and 5-O-beta-allosylantirrhinoside (3), and two known flavone glycosides, linariin (4"'-O-acetylpectolinarin) (4) and linarin (acacetin-7-O-beta-D-rutinoside) (5) were isolated front Linaria kurdica Boiss & Holten. subsp. eriocalyx The structures of the isolated compounds were established from spectroscopic evidence. Compounds 1-3 showed high inhibitory potential against alpha-glucosidase