Antibacterial Activity of Rubus multibreatus Le’vl Plant Extracts Against Staphylococcus aureus

The genus Rubus is a family of shrubs and mostly edible berries such as rasp berries, blue berries, strawberries. Of the 2208 species, 331 are documented (3,) and about 139 native to China, and being a wild plant, it can grow anywhere except for Antarctica (1) and with a wide variety as well as fairly similar phyto-components(2). Rubus multibreatus is commonly known in China as Da wu pao, its leaves used in teas and to locally treat stomach upsets, haemorrhoids and rheumatism, (1). Over years, due to a variety of intraspecies, it has acquired different synonyms, which include; R.mallodes, R.andropoga, R.clinocephalus, R.pluribracteatus, R.terminalia and R.macroptera (4

Evolution of population with sexual and asexual reproduction in changing environment

Using a lattice model based on Monte Carlo simulations, we study the role of the reproduction pattern on the fate of an evolving population. Each individual is under the selection pressure from the environment and random mutations. The habitat ("climate") is changing periodically. Evolutions of populations following two reproduction patterns are compared, asexual and sexual. We show, via Monte Carlo simulations, that sexual reproduction by keeping more diversified populations gives them better chances to adapt themselves to the changing environment. However, in order to obtain a greater chance to mate, the birth rate should be high. In the case of low birth rate and high mutation probability there is a preference for the asexual reproduction.Comment: 11 pages including figs., for Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 15, issue 2 (2004

Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Exhibit Deficits in Consummatory but Not Anticipatory Pleasure

Background: Reward dysfunctions have been reported in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which implicates a high possibility of anhedonia for this disease. However, several components of anhedonia, such as consummatory and anticipatory pleasure, has not been substantially studied in OCD patients.Methods: The Chinese version of the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (CV-TEPS) was used to evaluate both the consummatory and anticipatory pleasure in 130 OCD patients, 89 major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, and 95 healthy controls (HCs). The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were scored for assessing the severity of obsessive and compulsive symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the differences of anhedonia among the three groups with the severity of depression controlled. Regression analyses were also used to analyze the relationship between consummatory and anticipatory pleasure and clinical variables in OCD patients.Results: After controlling for the effect of depression, there were significant differences in TEPS scores among the three groups (p < 0.05). Compared with HCs, OCD patients had lower scores on the consummatory subscale, but not the anticipatory subscale, of the TEPS. MDD patients had lower scores on both the consummatory and anticipatory subscales than HCs.Conclusion: OCD patients exhibit deficits in consummatory but not anticipatory pleasure, which is distinct from MDD patients

Research progress on deep learning in magnetic resonance imaging–based diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer: a review on the current status and perspectives

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has emerged as a first-line screening and diagnostic tool for prostate cancer, aiding in treatment selection and noninvasive radiotherapy guidance. However, the manual interpretation of MRI data is challenging and time-consuming, which may impact sensitivity and specificity. With recent technological advances, artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) based on MRI data has been applied to prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Among AI techniques, deep learning involving convolutional neural networks contributes to detection, segmentation, scoring, grading, and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer. CAD systems have automatic operation, rapid processing, and accuracy, incorporating multiple sequences of multiparametric MRI data of the prostate gland into the deep learning model. Thus, they have become a research direction of great interest, especially in smart healthcare. This review highlights the current progress of deep learning technology in MRI-based diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The key elements of deep learning-based MRI image processing in CAD systems and radiotherapy of prostate cancer are briefly described, making it understandable not only for radiologists but also for general physicians without specialized imaging interpretation training. Deep learning technology enables lesion identification, detection, and segmentation, grading and scoring of prostate cancer, and prediction of postoperative recurrence and prognostic outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of deep learning can be improved by optimizing models and algorithms, expanding medical database resources, and combining multi-omics data and comprehensive analysis of various morphological data. Deep learning has the potential to become the key diagnostic method in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in the future

Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Water Extract of Galla Chinensis In Vivo

Aim. Pain and inflammation are associated with many diseases in humans and animals. Galla Chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a variety of pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Galla Chinensis through different animal models. Method. The analgesic activities were evaluated by hot-plate and writhing tests. The anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by ear edema, capillary permeability, and paw edema tests. The contents of cytokines (NO, iNOS, PGE2, and IL-10) in serum of rats in paw edema test were inspected by ELISA assays. Results. In the hot-plate test, Galla Chinensis could significantly extend pain threshold when compared to control group. The inhibitory rates of writhes ranged from 36.62% to 68.57% in Galla Chinensis-treated mice. Treatment with Galla Chinensis (1 and 0.5 g/kg) could significantly inhibit ear edema (47.45 and 36.91%, resp.; P < 0.01). Galla Chinensis (1 g/kg) had significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in capillary permeability test (29.04%). In carrageenan-induced edema test, the inhibitory rates were 43.71% and 44.07% (P < 0.01) at 1 h and 2 h after administration of Galla Chinensis (1 g/kg), respectively, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced. Conclusion. These results suggest that Galla Chinensis has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be a candidate drug for the treatment of inflammation and pain

In Vivo

Aim. Dermatophytosis is one of the main fungal diseases in humans and animals all over the world. Galla chinensis, a traditional medicine, has various pharmacological effects. The goal of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of Galla chinensis solution (GCS) on dermatophytosis-infected dogs (Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, resp.). Methods. The treatment effects of GCS were evaluated by mycological cure rates and clinical score comprised of three indices, including inflammation, hair loss, and lesion scale. Results. The results showed that, in the three models of dermatophytosis, GCS significantly (P<0.05) improved skin lesions and fungal eradication. GCS (10% and 5%) had higher efficacy compared to the positive control (Tujingpi Tincture). The fungal eradication efficacy exceeds 85% after treatment with GCS (10%, 5%, and 2.5%) on day 14. Conclusion. The GCS has antidermatophytosis effect in dogs, which may be a candidate drug for the treatment of dermatophytosis

Unleashing novel horizons in advanced prostate cancer treatment: investigating the potential of prostate specific membrane antigen-targeted nanomedicine-based combination therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignancy with increasing incidence in middle-aged and older men. Despite various treatment options, advanced metastatic PCa remains challenging with poor prognosis and limited effective therapies. Nanomedicine, with its targeted drug delivery capabilities, has emerged as a promising approach to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) stands as one of the most distinctive and highly selective biomarkers for PCa, exhibiting robust expression in PCa cells. In this review, we explore the applications of PSMA-targeted nanomedicines in advanced PCa management. Our primary objective is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge nanomedicine research and clinical practice, making it accessible to the medical community. We discuss mainstream treatment strategies for advanced PCa, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, in the context of PSMA-targeted nanomedicines. Additionally, we elucidate novel treatment concepts such as photodynamic and photothermal therapies, along with nano-theragnostics. We present the content in a clear and accessible manner, appealing to general physicians, including those with limited backgrounds in biochemistry and bioengineering. The review emphasizes the potential benefits of PSMA-targeted nanomedicines in enhancing treatment efficiency and improving patient outcomes. While the use of PSMA-targeted nano-drug delivery has demonstrated promising results, further investigation is required to comprehend the precise mechanisms of action, pharmacotoxicity, and long-term outcomes. By meticulous optimization of the combination of nanomedicines and PSMA ligands, a novel horizon of PSMA-targeted nanomedicine-based combination therapy could bring renewed hope for patients with advanced PCa

Roadmap on optical security

Information security and authentication are important challenges facing society. Recent attacks by hackers on the databases of large commercial and financial companies have demonstrated that more research and development of advanced approaches are necessary to deny unauthorized access to critical data. Free space optical technology has been investigated by many researchers in information security, encryption, and authentication. The main motivation for using optics and photonics for information security is that optical waveforms possess many complex degrees of freedom such as amplitude, phase, polarization, large bandwidth, nonlinear transformations, quantum properties of photons, and multiplexing that can be combined in many ways to make information encryption more secure and more difficult to attack. This roadmap article presents an overview of the potential, recent advances, and challenges of optical security and encryption using free space optics. The roadmap on optical security is comprised of six categories that together include 16 short sections written by authors who have made relevant contributions in this field. The first category of this roadmap describes novel encryption approaches, including secure optical sensing which summarizes double random phase encryption applications and flaws [Yamaguchi], the digital holographic encryption in free space optical technique which describes encryption using multidimensional digital holography [Nomura], simultaneous encryption of multiple signals [Pérez-Cabré], asymmetric methods based on information truncation [Nishchal], and dynamic encryption of video sequences [Torroba]. Asymmetric and one-way cryptosystems are analyzed by Peng. The second category is on compression for encryption. In their respective contributions, Alfalou and Stern propose similar goals involving compressed data and compressive sensing encryption. The very important area of cryptanalysis is the topic of the third category with two sections: Sheridan reviews phase retrieval algorithms to perform different attacks, whereas Situ discusses nonlinear optical encryption techniques and the development of a rigorous optical information security theory. The fourth category with two contributions reports how encryption could be implemented at the nano- or micro-scale. Naruse discusses the use of nanostructures in security applications and Carnicer proposes encoding information in a tightly focused beam. In the fifth category, encryption based on ghost imaging using single-pixel detectors is also considered. In particular, the authors [Chen, Tajahuerce] emphasize the need for more specialized hardware and image processing algorithms. Finally, in the sixth category, Mosk and Javidi analyze in their corresponding papers how quantum imaging can benefit optical encryption systems. Sources that use few photons make encryption systems much more difficult to attack, providing a secure method for authentication.Centro de Investigaciones ÓpticasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica