Wheat Antioxidants, Their Role in Bakery Industry, and Health Perspective

Wheat grains and its fractions contain significant level of antioxidant activity and many phytochemicals, such as phenolic acids (ferulic and vanillic acids), carotenoids, and tocopherol are beneficial in curing many disorders. The beneficial phytochemicals are mostly present in aleurone fraction of wheat bran. The phytochemicals and antioxidants present in wheat have several health benefits, such as their ability to act as antioxidants, immunoenhancers, and inhibitors of certain lesions, which have been demonstrated for phenolic. Many wheat antioxidants are similar to the antioxidants present in wheat, but their characteristics are also unique in nature. The regular consumption of these antioxidant compounds in whole grains is associated with a reduced risk of many heart diseases and several forms of cancers and improves the regulation of blood glucose. Wheat antioxidants play a vital role in bakery industry mostly in bread industry. People are getting aware to use the bakery products that are prepared from the white flour due to proper nutrition, healthy lifestyle, improved nutritional composition, and functional properties. In nutshell, wheat antioxidants including phytochemicals synergistically improve the health status of consumers by consuming the products having complete nutrition

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Determinants of The Return on Cryptocurrencies

The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo

Determinants of The Return on Cryptocurrencies

The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo

Design and analysis of Gold-nanowires based multi-channel SPR sensor

This research reports the simultaneous multi-analyte sensing capabilities of a d-shaped multi-channel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. Three channels are truncated in a U-shaped pattern at the side-polished surface of the d-shaped three-core fiber. Three Gold-nanowires (AuNWs) are positioned at the bottom of each sensing channel. To examine the SPR sensor's multi-channel characteristics, a finite element method (FEM) is applied. In order to detect a variety of analytes, y-polarized modes-multiplexing is used, which offers a sufficient wavelength range. At an infiltrated refractive index (RI) of 1.35, 1.38, and 1.41, respectively, the maximal RI sensitivities of c-1 (channel-one), c-2 (channel-two), and c-3 (channel-three) are found as 7,611 nm/RIU, 5,128 nm/RIU, and 12,974 nm/RIU, respectively. Moreover, the sensing structure with three external sensing channels is being demonstrated first time, to the best of our knowledge, using multicore fiber for the detection and discrimination of three different analytes simultaneously. According to expectations, the proposed sensor may be helpful for the detection of a wide range of chemicals and bio-analytes

Biosurfactant production through Bacillus sp MTCC 5877 and its multifarious applications in food industry

In this study Bacillus sp. MTCC5877 was explored for the production of biosurfactant (BSs) and various carbon sources 1% (w/v), 0.5% (w/v) nitrogen sources were tested at different pH, and temperature. Yield was measured in terms of Emulsification index (EI), Oil Displacement Area (ODA) and Drop Collapse Area (DCA) and maximum emulsification activities of BSs were found (E-24) 50%, 76% and 46%, respectively, and maximum ODA of 5.0, 6.2 and 4.7 cm, were shown respectively. The BS was able to reduce the surface tension of water from 72 to 30 mN/m and 72 to 32 mN/m. Structural compositions of BS were confirmed by FTIR, GC-MS and NMR. Anti-adhesive property of BS was determined and found effective against biofilm formation. It could remove 73% Cd from vegetable which confirms its application in food industry. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The role of predictive and prognostic values of inflammatory markers in acute pancreatitis: a narrative review

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the pancreas and is classified into 2 types, acute and chronic, which can manifest in various forms. This review article summarizes the role of predictive and prognostic values of inflammatory markers in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, mainly focused on preclinical and clinical studies. It includes serum amyloid A (SAA), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-10, myeloperoxidase, pentraxin 3, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1. SAA3 plays a crucial role in developing acute pancreatitis by triggering a receptor-interacting protein 3–dependent necroptosis pathway in acinar cells. Targeting SAA3 could be a potential strategy for treating acute pancreatitis. The recruitment of monocytes/macrophages and the activation of the systemic MCP-1 signaling pathway play a role in the progression of pancreatitis, and blocking MCP-1 may have a suppressive effect on the development of pancreatic fibrosis. The ESR can predict severe acute pancreatitis with slightly lower accuracy than CRP. When ESR and CRP levels are combined at 24 hours, they predict severe acute pancreatitis accurately. IL-6 plays a crucial role in activating the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of the transcription pathway, exacerbating pancreatitis and contributing to the initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer. Endogenous IL-10 plays a crucial role in controlling the regenerative phase and limiting the severity of fibrosis and glandular atrophy induced by repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis in mice. The predictive and diagnostic roles of these inflammatory factors in pancreatitis were introduced in detail in this review