Addition of rice bran arabinoxylan to curcumin therapy may be of benefit to patients with early-stage B-cell lymphoid malignancies (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, or stage 0/1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia): a preliminary clinical study

Hypothesis. Prior studies on patients with early B-cell lymphoid malignancies suggest that early intervention with curcumin may lead to delay in progressive disease and prolonged survival. These patients are characterized by increased susceptibility to infections. Rice bran arabinoxylan (Ribraxx) has been shown to have immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, and proapoptotic effects. We postulated that addition of Ribraxx to curcumin therapy may be of benefit. Study design. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)/smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) or stage 0/1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who had been on oral curcumin therapy for a period of 6 months or more were administered both curcumin (as Curcuforte) and Ribraxx. Methods. Ten MGUS/SMM patients and 10 patients with stage 0/1 CLL were administered 6 g of curcumin and 2 g Ribraxx daily. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 2-month intervals for a period of 6 months, and various markers were monitored. MGUS/SMM patients included full blood count (FBC); paraprotein; free light chains/ratio; C-reactive protein (CRP)and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); B2 microglobulin and immunological markers. Markers monitored for stage 0/1 CLL were FBC, CRP and ESR, and immunological markers. Results. Of 10 MGUS/SMM patients,5 (50%) were neutropenic at baseline, and the Curcuforte/Ribraxx combination therapy showed an increased neutrophil count, varying between 10% and 90% among 8 of the 10 (80%) MGUS/SMM patients. An additional benefit of the combination therapy was the potent effect in reducing the raised ESR in 4 (44%) of the MGUS/SMM patients. Conclusion. Addition of Ribraxx to curcumin therapy may be of benefit to patients with early-stage B-cell lymphoid malignancies

Preparation of magnetic tips for spin-polarized STM on Fe_{1+y}Te

The interplay of electronic nematic modulations, magnetic order, superconductivity and structural distortions in strongly correlated electron materials calls for methods which allow characterizing them simultaneously - to allow establishing directly the relationship between these different phenomena. Spin-polarized STM enables studying both, electronic excitations as well as magnetic structure in the same measurement at the atomic scale. Here we demonstrate preparation of magnetic tips, both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic, on single crystals of FeTe. This opens up preparation of spin-polarized tips without the need for sophisticated ultra-high vacuum preparation

Effect of the Ginger Derivative, 6-Shogaol, on Ferritin Levels in Patients With Low to Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome-A Small, Investigative Study

Background: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous group of clonal stem cell disorders characterized by dysplastic and ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenias. Elevated serum ferritin (SF) is often observed in nontransfused, lower risk MDS. It has been reported that ineffective erythropoiesis enhances iron absorption in MDS through downregulation of hepcidin and its prohormones such that SF rises. Aim: To determine the effect of 6-shogaol, a dehydration derivative of ginger, known to have hepatoprotective and chemotherapeutic activity, on 6 early-stage, transfusion-independent patients with MDS, 3 of whom had raised levels of SF. Method: Six patients with MDS with low or intermediate-1 subtypes, as defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), were recruited into the study and were administered 1 gel capsule daily containing 20 mg ginger extract standardized for 20% 6-shogaol. Blood and urine samples were collected and various markers monitored at regular intervals. Results: 6-shogaol caused a decrease in SF levels in 3 of 6 patients with early MDS (50%) whose SF levels were elevated at the start of the study. Our findings suggest upregulation of hepcidin and its prohormones, possibly through an improvement in liver function. Discussion: In light of the encouraging results in this small, investigative study, we are planning a larger study to confirm the beneficial effect of 6-shogaol in patients with raised ferritin levels due to ineffective erythropoiesis

Quantification and stress degradation studies of cefepime/tazobactam in dry injection form by an RP-HPLC method

Desenvolveu-se método específico, preciso, exato, linear, rápido e econômico, de validação de estabilidade, indicando o método de CLAE-FR para a quantificação simultânea de cefepima e tazobactam na forma de dosagem injetável seca. A separação foi realizada em coluna C18 de ACE 5 mM com tampão fosfato, pH ajustado para 4,5 com ácido fosfórico:metanol (70:30), em fluxo de 1 mL/min e temperatura de 25 °C. A análise de regressão mostrou linearidade no detector de comprimento de onda de 290 nm, na faixa de 200-600 μg/mL, para cefepima, e 25-75 μg/mL, para tazobactam. Todos os analitos foram, adequadamente, resolvidos com cauda aceitável. O teor percentual encontrado na formulação parenteral foi de 99,98%, para cefepima, e de 99,49%, para o tazobactam. O método foi validado em termos de linearidade, precisão, exatidão, especificidade, robustez e adequação do sistema de acordo com as diretrizes ICH. Estudos de degradação por estresse foram realizados no grupo placebo e nos medicamentos e os fármacos de interesse foram bem resolvidos a partir dos produtos de degradação. O método desenvolvido foi efetivamente aplicado para quantificação simultânea de cefepima e tazobactam na formulação injetável seca.A simple, specific, precise, accurate, linear, rapid, economic and validated stability indicating an RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of cefepime and tazobactam in a dry injection dosage form has been developed. Separation was performed on a 5 µm ACE C18 column with phosphate buffer, pH adjusted to 4.5 with phosphoric acid: methanol (70:30) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and at a temperature of 25 °C. Regression analysis showed linearity at a detector wavelength of 290 nm in the range of 200-600 μg/mL for cefepime and 25-75 μg/mL for tazobactam. All of the analytes were adequately resolved with acceptable tailing. The percentage content found for cefepime was 99.98% and of tazobactam was 99.49% in the parenteral formulation. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness and system suitability according to ICH guidelines. Stress degradation studies were performed on the placebo and drug products, drugs of interest were well resolved from the degradation products. The developed method was effectively applied for the simultaneous quantification of cefepime and tazobactam in a dry injection formulation

Protective effect of bischalcone derivative in Drosophila melanogaster against electron beam radiation

In this paper the protective effect of (2E, 5E) – 2,5-bis (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzylidene) cyclopentanone bischalcone derivative (Curcumin analogue, CA), on electron beam radiation induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster adult flies. Curcumin (CU) was taken as standard. The CA pre treated and irradiated flies were screened for wing shape abnormalities in F1 and F2 generations. There was considerable decrease in the wing shape abnormality frequency in the case of CA fed irradiated flies compared to control

Development of Engineered Ceramic Matrix Composites

No abstract availabl

Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma and Short Course of Corticosteroids in Patients with COVID-19

This study reported the efficacy of short course corticosteroids and convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion in treating five patients with severe COVID-19 disease. Five adults (mean age: 70 ± 9 years) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 [P/F]\u3c100) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation received 5-days methylprednisolone (40 mg intravenously every 12 hours) and subsequent CP transfusion (250-400 ml). Compared with the baseline, P/F ratios increased by 46% and by 28% after short course corticosteroids and CP transfusion. Four patients survived. Short course corticosteroids and CP transfusion may improve hypoxemia in patients with severe COVID-19 disease

Advances in materials informatics: A review

Materials informatics (MI) is aimed to accelerate the materials discovery using computational intelligence and data science. Progress of MI depends on the strength of database and artificial intelligence protocols comprising machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) frameworks. Conventional ML models are simple and interpretable, relying on statistical techniques and algorithms to learn patterns and make predictions with limited data. Conversely, DL, an advancement of ML, employs mathematical neural networks to automatically extract features and handle intricate data at the cost of data size and computational complexity. This work aims to provide a state-of-the-art understanding of the tools, data sources and techniques used in MI and their benefits and challenges. We evaluate the growth of MI through its subfields and track the main path of its advancement for artificial intelligence-driven materials discovery. The advancements in computational intelligence via machine learning and deep learning algorithms in different fields of materials science are discussed. As a specific example, understanding of materials properties using microstructural images is reviewed. Future demands and research prospects in materials science utilizing materials informatics have also been comprehensively analyzed

Overview of ceramic matrix composite research at NASA Glenn Research Center

In support of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission, the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH, has been developing and assessing the performance of high temperature SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), both with and without protective coatings, for turbine engine applications. Combinations of highly creep-resistant SiC fibers, advanced 3D weaves, durable environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), and a 2700°F-capable hybrid SiC matrix have been evaluated. The effects of steam and thermal gradients on composite durability and means of monitoring and modeling damage are also being investigated. Additional studies focused on understanding the creep of SiC fibers and the behavior of SiC/SiC minicomposites that are being tested under a range of conditions are helping GRC model the thermomechanical behavior of SiC/SiC CMCs. Higher TRL (Technology Readiness Level) testing is being pursued, and SiC/SiC composites with alternate matrices providing self-healing capability are being explored. An overview of those studies will be provided. The development and validation of models for predicting the effects of the environment on the durability of CMCs and EBCs and other operating-environment challenges including the effect of CMAS (calcium magnesium aluminosilicate) degradation of EBCs will be discussed. Previous oxide/oxide composite development efforts will also be reviewed