TESTING ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF N-HEXANE BANANA PEEL (Musa paradisiaca L.) EXTRACT WITH DPPH METHOD

               Seiring kemajuan zaman, antioksidan sebagai penangkal radikal bebas semakin banyak diteliti. Salah satu sumber pangan yang pantas diteliti ialah kulit pisang kepok (Musa paradisiaca L.). Pisang kepok adalah buah yang sangat sering dikonsumsi di Indonesia, dan merupakan pisang yang paling banyak diolah menjadi produk makanan lain, namun kulitnya dianggap sebagai limbah. Tujuan dari penelitian eksperimental ini ialah mengidentifikasi keberadaan senyawa fitokimia dan aktivitas antioksidan dari kulit pisang kepok menggunakan pelarut n-Heksana. Sampel yang digunakan adalah dalam konsentrasi 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm, 400 ppm, dan 500 ppm. Metode ekstraksi dilakukan dengan maserasi menggunakan 2 liter n-Heksana 96% untuk mendapatkan maserat yang kemudian diuapkan di suhu 60-70°C didalam rotary evaporator sampai didapatkan ekstrak yang kental. Pengujian meliputi skrining fitokimia dan uji aktivitas antioksidan dengan metode pemerangkapan radikal bebas 2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH). Hasil penelitian uji skrining fitokimia ditemukan metabolit sekunder glikosida, serta hasil pengukuran aktivitas peredaman DPPH ditemukan nilai IC50 sebesar 1892,87 ppm yaitu tidak memenuhi syarat sebagai antioksidan. Maka, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kulit pisang kepok memiliki aktifitas antioksidan yang sangat lemah. Kata kunci: Antioksidan; Kulit pisang kepok; n-Heksana Abstract In these modern days, antioxidant is constantly studied for its ability to combat free radicals. One possible source of it is banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) peel. Banana is very widely consumed in Indonesia, and is very commonly processed into other food products, meanwhile the peel is regarded as waste. This experimental study objective is to identify the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity from banana peel, using n-Hexane as the extraction solvent. Sample used are in concentration of 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm, 400 ppm, and 500 ppm. Extraction is done with maceration using 2 liters of 96% n-Hexane to produce macerate which is then heated to 60-70°C in a rotary evaporator until a thick extract is formed. Analysis include screening for phytochemicals and testing of antioxidant activity using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. Study results show presence of the secondary metabolite glycoside, and from the DPPH scavenging activity, IC50 of banana peel is 1892.87 ppm, which is not regarded to have antioxidant property. Therefore, banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) peel is considered to have very weak antioxidant activity.

Artificial Intelligence for Computer-Assisted Diagnosis of Hyperplasia in Atlantic Salmon Gill Histology Images

Measuring hyperplasia in Atlantic salmon gills can provide valuable insights into fish health. In this study, we propose an innovative technique for classifying histology images to identify regions of hyperplasia. Our pipeline utilises novel signal processing techniques in conjunction with prototypical deep learning methods to analyse image texture. We hypothesise and demonstrate that our method effectively captures distinct features of gill histopathology whole-slide images, thereby enhancing the classification task. Compared to conventional deep learning methods, our hybrid approach exhibits exceptional performance in speed and accuracy. When further developed, the concept can support conventional histopathological assessment by providing a computer-assisted hyperplasia score as an objective quantitative histopathological endpoint. The workflow is translatable to other gill conditions and histopathology images beyond gills

Artificial Intelligence for Computer-Assisted Diagnosis of Hyperplasia in Atlantic Salmon Gill Histology Images

Measuring hyperplasia in Atlantic salmon gills can provide valuable insights into fish health. In this study, we propose an innovative technique for classifying histology images to identify regions of hyperplasia. Our pipeline utilises novel signal processing techniques in conjunction with prototypical deep learning methods to analyse image texture. We hypothesise and demonstrate that our method effectively captures distinct features of gill histopathology whole-slide images, thereby enhancing the classification task. Compared to conventional deep learning methods, our hybrid approach exhibits exceptional performance in speed and accuracy. When further developed, the concept can support conventional histopathological assessment by providing a computer-assisted hyperplasia score as an objective quantitative histopathological endpoint. The workflow is translatable to other gill conditions and histopathology images beyond gills

Social representations of COVID-19 vaccines: exploration of user-generated comments via online video sharing during the first year of the pandemic

The current study aimed to explore the public understanding of COVID-19 vaccines and the social representations emerging from a corpus of user-generated comments on YouTube videos posted during the year following the World Health Organization's declaration of the novel coronavirus as pandemic. We used Structural Topic Modelling to process the text and identified a 10-topic solution as the best to represent the corpus of text data. The exploration of the topics showed a complex landscape of social representations underlying a plurality of perspectives, which we interpreted as reflecting different users’ needs to make sense of the unprecedented events. Implications for theory, future research, and intervention for health psychology and policy are discussed

Epigenetic and genetic landscape of uterine leiomyomas: a current view over a common gynecological disease

Purpose: Despite the numerous studies on the factors involved in the genesis and growth of uterine leiomyomas, the pathogenesis of these tumors remains unknown. Intrinsic abnormalities of the myometrium, abnormal myometrial receptors for estrogen, and hormonal changes or altered responses to ischemic damage during the menstrual period may be responsible for the initiation of (epi)genetic changes found in these tumors. Considering these elements, we aimed to offer an overview about epigenetic and genetic landscape of uterine leiomyomas. Methods: Narrative overview, synthesizing the findings of literature retrieved from searches of computerized databases. Results: Several studies showed that leiomyomas have a monoclonal origin. Accumulating evidence converges on the risk factors and mechanisms of tumorigenesis: the translocation t (12;14) and deletion of 7q were found in the highest percentages of recurrence; dysregulation of the HMGA2 gene has been mapped within the critical 12q14-q15 locus. Estrogen and progesterone are recognized as promoters of tumor growth, and the potential role of environmental estrogens has been poorly explored. The growth factors with mitogenic activity, such as transforming growth factor-β3, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I are elevated in fibroids and may have a role as effectors of the tumor promotion. Conclusion: The new clues on genetics and epigenetics, as well as about the growth factors that control normal and pathological myometrial cellular biology may be of great help for the development of new effective and less invasive therapeutic strategies in the near future

Risk assessment and suicide by patients with schizophrenia in secondary mental healthcare: a case-control study

Objectives: To investigate the role of risk assessment in predicting suicide in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) receiving secondary mental healthcare. We postulated that risk assessment plays a limited role in predicting suicide in these patients. Design: Retrospective case–control study. Setting: Anonymised electronic mental health record data from the South London and Maudsley National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust (SLaM) (London, UK) linked with national mortality data. Participants: In 242 227 SLaM service users up to 31 December 2013, 635 suicides were identified. 96 (15.1%) had a SSD diagnosis. Those who died before 1 January 2007 (n=25) were removed from the analyses. Thus, 71 participants with SSD who died from suicide over the study period (cases) were compared with 355 controls. Main outcome measure: Risk of suicide in relation to risk assessment ratings. Results: Cases were younger at first contact with services (mean±SD 34.5±12.6 vs 39.2±15.2) and with a higher preponderance of males (OR=2.07, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.65, p=0.01) than controls. Also, suicide occurred within 10 days after last contact with services in half of cases, with the most common suicide methods being hanging (14) and jumping (13). Cases were more likely to have the following ‘risk assessment’ items previously recorded: suicidal history (OR=4.42, 95% CI 2.01 to 9.65, p<0.001), use of violent method (OR=3.37, 95% CI 1.47 to 7.74, p=0.01), suicidal ideation (OR=3.57, 95% CI 1.40 to 9.07, p=0.01) and recent hospital discharge (OR=2.71, 95% CI 1.17 to 6.28, p=0.04). Multiple regression models predicted only 21.5% of the suicide outcome variance. Conclusions: Predicting suicide in schizophrenia is highly challenging due to the high prevalence of risk factors within this diagnostic group irrespective of outcome, including suicide. Nevertheless, older age at first contact with mental health services and lack of suicidal history and suicidal ideation are useful protective markers indicative of those less likely to end their own lives

Anisakiasis and gastroallergic reactions associated with Anisakis pegreffii infection, Italy.

Human cases of gastric anisakiasis caused by the zoonotic parasite Anisakis pegreffii are increasing in Italy. The disease is caused by ingestion of larval nematodes in lightly cooked or raw seafood. Because symptoms are vague and serodiagnosis is difficult, the disease is often misdiagnosed and cases are understimated

QUANTIFICATION OF RESIDUAL CLOVE OIL, BENZOCAINE AND TRICAINE IN FISH FILLETS USING SPE AND UPLC-DAD

Residual quantification of the anesthetics clove oil (CO) – isoeugenol (ISO), eugenol (EUG) and methyleugenol (MET) –,benzocaine (BZN) and tricaine (MS-222) was made in fillets of two fish species: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and acatfish hybrid, cachadia (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x Leiarius marmoratus). Samples (n=4) of each fish wereevaluated after submitted to anesthesia in five dosages defined based on the induction time of each species afterdepuration times (0h, 12h, 24h and 48h). Different methodologies of sample preparation were tested and selectedaccording to the better recovery. The quantification of anesthetics was performed by UPLC-DAD. The variance of residualmeans among anesthetics, dosages and fish species was compared. After anesthesia (0h) both species, tilapia andcachadia, presented residual anesthetics. Fishes depurated during 12h, 24h and 48h did not present detectable values, itmeans, values were below the limits of detection. BZN presented the highest mean residual concentration for tilapia andcachadia (p=0.01), while MS-222 presented the lowest residual amounts in tilapias and EUG in cachadias, what may berelated to the metabolism and carcass composition of each fish species. There were no significant differences among thefive dosages, except the lowest MS-222 concentration in tilapias that resulted in higher residual concentrations becauselow dosages increase the induction time and consequently the permanence of the fish in anesthesia. Ultimately, meanvalues of residues in cachadia were higher than in tilapia, and MS-222 and EUG presented the lowest residual values fortilapia and cachadia, respectively

Bipolar disorder and age-related functional impairment

OBJECTIVE: Although bipolar disorder is a major contributor to functional impairment worldwide, an independent impact of bipolar disorder and ageing on functioning has yet to be demonstrated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of bipolar disorder on age-related functional status using matched controls as a standard. METHOD: One-hundred patients with bipolar disorder and matched controls were evaluated for disability. Age-related effects controlled for confounders were cross-sectionally evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were significantly more impaired than controls. Regression showed effects for aging in both groups. The effect, size, however, was significantly stronger in patients. CONCLUSION: Bipolar disorder was an important effect modifier of the age impact on functioning. While a longitudinal design is needed to effectively demonstrate this different impact, this study further depicts bipolar disorder as a chronic and progressively impairing illness