scholarly journals A Newfangled Collagenase Inhibitor Topical Formulation Based on Ethosomes with Sambucus nigra L. Extract

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 467
Author(s):  
Ana Henriques Mota ◽  
Inês Prazeres ◽  
Henrique Mestre ◽  
Andreia Bento-Silva ◽  
Maria João Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Release Profile ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Topical Formulation ◽  
Sambucus Nigra ◽  
Western Asia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Sambucus nigra L. (S. nigra) is a shrub widespread in Europe and western Asia, traditionally used in medicine, that has become popular in recent years as a potential source of a wide range of interesting bioactive compounds. The aim of the present work was to develop a topical S. nigra extract formulation based on ethosomes and thus to support its health claims with scientific evidence. S. nigra extract was prepared by an ultrasound-assisted method and then included in ethosomes. The ethosomes were analyzed in terms of their size, stability over time, morphology, entrapment capacity (EC), extract release profile, stability over time and several biological activities. The prepared ethosomes were indicated to be well defined, presenting sizes around 600 nm. The extract entrapment capacity in ethosomes was 73.9 ± 24.8%, with an interesting slow extract release profile over 24 h. The extract-loaded ethosomes presented collagenase inhibition activity and a very good skin compatibility after human application. This study demonstrates the potential use of S. nigra extract incorporated in ethosomes as a potential cosmeceutical ingredient and on further studies should be performed to better understand the impact of S. nigra compounds on skin care over the time.

scholarly journals Good practice for guidance development – review of consensus methods

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-229
Author(s):  
Jacek Siwiec ◽  
Magdalena Konieczna ◽  
Magdalena Koperny
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Formal Methods ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Consensus Conference ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Consensus Methods ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. The process of synthesizing scientific evidence and translating elaborate scientific research findings into recommendations for clinical practice is one of the most complex and significant initiatives in health care. In connection with the increasing number of recommendations, previously unformalised elements such as the process of consensus decision-making require developing a methodological approach. The use of consensus methods serves to reduce the impact of psychosocial factors in the formulation of recommendations and to increase the degree of process transparency. The aim of the publication is to present formal methods of achieving consensus used in the process of developing clinical practice guidelines. Materials and methods. The review focuses on results of reports analyzing the procedure and methods of developing clinical recommendations, with particular emphasis on the identification of consensus methods. Results. Many international and national organizations and institutions develop recommendations or adapt guidelines developed by others. They use both informal and formal instruments to deal with divergent expert opinions. The most popular formal methods of achieving consensus identified in the review are the Delphi method, the nominal group technique, the RAND/UCLA method, the consensus conference, and the combinations of individual approaches. Formal methods have been shown to lead to less biased and more reliable recommendations. Regardless of the method used, the guidelines should clearly define the quorum and document the process of agreeing a common standpoint on recommendations, guidelines and recommendations. Conclusions. Clinical guidelines have become an important tool influencing clinical practice. The participation of many experts representing the opinions and interests of different groups makes it necessary to apply a methodological and structured approach so that all participants have the opportunity to voice their opinion and to ensure process transparency, deal with misunderstandings and achieve a consensual position. The consensus methods allow to provide a wide range of stakeholders clinicians, policy makers, patients – with agreed rules of conduct in a given topic. The formal consensus methods and recommendations based on these methods combine scientific evidence with the practice and experience of experts.

scholarly journals In-Vitro Evaluation of Biological Activity of New Series of 1, 3, 4-Oxadiazole Derivatives Against Bap Gene Expression in Acinetobacter bumanni Biofilm

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedigheh Akbarnezhad Ghareh Lar ◽  
Nakisa Zarrabi Ahrabi ◽  
Yasin SarveAhrabi
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Bacterial Biofilm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oxadiazole Derivatives ◽  
The Impact

Background: Acinetobacter bumanni is one of the most common opportunistic pathogens in health centers that is resistant to many antibiotics due to biofilm production. 1, 3, 4-oxadiazoles have a wide range of biological activities. Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the impact of new 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole derivatives on the expression of biofilm-associated surface protein (Bap), playing an important role in promoting the biofilm formation ability of A. baumannii strains. Methods: Derivatives of 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole were synthesized through a one-step synthesis. A. baumannii strains were identified and isolated in the laboratory. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesized materials against the isolated strains were investigated. DNA, RNA, and cDNA were extracted, and the relative expression of BAP gene in A. baumannii isolates was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The compound with methoxyphenyl functional group with MIC = 62.50 mg/mL had the best inhibitory performance among all derivatives. Also, the combination of 4i reduced the expression of the Bap gene by about 24 times, but it had no effect on the expression of the 16srRNA housekeeping gene. Conclusions: 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole derivatives, especially the methoxyphenyl functional group, act as an inhibitor of bacterial biofilm formation and have the potential to be used in the pharmaceutical and biological industries.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Biological Activity of a New Series of Oxadiazole Compounds Against Esp Gene Expression in Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Ghameshlouei ◽  
Nakisa Zarrabi Ahrabi ◽  
Yasin SarveAhrabi
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Bacterial Biofilm ◽  
Receptor Binding Site ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oxadiazole Derivatives ◽  
The Impact

Background: The enterococcal surface protein (Esp) is a high-molecular-weight surface protein of biofilm creating agent in Enterococcus faecalis. Oxadiazoles have a wide range of biological activities. Objective: This research aimed to examine the impact of new oxadiazole derivatives on the expression of Esp, playing an important role in promoting the biofilm formation ability of drug-resistant E. faecalis strains. Method: 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized through a one-step synthesis. E. faecalis strains were collected and isolated from hospitals in Tehran. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesized materials against the isolated strains were investigated. RNA, DNA, and cDNA were extracted, and the relative expression of Esp in E. faecalis isolates was evaluated by real-time PCR. Docking study was performed by AutoDock vina software, and the resulting docking poses were analyzed using Discovery Studio 4.5 Client software. Results: The use of synthesized derivatives changed the Esp expression level in different isolates compared to the control sample. The two compounds containing naphthalene (4f) and methoxyphenyl (4g) caused respectively a 2-fold and a 3-fold decrease in Esp expression compared to the control sample. The compound 4f with the best binding energy among the compounds (-9.2) had the most hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds with the receptor-binding site. Conclusions: 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole derivatives, especially naphthalene and methoxyphenyl, act as inhibitors of bacterial biofilm formation and can be used in the pharmaceutical and biological industries.

scholarly journals No Need to Choose: Robust Bayesian Meta-Analysis with Competing Publication Bias Adjustment Methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
František Bartoš ◽  
Maximilian Maier ◽  
Eric-Jan Wagenmakers ◽  
Hristos Doucouliagos ◽  
T D Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Publication Bias ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Bias Adjustment ◽  
Model Average ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Data Generating Process ◽  
The Impact

Publication bias is a ubiquitous threat to the validity of meta-analysis and the accumulation of scientific evidence. In order to estimate and counteract the impact of publication bias, multiple methods have been developed; however, recent simulation studies have shown the methods’ performance to depend on the true data generating process – no method consistently outperforms the others across a wide range of conditions. To avoid the condition-dependent, all-or-none choice between competing methods we extend robust Bayesian meta-analysis and model-average across two prominent approaches of adjusting for publication bias: (1) selection models of p-values and (2) models of the relationship between effect sizes and their standard errors. The resulting estimator weights the models with the support they receive from the existing research record. Applications, simulations, and comparisons to preregistered, multi-lab replications demonstrate the benefits of Bayesian model-averaging of competing publication bias adjustment methods.

scholarly journals Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities of Postbiotics: A review of Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 2629-2645
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Fermentation Process ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Improve Health

Several scientific evidence has shown the advantageous effects of probiotic-derived metabolites on human health. Postbiotics are a wide range of bioactive compounds derived from probiotics through a fermentation process and/or produced in pure forms in laboratory scales. These compounds have native biological activities that have been extensively studied in recent years. Immunomodulation, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and reduction of food allergies compose the most important biological roles of postbiotics. In terms of safety, it has been confirmed that postbiotics, as potential substitute elements, might be superior to their parent live cells. Also, due to their appropriate economic, technological, and clinical features, they could be employed as favorable apparatuses in the food and drug industry to improve health benefits. This review comprehensively discusses the concept of postbiotics and their characteristics, emphasizing their potential antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

scholarly journals Improving the visual communication of environmental model projections

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley J. Bannister ◽  
Paul G. Blackwell ◽  
Kieran Hyder ◽  
Thomas J. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Box Plots ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractEnvironmental and ecosystem models can help to guide management of changing natural systems by projecting alternative future states under a common set of scenarios. Combining contrasting models into multi-model ensembles (MMEs) can improve the skill and reliability of projections, but associated uncertainty complicates communication of outputs, affecting both the effectiveness of management decisions and, sometimes, public trust in scientific evidence itself. Effective data visualisation can play a key role in accurately communicating such complex outcomes, but we lack an evidence base to enable us to design them to be visually appealing whilst also effectively communicating accurate information. To address this, we conducted a survey to identify the most effective methods for visually communicating the outputs of an ensemble of global climate models. We measured the accuracy, confidence, and ease with which the survey participants were able to interpret 10 visualisations depicting the same set of model outputs in different ways, as well as their preferences. Dot and box plots outperformed all other visualisations, heat maps and radar plots were comparatively ineffective, while our infographic scored highly for visual appeal but lacked information necessary for accurate interpretation. We provide a set of guidelines for visually communicating the outputs of MMEs across a wide range of research areas, aimed at maximising the impact of the visualisations, whilst minimizing the potential for misinterpretations, increasing the societal impact of the models and ensuring they are well-placed to support management in the future.

AN INSIGHT INTO AYURVEDA DIETETICS TO FIGHT THE IMPACT OF ABNORMAL DIETARY HABITS ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH: A CRITICAL REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
Jyotsna Thakur ◽  
Sameet Masand
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Food Quantity ◽  
Menstrual Health ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Menstrual health is fundamental to women’s sexual and reproductive health. Diet constitutes the life of living beings and influences the human lifestyle as well as individual quality of life. Dietary habits and choices play a significant role during adolescence for normal functioning of reproductive potential and significantly affect menstrual functioning in young women. In today’s era, over consumption of high calorie dense food popularly called as junk food, disordered eating habits, meal skipping are major causes of menstrual disorders which are on increasing trend amongst teenagers. These abnormal eating habits have carved up the developing nations and posing great threat to human health. Only way to cope up with this nutritional pandemic is to focus on Ayurveda dietetics which not only emphasizes on nutritional value of food but even places greater emphasis on type of food, quantity, digestive capacity, dietary customs, habitat, food processing, meal intake timings etc. for the promotion of positive health and prevention and management of wide range of ailments. It is imperative to reinvigorate the ancient science of dietetics to obtain its prime benefits for mankind. Knowledge emphasizing about the eating habits, nutritional diet, disadvantages of unhealthy foods, their impact and preventive measures should be given to create awareness and render health education for a change towards healthy eating practices. Therefore, this review summarizes the ancient and current scientific evidence on association between dietary habits and reproductive potential as well as preventive management approach through Ayurveda.

scholarly journals Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides in Human Health: Challenges and Opportunities

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhadeep Chakrabarti ◽  
Snigdha Guha ◽  
Kaustav Majumder
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Peptides ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Bioactive Peptide ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Physiological Functions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Production Techniques

Recent scientific evidence suggests that food proteins not only serve as nutrients, but can also modulate the body’s physiological functions. These physiological functions are primarily regulated by some peptides that are encrypted in the native protein sequences. These bioactive peptides can exert health beneficial properties and thus are considered as a lead compound for the development of nutraceuticals or functional foods. In the past few decades, a wide range of food-derived bioactive peptide sequences have been identified, with multiple health beneficial activities. However, the commercial application of these bioactive peptides has been delayed because of the absence of appropriate and scalable production methods, proper exploration of the mechanisms of action, high gastro-intestinal digestibility, variable absorption rate, and the lack of well-designed clinical trials to provide the substantial evidence for potential health claims. This review article discusses the current techniques, challenges of the current bioactive peptide production techniques, the oral use and gastrointestinal bioavailability of these food-derived bioactive peptides, and the overall regulatory environment.

scholarly journals The Impact of ‘Biblical Orientalism’ in Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Palestine

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Kamel
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Present Article ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Holy Land ◽  
Local Complex ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Late Nineteenth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

‘Biblical Orientalism’ can be defined as a phenomenon based on the combination of a selective use of religion and a simplifying way to approach its natural habitat: the ‘Holy Land’. Between the 1830s and the beginning of the 20th century this attitude triggered a flood of mainly British books, private diaries and maps. Over time this enormous production, accompanied by a wide range of phenomena such as evangelical tourism, did instill the idea of a ‘meta-Palestine’, an imaginary place devoid of any history except that of Biblical magnificence. This has had various relevant consequences. The present article aims to deconstruct this perception by observing the process through which a local complex reality has been simplified and denied in its continuity. 

Flip the Switch: The Impact of the Rural Electrification Administration 1935–1940

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 1161-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Kitchens ◽  
Price Fishback
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Rural Electrification ◽  
Land Values ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

To isolate the impact of access to electricity on local economies, we examine the impact of the Rural Electrification Administration low-interest loans in the 1930s. The REA provided loans to cooperatives to lay distribution lines to farms and aid in wiring homes. Consequently, the number of rural farm homes electrified doubled in the United States within five years. We develop a panel data set for the 1930s and use changes within counties over time to identify the effect of the REA loans on a wide range of socio-economic measures. The REA loans contributed significantly to increases in crop output and crop productivity and helped stave off declines in overall farm output, productivity, and land values, but they had much smaller effects on nonagricultural parts of the economy. The ex-ante subsidy from the low-interest loans was large, but after the program was completed, nearly all of the loans were fully repaid, and the ultimate cost to the taxpayer was relatively low.

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