Search Results (22,125)

Background: Menthol is a naturally occurring volatile terpene alcohol, widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and tobacco products; however, its high volatility leads to significant flavor loss during storage and handling. Methods: Herein, bimodal mesoporous silica materials (BMMs) were employed as carriers to encapsulate menthol, the loading and release behaviors were systematically compared using normal-temperature and alcohol-thermal loading methods. Results: Comprehensive characterizations (XRD and SAXS patterns, FT-IR spectra, SEM images, and N₂-sorption isotherms) confirmed that menthol incorporation did not disrupt the hierarchical mesoporous channels of BMMs. The alcohol-thermal loading method achieved a superior menthol loading capacity of 87%, significantly outperforming the normal-temperature loading (58%). Release performances revealed a transition in the dominant release mechanism, from diffusion-controlled behavior at low loading levels to concentration gradient-driven desorption at high loadings. Molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrated that alcohol-thermal loading enabled faster molecular diffusion and a more uniform distribution of menthol within the mesopores due to weaker interfacial interactions, whereas normal-temperature loading induced localized multilayer adsorption, resulting in mesopore blockage and hindered diffusion. In addition, long-term atmospheric release tests assessed sustained menthol retention over 30 days. Conclusions: Overall, this work establishes alcohol-thermal loading as an effective approach for regulating adsorption and release in mesoporous carriers, providing a foundation for developing volatile compound encapsulation strategies. Full article

Сommercial TiO₂ ceramic membranes were modified using a slip-casting method with coal fly ash (CFA) obtained from a thermal power plant, Almaty, Kazakhstan. The aim was to enhance membrane surface properties for improved oil-in-water emulsion separation while maintaining structural integrity. Suspension of CFA, stabilized with N-dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), was applied as a coating layer on the TiO₂ surface and subsequently sintered under controlled conditions. The resulting membranes were characterized by SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and zeta potential analysis. The modified membranes exhibited increased hydrophilicity, as indicated by a reduction in water contact angle (WCA) from 43.6 ± 2° to approximately 0°, and a decrease in the underoil contact angle of water (UOCA) from 147.6 ± 2° to 87 ± 2°. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the TiO₂ structure remained predominantly rutile, with no additional crystalline phases detected from CFA. Despite the improved wettability, pure water and oil-in-water emulsion fluxes decreased slightly, while filtrates displayed smaller oil droplet sizes, indicating enhanced emulsion stability after passage through the modified surface. These findings demonstrate that CFA-modified TiO₂ membranes can serve as a sustainable and cost-effective approach for treating emulsified wastewater, utilizing industrial waste to improve performance without compromising mechanical robustness. Full article

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease, with advanced stages potentially progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a multifactorial condition associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance, leading to metabolic alterations that are intensified by inflammation. An important additional factor that amplifies these effects is oxidative stress, which interacts with inflammatory pathways and contributes to disease progression. This review evaluates evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on widely investigated natural compounds, including cinnamic acid, stilbene and quinone derivatives, coumarinoids, tannins, and miscellaneous phenol-containing compounds and alkaloids, focusing on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and multi-functional properties. These compounds have demonstrated beneficial effects such as reduction of lipid accumulation, improvement of insulin resistance, modulation of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), and attenuation of oxidative stress markers, with several studies reporting improvements in liver enzymes and histological features of steatosis. The aim is to assess their potential to improve NAFLD beyond their established biological activities and to explore their repositioning potential as multi-targeted agents for complementary or second-line therapeutic strategies. Their plant-derived origin and broad therapeutic profiles suggest a favorable safety margin. However, further well-designed clinical studies are required to better define their efficacy, optimal dosing, pharmacokinetics and safety, as well as to clarify their mechanisms of action and their potential role in NAFLD management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) is critical, but most screening models do not simultaneously distinguish phenotypes based on systolic or diastolic patterns. We developed and temporally validated a multinomial model to predict normotension and three phenotypes of undiagnosed hypertension in Peru. Methods: We used ENDES 2017–2019 for development (final analytic n = 62,091) and ENDES 2021–2024 for temporal validation (final analytic n = 77,372), excluding 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions. We included adults aged ≥18 years without self-reported HTN. The outcome was classified as normotension, isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), or systolic–diastolic hypertension (SDH). Eight nonlaboratory predictors were used: age, BMI, sex, residential altitude, smoking, alcohol consumption, vegetable intake, and fruit intake. Results: The model achieved an AUC of 0.789 (95% CI: 0.783–0.795) in training and 0.776 (95% CI: 0.770–0.781) in temporal validation. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 11.6% in the training set and 12.6% in the validation set. At a prespecified cutoff of 0.1004, sensitivity and specificity were 79.0% and 63.2% in training and 78.7% and 60.9% in validation, respectively (NPV 95.8% and 95.2%). Decision curve and clinical impact analyses suggested a positive net benefit and plausible referral volumes across a range of thresholds. Conclusions: This model could help prioritize confirmatory blood pressure measurements in resource-limited settings. Full article

Background: Liver cirrhosis, particularly in its decompensated stages, is associated with high short-term mortality among hospitalized patients. Although the prognostic value of the Child–Pugh classification is well established, its independent impact on survival in real-world tertiary emergency settings requires further evaluation. This study aimed to assess the prognostic role of Child–Pugh stage and other clinical factors on short- and mid-term survival in hospitalized cirrhotic patients over a 10-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 2831 patients hospitalized for liver cirrhosis between 2015 and 2025. Among them, 631 patients with complete Child–Pugh staging were included in the survival analysis. Survival time was defined as the interval between the first hospitalization and the last recorded discharge or in-hospital death. Survival differences were assessed using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests, while independent predictors of mortality were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. A complementary logistic regression model was used to evaluate predictors of mortality as a binary outcome. Results: Among the 631 staged patients, 13.5% were classified as Child–Pugh A, 31.9% as Child–Pugh B and 54.7% as Child–Pugh C. In-hospital mortality increased significantly across stages (1.2%, 9.0% and 46.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). One-year survival was 98.7% for Child–Pugh A, 83.6% for Child–Pugh B and 40.7% for Child–Pugh C (log-rank p < 0.001). In multivariate Coxregression analysis, the strongest predictor of mortality was mixed cirrhosis type (HR = 8.58, 95% CI: 4.81–15.32, p < 0.001). Child–Pugh C was also independently associated with a markedly increased mortality risk compared with Child–Pugh A (HR = 25.11, 95% CI: 3.44–183.29, p = 0.002). Alcohol-related etiology (HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.09–3.01, p = 0.023) and age (HR = 1.18 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.00–1.39, p = 0.050) were additionalindependent predictors. The Cox model demonstrated good discrimination (C-statistic ≈ 0.80). In the logistic regression model, mixed cirrhosis type (OR = 13.28, p < 0.001) and Child–Pugh stage (OR = 8.66, p < 0.001) were the strongest predictors of mortality, while ascites showed an inverse association after adjustment (OR = 0.62, p = 0.036). The logistic model showed excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.865). Conclusions: Child–Pugh stage remains a strong and independent predictor of survival in hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The marked survival gradient across stages, particularly the substantially reduced survival observed in Child–Pugh C patients, highlights thecontinued clinical utility of this simple classification for early risk stratification intertiary emergency hospital settings. Full article

Objectives: Educational attainment appears to be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The inconsistent findings across existing studies necessitate a thorough meta-analysis to elucidate this association. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted from inception to 31 December 2024, without language restrictions. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4, with pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated via appropriate models. Results: 27 studies involving 446,312 participants (93,116 NAFLD; 353,196 healthy individuals) were included. Noteworthy heterogeneity was detected, with I² = 96% for more-than-high-school and I² = 95% for high-school-education when we pooled all the studies together. Further subgroup analyses suggested that higher education was inversely associated with NAFLD risk in some developed countries, like the United States, while potential gender-specific effects were found among the Chinese population. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggests that the association between educational attainment and NAFLD is complex and context-dependent, and it may vary across different countries and types of sex. Full article

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB) is a major public health concern worldwide, which may lead to detrimental maternal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal nutritional status, gestational weight gain (GWG), and lifestyle factors are potentially modifiable determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study examined the association between PTB and maternal GWG and assessed whether maternal dietary habits and lifestyle factors were related to GWG in women delivering preterm versus at term. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted at a tertiary center in Hungary (MANOR Study, 2019). The case group included n = 100 women with PTB, while n = 200 matched term deliveries served as controls (1:2 ratio). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and medical records. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was categorized using standard definitions, while GWG was classified as inadequate, recommended, or excessive according to the US 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. A 7-item dietary index score was calculated based on gestational dietary habits. Results: Pre-pregnancy BMI distribution did not considerably differ between groups (p > 0.05); over one-third of women in both groups were overweight or had obesity (38.7% vs. 36.7%). Previous PTB (p < 0.001) and gestational hypertension (GHT) (p = 0.003) were more common among current PTB cases, while smoking, alcohol consumption, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) showed negligible differences (p > 0.05)—28.0% of cases, and 34.5% of controls were classified as having healthy dietary habits, based on the dietary index score calculated. Inadequate GWG was more prevalent among PTB cases (49.0% vs. 26.8%), whereas excessive GWG was less frequent among cases (21.9% vs. 38.4%). Being within the recommended GWG range and the manifestation of gestational hypertension were associated with lower (aOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18–0.87; p = 0.020) and higher (aOR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.44–8.19; p = 0.005) odds of PTB, respectively. Conclusions: Inadequate GWG was more common in PTB, while excessive GWG was more frequent in term pregnancies. Fast-food consumption was associated with excessive GWG among term births. Optimizing GWG and improving maternal diet quality should be included as key, cross-cutting interventions targeting the improvement of antenatal care. Full article

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and ALD-related mortality are associated with hemolysis, increased erythrophagocytosis, and disturbed iron homeostasis. While macrophage-mediated erythrophagocytosis is well established, we investigated the contribution of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) to handling oxidatively damaged or ethanol-primed red blood cells (RBCs) in ALD. Live-cell imaging demonstrated that damaged RBCs were rapidly taken up by SK-HEP1 cells, an endothelial cell line with LSEC-like characteristics, and RBC uptake was associated with induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and activation of its upstream regulator Nrf2. siRNA-mediated knockdown of the scavenger receptor Stabilin-1 attenuated RBC-induced HO-1 expression, supporting a role for Stabilin-1 in efferocytic signaling. Exposure of RBCs to ethanol concentrations as low as 25 mM induced phosphatidylserine externalization and rendered erythrocytes efferocytosis-competent. Lysed RBCs and free hemin elicited comparable oxidative stress responses. In murine models of hemolysis and chronic ethanol feeding, hemoglobin-derived signals were detected within sinusoidal structures showing a diffuse CD206-positive distribution pattern consistent with the sinusoidal scavenger compartment. Similar signals were observed in sinusoidal endothelial regions in human heavy drinkers with clinical signs of hemolysis. Together, these data suggest that LSECs may represent an additional component of RBC clearance in ALD, alongside macrophages and hepatocytes, with implications for hepatic iron handling. Full article

Background: Acute alcohol consumption may interfere with the dynamics between internal and external load during exercise, potentially attenuating cardiovascular responses. Objective: This study investigated the association between distance covered during a running test and mean heart rate, while examining the moderating role of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) under conditions with and without acute alcohol ingestion. Methods: This crossover experimental study included 12 physically active male university students (23.7 ± 3.7 years). Participants completed two intermittent running sessions (control and alcohol conditions), separated by ≥48 h. In the alcohol condition, participants consumed 0.4 g of ethanol/kg of body mass. Heart rate was continuously monitored using a Polar RCX5 monitor, and total distance covered and RPE (Borg 6–20 scale) were assessed immediately after test completion. Analyses included paired comparisons, Pearson correlations, and linear regression models with interaction terms. Results: No significant associations between variables were observed in the control condition. With alcohol consumption, distance covered was positively associated with mean heart rate, and RPE significantly moderated this relationship. Conclusions: Acute alcohol ingestion may modify the interaction between external load, perceived exertion, and cardiovascular response during running. These results highlight the importance of integrated monitoring of internal and external load, especially in contexts involving recent alcohol consumption. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) lacks widely adopted biomarkers that reflect disease activity and severity. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a damage-associated molecular pattern, has been implicated in ALD pathogenesis. We evaluated the detectability of circulating HMGB1 in patients with ALD during active alcohol use and examined clinical associations. Methods: In this observational study, we enrolled hospitalized adults with ongoing ethanol use between 1 November 2023, and 31 December 2024. Controls had no history of excessive alcohol consumption and normal liver biochemistry. Clinical features, laboratory tests, and severity scores (including MELD, MELD-Na, and CLIF-C AD) were recorded. Serum HMGB1 was measured by ELISA; values ≥ 0.08 ng/mL were considered detectable. Results: The cohort included 68 participants (58 with ALD and 10 controls); 29 patients had cirrhosis. HMGB1 was detectable in 32 measurements (42%), with a median concentration of 4.6 ng/mL (IQR, 0.78–10.6; range, 0.08–140.6). Detectable HMGB1 was more frequent in ALD than in controls (47% vs. 11%). Compared with HMGB1-negative patients, HMGB1-positive patients had higher total bilirubin and creatinine levels, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, higher white cell counts, and lower serum sodium. Liver enzyme activities and INR did not differ meaningfully by HMGB1 status. MELD, MELD-Na, and CLIF-C AD scores were higher in HMGB1-positive patients. Admission ethanol levels were higher in HMGB1-negative patients. Mortality and readmission did not differ by HMGB1 status. Conclusions: Detectable circulating HMGB1 is present in a subset of patients with ALD and is associated with greater liver disease severity. Full article

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasingly recognised as a disease with clinically significant long-term consequences. However, the extent to which aetiology influences the spectrum of long-term pancreatic sequelae remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated long-term complications following a first episode of AP, with a protocol-defined focus on the impact of aetiology. Methods: This review evaluated eligible studies that included adults with a first episode of AP who were followed for chronic pancreatitis (CP), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), or new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM). A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL was conducted from January 2002 to June 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled incidence proportions. A prespecified network meta-analysis was not feasible because outcome-specific event counts stratified by aetiology were inconsistently reported. This study satisfied PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251074032). Results: Eight studies met eligibility criteria with extractable data for quantitative synthesis. Five studies (n ≈ 10,780) reported chronic pancreatitis (CP), with a pooled incidence of approximately 7–8% following a first episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) and substantial heterogeneity (I² ≈ 96%). Three studies (n = 796) reported exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), with a pooled incidence of approximately 23%, although estimates were highly heterogeneous (I² ≈ 98%). Four studies (n = 2706; 415 events) reported new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM), with a pooled incidence of approximately 20% (I² ≈ 93%). Although aetiology-specific quantitative comparisons were not possible, narrative synthesis consistently demonstrated higher long-term risk following alcohol-associated AP, lower risk after biliary AP, and intermediate but variable outcomes in idiopathic AP. Conclusions: Clinically meaningful long-term pancreatic dysfunction is common after a first episode of acute pancreatitis, particularly new-onset diabetes mellitus. While aetiology-specific risks could not be quantified, consistent patterns suggest that aetiology shapes long-term outcomes. These findings support structured, aetiology-informed follow-up after acute pancreatitis and the need for standardised outcome reporting in future studies. Full article

Candida albicans is a yeast found in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and vaginal mucosa. This species is the most prevalent and virulent in conditions such as oral candidiasis. Myrtenol is a bicyclic monoterpene alcohol recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory attributes. Its primary source is the essential oil extracted from plants of the Myrtaceae family. This study evaluated the effect of (−)-myrtenol on the virulence factors of Candida albicans. Ten clinical isolates of Candida albicans and one reference strain (ATCC 90028) were used in this study. The virulence factors examined included adhesion, morphogenesis, and lipase production. Assays were conducted in the presence and absence of (−)-myrtenol, using a concentration corresponding to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; 256 µg/mL). Results: The compound reduced the adherence of C. albicans to human oral epithelial cells (92.24 vs. 28.69), and reduced filamentation in liquid (3.17 vs. 2.57) and solid media. Furthermore, (−)-myrtenol inhibited lipase activity (0.68 vs. 1.00). Virulence factors expressed by C. albicans contribute to increased infection rates and, consequently, increased morbidity and mortality. The present findings demonstrate that (−)-myrtenol affects virulence-associated phenotypes of C. albicans in vitro. This compound represents a promising candidate for further investigation, particularly in studies addressing its mechanisms of action, safety, and potential applicability. Full article

Inflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in alcohol-induced liver injury. Hyaluronan (HA), a naturally occurring polysaccharide proven to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, has garnered growing research attention in the field of food in recent years. This study demonstrates that long-term oral administration of HA exerts a protective effect against acute alcohol-induced liver injury (AALI). The findings showed that oral administration of 30, 600, and 1250 kDa HA for 2 and 4 weeks all increased serum and liver HA levels in rats and regulated the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, oral HA could alleviate the symptoms of liver injury caused by alcohol, including increasing glutathione (GSH) levels, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreasing the content of inflammatory factors interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) compared with the AALI model mice. Furthermore, HA could inhibit the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in AML12 cells induced by alcohol and improve the survival rate of alcohol-damaged AML12 cells. In conclusion, this study found that oral administration of HA could increase serum and liver HA levels and has a protective effect on AALI, suggesting the application of HA in health foods for hangover relief and liver protection. Full article

The present study examined for the first time the effect of native yeasts on the fermentation of artisanal Spondias purpurea L., wine produced in Santa Elena, Ecuador. To achieve this goal, three inoculation strategies were compared: a mixed culture containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida spp. (CLX), commercial S. cerevisiae (CL), and a spontaneous fermentation without added inoculum (SL). Five yeast isolates were identified from the fermentations, four belonging to Candida spp. and one to Kloeckera spp., using microbiological and biochemical methods. The CLX treatment showed the greatest yeast proliferation on PDA plates (2.7 × 10⁶ CFU/mL) and yielded the highest levels of higher alcohols, while the CL treatment produced the highest ethanol (3.72% ABV) and glycerol content (0.46%). All treatments were free of total and fecal coliforms, and their pH values (2.49–2.56) satisfied the requirements of the current Ecuadorian standard for wine production NTE INEN 374. Residual glucose content was specifically quantified using an enzymatic colorimetric (GOD-POD) assay, confirming the dry character of the wines. Molecular analysis of the final preparation obtained from the variant corresponding to the spontaneous fermentation without inoculum (SL) confirmed the presence of Hanseniaspora spp. (Kloeckera spp.), Diutina rugosa (C. rugosa), C. zeylanoides and Pichia kudriavzevii, after the obtained PCR amplicons using ITS1 and ITS4 were subjected to a blast analysis. Sensory evaluation by panelists (n = 15) favored the CLX wine, particularly for aroma and flavor attributes. The final glucose content reached a low value of 0.28 g/L, indicative of an extremely dry wine, with almost no fermentable sugar. Due to the lack of information related to wines produced from Spondias purpurea L., this study could contribute to a better understanding of the biological behavior and biodiversity of the microorganisms present in this fermentation process. These findings will help to improve wine regionality production, supporting the potential application of native regional yeasts in Spondias purpurea L. wine biotechnology. Full article

The Wannachawee Recipe (WCR) is a traditional Thai herbal formulation with a clinical history of use in psoriasis. An observational study conducted at Prapokklao Hospital reported that 93% of psoriasis patients showed good clinical responses. However, the absence of standardized quality control parameters remains a critical barrier to its pharmaceutical reproducibility, safety, and integration into mainstream clinical practice. This study established robust quality specifications and a phytochemical profiling for WCR, in accordance with the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia (THP) guidelines, to support its development from traditional use to a standardized therapeutic agent. A multimodal analytical approach was employed, integrating microscopic characterization, physicochemical evaluation, and advanced instrumental techniques. Phytochemical characterization was conducted using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting and Compact Mass Spectrometry (CMS). A validated HPLC method was developed to quantify trans-p-coumaryl alcohol, a key bioactive marker. Anti-inflammatory activity was further assessed by measuring inhibition of nitric oxide production. Physicochemical analysis established rigorous benchmarks, including ethanol-soluble extractive (8.73 ± 0.15% w/w), water-soluble extractive (18.89 ± 0.09% w/w), and loss on drying (<10%), which ensure long-term stability and microbial safety. CMS analysis successfully identified key chemical constituents, including alpha-amyrin, stemone, protocatechuic acid, and trans-p-coumaryl alcohol. HPLC fingerprinting demonstrated high batch-to-batch consistency, while quantitative analysis determined a trans-p-coumaryl alcohol content of 8.77 mg/g extract. Critically, biological evaluation showed that WCR exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide production, with a superior inhibitory effect compared with the reference drug indomethacin. This study provides a preliminary scientific framework for the standardization of WCR. It defines precise quality specifications and a potential bioactive marker, establishing the rigor needed for regulatory certification and industrial production. This work connects traditional Thai medicine with evidence-based pharmaceutics, positioning WCR as a promising therapy for psoriasis. Full article