Search Results (3,516)

This study aimed to isolate and screen canine-derived probiotics with excellent probiotic properties. Strain characterization was conducted using a combination of in vitro and in vivo probiotic characterization and safety assessments, as well as complete genome analysis. The results showed that Limosilactobacillus reuteri LRA7 exhibited excellent bacteriostatic and antioxidant activities. The survival rate at pH 2.5 was 79.98%, and the viable counts after exposure to gastrointestinal fluid and 0.5% bile salts were 7.77 log CFU/mL and 5.29 log CFU/mL, respectively. The bacterium also exhibited high hydrophobicity, self-coagulation, and high temperature tolerance, was negative for hemolysis, and was sensitive to clindamycin. In vivo studies in mice showed that the serum superoxide dismutase activity level was 53.69 U/mL higher in the MR group of mice compared to that of the control group, the malondialdehyde content was 0.53 nmol/mL lower in the HR group, and the highest jejunal V/C value was 4.11 ± 1.05 in the HR group (p < 0.05). The L. reuteri LRA7 gene is 2.021 megabases in size, contains one chromosome and one plasmid, and is annotated with 1978 functional genes. In conclusion, L. reuteri LRA7 has good probiotic potential and is safe. It can be used as an ideal probiotic candidate strain of canine origin. Full article

Ca²⁺ can boost protein-protein interactions and, if present at an appropriate level, can potentially improve some physicochemical properties of protein-based gels and films. This study aimed to determine the effects of CaCl₂ (0%–0.05% w/w) on the microstructural, optical, water affinity, and mechanical characteristics of glycerol (Gly)- and sorbitol (Sor)-plasticized pea protein isolate (PPI)-based films. CaCl₂ caused darkening and a color shift of the films from yellow to yellow-green. Additionally, decreased light transmission, particularly in the UV range, acidification, and reduced moisture content were observed. CaCl₂ decreased the water vapor permeability of the Gly plasticized film by an average of 20% with no effect on the Sor-plasticized film. All films were completely soluble in water. CaCl₂ negatively impacted the mechanical integrity of the films, reducing the tensile strength of the Gly- and Sor-plasticized films by ~16% and 14%–37%, respectively. Further increases in CaCl₂ content (0.1% and 0.2% w/w) led to concentration-dependent microvoids resulting from protein over-crosslinking and/or coagulation. In summary, the incorporation of CaCl₂ into PPI-based films did not provide significant benefits and actually worsened key properties, such as transparency and mechanical strength. The type of plasticizer influenced how CaCl₂ affected some properties of the PPI-based film. Full article

Sepsis-associated coagulopathy increases risk of mortality. Impairment of the anticoagulant protein C (PC) pathway may contribute to the thrombotic phenotype in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sepsis. This study assessed the functionality of this pathway in COVID-19 and non-COVID sepsis by measuring its key enzymes, thrombin and activated PC (APC). The study population included 30 patients with COVID-19, 47 patients with non-COVID sepsis, and 40 healthy controls. In healthy controls, coagulation activation and subsequent APC formation was induced by 15 µg/kg recombinant activated factor VII one hour before blood sampling. APC and thrombin in plasma were measured using oligonucleotide-based enzyme capture assays. The indirect thrombin markers prothrombin-fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) were also measured. Compared with stimulated healthy controls, median thrombin, F1+2, and TAT levels were higher in patients with COVID-19 (up to 6-fold, p < 2 × 10⁻⁶) and non-COVID sepsis (up to 4.7-fold, p < 0.010). APC levels were 2.4-fold higher in patients with COVID-19 (7.44 pmol/L, p = 0.011) and 3.4-fold higher in non-COVID sepsis patients (10.45 pmol/L, p = 2 × 10⁻⁴) than in controls (3.08 pmol/L). Thrombin markers and APC showed correlation in both COVID-19 (r = 0.364–0.661) and non-COVID sepsis patients (r = 0.535–0.711). After adjustment for PC levels, median APC/thrombin, APC/F1+2, and APC/TAT ratios were 2-fold (p = 0.036), 6-fold (p = 3 × 10⁻⁷) and 3-fold (p = 8 × 10⁻⁴) lower in the COVID-19 group than in the non-COVID sepsis group, and the latter two were also lower in the COVID-19 group than in stimulated healthy controls. In conclusion, it was found that a comparatively lower anticoagulant APC response in COVID-19 patients as compared to non-COVID sepsis patients, potentially linked to endothelial dysfunction, contributes to the prothrombotic phenotype of COVID-19 sepsis. Full article

Despite a higher safety profile compared to vitamin K antagonists, rivaroxaban therapy is still connected with multiple adverse effects, such as a high risk of bleeding. Thus, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of rivaroxaban concentrations is suggested. An alternative to plasma samples can be dried blood spots (DBS), which minimize the cost of sample storage and transport. In this study, we developed a UPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of rivaroxaban in DBS and plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm; 3.5 µm, Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% formic acid. The analytes were detected using a positive ionization mode by multiple reaction monitoring. We validated the method according to ICH guidelines. The precision and accuracy were satisfactory. Extraction recovery was approximately 57% and 66% for DBS and plasma samples, respectively. A high correlation between rivaroxaban concentrations in plasma and DBS samples collected from patients was confirmed with Deming regression. The suitability of both sampling techniques for the rivaroxaban TDM was also verified by Bland–Altman plots based on DBS-predicted and observed plasma concentrations. In addition, we found a significant relationship between rivaroxaban concentrations and coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). Full article

Iron and manganese in groundwater impair the quality of drinking water; however, the rates of iron and manganese removal with conventional aeration and rapid sand filtration (RSF) processes vary extensively. Five full-scale aeration–RSF processes in Nepal also showed varying efficiencies of iron and manganese removal; while the iron concentration was below the national standard (0.30 mg/L) in 31 out of the 37 treated waters, the manganese concentration was higher than the standard (0.20 mg/L) in all of the treated waters. Re-aeration and stirring of the treated water did not oxidize soluble manganese, and this caused the poor removal rates for manganese. Bench-scale dual-media filters comprising anthracite on top of sand/ceramic layers with dosages of poly aluminum chloride and chlorine worked well by removing coagulated iron in the anthracite layer and then removing manganese in the sand/ceramic layers. A manganese-oxide-coated ceramic filter provided the highest manganese removal from 1.10 mg/L to <0.01 mg/L, followed by manganese-oxide-coated sand and quartz sand. Increasing the pH from 7.5 to 9.0 stabilized the manganese removal. Therefore, we propose a re-design of the present treatment processes and the selection of suitable filter media for better removal of iron and manganese. Full article

Tofu quality is determined by a controlled coagulation process using a W/O/W emulsion coagulant. The impact of adding soy protein isolate (SPI) to the inner water phase on the stability of W/O/W high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) and its application as a coagulant for tofu was assessed. No creaming occurred during 7-day storage with SPI concentrations up to 0.3%, while the emulsion droplets aggregated with 0.5% and 0.7% SPI. Emulsions containing 0.3% SPI maintained a constant mean droplet size after 21 days of storage and exhibited the lowest TURBISCAN stability index value. HIPE stability against freeze–thaw cycles improved after heating. HIPEs with SPI concentrations above 0.3% demonstrated an elastic gel-like behavior. The increased viscosity and aggregation of the protein around droplets indicated that the interaction among emulsion droplets could enhance stability. W/O/W HIPE coagulants significantly increased tofu yield, reduced hardness, and produced a more homogenous tofu gel compared to a MgCl₂ solution. The HIPE with 0.3% SPI was found to be optimal for use as a coagulant for tofu. Full article

Nanobubbles (NBs) are gaseous domains at the nanoscale that can exist in bulk liquid or on solid surfaces. They are noteworthy for their high potential for real-world applications and their long (meta)stability. “Platform-wide” applications abound in medicine, wastewater treatment, hetero-coagulation, boundary-slip control in microfluidics, and nanoscopic cleaning. Here, we compare and contrast the industrial NB-generation performance of various types of commercial NB generators in both water-flow and submerged-in-water settings—in essence, comparing electric-field NB-generation approaches versus mechanical ones—finding that the former embodiments are superior from a variety of perspectives. It was found that the electric-field approach for NB generation surpasses traditional mechanical approaches for clean-water NB generation, especially when considering the energy running cost. In particular, more passive electric-field approaches are very operationally attractive for NB generation, where water and gas flow can be handled at little to no cost to the end operator, and/or submersible NB generators can be deployed, allowing for the use of photovoltaic approaches (with backup batteries for night-time and “low-sun” scenarios and air-/CO₂-pumping paraphernalia). Full article

Snakebite is a serious health issue in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and results in various pathologies, such as hemotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and local swelling, blistering, and tissue necrosis around the bite site. These pathologies may ultimately lead to permanent morbidity and may even be fatal. Understanding the chemical and biological properties of individual snake venom toxins is of great importance when developing a newer generation of safer and more effective snakebite treatments. Two main approaches to ionizing toxins prior to mass spectrometry (MS) analysis are electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). In the present study, we investigated the use of both ESI-MS and MALDI-MS as complementary techniques for toxin characterization in venom research. We applied nanofractionation analytics to separate crude elapid venoms using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and high-resolution fractionation of the eluting toxins into 384-well plates, followed by online LC-ESI-MS measurements. To acquire clear comparisons between the two ionization approaches, offline MALDI-MS measurements were performed on the nanofractionated toxins. For comparison to the LC-ESI-MS data, we created so-called MALDI-MS chromatograms of each toxin. We also applied plasma coagulation assaying on 384-well plates with nanofractionated toxins to demonstrate parallel biochemical profiling within the workflow. The plotting of post-column acquired MALDI-MS data as so-called plotted MALDI-MS chromatograms to directly align the MALDI-MS data with ESI-MS extracted ion chromatograms allows the efficient correlation of intact mass toxin results from the two MS-based soft ionization approaches with coagulation bioassay chromatograms. This facilitates the efficient correlation of chromatographic bioassay peaks with the MS data. The correlated toxin masses from ESI-MS and/or MALDI-MS were all around 6–8 or 13–14 kDa, with one mass around 20 kDa. Between 24 and 67% of the toxins were observed with good intensity from both ionization methods, depending on the venom analyzed. All Naja venoms analyzed presented anticoagulation activity, whereas pro-coagulation was only observed for the Pseudonaja textillis venom. The data of MALDI-MS can provide complementary identification and characterization power for toxin research on elapid venoms next to ESI-MS. Full article

In this paper, the application of artificial intelligence, especially neural networks, in the field of water treatment is comprehensively reviewed, with emphasis on water quality prediction and chemical dosage optimization. It begins with an overview of machine learning and deep learning concepts relevant to water treatment. Key advances and challenges in using neural networks for coagulation processes are thoroughly analyzed, including the automation of coagulant dosing, dosage level optimization, and efficiency comparisons of modeling approaches. Applications of neural networks in predicting pollutant levels and supporting water quality monitoring are explored. The review identifies avenues for improving coagulation-based modeling with neural networks, such as enhancing data quality, employing feature engineering, refining model selection criteria, and improving cross-validation methods. The necessity of continuous monitoring and adaptive optimization strategies is emphasized. Challenges such as the complexity of coagulation processes, feedback control signal acquisition, and model adaptability from simulations to real-world settings are discussed. Cost control and resource management in water treatment are also highlighted, emphasizing the optimized chemical dosage to reduce expenses while maintaining water quality compliance. In summary, this review provides valuable insights into the current state of neural network applications in water treatment and highlights key areas for further research and development. Integrating AI into coagulation processes has the potential to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of drinking water treatment. Full article

Thrombosis is a key process that determines acute coronary syndrome and ischemic stroke and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, together with cancer. Platelet adhesion and subsequent activation and aggregation are critical processes that cause thrombus formation after endothelial damage. To date, high hopes are associated with compounds of natural origin, which show anticoagulant action without undesirable effects and can be proposed as supportive therapies. We investigated the effect of the new combination of four natural compounds, escin–bromelain–ginkgo biloba–sage miltiorrhiza (EBGS), on the initial process of the coagulation cascade, which is the adhesion of platelets to activated vascular endothelium. Our results demonstrated that EBGS pretreatment of endothelial cells reduces platelet adhesion even in the presence of the monocyte–lymphocyte population. Our data indicate that EBGS exerts its effects by inhibiting the transcription of adhesion molecules, including P-selectin, platelet membrane glycoprotein GP1b, integrins αV and β3, and reducing the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and the metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, we demonstrated that EBGS inhibited the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), strictly involved in platelet adhesion, and whose activity is correlated with that of integrin β3. The results shown in this manuscript suggest a possible inhibitory role of the new combination EBGS in the reduction in platelet adhesion to activated endothelium, thus possibly preventing coagulation cascade initiation. Full article

Background: Respiratory infections were found to be connected with the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The proposed pathway of this connection includes inflammation, oxidative stress, pro-coagulation, and atherosclerotic plaque destabilization. This can cause rapture and thrombus formation, leading to ACS. Our study aimed to assess the risk factors for coronary artery thrombosis as a manifestation of ACS and for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in patients with ACS. Methods: The study included 876 patients with ACS from January 2014 to December 2018. Both the clinical data and air pollution data were analyzed. Statistical tests used for analysis included Student’s t-test, the Mann–Whitney U-test, the Chi-squared test, and the odds ratio Altman calculation. Results: LRTIs were found in 9.13% patients with ACS. The patients with LRTI had a higher risk of coronary artery thrombosis (OR: 2.4903; CI: 1.3483 to 4.5996). Moreover, they had increased values of inflammatory markers, were older, had a lower BMI, and a higher rate of atrial fibrillation. The average atmospheric aerosols with a maximum diameter of 2.5 μm (PM_2.5 concentration) from three consecutive days before hospitalization for ACS were higher in patients with LRTI. Conclusions: The occurrence of coronary artery thrombosis was higher among the patients with LRTI during ACS. PM_2.5 exposition was higher in the three consecutive days before hospitalization in patients with LRTI during ACS. Full article

The ionic association of Alcian Blue dye with poly(styrene sulfonate) in aqueous solutions was studied for analytical purposes. The quadruple-charged cationic dye, Alcian Blue, was found to form colloidal ionic associates with poly(styrene sulfonate) anions. When the amounts of opposite charges are nearly equal, the resulting ionic associates lose solubility and coagulate rapidly. This effect occurs within a narrow range of the ratio of poly(styrene sulfonate) to Alcian Blue. At the point of charge equivalence, the zeta potential of the resulting particles is zero, which facilitates flocculation. The resulting flocs enlarge to approximately 0.05–0.5 mm and precipitate rapidly. FTIR spectroscopy confirms that the precipitate contains both poly(styrene sulfonate) and Alcian Blue dye. Sedimentation kinetics was studied in detail using scanning turbidimetry. Due to the high molar absorbance of the Alcian Blue dye at 600 nm, the point of equimolar charge ratio was precisely determined by spectrophotometry. The complete precipitation of ionic associates occurs when the amount of poly(styrene sulfonate) ranges from 1.4 to 1.55 mmol per 1 g of Alcian Blue dye. Such a narrow coagulation range allows for the use of the studied effect for quantitative analysis. Both Alcian Blue dye and poly(styrene sulfonate) can be quantified if one of their concentrations is known. Full article

Background/Objectives: A compartmental pharmacokinetics (PK) analysis of new extended half-life FVIII concentrates has never been performed in a large cohort of hemophilia patients. An improved PK analysis of individual outcomes may help to tailor hemophilia replacement treatment. Methods: PK outcomes after the infusion of a standard single dose of Efmoroctocog alfa were collected from 173 patients with severe/moderately severe hemophilia A in 11 Italian hemophilia centers. Factor VIII clotting activity (FVIII:C) was measured by one-stage clotting assay (OSA) in all patients, and chromogenic substrate assay (CSA) in a subgroup (n = 52). Fifty patients underwent a comparative PK assessment with standard half-life (SHL) recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products. Non-compartmental analysis (NCA), one compartment model (OCM), and TCM were used to analyze the decay curves of all patients, and one-way paired ANOVA to compare the PK outcomes. Results: All 173 PKs conformed to the NCA and OCM, but only 106 (61%) conformed to the TCM based on the biphasic features of their decay curves. According to the TCM, the Beta HL and MRT of rFVIIIFc were 20.42 ± 7.73 and 25.64 ± 7.61 h, respectively. ANOVA analysis of the outcomes from the three PK models showed significant differences in clearance, half-life (HL), and mean residence time (MRT) (p < 0.001 for all parameters). As anticipated, the HL and MRT of rFVIIIFc were longer than those of SHL rFVIII. Comparing OSA with CSA outcomes, Cmax resulted higher when measured by CSA (p = 0.05) and, according to TCM, Beta HL resulted longer when measured by OSA (p = 0.03). FVIII:C trough levels obtained with SHL concentrates were significantly lower than those obtained with rFVIIIFc at each post-infusion time point. Conclusions: In a large group of hemophilia A (HA) patients, three different PK models confirmed the improved pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of rFVIIIFc, compared with standard half-life rFVIII concentrates. The TCM only fits two-thirds of the PKs, highlighting their biphasic decay and a long Beta half-life. In these patients, the TCM would be preferable to properly evaluate individual PK features. Full article

Background: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are associated with altered coagulation dynamics; therefore, coagulation laboratory studies could be valuable for diagnosing PJI. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in detecting PJIs caused by low-virulence pathogens. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, enrolling 78 patients who underwent exchange arthroplasty due to PJI due to high-virulence pathogens (Group A, n = 16), low-virulence pathogens (Group B, n = 20), or due to aseptic loosening (Group C, n = 20). Preoperative laboratory findings were compared among the three groups. Results: Several ROTEM parameters differed in patients with PJIs caused by low-virulence pathogens, indicating a link between these infections and hypercoagulability. The development of low-virulence PJIs was associated with a higher maximum clot firmness (MCF) (Odds Ratio, 1.12; 95% Confidence Interval, 1.04–1.21; p = 0.001). Additionally, EXTEM MCF was found to have the highest diagnostic accuracy for these infections (Area Under the Curve, 0.841; sensitivity 90.0%; specificity 90.4%), surpassing that of C-reactive protein and the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (p = 0.006 and p = 0.019, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ROTEM analysis is a promising method for detecting the altered hemostatic dynamics associated with PJI caused by low-virulence pathogens. Full article

Blood-contact devices are prone to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and the uncontrolled release of metal ions during implantation and service. Therefore, it is essential to make these multifunctional. Herein, a superhydrophobic DE@ZnS-ZnO@SA film (composed of dabigatran ester, zinc sulfite, zinc oxide, and stearic acid, respectively) is produced. The prepared film has non-adhesion and antibacterial properties, superior mechanical stability, durability, corrosion resistance, and is self-cleaning and blood-repellent. The results of the hemolysis, cytotoxicity, and other anticoagulant experiments revealed that the film had good blood compatibility, no cytotoxicity, and excellent anticoagulant properties. The film displays anticoagulant properties even after being immersed in Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) for 7 days. Furthermore, the film can spontaneously release H₂S gas for 90 h after soaking in an acidic environment (pH = 6) for 90 h. This property improves the acidic microenvironment of the lesion and promotes the proliferation of endothelial cells by using H₂S gas. In addition, the film can inhibit the uncontrollable release of Zn²⁺ ions, avoiding its toxicity even when immersed in an acid environment for 35 days. This time-sequential functionalized surface has the potential to typify the future of blood-contacting scaffolds for long-lasting use. Full article