Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromotagraphy analysis of the drug absorption characteristics in the buccal mucosa via a circulating device

Neuroprotective Effects of [Formula: see text]-Terpinene in Rats with Acute Cerebral Ischemia: Modulation of Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Oxidation

The study aimed to assess 𝛾-Terpinene's (𝛾-TER) neuroprotective potential in acute cerebral ischemia, characterized by reduced cerebral blood flow in rats. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), a standard method for inducing cerebral ischemia, was employed in male Wistar rats. 𝛾-TER at varying doses (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered during reperfusion onset. Neurological outcomes, cerebral infarct size, edema, and enzymatic activities (SOD, GPx, and catalase) in the brain were evaluated using diverse techniques. The study examined gene expression and pathways associated with neuroinflammation and apoptosis using Cytoscape software, identifying the top 10 genes involved. Pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic factors were assessed through real-time PCR and ELISA, while apoptotic cell rates were measured using the TUNEL and Flow cytometry assay. Immunohistochemistry assessed apoptosis-related proteins like Bax and bcl-2 in the ischemic area. 𝛾-TER, particularly at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg, significantly reduced neurological deficits and cerebral infarction size. The 15 mg/kg dose mitigated TNF-α, IL-1β, Bax, and caspase-3 gene and protein levels in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum compared to controls. Furthermore, Bcl-2 levels increased in these regions. 𝛾-TER show cased neuroprotective effects by suppressing inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidation. In conclusion, 𝛾-TER, possessing natural anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, shields the brain against ischemic damage by reducing infarction, edema, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It modulates the expression of crucial genes and proteins associated with apoptosis in diverse brain regions. These findings position 𝛾-TER as a potential therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.

The effect of butylphthalide on aminoacid content in the brain of epileptic mice

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to observe the effect of butylphthalide (NBP) on the amino acid content in the brain of epileptic mice.

METHODS

NBP was injected intraperitoneally into the mice, and acute epileptic mice models were made after 30 minutes. The change of the four amino (aspartic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, glycine) content in the brain of the epileptic mice was investigated.

RESULTS

The contents of Glu and Glu/GABA (control group: 38.78, NBP high-dose group: 5.52) in the NBP high-dose group were lower compared with the control group. The difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

NBP could regulate the balance of excitement and inhibition systems by reducing the contents of Glu and Glu/GABA, which might relieve seizures.

A Sustainable, Interactive Elderly Healthcare System for Nursing Homes: An Interdisciplinary Design

Population ageing becomes a perplexing conundrum with social and economic development. Many senior citizens are now empty nesters because the younger generation prefer to stay in metropolises for a better life. Therefore, living in a nursing home is a popular choice for the aged. This objective-oriented paper proposes a sustainable elderly healthcare system for nursing homes. The main work is the design and implementation of a new rapid and interactive assistance service. Based on cost-effective fingerprint indoor-positioning technology, the alert message that a person is at risk will be immediately sent to nearby people before professionals arrive. Warning messages are available when nearing marked areas (e.g., slippery floors). The parallel path-finding algorithm plays a significant role in finding nearby people and alerting people who approach specific areas. Furthermore, this system provides application programming interfaces to connect to health devices, such as smart bracelets, watches, and glasses. In general, the system is designed to ensure the safety of the elderly and improve management efficiency, which corresponds to present smart elderly care proposals from governments.

Tuning the Electrical Properties of Electrospun Nanofibers with Hybrid Nanomaterials for Detecting Isoborneol in Water Using an Electronic Tongue

The presence of contaminants in water is a subject of paramount importance nowadays, which can make water improper to human consumption even when these contaminants are present at very low concentrations, causing health issues and economic losses. In this work, we evaluated the performance of nanocomposites based on nylon 6,6/chitosan electrospun nanofibers modified by cellulose nanowhiskers combined with functional materials like silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, and reduced graphene oxide to be used as sensing layers of an electronic tongue (e-tongue) to detect Isoborneol. This compound, found in some plants and essential oils, is used as a natural repellent and also to produce many other chemicals. Additionally, its chemical structure is related to that of 2-methylisoborneol, a critical pollutant in aqueous media. The synergism between the nanomaterials combined with electrospun nanofibers could be verified by the enhancement of the charge transference ability. Additionally, electrical capacitance data measured with the impedimetric e-tongue were treated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and revealed the sensing system was able to discriminate samples contaminated with Isoborneol at nanomolar concentrations. Moreover, the electronic tongue system could detect Isoborneol in real water samples under different concentrations.