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Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational... 2023To compare epidermal biophysical properties, indicators of epidermal function, in individuals with and without primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA).
PURPOSE
To compare epidermal biophysical properties, indicators of epidermal function, in individuals with and without primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This study incorporated 189 patients with PCA and 166 healthy individuals. The GPSkin Barrier was employed to measure transepidermal water loss (TEWL) rates and hydration levels of the stratum corneum. The Sebumeter and the Skin pH Meter were utilized to determine the skin surface's sebum content and pH, respectively. The severity of pruritus in participants was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS).
RESULTS
Compared to the control group without PCA, individuals with PCA displayed a notable increase in skin surface pH and TEWL and a decrease in the hydration levels of the stratum corneum (<0.0001 for all parameters). Additionally, the sebum content was markedly lower in those with PCA than in the controls (<0.0001). Of particular note, both TEWL and skin surface pH at the lesion sites on the back and the shin were more elevated in lichenoid amyloidosis (LA) and in macular amyloidosis (MA), whereas hydration levels of the stratum corneum and sebum levels were diminished in LA compared to MA (<0.05). In conclusion, both hydration levels of the stratum corneum and sebum content exhibited an inverse relationship with pruritus severity, whereas TEWL and skin surface pH demonstrated a positive correlation with pruritus intensity.
CONCLUSION
The function of the epidermis is compromised in individuals diagnosed with PCA. However, the mechanisms underlying these changes await further investigation.
PubMed: 37953856
DOI: 10.2147/CCID.S426209 -
Current Urology Reports Aug 2023Urinary pH is an important factor related to renal stone disease, and it plays an essential role in stone prevention. Monitoring of urinary pH by patients at home... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Urinary pH is an important factor related to renal stone disease, and it plays an essential role in stone prevention. Monitoring of urinary pH by patients at home provides information that can help to assess the treatment needed by each patient. We conducted a systematic review is to assess the available evidence concerning urinary pH monitoring methods along with their accuracy, cost, and usefulness by patients with urolithiasis.
RECENT FINDINGS
A total of 9 articles were included (1886 urinary pH measurements). They reported information about urinary dipsticks, portable electronic pH meters and electronic strip readers, amongst other methods. Accuracy was compared with a laboratory pH meter (gold standard). Urinary dipsticks were found to be not accurate enough to guide clinical decision making and portable electronic pH meters showed promising results. Urinary dipsticks are neither precise nor accurate enough. Portable electronic pH meters seem to be more accurate, easy to use, and cost-effective. They are a reliable source for patients to use at home in order to prevent future episodes of nephrolithiasis.
Topics: Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kidney Calculi; Urolithiasis; Urinary Tract; Forecasting
PubMed: 37314611
DOI: 10.1007/s11934-023-01166-5 -
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial... 2023Tobacco and areca nuts release carcinogens, which cause alterations in saliva. Evaluation of these changes through estimation of salivary flow rate and pH was performed...
INTRODUCTION
Tobacco and areca nuts release carcinogens, which cause alterations in saliva. Evaluation of these changes through estimation of salivary flow rate and pH was performed in tobacco and areca nut chewers and apparently healthy subjects.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study group for this comparative study comprised 60 subjects with 20 areca nut chewers (group 1), 20 tobacco chewers (group 2), and 20 non-tobacco and areca nut chewers (group 3) in the ages between 18 and 75 years. After collection of saliva from each subject, the salivary flow rate (SFR) was measured by using graduated tubes, whereas salivary pH was measured using a digital salivary pH meter. Tukey HSD test was performed for comparison of mean SFR and mean pH between study group subjects. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to find the mean difference in SFR and pH in duration, intensity, and frequency among various types of areca nut and tobacco users. A "" value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS
The mean age among groups 1, 2, and 3 was 37.70 ± 10.44, 39.75 ± 10.16, and 37.90 ± 10.52 years, respectively, with a statistically insignificant difference. The mean salivary flow rate (ml/20 min) was maximum in group 3 (13.23), followed by group 2 (11.75) and group 1 (10.48), with the statistically significant difference as < 0.05. The mean salivary pH was maximum in group 3 (7.07), followed by group 2 (6.86) and group 1 (6.49), with the statistically significant difference as < 0.05.
CONCLUSION
Long-term use of tobacco and areca nuts in a chewable form can significantly reduce the salivary flow rate and salivary pH. Hence, these measurements can be used as chair side, non-invasive measures for assessing pathological changes in oral mucosa linked to vulnerable effects among people addicted to these adverse habits; thereby, early re-organization can prevent mobility and mortality.
PubMed: 38033965
DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_518_22 -
HardwareX Sep 2023Acid-base titration is a quantitative analysis that enables knowing the quantity of acidic or basic groups present in a solution sample. It consists in the addition of...
Acid-base titration is a quantitative analysis that enables knowing the quantity of acidic or basic groups present in a solution sample. It consists in the addition of base or acid to the solution sample while monitoring the pH to reach a neutral pH. The titration can be automated and here we present a low cost Arduino based Open Source Pump (OSPump) modified to act as an automated titrator with an obsolete but reliable Metrohm 713 pH meter. Our device is 50 times less expensive than second hand units from the pH meter manufacturer and inherently open to customization. We present two validation cases of study, including the lipolysis of a vegetable olive oil in water emulsion, characterized by the OSPump Titrator.
PubMed: 37649586
DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00464 -
Therapeutic Delivery Sep 2023Neurodegenerative diseases are a significant cause of mortality worldwide, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for drug delivery. An... (Review)
Review
Neurodegenerative diseases are a significant cause of mortality worldwide, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for drug delivery. An intranasal route is a prominent approach among the various methods to bypass the BBB. There are different pathways involved in intranasal drug delivery. The drawbacks of this method include mucociliary clearance, enzymatic degradation and poor drug permeation. Novel nanoformulations and intranasal drug-delivery devices offer promising solutions to overcome these challenges. Nanoformulations include polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles, microspheres, liposomes and noisomes. Additionally, intranasal devices could be utilized to enhance drug-delivery efficacy. Therefore, intranasal drug-delivery systems show potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases through trigeminal or olfactory pathways, which can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Administration, Intranasal; Blood-Brain Barrier; Drug Delivery Systems; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Nanoparticles; Brain
PubMed: 37691577
DOI: 10.4155/tde-2023-0019 -
International Journal of General... 2023This study aimed to assess and compare the salivary secretion, pH, and buffer capacity between COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated child patients visiting the clinics...
Comparison of Salivary Secretion, pH, and Buffer Capacity Between COVID-19 Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Child Patients Visiting Dental Clinics of University Hospitals in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess and compare the salivary secretion, pH, and buffer capacity between COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated child patients visiting the clinics of private university dental hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
METHODS
This is the first comparative assessment of salivary parameters between unvaccinated and COVID-19-vaccinated child patients. The study sample comprised COVID-19 unvaccinated (n = 66) and vaccinated (n = 66) pediatric dental patients aged 4-12 years seeking dental care in clinics of private university hospitals. Paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected from unvaccinated and vaccinated study participants, and the amount of saliva secreted per minute was noted. Salivary pH and buffering capacity (by 5 mmol Hydrochloric acid titration) were measured using a benchtop digital pH meter. The data obtained were compared between unvaccinated and vaccinated participants using an independent -test.
RESULTS
The results showed a significantly higher salivary secretion rate in unvaccinated than vaccinated study participants (0.83 ± 0.24 mL/min vs 0.67 ± 0.24 mL/min, = 0.001). Similarly, unvaccinated subjects compared to vaccinated subjects exhibited a significantly higher pH (7.33 ± 0.39 vs 7.04 ± 0.46, < 0.001) and buffering capacity (6.31 ± 1.55 vs 5.40 ± 1.22, p < 0.001). Moreover, unvaccinated females demonstrated a significantly higher salivary secretion (0.87 ± 0.23 vs 0.71 ± 0.25, = 2.627, = 0.011) and buffering capacity 6.19 ± 1.52 vs 5.34 ± 1.25, = 2.404, = 0.019) than vaccinated females. Similarly, unvaccinated male exhibited significantly higher salivary secretion (0.80 ± 0.25 vs 0.64 ± 0.23, = 2.670, = 0.009), salivary pH (7.39 ± 0.45 vs 6.94 ± 0.41, =4.309, <0.001) and buffering capacity (6.42 ± 1.60 vs 5.45 ± 1.21, = 2.875, = 0.005) than the vaccinated male subjects.
CONCLUSION
The vaccinated subjects showed a significantly lower mean salivary secretion, pH, and buffering capacity than unvaccinated participants. Hence, COVID-19 vaccination is likely to affect salivary parameters among pediatric patients.
PubMed: 38162688
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S437563 -
Nature Biotechnology Jun 2024Progress in understanding brain-viscera interoceptive signaling is hindered by a dearth of implantable devices suitable for probing both brain and peripheral organ...
Progress in understanding brain-viscera interoceptive signaling is hindered by a dearth of implantable devices suitable for probing both brain and peripheral organ neurophysiology during behavior. Here we describe multifunctional neural interfaces that combine the scalability and mechanical versatility of thermally drawn polymer-based fibers with the sophistication of microelectronic chips for organs as diverse as the brain and the gut. Our approach uses meters-long continuous fibers that can integrate light sources, electrodes, thermal sensors and microfluidic channels in a miniature footprint. Paired with custom-fabricated control modules, the fibers wirelessly deliver light for optogenetics and transfer data for physiological recording. We validate this technology by modulating the mesolimbic reward pathway in the mouse brain. We then apply the fibers in the anatomically challenging intestinal lumen and demonstrate wireless control of sensory epithelial cells that guide feeding behaviors. Finally, we show that optogenetic stimulation of vagal afferents from the intestinal lumen is sufficient to evoke a reward phenotype in untethered mice.
Topics: Animals; Optogenetics; Mice; Wireless Technology; Brain
PubMed: 37349522
DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01833-5 -
Journal of the American Heart... Nov 2023Background This randomized controlled trial compared long-term changes in peak walking time (PWT) and exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO) in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Background This randomized controlled trial compared long-term changes in peak walking time (PWT) and exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO) in symptomatic participants with peripheral artery disease following a long-term home exercise program (HEP), a short-term supervised exercise therapy (SET) program that transitioned to a long-term HEP (SET/HEP), and a control intervention. Methods and Results For the first 3 months, HEP and SET/HEP groups performed intermittent walking to mild-to-moderate claudication pain, whereas the control group performed light resistance training. For the subsequent 15 months, the HEP group continued their exercise program, the SET/HEP group transitioned from SET to the HEP program, and the control group transitioned to only receive walking advice. PWT increased significantly from baseline to month 18 in the HEP group (408±279 meters to 814±393 meters, <0.001) and in the SET/HEP group (457±288 meters to 818±313 meters, <0.001). Exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle StO increased significantly from baseline to month 18 in the HEP group (238±241 seconds to 497±485 seconds, <0.05) and in the SET/HEP group (296±289 seconds to 620±450 seconds, <0.001). These changes in PWT and exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle StO were greater than in the control group (<0.001 and <0.01, respectively). Additionally, the change in exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle StO was correlated with the change in PWT in both exercise groups combined (=0.601, =0.0015). Conclusions Long-term HEP and SET/HEP were efficacious in improving PWT and exercise time-to-minimum calf muscle StO in symptomatic participants with peripheral artery disease, and these changes were correlated with each other. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00618670.
Topics: Humans; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Exercise; Intermittent Claudication; Exercise Therapy; Walking; Treatment Outcome; Exercise Test
PubMed: 37929770
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.029755 -
Journal of Comparative Physiology. A,... Jul 2023The optic flow, i.e., the displacement of retinal images of objects in the environment induced by self-motion, is an important source of spatial information, especially... (Review)
Review
The optic flow, i.e., the displacement of retinal images of objects in the environment induced by self-motion, is an important source of spatial information, especially for fast-flying insects. Spatial information over a wide range of distances, from the animal's immediate surroundings over several hundred metres to kilometres, is necessary for mediating behaviours, such as landing manoeuvres, collision avoidance in spatially complex environments, learning environmental object constellations and path integration in spatial navigation. To facilitate the processing of spatial information, the complexity of the optic flow is often reduced by active vision strategies. These result in translations and rotations being largely separated by a saccadic flight and gaze mode. Only the translational components of the optic flow contain spatial information. In the first step of optic flow processing, an array of local motion detectors provides a retinotopic spatial proximity map of the environment. This local motion information is then processed in parallel neural pathways in a task-specific manner and used to control the different components of spatial behaviour. A particular challenge here is that the distance information extracted from the optic flow does not represent the distances unambiguously, but these are scaled by the animal's speed of locomotion. Possible ways of coping with this ambiguity are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Optic Flow; Flight, Animal; Insecta; Motion Perception; Saccades
PubMed: 36609568
DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01610-w -
Cornea Dec 2023In this study, we compared clinically relevant biochemical properties of each chelator for pH, osmolarity, and calcium chelation potential.
PURPOSE
In this study, we compared clinically relevant biochemical properties of each chelator for pH, osmolarity, and calcium chelation potential.
METHODS
In total, 0.2 M K 2 EDTA and K 3 EDTA (BD vacutainer tubes by Becton, Dickinson and Company) and Na 2 EDTA (Sigma Aldrich) solutions were made. The pH of each solution was measured (Mettler Toledo pH meter), and the theoretical osmolarity was calculated. Next, we determined the calcium chelation potential of each EDTA salt by titrating it with 10 μmol of calcium hydroxyapatite or CaCl 2 containing Patton-Reeder colorimetric indicator. Statistical significance was analyzed using analysis of variance.
RESULTS
The 0.2 M solutions of Na 2 EDTA, K 2 EDTA, and K 3 EDTA have pH values of 4.43, 5.71, and 9.191 and theoretical osmolarities of 600, 600, and 800 mOsm/L, respectively. Calcium chelation ability was similar among all 3 solutions: 0.94 to 0.98 mol of EDTA was needed to fully chelate 1 mol calcium ions of CaCl 2 ( P = 0.296), 0.100 to 0.108 mol of EDTA for 1 mol calcium ions of the hydroxyapatite aqueous suspension ( P = 0.296), and 0.992 to 0.996 mol for 1 mol calcium ions of hydroxyapatite in acidic solution ( P = 0.178). Compared with the clinical standard of 3% (30 mg/mL) Na 2 EDTA, approximately 3.3% (33 mg/mL) K 2 EDTA and 3.6% (36 mg/mL) K 3 EDTA are needed to chelate an equivalent amount of calcium.
CONCLUSIONS
In this article, we provide clinically relevant biochemical properties of 2 alternatives to Na 2 EDTA and demonstrate comparable calcium chelation ability among all 3 solutions. In situations where sterile sources of Na 2 EDTA are unavailable, potassium EDTA may provide a convenient and equally effective method of treatment for band keratopathy.
Topics: Humans; Calcium Chelating Agents; Edetic Acid; Calcium; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Calcinosis; Hydroxyapatites; Ions
PubMed: 37603695
DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003370