Journals
2026 EN
Pham Hoang Nhat · Ibrahim Ramzi · Giauque Nathan
+8 more
ABSTRACT Background Prolonged QT interval is common in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, but its long‐term cardiovascular (CV) implications remain unclear. Methods Using TriNetX network (2010–2024), we identified adults with ESRD on dialysis and categorized them by QTc status. After 1:1 propensity score matching ( n = 3428/group), outcomes (hazard ratio [HR]) were assessed using Cox regression. Results Prolonged QTc (> 500 ms) was associated with higher risk of all‐cause mortality (HR 1.67; p < 0.001), MACEs (HR 1.40; p < 0.001), cardiac arrest (HR 1.75; p < 0.001), sustained ventricular arrhythmia (HR 1.66; p < 0.001), new‐onset atrial fibrillation (HR 1.12; p = 0.01), and acute myocardial infarction (HR 2.19; p < 0.001). Conclusions In ESRD patients on dialysis, prolonged QT interval was independently associated with adverse CV outcomes and mortality.
Journals
2026 EN
Zrig Ahlem · Jerbi Ahmed · Hammouda Foued
+8 more
ABSTRACT Antimony (Sb) contamination threatens food security by lowering crop yields, reducing nutritional quality, and harming agroecosystems, underscoring the need for sustainable and eco‐friendly strategies to alleviate heavy metal stress. Here arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) role to mitigate Sb‐induced stress in maize, was examined. AMF‐inoculated and non‐inoculated plants were grown under control and Sb stress conditions for 10 weeks, and growth, nutrient uptake, metabolic profiles, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity were assessed. Sb exposure markedly suppressed maize performance, reducing fresh and dry biomass by 66% and 65%, respectively, while also impairing the growth‐promoting effects commonly associated with AMF. However, AMF inoculation significantly alleviated Sb toxicity, enhancing fresh biomass by 43% and dry biomass by 40%. The recovery was linked to improved nutrient uptake and the accumulation of primary metabolites, which promoted physiological adjustments. Moreover, AMF‐inoculated plants under Sb stress showed enriched bioactive metabolites, leading to stronger antimicrobial activity and a 65% increase in antioxidant capacity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that AMF enhance maize resilience to Sb stress by promoting growth, nutritional quality, and bioactive properties. This study demonstrates that AMF offer a sustainable strategy to enhance crop resilience and biofortification in contaminated environments.
Journals
2026 EN
Şanlı Tuba · Altınay Canan · Atalar İlyas
+4 more
Abstract BACKGROUND Plant‐derived proteins are rapidly emerging as innovative ingredients in the food sector because of their sustainability and ethical benefits compared with animal‐based proteins. Among dairy applications, fermented beverages are the most suitable products for the incorporation of these proteins. This study evaluated how cold plasma (CP) treatment time and concentrations of modified pea protein isolate (PPI) affected the quality and stability of a hybrid dairy beverage. RESULTS Higher PPI levels increased titratable acidity, whereas CP‐treated PPI resulted in higher pH values reaching 4.36 at 1.8 g 100 mL −1 . Both PPI concentration and CP treatment improved the water‐holding capacity (WHC), with a maximum WHC of 29.68% achieved at 1.8 g 100 mL −1 PPI and a CP treatment time of 30 s. Longer CP time and higher PPI levels increased a* and b* values significantly ( P < 0.05). Viscosity peaked at 214.35 Pa s at 1.8 g 100 mL −1 PPI and a CP treatment time of 60 s but declined at 120 s. Pea protein isolate also promoted Streptococcus and Lactobacillus spp. growth, especially with shorter CP time ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that brief CP treatment is an effective approach to modifying PPI, improving its suitability for use in the development of functional hybrid fermented dairy beverages. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Journals
2026 EN
Yusuf Mohammad · Gaya Umar Ibrahim · Adnan Rohana
ABSTRACT In this work, binary composites of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) with iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO), namely GF4 and GZ4, were synthesized via cost‐effective and environmentally friendly methods. The composites showed enhanced specific surface area and improved charge carrier separation compared to the bare g‐C 3 N 4 , Fe 2 O 3 , and ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of the binary composites was evaluated based on the degradation of model organic pollutants, methyl orange (MO) and caffeine, under UV and visible light irradiation. Under 120 min UV light irradiation, the most efficient GZ4 and GF4 composites achieved 97% degradation of MO. Meanwhile, under similar condition, the GF4 and GZ4 composites showed a much lower degradation efficiency toward caffeine, 47% and 64%, respectively. Interestingly, the binary composites exhibited a 26‐fold increase in MO degradation under visible light compared to bare g‐C 3 N 4 due to a synergistic effect. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis revealed 58% mineralization of caffeine under UV light, indicating the potential of these materials for effective wastewater treatment. The obtained photocatalysts displayed excellent stability and reusability, suggesting their practical use for the remediation of our environment.
Journals
2026 EN
Mafla Laura M. · AbdElazem Ibrahim · So Raymond J.
+4 more
ABSTRACT Objective Iatrogenic Laryngotracheal Stenosis (iLTS) is a pathologic narrowing of the laryngotracheal airway secondary to intubation injury. Inflammation plays a critical role in iLTS pathogenesis. However, the local immune mediators promoting inflammation and subsequent fibrosis remain poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis of iLTS specimens using single‐cell RNA sequencing has revealed increased expression of the damage‐associated molecular pattern (DAMP), S100A8/A9. The goal of this study is to define the role of S100A8/A9 in iLTS pathogenesis in vivo. Methods S100A8/A9 expression was assessed using single‐cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence in human iLTS and unaffected tracheal controls. To assess the fibrogenicity of S100A8/A9, iLTS‐induced mice were treated with recombinant S100A8/A9 (0.1 mg/kg) or a vehicle control. Fibrosis was assessed by measurement of tracheal lamina propria (LP) thickness and fibrosis‐related gene expression. Results Immunofluorescence of human iLTS specimens demonstrated increased expression of S100A8/A9 in the LP compared to controls. In iLTS‐induced mice, S100A8/A9 treatment resulted in greater LP thickness compared to control‐treated mice (117.7 ± 23.72 vs. 67.7 ± 33.11 μM, p = 0.03). Gene expression analysis demonstrated a 4.42 ± 0.73 fold increase in Col1a1 expression in S100A8/A9‐treated iLTS mice ( p = 0.01). S100A8/A9's downstream regulatory protein MYD88 is increased in human iLTS and in iLTS mice treated with S100A8/A9. Conclusion S100A8/A9 is abundant in human iLTS and promotes fibrosis in a murine model. Targeting S100A8/A9 and its downstream signaling protein MYD88 may be an effective treatment strategy to attenuate iLTS. Investigation into therapies that target S100A8/A9 signaling is warranted. Level of Evidence NA.
Journals
2026 EN
Epperson Madison V. · Abdulrazzak Obada · Jones Gerilyn
+2 more
ABSTRACT Objectives Individuals with single‐sided deafness (SSD) may develop adaptive listening strategies with head movement patterns to optimize monaural localization and speech‐in‐noise understanding. Granular understanding of adaptive behaviors may better inform rehabilitation for SSD. We aimed to characterize head movements during a combined localization and speech‐in‐noise task to understand how adaptive behaviors emerge. Methods Prospective study from a tertiary referral center with 16 subjects with normal hearing (NH) and 15 SSD subjects. Sentences were played in a semi‐anechoic chamber from one of 24 speakers in a 360° azimuthal configuration with a variable signal‐to‐noise ratio. Head position was captured via an electromagnetic tracking system. NH subjects completed the task twice, once with a deeply‐seated earplug and supra‐aural earmuff to simulate acute unilateral hearing loss and once unoccluded. Outcome measures included localization accuracy (mean absolute error, slope across targets), head movement (onset delay, total response time, total head displacement), and speech‐in‐noise performance. Results Unoccluded NH subjects displayed accurate localization, minimal movement delay, rapid response time, low total head displacement, and high speech‐in‐noise percent correct compared to the occluded condition and SSD subjects. Localization accuracy and SIN performance were comparable between NH occluded and SSD; however, the groups had distinct head movement patterns. Conclusions Acute unilateral hearing loss leads to sharp declines in localization accuracy and speech‐in‐noise performance. In SSD, difficult listening conditions may prompt the development of distinct head movement patterns over time. This work provides key initial insight into adaptive listening strategies that individuals with SSD may acquire and utilize in complex listening environments. Level of Evidence 3
Journals
2026 EN
Ibrahim Ibrahim M. · Clementi Emily · Chisolm Paul F.
+2 more
ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), sex, and anterolateral thigh free flap (ALTFF) thickness, and to determine their impact on the use of ALT and super‐thin ALT (STALFF) flaps for oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction. Methods Ninety‐four patients who underwent ALTFF, super thin‐ALTFF (ST‐ALTFF), or radial forearm free flap (RFFF) reconstruction following resection of oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were included. Preoperative PET/CT scans were analyzed to measure ALTFF thickness at three points along the thigh: the proximal fourth (Point A), midpoint (Point B), and distal fourth (Point C) of the line extending from the anterior superior iliac spine to the superior lateral surface of the patella. Statistical analyses included chi‐squared, t ‐tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation to assess associations between BMI, sex, and flap thickness. Results Forty patients (42.5%) underwent ALTFF reconstruction, 18 had ST‐ALTFF (19.1%), and 36 (38.3%) received RFFF. Pearson's correlation confirmed a strong positive relationship between BMI and flap thickness at all points ( r > 0.62). Although BMI did not differ significantly between sexes ( p = 0.066), females had significantly thicker flaps at all measured points ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion BMI and sex are reliable predictors of ALTFF thickness and influence flap selection. Integrating these factors into preoperative planning optimizes patient selection for free flap type choice, minimizing intraoperative modifications and improving reconstructive outcomes. Level of Evidence 4.
Journals
2026 EN
Bouhrem Ilyes · Benabdelmoumene Djilali · Waqar Muhammad
+5 more
ABSTRACT Lathyrus sativus L. (grass pea) has been receiving growing interest because of its drought resistance and its adaptation to low‐input farming systems, but the biochemical adaptations of L. sativus to divergent environmental conditions are poorly comprehended. The work assessed the consequences of local and climatic differences in proximate composition, phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti‐inflammatory action, and untargeted LCMS/MS metabolomic profiles of L. sativus seeds grown in two Algerian systems: a semi‐arid highland, Ain Defla, and a sub‐humid plain, Sidi Bel Abbès. Ain Defla seeds contained more dry matter (89.2%), crude protein (28.5%), and crude fiber (6.1%) than Sidi Bel Abbès (88.1%, 26.9%, and 5.4%), and the lipid content in Ain Defla was a bit higher (2.8% vs. 2.3%). The total phenols were more in Ain Defla (8.64 ± 0.31 mg GAE g −1 DW), and flavonoids and condensed tannins were more in Sidi Bel Abbès. Extracts of Ain Defla had greater antioxidant potential in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TBARS, whereas Sidi Bel Abbès extracts were observed to have better antibacterial strength, especially against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes . LCMS/MS analysis showed the presence of 42 major metabolites, which occupy different regional chemotypes dominated by phenolic acids in Ain Defla, and flavanols and procyanidins in Sidi Bel Abbès. These results support the notion that L. sativus is biochemically flexible and a promising multifunctional legume in agri‐food systems.
Journals
2026 EN
Ibrahim Abubakar Suraja · Srivastava Noopur · Narayanan S. Shankara
ABSTRACT In this study, an eco‐friendly green synthesis method was employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the spinach leaf extract as the reducing and capping agent. The green‐synthesized AgNPs exhibited an effective nanoprobe for the selective colorimetric detection of Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ in water. The synthesized AgNPs were thoroughly examined using several analytical methods, including UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM), Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta potential analysis. The AgNPs exhibited a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 440 nm. FTIR of the AgNPs demonstrated the functionalization of the polar leaf extract of spinach leaves. The synthesis of spherical‐shaped AgNPs with an average size of 30 nm and a face‐centered cubic (fcc) geometry was assessed by HRTEM and XRD, respectively. The negative zeta potential of −28.3 mV confirmed colloidal stability. The AgNPs showed high sensitivity for colorimetric detection of Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ with a limit of detection of 158 and 734 ppb, respectively, in spiked water samples, highlighting their potential for use in environmental monitoring applications. Overall, this study presents a simple, cost‐effective, and environmentally benign synthesis of AgNPs with dual functionality as a highly sensitive colorimetric sensor for Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ .
Journals
2026 EN
Ibrahim Shifa Shadhan Hamad · AlTaie Israa Ismail Yassin
ABSTRACT Eighteen adult male white rats, each weighing between 300 and 400 grams, were utilized in this study. The rats were divided into three groups, each consisting of six rats, and were observed over two weeks. The objective was to determine the effects of the herbal turmeric plant used in complementary medicine, as well as to investigate its active components and its ability to scavenge free radicals. The effectiveness of turmeric extract in both prevention and therapy was evaluated in rats induced to form blood clots using ferric chloride at a concentration of 2% over 14 days. The first group served as the control (C) and received no treatment. The second group (G1) served as the preventive group, receiving 0.5 cc of ferric chloride daily, along with a 70% alcoholic turmeric extract administered orally. The third group (G3) was the induction group, receiving only ferric chloride.