Dietary red chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.) is insulinotropic rather than hypoglycemic in type 2 diabetes model of rats

The present study was conducted to clarify whether a low or a high, but tolerable, dietary dose of red chilli (RC) can ameliorate the diabetes related complications in a high-fat (HF) diet-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes model of rats. Five-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a HF diet for 2 weeks then randomly divided into four groups namely: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DBC), red chilli low (RCL, 0.5%) and red chilli high (RCH, 2.0%) groups. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (40 mg/kg BW) in all groups except the NC group. After 4 weeks feeding of experimental diets, the fasting blood glucose concentrations in both RC fed groups were not significantly different. The serum insulin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the RCH group compared with the DBC and RCL groups. Blood HbA1c, liver weight, liver glycogen and serum lipids were not influenced by the feeding of RC-containing diets. The data of this study suggest that 2% dietary RC is insulinotropic rather than hypoglycemic at least in this experimental condition.     

Enhanced healing efficacy of an optimized gabapentin-melittin nanoconjugate gel-loaded formulation in excised wounds of diabetic rats

The present study aimed to design and optimize, a nanoconjugate of gabapentin (GPN)-melittin (MLT) and to evaluate its healing activity in rat diabetic wounds. To explore the wound healing potency of GPN-MLT nanoconjugate, an in vivo study was carried out. Diabetic rats were subjected to excision wounds and received daily topical treatment with conventional formulations of GPN, MLT, GPN-MLT nanoconjugate and a marketed formula. The outcome of the in vivo study showed an expedited wound contraction in GPN-MLT-treated animals. This was confirmed histologically. The nanoconjugate formula exhibited antioxidant activities as evidenced by preventing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymatic exhaustion. Further, the nanoconjugate showed superior anti-inflammatory activity as it inhibited the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This is in addition to enhancement of proliferation as indicated by increased expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRB). Also, nanoconjugate enhanced hydroxyproline concentration and mRNA expression of collagen type 1 alpha 1 (Col 1A1). In conclusion, a GPN-MLT nanoconjugate was optimized with respect to particle size. Analysis of pharmacokinetic attributes showed the mean particle size of optimized nanoconjugate as 156.9 nm. The nanoconjugate exhibited potent wound healing activities in diabetic rats. This, at least partly, involve enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, proliferative and pro-collagen activities. This may help to develop novel formulae that could accelerate wound healing in diabetes.     

Design optimization and efficiency enhancement of axial junction nanowire solar cells utilizing a forward scattering mechanism

We report the design, optimization, and performance analysis of three axial junction nanowire solar cells (NW SCs) based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), and copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) with significant improvement in their optical and electrical characteristics compared to their planar counterparts. It is shown that the performance of these NW SCs can be further improved by incorporating a hemispherical indium doped tin oxide (ITO) forward scatterer on top of the ITO front contact of the solar cells. We also compare forward scatterer incorporated NW SCs with forward scatterer incorporated planar solar cells (PSCs) and observe that forward scatterers significantly enhance the absorption in both cases. We further study the optimum size and arrangement of ITO hemispheres that result in improved photocurrent. In optimum cases, the incorporation of forward scatterers leads to absorption enhancement of 7.8%, 5.36%, and 8.8% in PSCs, and 21.4%, 7.36%, and 6.02% in NW SCs, respectively, for CdTe, CIGS, and CZTS absorbers in the same order. From the absorption profile at various wavelengths, it is found that forward scatterers enhance absorption in the 450–600 nm wavelength range, while nanowires improve absorption in the 600–800 nm range, and their combination results in an improved absorption profile for the entire visible wavelength range. We also observe increased electron–hole-pair (EHP) generation rate due to increased field-scattering and light concentration at the center of the nanowire below forward scattering hemispheres, leading to 46%, 32%, and 82.5% improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the three absorber layers, respectively. The effects of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ passivation layers surrounding the nanowires of the optimized cells are observed, and we conclude that the CIGS absorber benefits the most when the SiO₂ passivation layer is used, increasing its PCE from 29.72% to 32.43%, while the PCEs of CdTe and CZTS are unaffected by the passivation layer due to competing effects of reduced absorption and reduced surface recombination.

We report the design and performance analysis of forward scatterer incorporated axial junction nanowire solar cells based on CdTe, CIGS, and CZTS with significant improvement in their optoelectronic properties compared to their planar counterparts.     

Performance of Microchannel Heat Sink Made of Silicon Material with the Two-Sided Wedge

New designs of the microchannel with a two-sided wedge shape at the base were studied numerically. Five different wedge angles ranging from 3° to 15° were incorporated into the microchannel design. Simulation of this novel microchannel was carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Three-dimensional models of the microchannel heat sink were created, discretized, and based on Navier–Stokes and energy equations; laminar numerical solutions were obtained for heat transfer and pressure drop. Flow characteristics of water as coolant in a microchannel were studied. It was observed that numerical results are in good agreement with experimental results. It was found that the Nusselt number and friction factor are significantly varied with the increase in Reynolds number. The Nusselt number varies in the following ranges of 5.963–8.521, 5.986–8.550, 6.009–8.568, 6.040–8.609, and 6.078–8.644 at 3°, 6°, 9°, 12°, and 15°, respectively. The microchannel with a wedge angle of 15° was found to be better in terms of Nusselt number and thermo-hydraulic performance. The enhancement in the Nusselt number is found as 1.017–1.036 for a wedge angle of 15°; however, friction factors do not show the perceptible values at distinct values of wedge angle. Moreover, the thermo-hydraulic performance parameters (THPP) were evaluated and found to be maximum in the range of 1.027–1.045 for a wedge angle of 15°. However, minimum THPP was found in the range of 1.005–1.0185 for a wedge angle of 3°.     

Evidence-Based Nutrition Interventions Improved Adolescents’ Knowledge and Behaviors in Indonesia

Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable and critical life stage. However, few programs and policies focus on improving adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. To address this gap, we implemented a gender-responsive package of interventions: (1) breakfast and weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFS), (2) a school-based nutrition education program, and (3) a social behavior change communication strategy. We surveyed 514 adolescents at baseline (2019) and endline (2020) in Klaten and Lombok Barat districts in Indonesia. The survey included a knowledge assessment on nutrition, as well as indicators of attitudes and behaviors on diet, physical activity, and WIFS. We employed multivariable linear and logistic regression to test for pre–post intervention differences. Overall knowledge was significantly higher post-intervention (β: 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6, 3.9). Diet diversity was high at both timepoints, however, at post-intervention there was significantly higher odds of consuming vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.0) and lower odds of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.5). Post-intervention, there was higher odds of reporting 60 min of daily physical activity (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.2) and WIFS among girls (OR: 6.7; 95% CI: 1.5, 30.9). The package of interventions may be a promising first step to improving adolescent nutrition in Indonesia.     

Periarticular multimodal drug injection in total knee arthroplasty

Purpose

A systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to evaluate the efficiency and safety of periarticular multimodal drug injection in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

Periarticular injection with the use of multimodal drugs is an efficient alternative for postoperative analgesia in TKA. A systematical electronic search was performed to identify the eligible RCTs in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Two independent reviewers completed data collection and assessment of methodological quality. The quality of evidence of outcomes was judged using GRADE criteria. Meta-analysis was performed for the outcomes of pain, straight leg raise, operating time, hospital stay and complications.

Results

Ten RCTs including eight studies with 1,216 TKAs in 835 patients met the inclusion criteria. Periarticular injection with multimodal drugs in TKA was associated with short-term benefits in terms of pain relief, straight leg raise, narcotic consumption, and the rates of nausea, vomiting, rash and pruritus. There were no statistically significant differences in operating time, hospital stay, wound complications and deep vein thrombosis between both groups.

Conclusions

The current evidence suggests that periarticular multimodal drug injection in TKA provides short-term advantages in pain relief, straight leg raise and postoperative complications.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic study, Level I.     

Three-dimensional hindfoot motion in adolescents with surgically treated unilateral clubfoot

Advances in imaging and computerized analyses have enabled three-dimensional bone motion in the treated clubfoot to be measured precisely. Three-dimensional translations and rotations of the talus, calcaneus, navicular, and cuboid of surgically treated clubfeet were less in magnitude and sometimes different in direction (or without motion in a specific plane) compared with the contralateral normal feet. Surgical techniques used for clubfoot treatment do not restore normal hindfoot bone motion when examined with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, computer reconstruction, and image analysis techniques. These data advance the knowledge of hindfoot bone motion and establish a new and quantitative objective.     

Quasi-reversible two-electron reduction of oxygen at iodine submonolayer-coated gold electrode in alkaline media

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated using polycrystalline gold (Au (poly)) electrode modified with chemisorbed iodine (I_(ads)) submonolayer (sub I_(ads)) in O₂-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution. The sub I_(ads) was tailored by potential-dependent partial reductive desorption of I_(ads) from its full monolayer. The Au (1 1 1) facet of the Au (poly) electrode was considered to remain bared at the sub I_(ads)/Au (poly) electrode. The interesting finding of the present study is that (unlike the bare Au (poly) electrode) the sub I_(ads)/Au (poly) electrode exhibited a quasi-reversible two-electron reduction of O₂ in alkaline media. The probable origin of the observed quasi-reversible behavior of the ORR is discussed. Experimental investigations were performed using cyclic and steady-state voltammetric, amperometric and coulometric techniques.