Scientifica最新文献

{"title":"Detection and Genotypic Characterization of Clindamycin Resistance Among <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Clinical Isolates.","authors":"Raechal Sanjana Hans, Suchitra Shenoy M","doi":"10.1155/sci5/8532158","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/8532158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Resistance to macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B (MLS_B) antibiotics in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> has emerged as a significant therapeutic challenge. <i>erm</i> gene-encoded ribosomal methylation is expressed either constitutively or inducibly, causing resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin with possible induction of clindamycin resistance during therapy. <i>msrA</i>-mediated active drug efflux confers resistance to macrolides and streptogramin B while preserving clindamycin susceptibility. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of <i>S. aureus</i> isolates and correlate between the phenotypic and genotypic patterns of clindamycin resistance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to September 2023 at a tertiary care hospital laboratory. A total of 233 clinical isolates of <i>S. aureus</i> were included from exudate, blood, and bodily fluids. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Vitek 2 Compact system and interpreted according to CLSI 2022 and 2023 guidelines. Inducible clindamycin resistance was detected using the D-test. Multiplex and uniplex PCR assays were performed for the detection of <i>ermA</i>, <i>ermB</i>, <i>ermC</i>, and <i>msrA</i> genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 233 <i>S. aureus</i> isolates, methicillin resistance was identified in 45.9% (107/233) isolates. The prevalence of constitutive MLS_B (cMLS_B), inducible MLS_B (iMLS_B), and MS phenotypes was 23.17%, 12.01%, and 10.3%, respectively. Overall clindamycin resistance was observed in 38.6% (90/233; 95% CI: 32.6%-45.0%). The <i>ermC</i> gene was detected in 30.47% (71/233) isolates, while <i>msrA</i> was identified in 9.44% (22/233), including 91.7% of isolates of the MS phenotype. Neither <i>ermA</i> nor <i>ermB</i> genes were detected. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, daptomycin, and tigecycline.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>ermC</i>-mediated MLS_B resistance was present in 30.5% of isolates, with cMLS_B (23.2%) being more common than iMLS_B (12.0%). Routine D-testing is essential to avoid clinical failure when using clindamycin for erythromycin-resistant, clindamycin-susceptible <i>S. aureus</i>. Also, 8 isolates were clindamycin resistant and susceptible to erythromycin, showcasing the diversity of the resistance profile of <i>S. aureus</i> toward MLS_B.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8532158"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527515/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148866656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality by Design-Driven Formulation Development of Cannabidiol Orally Disintegrating Tablets.","authors":"Chaowalit Monton, Poj Kulvanich, Apirada Sucontphunt, Jirapornchai Suksaeree, Laksana Charoenchai, Thanapat Songsak","doi":"10.1155/sci5/3553253","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/3553253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of cannabidiol (CBD) orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) is effective in treating anxiety in a patient-friendly manner. The application of Quality by Design (QbD) enhances the efficiency and robustness of the pharmaceutical development of CBD ODTs. The objective of this work was to develop a formulation for CBD ODTs using a QbD-driven approach. Quality target product profile, critical quality attributes, and an initial risk assessment were identified and evaluated. Subsequently, a Box-Behnken design was employed to analyze the effects of varied compression force, the quantity of microcrystalline cellulose, and the quantity of croscarmellose sodium to create a design space and control space. Results indicated that the design and control spaces produced tablets with hardness ranging from 4 to 6 kg-force, a disintegration time (DT) ≤ 30 s, and a friability ≤ 1%. All formulations contained 4% CBD (or 10 mg per tablet). The optimal formulation consisted of 35% microcrystalline cellulose and 1% croscarmellose sodium and was compressed at 1400 pounds per square inch. This formulation exhibited a hardness of approximately 5 kg-force, a DT of 13-15 s, and a friability of approximately 0.3%. Verification data confirmed the accuracy of the predictions made by computer software. The content uniformity and assay determined using validated high-performance liquid chromatography ranged between 90% and 100%. CBD was released from the CBD ODT in 1% sodium lauryl sulfate solution, with approximately 76% dissolved within 3 h in the dissolution study. In conclusion, the QbD-driven approach successfully facilitated the formulation development of CBD ODTs with the desired properties for the treatment of anxiety in a patient-friendly manner.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3553253"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13519653/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Novel Therapeutic Approach: Phage and <i>Alhagi maurorum</i> Synergy Against Kidney and Bladder Infection Caused by <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> in BALB/c Mice.","authors":"Sharareh Moghim, Samira Choopani, Bahram Nasr Esfahani, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Jeroen Wagemans, Rob Lavigne, Arezoo Mirzaei","doi":"10.1155/sci5/2249075","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/2249075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) caused by <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> biofilms present significant challenges due to escalating multidrug resistance, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. This study evaluates a novel combinatorial approach employing a cocktail of two lytic bacteriophages (Isf-Pm1 and Isf-Pm2) in conjunction with <i>Alhagi maurorum</i> ethanolic extract (AME) to reduce bacterial burden in an established murine model of catheter-associated infection. We hypothesized that the synergistic activity of phages and AME would enhance treatment efficacy, impede resistance development, and promote infection clearance. Using a catheterized BALB/c mouse model with five experimental groups (<i>n</i> = 6 per group), we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the phage-AME combination across varying dosages and treatment durations. Bacterial load (CFU/mL) was quantified from homogenized kidney and bladder tissues following treatment. The combination of phages at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 and AME at 750 mg/kg administered over 7 days produced the most pronounced antibacterial effect, achieving a 7-log₁₀ reduction in renal bacterial counts and a 5.3-log₁₀ reduction in bladder bacterial counts. Notably, extending the treatment duration from 3 to 7 days significantly enhanced bacterial clearance in renal tissues (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), highlighting the critical importance of prolonged therapy for optimizing outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that both dosage and treatment duration significantly influence the therapeutic efficacy of the phage-AME combination, emphasizing the necessity of protocol optimization to improve clinical outcomes for patients with kidney and bladder infections. Collectively, this study presents a promising, mechanistically grounded alternative strategy for combating biofilm-associated CAUTIs and warrants further translational investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2249075"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504360/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148819475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Explainable Survival Modeling in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using Landmark-Based Machine Learning.","authors":"Khawar Siddiqui, Abdulrahman Al-Musa, Mona Al-Saleh, Hawazen Al Saedi, Abdullah Al-Jefri, Ibrahim Ghemlas, Awatif Al Anazi, Saadiya Khan, Mouhab Ayas, Edward De Vol, Ali Al-Ahmari","doi":"10.1155/sci5/7818238","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/7818238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Machine learning survival models can outperform conventional Cox regression in heterogeneous pediatric HSCT cohorts, but clinical adoption is limited by concerns regarding information leakage, time-dependent structure, and interpretability. We evaluated explainable survival modeling aligned to real-world decision points before transplantation and after early post-transplant complications.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In a single-center cohort of 839 transplant-naïve children (< 14 years) undergoing HSCT (2010-2016), overall survival was modeled from infusion to death or last follow-up. A baseline model used only pretransplant variables (age at HSCT, primary diagnostic group, stem cell source, and donor HLA type). To prevent leakage from postinfusion events, a day + 100 landmark cohort (<i>n</i> = 721; 121 deaths beyond day + 100) was constructed and extended with early complications known by day + 100 (SOS/VOD and acute GvHD). Cox proportional hazards, random survival forests (ranger), and randomForestSRC (rfSRC) were benchmarked using C-index, integrated cumulative/dynamic AUC (iAUC), and integrated Brier score (IBS). Cox proportional hazard assumptions were tested using Schoenfeld residuals. Model-agnostic explainability (survex) included time-dependent permutation importance, partial dependence survival profiles, SurvSHAP(t), ceteris paribus profiles, and additive attributions (breakdown and SHAP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall mortality was 28.1% (236/839). Baseline Cox violated proportional hazards (global <i>p</i> = 0.00181), whereas the day + 100 landmark Cox did not (global <i>p</i> = 0.52). Baseline performance favored ML models (C-index: Cox 0.673, ranger 0.677, rfSRC 0.668; iAUC: 0.698, 0.866, 0.826; IBS: 0.159, 0.126, 0.135). In the landmark setting, discrimination and accuracy improved with ML (C-index: Cox 0.721, ranger 0.870, rfSRC 0.840; iAUC: 0.609, 0.668, 0.650; IBS: 0.125, 0.0969, 0.1016). Explainability analyses produced clinically coherent global and individualized risk narratives beyond day + 100.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>An information-leakage-free, landmark-based XAI framework allows clinically credible survival prediction in pediatric HSCT, with random survival forests outperforming Cox regression and providing transparent cohort-level and patient-level explanations suitable for clinical communication and risk updating.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7818238"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variability in Carob Fruit Composition: Geographic and Maturity Stage Effects on Physical and Biochemical Properties.","authors":"Salah Laaraj, Chaimae El-Rhouttais, Hicham Ouhakki, Aziz Tikent, Sofia Zazouli, Atman Adiba, Mohamed Kouighat, Abdellatif Boutagayout, Anas Hamdani, Mohamed Lamsiah, Ayour Jamal, Mohammed Mitache, Souad Salmaoui, Kaoutar Elfazazi","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6783176","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/6783176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the impact of geographic origin and maturity stage on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of immature carob (<i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L.) fruits collected from three distinct locations in central Morocco. A total of 300 trees were sampled across seven phenological stages (<i>T</i> ₀-<i>T</i> ₇), and various parameters were assessed, including fruit morphology, colorimetric indices, sugar content, total polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Two-way ANOVA revealed that these attributes were significantly influenced by the site, the maturity stage, and their interaction. Morphological characteristics increased significantly throughout fruit maturation, with the most pronounced changes occurring during the advanced developmental stages (<i>T</i> ₅-<i>T</i> ₇). Pod length, width, and thickness exhibited a progressive upward trend, reaching their highest values at late maturity stages. In particular, pod length increased markedly from 4.27 ± 0.45 cm at <i>S</i> ₂-<i>T</i> ₀ to 21.43 ± 2.65 cm at <i>S</i> ₃-<i>T</i> ₅, corresponding to an approximately fivefold increase during fruit development, thereby highlighting the substantial morphological changes associated with pod maturation. Bioactive compounds showed stage-dependent variations, with the highest levels generally recorded at intermediate maturity stages (<i>T</i> ₁-<i>T</i> ₂). Total phenolic content peaked at <i>T</i> ₂, reaching 3342.38 ± 377.96 mg GAE/100 g, while total flavonoid and condensed tannin contents attained maximum values of 1335.42 ± 187.95 mg QE/100 g and 1149.21 ± 55.26 mg CE/100 g, respectively. Principal component analysis accounted for 83.64% of the total variability, highlighting clear groupings based on the developmental stage and site-specific effects. These findings demonstrate that the quality of immature carob fruits is strongly dependent on both environmental and developmental factors. The results provide a valuable basis for the targeted use of carob fruits in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical applications, optimizing their nutritional and functional potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6783176"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13424820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148654221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Fermentation Period on Metabolite Production and Bioactivity in Two Sponge-Associated Bacteria.","authors":"Mamdouh Al-Harbi, Mamdoh T Jamal, Sathianeson Satheesh","doi":"10.1155/sci5/5979734","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/5979734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many marine bacteria are living in association with sponges and are known to produce secondary metabolites for the host's chemical defense. The secondary metabolite production in bacteria is influenced by the culture medium, growth conditions, and incubation time. In this study, the effect of fermentation period on secondary metabolite production was analyzed in two sponge-associated bacteria, <i>Enterobacter</i> sp. and <i>Alcanivorax</i> sp. The bacterial strains were subjected to a fermentation period of five days and then a 14-day period before centrifugation and solvent extraction from the supernatant. The extracts from the bacteria were then tested for antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against selected clinically significant bacterial strains. The composition of the extracts was confirmed using GC-MS. The results revealed variations in the activity of the extracts at different fermentation periods with differences in the composition of the metabolites observed in each extract. <i>Enterobacter</i> sp. cultured for 14 days of fermentation period showed higher antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> ATCC 25923 and <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 25922. While each extract demonstrated antibiofilm activity, in some cases the activity was higher after 5 days and in some cases after 14 days. GC-MS profiling clearly indicated a metabolic shift with the dominance of fatty alcohols and esters in the extracts obtained after 5 days and bioactive aromatic compounds and diketopiperazines after 14 days of fermentation. Overall, this study confirms that secondary metabolite enrichment in marine bacteria is fermentation time-dependent, and a longer fermentation period may enhance antibacterial activity. The changes in metabolites due to the fermentation period showed the significance of optimizing bacterial culture time to enhance the bioactive potentials of bacteria associated with marine organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5979734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13417491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148620905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimized Solubilization of <i>Albizia myriophylla</i> Benth. Extract Using I-Optimal Design for Anti-<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> Activity.","authors":"Chaowalit Monton, Thaniya Wunnakup, Jirapornchai Suksaeree","doi":"10.1155/sci5/3315055","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/3315055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Albizia myriophylla</i> Benth. is a medicinal plant possessing anti-<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> activity, a key pathogen associated with dental caries, due to the presence of antimicrobial compounds such as lupinifolin. This study aimed to optimize a solvent system for solubilizing <i>A. myriophylla</i> extract. Initially, the anti-<i>S. mutans</i> activity of the stem extract was determined, revealing minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of 8 and 256 μg/mL, respectively. Five solvents-water, 95% ethanol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400, and propylene glycol (PG)-were evaluated. The extract exhibited higher solubility in PG, followed by 95% ethanol and PEG 400. Based on these results, 95% ethanol, PG, and water were selected for mixture optimization using an I-optimal design. A design space was constructed to ensure a minimum of 90% recovery of lupinifolin, achieving approximately 50% of the defined knowledge space. The optimal formulation for preparing a 5% <i>A. myriophylla</i> extract consisted of 95% ethanol, PG, and water in a mass ratio of 0.30:0.63:0.07. This formulation yielded a lupinifolin recovery ranging from 94.18% to 101.01%. A verification step confirmed the predictive accuracy and reliability of the model. Finally, the optimal formulation was evaluated for its anti-<i>S. mutans</i> activity, which demonstrated effective antimicrobial properties. In conclusion, this study successfully identified a suitable solvent system for solubilizing <i>A. myriophylla</i> extract, which can serve as a guideline for the development of oral sprays targeting <i>S. mutans</i> in future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3315055"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13392912/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148580102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review: Deep Learning for Analyzing Genomic Data to Discover Evolutionary Patterns.","authors":"Raha Hassanpour Faramoushjani, Sanam Ansari","doi":"10.1155/sci5/4286814","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/4286814","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Deep learning has been increasingly applied to evolutionary genomics as genomic datasets have grown in scale and complexity. However, the literature encompasses heterogeneous biological objectives, modeling assumptions, and evaluation standards, often treated as a unified field despite important conceptual differences. This study presents a systematic review of research published between 2016 and 2025 on the use of deep learning to identify evolutionary patterns in genomic data. Following a structured screening process, 50 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis. The reviewed applications can be organized into three partially overlapping but conceptually distinct domains: (i) population genetic inference, (ii) phylogenetic reconstruction, and (iii) sequence representation learning using DNA and protein language models. In population genetics, deep learning is predominantly employed within simulation-based inference frameworks. In phylogenetics, neural architectures are used to approximate or accelerate tree and model inference under defined conditions. In representation learning, models focus on extracting transferable sequence features for downstream evolutionary or functional analyses. Across domains, deep learning provides flexible modeling of complex genomic inputs. Nevertheless, recurring limitations include challenges in interpretability, sensitivity to training assumptions-particularly under simulation-based settings-heterogeneous evaluation protocols, and substantial computational demands. By organizing the literature using a domain-aligned framework, this review clarifies domain-specific strengths, limitations, and research gaps, providing a structured basis for future methodological development in evolutionary genomics.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4286814"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13393291/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148580063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Dietary Supplemental Chromium and Zinc on the Performance of Laying Hens, Egg Quality, and Blood Chemistry.","authors":"Shadi Sedgh-Gooya, Ahmad Mohebbifar, Mehran Torki","doi":"10.1155/sci5/2691313","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/2691313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of dietary chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical parameters in Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens. A total of 216 hens (42 weeks old) were allocated to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with three dietary Cr levels (0, 3, and 6 mg/kg) and two Zn levels (0 and 40 mg/kg) over a 12-week period. Chromium supplementation significantly affected feed conversion ratio (FCR), hen-day egg production (EP), and egg mass (EM), with hens receiving no supplemental Cr exhibiting higher EP and EM than those supplemented with 3 or 6 mg/kg Cr (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Feed intake (FI) was not influenced by either Cr or Zn supplementation (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Both Cr and Zn significantly affected shell thickness (<i>p</i> = 0.0259 and <i>p</i> = 0.0026, respectively), with Zn increasing and Cr decreasing shell thickness. Chromium supplementation also reduced shell weight (<i>p</i> = 0.0138). A significant Cr × Zn interaction was observed for yolk color (<i>p</i> = 0.0429), with the highest values recorded in hens fed 40 mg/kg Zn combined with 3 mg/kg Cr. Blood albumin concentrations increased with increasing dietary Cr and Zn levels (<i>p</i> = 0.0001), whereas blood triglyceride concentrations decreased following Zn supplementation (<i>p</i> = 0.0490). Zinc supplementation increased blood Zn concentrations (<i>p</i> = 0.0267), while Cr supplementation reduced blood Cr concentrations (<i>p</i> = 0.0001). In conclusion, dietary Cr supplementation at the tested levels did not improve laying performance and, in some cases, reduced EP and EM, whereas Zn supplementation enhanced certain egg quality traits and improved blood biochemical profiles. Furthermore, the interaction between Cr and Zn influenced yolk color and blood Cr concentrations.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"2691313"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13387305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Therapeutic Potential of <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> in Alzheimer's Disease: Insights From Experimental Rodent Model.","authors":"Rabia Munawwar, Sana Sarfaraz, Rahila Ikram, Humera Anser","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6739059","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/6739059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurological ailment affecting millions of people worldwide. For this neurological disease, there are numerous pharmacological and supportive treatments available. Several organic products are currently being investigated for AD. In a recent study, a variety of methods were used to conduct research and evaluate this advantageous effect, including passive avoidance tests, histopathology, biogenic amine assessment, and GC-MS analysis. For this study, three groups were made of albino rats of both genders. Group I was the negative control group (administered standard diet), Group II was treated with 500 mg/kg beans, and Group III was given 1000 mg/kg. All three groups were induced Alzheimer's by giving 2.5 mg/kg diazepam prior to the start of the treatment. The results showed that a significantly higher dosage level of 1000 mg/kg was most effective at preventing dementia in AD-induced rats as compared to the lower dose evaluated. Passive avoidance tests, GC-MS analysis, which revealed acetylcholine activity and other beneficial compounds like squalene, isoglutamine, and pyrrolizine, as well as histopathological analysis, all supported the effectiveness of this nutritional option. The findings unmistakably demonstrated that 1000 mg/kg red beans are very helpful in reducing dementia in AD-induced rats.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6739059"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369586/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}