Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is widely believed to be associated with the production and deposition of the βamyloid peptide (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) which are composed of a highly-phosphorylated form of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Based on the above hypothesis, there are currently no sufficiently effective technologies and drugs for early detection and treatment of AD. Even the most promising new drug Lecanemab that is based on an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody therapy, has only partially slowed down the cognitive performance of patients with mild impairment caused by Alzheimer's disease. The main symptoms of AD brain tissue lesions in patients are the deposition of β-amyloid peptide and the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, which aggregates the microtubule structure of neurons. Therefore, Aβ deposition and hyperphosphorylation of Tau are important pathological biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the main targets of research for AD prevention, detection and pharmaceuticals are still Aβ and Tau protein. The aim of this study was to detect the changes of Aβ and Tau proteins in the mouse brain tissue with AD and control samples using Visible Resonance Raman (VRR) spectroscopic technology. An attempt was made to develop criteria for the detection of early AD lesions by optical spectroscopy technology. The VRR spectra of AD, the control mouse brain tissues, and Aβ and Tau proteins were recorded and analyzed. The AD and the control mouse brain tissue samples were selected from the thalamus, frontal lobe cortex and hippocampus brain areas. VRR technology with high spatial resolution and the resonance-enhanced features of certain protein molecules is first used in this study to detect and characterize the changes of Aβ and Tau proteins in AD mouse brain model. The optical spectroscopy biomarkers of AD and Control brain tissue were identified in fingerprint and the high-wavenumber regions. The Raman spectra of the secondary structure of protein in amide (I-II-III-B-A) are detected and analyzed. The results indicate that the intensity of Amide I decreased at the 1666 cm -1 corresponding to the β-sheet structure, and the intensity of the amide III bands (1220-1320 cm-1) increased in all AD brain tissues. It was also observed that the Raman peaks of 1448 and 980 cm -1 related to the abundance of proline, serine, and threonine at tau phosphorylation sites were significantly enhanced in the frontal lobe cortex and hippocampus of AD brain tissues. The intensity ratio biomarker of high phosphorylation in the high wavenumber range from 2898 to 2932 cm -1 increased in all AD brain tissues. Changes of protein secondary conformation and abnormally phosphorylated tau or tauopathies were observed. In summary, VRR is a sensitive tool for characterizing protein structural changes and monitoring the tau phosphorylation. It may potentially be used for early detection of AD.
Objectives
Medical legal partnerships (MLPs) function by leveraging partnerships between legal and medical entities to holistically target the health harming legal needs (HHLNs) of vulnerable patients. Yet, despite their documented success, robust experimental-based research is still lacking on their efficacy. This review synthesizes the findings of MLP interventions and identifies gaps and opportunities for MLP expansion across vulnerable communities.
Methods
A comprehensive search was conducted across Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Westlaw and LexisNexis databases between January 12th 2021 and April 25th, 2021. Articles were eligible if they used an experimental design, tested the effects of an MLP intervention on HHLNs, and had full text for review, with no restrictions on publication year, place, or population (adult or child). Two reviewers independently screened articles for inclusion in Rayyan QCRI- a systematic review tool and also independently assessed the quality (risk of bias) of each study.
Results
Our search yielded 1267 articles; six studies were ultimately eligible. Populations were largely racially-ethnic minorities, women, of lower socioeconomic status and with HHLNs including food and housing insecurity, unemployment, immigration, and education concerns. All studies’ MLPs demonstrated positive effects on primary endpoints including perceived stress, diabetes, immunization rates, and additional child health outcomes. Two experimental studies had low bias, while the four remaining studies (quasi-experimental) had moderate risk of bias.
Conclusion
Studies highlighted the promising ability of MLPs to address HHLNs. However, additional rigorous research in MLPs is needed to establish an evidence-based approach to addressing social needs and health outcomes.
This study aims to produce novel derivatives of karaya gum using chemical modification and then apply them for active packaging with cinnamaldehyde as the main active component. Native karaya gum (NKG) was hydrolyzed using sodium hydroxide to yield hydrolyzed karaya gum (HKG), which then was oxidized using sodium periodate to yield hydrolyzed-oxidized karaya gum (HOKG). For comparison, NKG was also directly oxidized using sodium periodate to produce oxidized karaya gum (OKG). FTIR spectra confirmed the removal of acetyl groups after alkaline hydrolysis and the formation of carbonyl groups with subsequent formation of hemiacetal and acetal structures after periodate oxidation. The alkaline hydrolysis and the periodate oxidation resulted in opposite effects on the hydrophilicity of the gum: hydrolysis increased solubility, moisture uptake, and viscosity, while periodate oxidation decreased these properties. We then produced films from corn starch and these gums (5%
w
/
w
gum/starch) and properties of the films were studied. Hydrolysis of KG resulted in higher tensile strength, higher transparency but lower puncture strength and antifungal activity against of the films, while periodate oxidation exerted the opposite effects. The incorporation of 5% cinnamaldehyde (
w
/
w
of starch) exerted strong antifungal and antibacterial effects on the films against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Escherichia coli, which are useful in active packaging. The active packages based on the novel derivatives of KG can find applications in the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.