Children aged 2 to 6 years are prone to fear and resistance during medical examinations, necessitating sedation assistance. Traditional sedation modalities have limitations such as inconvenient operation, slow onset, or respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, exerts sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects with minimal respiratory and circulatory impacts. Its nasal spray is rapidly absorbed via the mucosa, avoiding the first-pass effect, and is thus suitable for young children. This study compares intranasal dexmedetomidine hydrochloride with oral chloral hydrate to evaluate the former's clinical efficacy and safety for pre-examination sedation in young children.

Veterinary probiotic formulations require high numbers of viable bacteria and culture media that support efficient biomass production while being economically feasible. The aim of this work was to optimize a culture medium for 4 homologous probiotic lactic acid bacteria (BAL) strains (Lactobacillus johnsonii-CRL1693, Ligilactobacillus murinus-CRL1695, Limosilactobacillus mucosae-CRL1696, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius-CRL1702) isolated from fecal samples of calves and to evaluate their resistance to spray dried and storage conditions. Sixty culture media designed containing different carbon source (glucose, fructose, molasses, pectin, lactose and corn-syrup) and three commercial yeast extracts (YE) were evaluated at 30 °C-37 °C. Glucose replacement was feasible for most strains, except with pectin. Glucose and lactose were optimal for CRL1693, CRL1695, and CRL1696, while for CRL1702 only fructose. All the strains tolerated spray drying, except CRL1702 that was deeply affected. The resulting powders maintained suitable viability, moisture content, and water activity during storage, and SEM revealed no differences in bacterial morphology between cells grown in the optimized and control media. Replacing glucose with molasses and using Angel YE reduced the estimated culture-medium cost, demonstrating the economic potential of the optimized formulations. Overall, the optimized media provided economical alternatives for the production of biomass of BAL intended for veterinary probiotic applications.

The "Face of the Giant Panda" sign is a characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance classically associated with Wilson disease. Although traditionally considered highly suggestive of Wilson disease, increasing evidence shows that this pattern is not pathognomonic and may occur across a wide range of neurological disorders. This review provides a comprehensive account of non-Wilsonian causes of the giant panda sign, with emphasis on pathophysiological mechanisms, characteristic imaging features, and, critically, the additional MRI findings beyond the panda configuration itself that allow these mimics to be distinguished from Wilson disease and from one another. A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar, focusing on reports describing the giant panda sign and panda-like midbrain appearances. Reported etiologies were classified into mitochondrial, toxic-metabolic, infectious, inflammatory-demyelinating, vascular, neoplastic, prion, neurodegenerative, nutritional, and hypoxic-ischemic disorders. For each entity, we summarize diffusion-weighted imaging behavior, contrast-enhancement pattern, associated lesion distribution, and key clinical differentiators in a consolidated comparison table, and we present an expanded diagnostic algorithm incorporating these clues. Panda-related variant signs (miniature panda, double panda, and "bright eyes") are also described. Important mimics include Leigh syndrome, osmotic demyelination syndrome, methanol toxicity, isoniazid toxicity, metronidazole neurotoxicity, Japanese and West Nile encephalitis, neurocysticercosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Wernicke encephalopathy, maple syrup urine disease, primary CNS lymphoma, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and select vascular and space-occupying lesions. Recognition of accompanying imaging findings-diffusion restriction, enhancement, hemorrhage, calcification, and the association of basal ganglia or white matter involvement-together with clinical and biochemical correlation, is essential for accurate diagnosis. The giant panda sign should therefore be regarded as a neuroradiological pattern of selective midbrain injury rather than a disease-specific marker.

Cyanogenic compounds in Prunus mume syrup may pose safety concerns; practical reduction strategies for fruit-based syrups are poorly defined. The ultrasonication and soaking pretreatments applied to raw fruit prior to syrup preparation were assessed and amygdalin, prunasin, mandelonitrile, and free cyanide were monitored using UHPLC-(ESI)QqQ-MS/MS. Both treatments substantially reduced the total cyanide content, with extended soaking (72 h) achieving the largest decrease, whereas ultrasonication was particularly effective in lowering free cyanide. Ultrasonication was associated with sustained β-glucosidase activity during aging. Neither pretreatment adversely affected the total phenolic content nor antioxidant activity. This study provides the first systematic, multi-compound evaluation of CN[-] reduction strategies in P. mume syrup during long-term aging and offers mechanistically-supported guidance for the practical mitigation of cyanogenic compounds in P. mume syrup production.

Sleep disorders are common and significantly impact metabolic regulation, but the overarching blood metabolomic characteristics and how drugs for these disorders affect metabolism have not been adequately described. Blood plasma from three distinct cohorts-healthy individuals, sleep disorder patients (SDP), and those undergoing YWKS pharmacological therapy (SDPM)-was analyzed using untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS). Following quality control, 352 metabolites representing 21 chemical groups were kept, and a combination of differential analysis, multi-omics enrichment, and correlation networks was used to describe metabolic changes and how they reacted to treatment. In contrast to the control group, in patients with SDP, 173 metabolites showed significant dysregulation (121 up, 52 down). Evidence from this initial population indicated that YWKS therapy was correlated with the treatment-associated modulation of 119 of the 352 identified metabolic markers, while 54 remained in a state of imbalance, suggesting that therapeutic coverage was only partially achieved in this restricted sample size. Our study identified five putative metabolic axes encompassing purine degradation and oxidative stress, imbalances in the tryptophan-serotonin circuit, compromised mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, the nexus of glycerophospholipid restructuring and neuroinflammation, and the induction of the renin-angiotensin system. These associations provide a hypothetical framework for understanding metabolic dysregulation in sleep disorders and warrant further mechanistic investigation. Through KEGG enrichment analysis, several vital metabolic routes were underscored, notably those involving glycerophospholipids, arachidonic acid signaling, and nucleotides. These findings suggest that sleep disturbances are associated with a complex metabolic imprint within the bloodstream that is not fully resolved by YWKS therapy. The continued presence of long-chain acylcarnitines in the SDPM group indicates ongoing mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that mitochondrial-targeted strategies warrant further exploratory investigation as potential adjuncts in the management of sleep disorders.

Background: Regular biochemical monitoring is essential for the safe and effective dietary treatment of inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism. However, conventional venous blood sampling may limit monitoring frequency and increase the burden on families. This study evaluated the feasibility and clinical usefulness of home-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry and additional chromatographic methods for dietary monitoring in inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism other than phenylketonuria. Methods: Between 2022 and 2025, children, adolescents, and young adults aged between 4 months and 20.5 years who were followed at a national metabolic center were monitored using DBS samples. The initial cohort included patients with maple syrup urine disease, tyrosinemia type III, homocystinuria, glutaric aciduria type 1, methylmalonic aciduria, isovaleric aciduria, argininosuccinic aciduria, methionine adenosyltransferase I/III deficiency, beta-ketothiolase deficiency, propionic aciduria, gyrate atrophy, and citrullinemia type 1. Disease-specific amino acids and metabolites were assessed to guide individualized dietary recommendations. Results: The number of monitored patients ranged from 24 to 40 per year. Overall annual completion rates of planned DBS measurements ranged from 56.7% to 73.0%, with additional clinically indicated samples collected in selected patients. DBS monitoring detected abnormal metabolite concentrations and supported dietary interventions, particularly in maple syrup urine disease, glutaric aciduria type 1, homocystinuria, tyrosinemia type III, and MAT I/III deficiency. In several other disorders, routine monthly DBS monitoring showed limited additional clinical value. Conclusions: DBS-based monitoring is a feasible approach that may support individualized dietary management in selected inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism, especially in early childhood and during periods of increased metabolic risk.

Biosurfactants are environmentally friendly surface-active compounds with promising applications in environmental remediation. In this study, a biosurfactant-producing bacterium, Bacillus (B.) velezensis SHB.28, was isolated from heavy metal-contaminated soil and evaluated for its ability to produce biosurfactants using date syrup as a low-cost agro-industrial substrate. Screening assays including drop-collapse (DC), oil spreading (OS), and emulsification index after 24 h E24 (%) confirmed strong biosurfactant production. Culture conditions were optimized, revealing that 30 °C, pH 6, and a C/N ratio between 10% and 20% provided optimal production. Under optimized conditions, the crude biosurfactant extract yield reached 2.16 g/L within 24 h, accompanied by a reduction in surface tension from 69 to 29.1 dyn/cm and high emulsification activity. Kinetic modeling showed that emulsification activity followed an exponential growth model (R[2] = 0.985), whereas surface tension dynamics were well described by a spike decay-plateau model (R[2] = 0.998). Structural characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed that the biosurfactants are surfactin- and iturin-like cyclic lipopeptides composed of a β-hydroxy fatty acid chain (C13-C15) linked to a cyclic peptide moiety. The biosurfactant exhibited a critical micelle concentration of 100 mg/L and an anionic character with a pHpzc of 5.7. Furthermore, it demonstrated high efficiency in removing heavy metals, achieving removal efficiencies of 99.88% for Fe[2+], 99.69% for Pb[2+], and 94.72% for Cu[2+], outperforming conventional surfactants such as SDS and Tween 80. These findings highlight the potential of date syrup-derived surfactin and iturin from B. velezensis SHB.28 as sustainable and efficient biosurfactants for environmental remediation and heavy metal removal applications.

Early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC) is increasing globally, raising interest in modifiable dietary exposures that may contribute to its development. High fructose intake, particularly from sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fructose corn syrup, has been associated with colorectal neoplasia and eoCRC in epidemiologic studies. Experimental evidence suggests that fructose may promote colorectal tumorigenesis through enhanced uptake and metabolism, polyol pathway activation, glycolytic and lipogenic reprogramming, hypoxic adaptation, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Excess fructose reaching the colon may also impair intestinal barrier integrity and alter gut microbial composition and metabolite production. Preclinical models support a direct tumor-promoting effect of fructose independent of obesity, whereas human mechanistic and microbiome data remain limited. This review summarizes current evidence linking fructose exposure with eoCRC and discusses emerging metabolic, microbial, and translational implications, while highlighting key gaps that must be addressed to establish causality and clinical relevance.

Honey is one of the most frequently adulterated food products owing to its higher commercial value and increased consumer demand. Its adulteration with inexpensive sugar syrups is a major challenge affecting honey authenticity and is resulting in decreased consumer confidence in the honey supply chain. The present study evaluated the capability of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and chemometric modeling to detect, classify, and quantify major sugar-based adulterants, namely fructose, glucose, invert sugar, jaggery syrup, maltose, and sucrose in honey samples. For the study, multifloral honey samples were experimentally adulterated with each adulterant @ 1, 5, 10, and 20% (w/w), and FTIR spectra were collected in the 650-4000 cm[-1] region and carbohydrate fingerprint region (1500-750 cm[-1]) was used for multivariate analysis. Results indicated principal component analysis differentiated pure and adulterated honey samples with concentration-dependent clustering patterns while PLSR demonstrated excellent predictive performance. The calibration R[2] values ranged from 0.9656 to 1.0000, whereas replicate-level hold-out evaluation gave R[2] values of 0.9270-0.9999 with standard errors of prediction of 0.1342-2.0250%. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) gave an overall sample-level classification accuracy of 92.0% in calibration and 88.0% in the hold-out dataset, with macro-averaged class accuracies of 97.71% and 96.57%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modeling as a rapid, non-destructive, reliable, and cost-effective alternative for routine honey authenticity testing, making it a valuable tool for quality control laboratories, regulatory agencies, and the honey industry.

A doctor in Madhya Pradesh was arrested when several children died, after consuming a toxin-contaminated cough syrup he had prescribed. The Indian Medical Association condemned the arrest, stating that the prescribing doctor could not have known about the contamination [1]. Social media posts poured in from all quarters, including doctors, condemning the government for making the doctor a scapegoat to cover up their own inefficiency. But, when the police report filed in court, - opposing the doctor's bail application - charged him with taking a 10% commission from the manufacturer, the attitude of the doctors changed completely [2]. The medical fraternity disowned him overnight and declared him guilty before he was even tried on the charges. Imagine that he had been a politician or an individual belonging to an organisation. There would have been a plethora of statements like, "He is a victim of political vendetta", "We shall fight it to the end", and "We have full faith in the judiciary" … etc. This incident gives us an insight into the attitude of doctors as a group, which makes them take the moral high ground and judge their own colleague as an offender long before the person has been tried, rather than lend him support.

This study aimed to develop a blueberry-flavored kombucha and evaluate its functional properties and effects on human intestinal health. The beverage was produced from green tea and sucrose, fermented with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY), followed by the addition of blueberry syrup and a second fermentation stage. Active formulations (with viable microbiota) and sterilized control formulations were prepared. Physicochemical, microbiological, and bioactive analyses were performed, along with a controlled clinical trial involving 39 adults who consumed 100 mL of the beverage daily for 28 days. The active kombucha exhibited high microbial viability, with appropriate levels of yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, and acetic acid bacteria, as well as a low pH and safe alcohol content (0.20%). It also presented higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 10.66 µL/mL) and elevated levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins compared to the control. Clinically, participants consuming the active kombucha were associated with improvements in intestinal function, including normalization of stool consistency (Bristol scale type 4) and reductions in self-reported abdominal symptoms such as bloating and pain. Approximately 90% of participants reported a perceived improvement in bowel function. The results suggest that blueberry kombucha is a promising functional beverage with favorable bioactive characteristics and the potential to support gastrointestinal health. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the exploratory nature of the clinical evaluation and warrant confirmation in larger clinical studies involving clinically characterized populations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This research can be applied by the food industry to create a ready-to-drink kombucha enriched with blueberry, combining good taste with ingredients that have the potential to support digestive health. It offers consumers a natural beverage option with antioxidant compounds and live cultures that may help maintain regular intestinal function. This product could be positioned as a functional drink for everyday consumption as part of a balanced diet.