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In this study, a novel low-pass/band-pass diplexer-based microwave sensor is introduced for the first time as a high-sensitivity platform for the detection and quantification of sucrose and sorbitol concentrations in pharmaceutical syrups. The proposed sensor features a compact footprint of 13.1 mm × 15.84 mm and integrates two distinct filtering paths, each optimized for specific spectral ranges. The band-pass and low-pass filters are constructed using a combination of M-notch-shaped and semicircular-shaped resonators, with the latter enhanced by integrated spiral lines to reduce both physical dimensions and resonant frequency. This geometric optimization enables stronger field confinement and improved sensitivity. An equivalent lumped-element LC circuit model is also presented to accurately predict the resonators’ behavior and validate the electromagnetic performance. The sensor’s functionality was experimentally verified using three commercially available pharmaceutical syrups—Diphenhydramine, Guaifenesin, and Salbutamol—each with varying concentrations of sweetening agents. The sensor achieved a maximum sensitivity of 9312.5 MHz/(g mL −1 ) and a minimum detection limit (DL) of 0.00037 (dB g)/(MHz mL), demonstrating exceptional accuracy in resolving small dielectric variations. The observed nonlinear correlation between sweetener concentration and resonant frequency shift enables precise quantification of both sucrose and sorbitol across diverse formulations. The combination of high sensitivity, excellent repeatability, and miniaturized design makes the proposed sensor highly suitable for real-time, non-invasive quality control of pharmaceutical syrups. This work represents a significant advancement in dielectric-based sensing and offers promising potential for implementation in both laboratory testing and point-of-care diagnostics within the pharmaceutical industry.

The apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a fruit that belongs to the Rosaceae family; it has a unique flavor and is of important economic and nutritional value. The composition and content of soluble sugars and organic acids in fruit are key factors in determining the flavor quality. However, the molecular mechanism of sugar and acid accumulation in apricots remains unclear. We measured sucrose, fructose, glucose, sorbitol, starch, malate, citric acid, titratable acid, and pH, and investigated the transcriptome profiles of three apricots (the high-sugar cultivar ‘Shushanggan’, common-sugar cultivar ‘Sungold’, and low-sugar cultivar ‘F43’) at three distinct developmental phases. The findings indicated that ‘Shushanggan’ accumulates a greater amount of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and sorbitol, and less citric acid and titratable acid, resulting in a better flavor; ‘Sungold’ mainly accumulates more sucrose and less citric acid and starch for the second flavor; and ‘F43’ mainly accumulates more titratable acid, citric acid, and starch for a lesser degree of sweetness. We investigated the DEGs associated with the starch and sucrose metabolism pathways, citrate cycle pathway, glycolysis pathway, and a handful of sugar transporter proteins, which were considered to be important regulators of sugar and acid accumulation. Additionally, an analysis of the co-expression network of weighted genes unveiled a robust correlation between the brown module and sucrose, glucose, and fructose, with VIP being identified as a hub gene that interacted with four sugar transporter proteins (SLC35B3, SLC32A, SLC2A8, and SLC2A13), as well as three structural genes for sugar and acid metabolism (MUR3, E3.2.1.67, and CSLD). Furthermore, we found some lncRNAs and miRNAs that regulate these genes. Our findings provide clues to the functional genes related to sugar metabolism, and lay the foundation for the selection and cultivation of high-sugar apricots in the future.

We present a case study report into nutritional competition between Trichoderma spp. isolated from wild raspberries and fungal phytopathogenic isolates (Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis sp., Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp.), which infect soft fruit ecological plantations. The competition was evaluated on the basis of nutritional potentiates. Namely, these were consumption and growth, calculated on the basis of substrate utilization located on Biolog® Filamentous Fungi (FF) plates. The niche size, total niche overlap and Trichoderma spp. competitiveness indices along with the occurrence of a stressful metabolic situation towards substrates highlighted the unfolding step-by-step approach. Therefore, the Trichoderma spp. and pathogen niche characteristics were provided. As a result, the substrates in the presence of which Trichoderma spp. nutritionally outcompete pathogens were denoted. These were adonitol, D-arabitol, i-erythritol, glycerol, D-mannitol and D-sorbitol. These substrates may serve as additives in biopreparations of Trichoderma spp. dedicated to plantations contaminated by phytopathogens of the genera Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis sp., Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp.

Relative air humidity (RH) is expected to increase in northern Europe due to climate change. Increasing RH reduces the difference of water vapour pressure deficit (VPD) between the leaf and the atmosphere, and affects the gas exchange of plants. Little is known about the effects of decreased VPD on plant metabolism, especially under field conditions. This study was conducted to determine the effects of artificially decreased VPD on silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L.×P. tremuloides Michx.) foliar metabolite and nutrient profiles in a unique free air humidity manipulation (FAHM) field experiment during the fourth season of humidity manipulation, in 2011. Long-term exposure to decreased VPD modified nutrient homeostasis in tree leaves, as demonstrated by a lower N concentration and N:P ratio in aspen leaves, and higher Na concentration and lower K:Na ratio in the leaves of both species in decreased VPD than in ambient VPD. Decreased VPD caused a shift in foliar metabolite profiles of both species, affecting primary and secondary metabolites. Metabolic adjustment to decreased VPD included elevated levels of starch and heptulose sugars, sorbitol, hemiterpenoid and phenolic glycosides, and α-tocopherol. High levels of carbon reserves, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants under decreased VPD may modify plant resistance to environmental stresses emerging under changing climate.

Sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, are commonly used as a replacement for sucrose in the food industry, applied as starting material for vitamin C synthesis, and involved as one of the causative factors in diabetic complications. Therefore, their detection and quantification in aqueous solution are necessary. The reversible covalent interactions between boronic acids and diols are the basis of efficient methods for the detection of saccharides. Herein, we report a new internal charge transfer (ICT) fluorene-based fluorescent boronic acid sensor (1) 2-[(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl-amino)methyl] phenyl boronic acid that shows significant fluorescence changes upon addition of saccharides. The boronic acid has high affinity (K ₐ = 1107.9 M⁻¹) and selectivity for sorbitol at pH = 8.31. It showed a linear response toward sorbitol in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 6.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with the detection limit of 7.04 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. Sensor 1 was used to detect sorbitol in real samples with good recovery. Graphical Abstract A new ICT fluorene-based fluorescent boronic acid sensor (1) that shows high affinity and selectivity for D-sorbitol (K ₐ = 1107.9 M⁻¹) is reported.

Objective Excipients are needed in the formulation of oral liquid medicines intended for children; they have however been reported to trigger safety issues. This study evaluated the concentrations and prevalence of ethanol and other potentially harmful excipients in pediatric formulations marketed in South Eastern Nigeria in line with international labeling guidelines and allowable daily limits (ADL). The study sampled oral pediatric formulations offered for sale in registered pharmacies. Those with accessible information leaflets were assessed for the presence and quantity of previously flagged excipients with potential to harm the pediatric population. Result Of the 380 oral pediatric medicines, 140 provided access to list/quantity of ingredients. 47.9% (67) of the formulations contain at least one of the flagged excipients while the remaining only listed the active ingredients. Ethanol had the highest occurrence (62.7%) and was more in cough/cold medicines. A homeopathic cough and cold remedy had concentration of 90% v/v. Ethanol and sucrose in some formulations exhibited concentrations with a potential of crossing their approved daily intake (ADI) (1–90% v/v and 1.7 g–3.7 g/5 ml respectively). Ethanol use in studied pediatric formulations was quite high, with ethanol-containing formulations being prescribed for children 0–6 years and older. Only 26 (38.8%) completely satisfied the labelling requirements for ethanol containing formulations.

Background/Objectives: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) represents a wide-spread autoimmune disease. In euthyroid patients with HT, an impaired assimilation of common carbohydrates has been observed. Our objectives were to compare the frequency of (1) fructose (FM), lactose (LM) and sorbitol malassimilation (SM), (2) gastrointestinal symptoms (GS) following carbohydrate ingestion and (3) recurrent GS relevant to the participants’ daily lives. Subjects/Methods: We conducted a prospective case–control study of 45 ambulatory patients with HT and 38 healthy volunteers, matched with regard to age, gender and area of origin. Hydrogen breath tests with fructose, lactose, sorbitol and glucose were performed, the lactose testing additionally comprising measurements of capillary blood glucose (cBG). GS during the tests and recurrent GS concerning the participants’ daily lives were assessed. A food-frequency questionnaire was administered. Results: FM was diagnosed in 48.9% of patients compared with 26.3% of the control group ( P =0.035). In all, 42.2% of patients with HT and 21.1% of healthy controls showed LM ( P =0.04). FM and/or LM was present in 73.3% of the patients and in 42.1% of healthy controls ( P =0.004). GS after the ingestion of fructose ( P =0.003) or lactose ( P =0.025) and recurrent GS were significantly more prevalent in the case group. The consumption of free fructose, lactose or sorbitol did not differ. Conclusions: Carbohydrate malassimilation and gastrointestinal complaints are frequent in euthyroid patients with HT, leading to novel clinical and pathophysiological considerations and concepts.

A reagentless d -sorbitol biosensor based on NAD-dependent d -sorbitol dehydrogenase (DSDH) immobilized in a sol–gel carbon nanotubes–poly(methylene green) composite has been developed. It was prepared by durably immobilizing the NAD + cofactor with DSDH in a sol–gel thin film on the surface of carbon nanotubes functionalized with poly(methylene green). This device enables selective determination of d -sorbitol at 0.2 V with a sensitivity of 8.7  μ A mmol −1  L cm −2 and a detection limit of 0.11 mmol L −1 . Moreover, this biosensor has excellent operational stability upon continuous use in hydrodynamic conditions. Figure Reagentless D-sorbitol biosensor based on NAD-dependent D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (DSDH) immobilized in sol-gel/carbon nanotubes/poly(methylene green) composite

Hair analysis is with the advantage of non-invasive collection and long surveillance window. The present study employed a sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap-time of flight mass spectrometry method to study the metabonomic characters in the hair of 58 heroin abusers and 72 non-heroin abusers. Results indicated that certain endogenous metabolites, such as sorbitol and cortisol, were accelerated, and the level of arachidonic acid, glutathione, linoleic acid, and myristic acid was decreased in hair of heroin abusers. The metabonomic study is helpful for further understanding of heroin addiction and clinical diagnosis.

There is reason to believe that diabetic neuropathy may be related to the accumulation of sorbitol in nerve tissue through an aldose reductase pathway from glucose. Short-term treatment with aldose reductase inhibitors improves nerve conduction in subjects with diabetes, but the effects of long-term treatment on the neuropathologic changes of diabetic neuropathy are unknown. To determine whether more prolonged aldose reductase inhibition reverses the underlying lesions that accompany symptomatic diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy, we performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of the investigational aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil (250 mg per day). Sural-nerve biopsy specimens obtained at base line and after one year from 16 diabetic patients with neuropathy were analyzed morphometrically in detail and compared with selected electrophysiologic and clinical indexes. In contrast to patients who received placebo, the 10 sorbinil-treated patients had a decrease of 41.8±8.0 percent in nerve sorbitol content (P<0.01) and a 3.8-fold increase in the percentage of regenerating myelinated nerve fibers (P<0.001), reflected by a 33 percent increase in the number of myelinated fibers per unit of cross-sectional area of nerve (P = 0.04). They also had quantitative improvement in terms of the degree of paranodal demyelination, segmental demyelination, and myelin wrinkling. The increase in the number of fibers was accompanied by electrophysiologic and clinical evidence of improved nerve function. We conclude that sorbinil, as a metabolic intervention targeted against a specific biochemical consequence of hyperglycemia, can improve the neuropathologic lesions of diabetic neuropathy. (N Engl J Med 1988; 319:548–55.) THE distal symmetric polyneuropathy that accompanies diabetes mellitus is by far the most common form of peripheral neuropathy in the Western world 1 , 2 and is a major contributor to the overall morbidity associated with diabetes. 3 Although this condition is presumed to reflect a complex interplay among metabolic factors related to hyperglycemia, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 microvascular abnormalities, 1 , 9 10 11 and unidentified independent genetic and environmental variables, its exact pathogenesis remains controversial. 1 , 5 , 6 Effective and specific treatment continues to elude the efforts of both clinicians and investigators in the field. 5 , 12 Investigators searching for specific consequences of hyperglycemia that might initiate or accelerate the development of chronic complications of diabetes, . . .