Cancer, characterized by abnormal cell proliferation driven by genetic mutations, remains a significant health challenge. Tailoring effective therapies depends on factors like tumor location, grade, and stage, alongside patient condition. Leveraging Nano-carrier encapsulated drugs offers a promising avenue, as they accumulate preferentially at tumor sites, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects. Polymeric Nano-carriers, with their customizable properties, further optimize drug delivery efficiency and specificity. Incorporating active targeting ligands such as antibodies, carbohydrates, peptides, folates, and aptamers-onto polymeric nanoparticle surfaces through techniques like functionalization, adsorption, and conjugation plays a pivotal role in directing therapeutic agents to tumor cells. Consequently, polymeric nanoparticles emerge as the carrier of choice for delivering drugs to various tumor types, including breast, colon, lung, prostate, liver, and spleen tumors.

For the treatment of cancer and other diseases, therapeutic targeting of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is an attractive approach. RNA-based therapeutics have been extensively researched over the past decade, with antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs being the most commonly used. Some of these have even gained FDA approval. However, the results of trials have been mixed, with some studies reporting strong effects while others have shown limited effectiveness or toxicity. Alternative treatments, such as antimiRNAs, are currently in clinical trials. There is growing interest in the use of lncRNA-based therapies. This Perspective discusses the main challenges of ncRNA therapeutics, including specificity, delivery and tolerability. It also highlights emerging approaches that aim to improve their success.

The retinoblastoma (RB) transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) is a critical tumor suppressor gene, governing diverse cellular processes implicated in cancer biology. Dysregulation or deletion in RB1 contributes to the development and progression of various cancers, making it a prime target for therapeutic intervention. RB1's canonical function in cell cycle control and DNA repair mechanisms underscores its significance in restraining aberrant cell growth and maintaining genomic stability. Understanding the complex interplay between RB1 and cellular pathways is beneficial to fully elucidate its tumor-suppressive role across different cancer types and for therapeutic development. As a result, investigating vulnerabilities arising from RB1 deletion-associated mechanisms offers promising avenues for targeted therapy. Recently, several findings highlighted multiple methods as a promising strategy for combating tumor growth driven by RB1 loss, offering potential clinical benefits in various cancer types. This review summarizes the multifaceted role of RB1 in cancer biology and its implications for targeted therapy.

This communication explores the transition from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to a more holistic model, named Complex Therapy, developed by Tullio Scrimali for explaining and treating mental disorders. The Author delves into the limitations of traditional CBT and introduces an innovative framework that integrates multiple therapeutic modalities. While CBT is based on the study and modification of behaviour and cognition, Complex Therapy includes, in its focus, the theory of human relationships, the attachment theory, neuroscience, applied neuroscience, complex systems theory and ecology.Complex Therapy addresses the multifaceted nature of mental health issues by combining evidence-based techniques with personalized care strategies. The goal is to enhance patient outcomes through a tailored, comprehensive treatment plan that adapts to the evolving needs of individuals facing mental health challenges.Two innovative and original items which Scrimali has developed, which are a device for Applied Neuroscience MindLAB Set and a new botanical drug, NegEnt, are presented and discussed.The topic also describes, an original and integrated protocol, named Negative Entropy, the author has developed for treating a challenging disorder, such as schizophrenia, he renamed Entropy of Mind.

Targeted radionuclide therapy is become increasingly prominent as a nuclear medicine subspe-cialty. For many decades, treatment with radionuclides has been mainly restricted to the use of iodine-131 in thyroid disorders. Currently, radiopharmaceuticals, consisting of a radionuclide coupled to a vector that binds to a desired biological target with high specificity, are being de-veloped. The objective is to be as selective as possible at the tumor level, while limiting the dose received at the healthy tissue level. In recent years, a better understanding of molecular mecha-nisms of cancer, as well as the appearance of innovative targeting agents (antibodies, peptides, small molecules) and the availability of new radioisotopes, have enabled considerable advances in the field of vectorized internal radiotherapy with a better therapeutic efficacy, radiation safety and personalized treatments. For instance, targeting the tumor microenvironment, instead of the cancer cells, now appears as particularly attractive. Several radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic targeting have shown clinical value in severals types of tumors and have been or will soon be approved and authorized for clinical use.

Background and Objectives: ARNE score was developed for the prediction of difficult airway for both general and ENT surgery with a universal cut-off value. We tested the accuracy of this score in the case of laryngeal surgery and provided an insight of its combination with flexible laryngoscopy. Materials and Methods: This prospective pilot clinical study included 100 patients who were being scheduled for microscopic laryngeal surgery. We have calculated ARNE score for every patient and flexible laryngoscopy was provided preoperative. Difficult intubation was assessed according to intubation difficulty score (IDS). Results: A total of 33% patients had difficult intubation according to IDS. ARNE score showed to be accurate for prediction of difficult intubation in laryngology with P<0.0001 and AUC 0.784. Flexible laryngoscopy showed to be an independent parameter with P<0.0001 and AUC 0.766. We have defined a new cut-off value of 15.50 for laryngology, according to AUC curve. After the patients were divided in two groups, according to the new cut-off value and provided cut-off value, AUC improved to 0.707 from 0.619 respectively. Flexible laryngoscopy improved the prediction model of ARNE score to AUC 0.882 and of new cut-off value to AUC 0.833. Conclusions: It is recommended to use flexible laryngoscopy together with ARNE score in difficult airway prediction in patients with laryngeal pathology. Also, universally recommended cut-off value of 11 can not be effectively used in laryngology and a new cut-off value of 15.50 is recommended.

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease and remains a global health challenge affecting millions of human lives worldwide. Despite advancements in conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, the rise of multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence, and severe side effects necessitates innovative therapeutic approaches. The complex nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) further compromises the efficacy of traditional chemotherapy drugs. Recently, stimulus-responsive nanomedicines designed to target TME characteristics (e.g., pH, redox, enzymes) have gained attention for their potential to enhance anticancer efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Among various nanocarriers, hydrogels are an interesting class of nanocarriers used in cancer therapy due to their high water content, adjustable mechanical characteristics, and ability to respond to external/internal stimuli. These properties make hydrogels an ideal nanocarrier for controlled drug release within the TME. This review comprehensively surveys the latest advancements in stimulus-responsive hydrogels for cancer therapy, exploring various stimuli-responsive mechanisms, including biological (e.g., pH, redox), chemical (e.g., enzymes, glucose), and physical (e.g., temperature, light), as well as dual- or multi-stimuli responsiveness. This review will offer novel perspectives on the development of stimulus-responsive hydrogels for cancer therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Surgery or surgery plus radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) were accepted as the main therapeutic strategies until the early 2000s, when targeted drugs, like cetuximab and bevacizumab were developed. The use of targeted drugs in clinical practice has significantly increased patients’ overall survival. To date, the emergence of several types of targeted drugs has opened new possibilities and revealed new prospects for mCRC treatment. Therapeutic strategies are continually being updated to select the most suitable targeted drugs based on the results of clinical trials that are currently underway. This review discusses the up-to date molecular evidence of targeted therapy for mCRC and summarizes the Food and Drug Administration-approved targeted drugs including the results of clinical trials. We also explain their mechanisms of action and how these affect the choice of a suitable targeted therapy.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that has been shown to be an essential regulator of a broad spectrum of biological activities required for maintaining the body's vital functions. AhR also plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Its role in cancer is complex, encompassing both pro- and anti-tumorigenic activities. Its level of expression and activity are specific to each tumor and patient, increasing the difficulty of understanding the activating or inhibiting roles of AhR ligands. We explored the role of AhR in tumor cell lines and patients using genomic data sets and discuss the extent to which AhR can be considered as a therapeutic target.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of manual therapy and exercise versus synchronized telerehabilitation with self-manual therapy and exercise in treating Subacromial Pain Syndrome (SAPS). Sixty individuals diagnosed with SPS, aged 18-50 years, were randomly assigned to home exercise (HE), manual therapy (MT), and telerehabilitation (TR) groups. Treatment protocols were administered over 8 weeks and included specific exercises and therapy interventions. Out-come measures included Visual Pain Scale (VAS), shoulder range of motion (ROM) via gonio-metric measurements, Quick Disability Arm-Shoulder-Hand Problems Survey (Q-DASH), and patient satisfaction. Results revealed that both MT and TR groups exhibited reduced pain, in-creased ROM, lower Q-DASH scores, and higher patient satisfaction compared to the HE group. However, no significant differences were found between MT and TR groups in pain levels, ROM, Q-DASH scores, or patient satisfaction. The study concludes that both telerehabilitation and manual therapy effectively alleviate pain and are well-received by patients with SPS. Addition-ally, manual therapy demonstrates superiority in enhancing functional levels compared to exer-cise-based interventions. (Registration: NCT05200130)

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Candida albicans on subgingival biofilm formation on dental implant surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to compare biofilm structure and microbial biomass in the presence and absence of the fungus after periods of 24, 48, and 72 h. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total micro-organisms for each of the biofilm-forming strains. A general linear model was applied to compare CLSM and qPCR results between control and test conditions. The biofilm developed with C. albicans at 72 h had a higher bacterial biomass, with a significantly higher cell viability (p < 0.05). After both 48 and 72 h of incubation, in the presence of C. albicans, there was a significant increase in counts of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and in the cell viability of Streptococcus oralis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis. Using a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model, C. albicans exacerbated the development of the biofilm grown on dental implant surfaces, significantly increasing the number and cell viability of periodontal bacteria.

Like living organisms, cancer cells require energy to survive and interact with their environment. Mitochondria are the main organelles for energy production and cellular metabolism. Recently, investigators demonstrated that cancer cells can hijack mitochondria from immune cells. This behavior sheds light on a pivotal piece in the cancer puzzle, the ‘dependence’ on the normal cells. This article illustrates the benefits of new, functional mitochondria for cancer cells that urge them to hijack mitochondria. It describes how functional mitochondria help cancer cells’ survival in the harsh tumor microenvironment, immune evasion, progression, and treatment resistance. Recent evidence has put forward the pivotal role of mitochondria in cancer stem cells’ metabolism. This theory highlights the mitochondria in cancer biology and explains how targeted anti-mitochondrial treatments can improve oncological outcomes.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy that is the culmination of genetic and epigenetic alterations in the hematopoietic progenitor cells, leading to uncontrolled proliferation at the expense of normal hematopoiesis and bone marrow exhaustion. Although the outcomes for pediatric AML have improved in recent decades, at least one third of children still have relapses. Recent studies have notably highlighted the important role of dysregulated epi-genetic mechanisms in myeloid leukemogenesis. Epigenetic modifications are frequently reversible compared to genetic alterations, thus providing opportunities for targeted epigenetic therapy. In this review, we summarize the landscape of epigenetic alterations and the progress to date in epigenetic targeted therapy, and focus on the future role of epigenetic abnormalities in predicting relapse and the precision therapy in pediatric AML.

Wilms tumor (WT), the most prevalent type of renal cancer in children, exhibits overall survival rates exceeding 90%. However, chemotherapy resistance, which occurs in approximately 10% of WT cases, is a major challenge for the treatment of WT, particularly for advanced-stage patients. In this study, we aimed to discover potential mutation markers and drug targets associated with chemotherapy resistance in advanced stage WT. We performed exome sequencing to detect somatic mutations and molecular targets in 43 WT samples, comprising 26 advanced stage WTs, of which 7 cases are chemotherapy-resistant. Our analysis revealed four genes (ALPK2, C16orf96, PRKDC, and SVIL) that correlated with chemotherapy resistance and reduced disease-free survival in ad-vanced-stage WT. Additionally, we identified driver mutations in 55 genes within the chemo-therapy-resistant group, including 14 druggable cancer driver genes. Based on the mutation profile of the resistant WT samples, we propose potential therapeutic strategies involving platinum-based agents, PARP inhibitors, and antibiotic/antineoplastic agents. Our findings provide insights into the genetic landscape of WT and offer potential avenues for targeted treatment, particularly for patients with chemotherapy resistance.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), exhibits a highly aggressive phenotype with increased metastasis and resistance to conventional treatments. Nanocarrier technology is consistently employed to overcome limitations associated with traditional breast cancer therapy. The targeted drug delivery approach using nanocarriers enhances bioavailability, prolongs circulation, and facilitates effective drug accumulation at the tumor site through active or passive targeting. Currently, the FDA has approved a few nanocarrier systems, and numerous nano formulations are undergoing preclinical and clinical development for breast cancer targeting. Common nanocarrier types include polymeric micelles, microemulsions, magnetic microemulsions, liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs). This review extensively explores the targeting potential of nanocarriers in breast cancer. This study will provide a concise summary of current advances in treatment of breast cancer and diagnostics.

Abstract Background: Periodontitis is associated with systemic chronic inflammatory diseases. There is limited evidence on the influence of anti-cytokine therapies on the periodontal condition and microbiome in the tooth pocket of such patients, so the aim of this study was to elucidate this issue. Methods: In this observational trial, the periodontal status and the gingival crevicular fluid of 13 patients with different chronic inflammatory diseases were obtained before initiation of anti-cytokine treatment and 14 weeks after. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing from a clinically healthy tooth and the deepest measured pocket. Results: In participants with advanced attachment loss at baseline, the clinical attachment level significantly decreased from 2.9 (2.3-3.4) to 2.4 (1.3-3.0) mm (p = 0.04), and the bleeding- on-probing index dropped from 19.4 (10.0-21.0) to 7.3 (6.9-9.9) mm (p = 0.02) without any further periodontal treatment. Shannon’s diversity index significantly increased in the deepest pockets of patients (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The data showed alterations in diversity of the subgingival microbiome and improvement of periodontal parameters over the course of the study, implying a shift towards a healthier condition after starting anti-cytokine therapy. Additional investigations are needed to analyze whether the administration of selective biologicals can improve periodontal conditions in patients with or without chronic inflammatory diseases.

Targeted delivery of drugs or other therapeutic agents through internal or external triggers has been used to control and accelerate the release from liposomal carriers in a number of studies, but relatively few utilize energy of therapeutic X-rays as a trigger. We have synthesized liposomes that are triggered by ionizing radiation (RTLs) to release their therapeutic payload. These liposomes are composed of natural egg PE, DSPC, cholesterol, and DSPE-PEG-2000, and the mean size of the RTL was in the range of 114 to 133 nm, as measured by NTA. The trigger mechanism is the organic halogen, chloral hydrate, which is known to generate free protons upon exposure to ionizing radiation. Once protons are liberated, a drop in internal pH of the liposome promotes destabilization of the lipid bilayer and escape of the liposomal contents. In proof of principle studies, we assessed RTL radiation-release of fluorescent tracers upon exposure to a low pH extracellular environment or exposure to X-ray irradiation. Biodistribution imaging before and after irradiation demonstrated a preferential uptake and release of the liposomes and their cargo at the site of local tumor irradiation. Finally, a potent metabolite of the commonly used chemotherapy irinotecan, SN-38, was loaded into RTL along with near infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes for imaging studies and measuring tumor cell cytotoxicity alone or combined with radiation exposure, in vitro and in vivo. Fully loaded RTLs were found to increase tumor cell killing with radiation in vitro and enhance tumor growth delay in vivo after three i.v. injections combined with three, 5 Gy local tumor radiation exposures compared to either treatment modality alone.

Besides external high-energy photon or proton beam therapy, targeted radionuclide therapy (TRNT) is an alternative approach to deliver radiation to cancer cells. TRNT is distributed within the body by the vascular system and allows targeted irradiation of a primary tumor and all its metastases, resulting in substantially less collateral damage to normal tissues as compared to ex-ternal beam radiotherapy (EBRT). It is a systemic cancer therapy, tackling systemic spread of the disease, which is the cause of death in most cancer patients. The α-emitting radionuclide bis-muth-213 (213Bi) has interesting properties and can be considered as a magic bullet for TRNT. The benefits and drawbacks of targeted alpha therapy with 213Bi are discussed in this review, covering the entire chain from radionuclide production to bedside. First, the radionuclide properties and production of 225Ac and its daughter 213Bi are discussed, followed by the fundamental chemical properties of bismuth. Next, an overview of available acyclic and macrocyclic bifunctional chelators for bismuth, and general considerations for designing a 213Bi-radiopharmaceutical are provided. Finally, we will provide an overview of preclinical and clinical studies involving 213Bi-radiopharmaceuticals, as well as the future perspectives of this promising cancer treatment option.

Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop 2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various cancer types with relatively low or no baseline expression in most of normal tissues. Its overexpression is associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis; Trop 2 is therefore, an ideal therapeutic target for epithelial cancers. Several Trop 2 targeted therapeutics have recently been developed for the treatment of cancers, such as anti-Trop 2 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as Trop 2-specific cell therapy. In particular, the safety and clinical benefit of Trop 2-based ADCs have been demonstrated in clinical trials across multiple tumor types, including those with limited treatment options, such as triple-negative breast cancer, platinum-resistant urothelial cancer, and heavily pretreated non-small cell lung cancer. In this review, we elaborate on recent advances in Trop 2 targeted modalities and provide an overview of novel insights for future developments in this field.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoinflammatory condition that results in damage of myelinated neurons in affected patients. While disease-modifying treatments have been successful in slowing the progression of relapsing remittent disease, most patients still progress to secondary progressive disease that is largely unresponsive to disease-modifying treatments. Similarly, there is currently no effective treatment for patients with primary progressive MS. Innate and adaptive immune cells in the CNS play a critical role in initiating an autoimmune attack and in maintaining the chronic inflammation that drives disease progression. In this review, we will focus on recent insights into the role of T cells with regulatory function in suppressing the progression of MS, and, more importantly, in promoting the remyelination and repair of MS lesions in the CNS. We will discuss the exciting opportunity to genetically reprogram regulatory T cells to achieve immune suppression and enhance repair locally at sites of tissue damage, while retaining a fully competent immune system outside the CNS. In the future, reprogramed regulatory T cells with defined specificity and function may provide life medicines that can persist in patients and achieve lasting disease suppression after one cycle of treatment.

Intracellular aggregates of the alpha-synuclein protein result in cell loss and dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism, such as multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies. Each of these neurodegenerative conditions, known collectively as alpha-synucleinopathies, may be characterized by a different suite of molecular triggers that initiate pathogenesis. The mechanisms whereby alpha-synuclein aggregates in turn mediate cytotoxicity also remain to be fully elucidated. However, recent studies have implicated the cell-to-cell spread of alpha-synuclein as the major mode of disease propagation between brain regions during disease progression. Here, we review the current evidence for different modes of alpha-synuclein cellular release, movement and uptake, including exocytosis, exosomes, tunnelling nanotubes, glymphatic flow and endocytosis. A more detailed understanding of the major modes by which alpha-synuclein pathology spreads throughout the brain may provide new targets for therapies that halt the progression of disease.

Mathematical literacy is a very hot issue in the development of mathematics learning, apart from mathematical literacy, another interesting thing is the entrepreneurial spirit that must be given from an early age, especially for vocational students. This research was conducted at SMK Rosma Karawang in the Department of Computer and Network Engineering, West Java Province with the XI grade students. The teaching materials developed by applying the principles of the development model developed with the ADDIE model consist of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. This research and development model is considered suitable for developing teaching tools and materials which is used for the purposes of the learning process. Based on the results of data analysis and processing that have been carried out in this study, the development of teaching materials using the ADDIE model has met the appropriate and valid criteria by media, language and media expert valuators. Another result of developing this teaching material besides meeting the eligibility criteria is that the teaching materials developed are able to increase mathematical literacy and instill entrepreneurial spirit for students.

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) has recently seen a surge in popularity, with the use of radionuclides conjugated to small molecules and antibodies. Similarly, immunotherapy also has shown promising results – an example being chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells therapy in hematologic malignancies. Moreover, TRT and CAR T therapies possess unique features that require special consideration when determining how to dose, time, and sequence combination treatments, including the distribution of TRT dose in the body, the decay rate of the radionuclide, and the proliferation and persistence of the CAR-T cells. These characteristics complicate additive or synergistic effects of combination therapies and warrant a mathematical treatment which includes these dynamics in relation to the proliferation and clearance rates of the target tumor cells. Here we combine two previously published mathematical models in a multiple myeloma setting to explore the effects of dose, timing, and sequencing of TRT and CAR-T cell based therapies. We find that for a fixed TRT and CAR-T cell dose, the tumor proliferation rate is the most important parameter in determining the best timing of TRT and CAR T therapies.

Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles released by cells that contain nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and other bioactive compounds that play a role in the body's physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes have significant and distinct benefits over synthetic carriers such as liposomes and nanoparticles in the realm of illness diagnostics and therapy due to their endogeneity and heterogeneity. Exosomes are classified as either natural or designed, depending on whether they have been deliberately altered. Natural exosomes are further classified as either animal-derived or plant-derived exosomes. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) are comprised of numerous kinds of bioactive biomolecules. As an alternative cell-free therapeutic strategy, they have the ability to transfer nano-bioactive chemicals to the human body, resulting in diverse anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumour effects. This review focuses on the beneficial effects of plant-derived exosomes against a range of inflammatory conditions, including as periodontitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune skin disorders, and inflammation of the liver, lungs, and intestines. Inflammatory disorders are a major issue because of their widespread influence on both personal health and public healthcare systems. Since these illnesses are persistent, the affected people's quality of life is negatively impacted and long-term morbidity is exacerbated. The complicated interaction of genetic, environmental, and immunological variables in the development of various disorders makes effective prevention and therapy more challenging. Plant exosomes present a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies against inflammatory diseases, offering unique advantages over other alternatives. In order to exploit this efficient carrier, future research will concentrate on creating a PELNV delivery system with high stability, transdermal volume, and ease of administration. Plant exosomes have the potential to become reliable therapeutic agents for a range of common disorders if they are targeted and generated with interdisciplinary expertise.

It has been declared repeatedly that cancer is a result of molecular genetic abnormalities. However, there has been no working model describing the specific functional consequences of the deranged genomic processes that result in the initiation and propagation of the cancer process during carcinogenesis. We no longer need to question whether or not cancer arises as a result of a molecular genetic defect within the cancer cell. The legitimate questions are: how and why? This article reviews the preeminent data on cancer molecular genetics and subsequently proposes that the sentinel event in cancer initiation is the aberrant production of fused transcription activators with new molecular properties within normal tissue stem cells. This results in the production of vital oncogenes with dysfunctional gene activation transcription properties, which leads to dysfunctional gene regulation, the aberrant activation of transduction pathways, chromosomal breakage, activation of driver oncogenes, reactivation of stem cell transduction pathways and the activation of genes that result in the hallmarks of cancer. Furthermore, a novel holistic molecular genetic model of cancer initiation and progression is presented along with a new paradigm for the approach to personalized targeted cancer therapy, clinical monitoring and cancer diagnosis.

Background: Capmatinib and savolitinib, selective MET inhibitors, are widely used to treat various MET-positive cancers. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of these inhibitors on MET-amplified gastric cancer (GC) cells. Methods: After screening 37 GC cell lines, the following cell lines were found to be MET-positive with copy number variation > 10: SNU-620, ESO51, MKN-45, SNU-5, and OE33 cell lines. Nest, we assessed the cytotoxic response of these cell lines to capmatinib or savolitinib alone using cell counting kit-8 and clonogenic cell survival assays. Western blotting was performed to assess the effects of capmatinib and savolitinib on the MET signaling pathway. Xenograft studies were performed to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of savolitinib in MKN-45 cells. Results: Savolitinib and capmatinib exerted anti-proliferative effects on MET-amplified GC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Savolitinib inhibited the phosphorylation of MET and downstream signaling pathways, such as the protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, in MET-amplified GC cells. Additionally, savolitinib significantly decreased the number of colonies formed on the soft agar and exerted dose-dependent anti-tumor effects in a MKN-45 GC cell xenograft model. Furthermore, combination of trastuzumab and capmatinib exhibited enhanced inhibition of AKT and ERK activation in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)- and MET-positive OE-33 cells. Conclusions: Therefore, targeting MET with savolitinib and capmatinib efficiently suppressed the growth of MET-amplified GC cells. Moreover, these MET inhibitors exerted synergistic effects with trastuzumab on HER2- and MET-amplified GC cells.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP NENs) are rare cancers consisting of neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which have been increasing in incidence in recent years. Few cell lines and pre-clinical models exist for the study of GEP NECs and NETs, limiting the ability to discover novel imaging and treatment modalities. To address this gap, we isolated tumor cells from cryopreserved patient GEP NECs and NETs and injected them into the flanks of immunocompromised mice to establish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Two of 6 mice developed tumors (NEC913 and NEC1452). Over 90% of NEC913 and NEC1452 tumor cells stained positive for Ki67. NEC913 PDX tumors expressed neuroendocrine markers such as chromogranin A (CgA), synaptophysin (SYP), and somatostatin receptor-2 (SSTR2) whereas NEC1452 PDX tumors do not express SSTR2. Exome sequencing revealed loss of p53 and RB1 in both tumors. To demonstrate an application of these novel NEC PDX models for SSTR2-targeted peptide imaging, the NEC913 and NEC1452 cells were bilaterally injected into mice. Near infrared-labelled octreotide was administered and fluorescent signal was specifically observed for the NEC913 SSTR2 positive tumors. These 2 GEP NEC PDX models serve as valuable resource for GEP NEN therapy testing.

The inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase is one of clinic strategies for remedy the type II diabetes. Herbal medicines are reported to alleviate hyperglycemia. However, the constituents from those sources whether are targeted to the alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase still unexplored. This study attempted to select the compounds for efficacy of hypoglycemia via cellular and mouse levels. The results illustrated that the cytotoxicity in all tested compounds at various concentrations except the concentration of 16-hydroxy-cleroda-3,13-dine-16,15-olide (HCD) at 30 µM were not significant difference (p > 0.05) when compared with the untreated control. Acarbose (reference drug), Antroquinonol, Catechin, Quercetin, Actinodaphnine, Curcumin, HCD, Docosanol, Tetracosanol, Berberine, and Rutin could effectively inhibit the alpha-glucosidase activity of Caco-2 cells when compared with the control (maltose). The compounds (Curcumin, HCD, Tetracosanol, Antroquinonol, Berberine, Catechin, Actinodaphnine, and Rutin) could reduce blood sugar level at 30 min in tested mice. The effects of tested compounds on area under curve (AUC) were significant (p < 0.05) among Acarbose, Tetracosanol, Antroquinonol, Catechin, Actinodaphnine, and Rutin along with Berberine and Quercetin. In in vitro (alpha-glucosidase) with in vivo (alpha-amylase) experiments suggest that bioactive compounds can be a potential inhibitor candidate of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase for the alleviation of type II diabetes.

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 infection can cause lasting health consequences. Multidiscipli-nary rehabilitation services have been recommended to reduce the sequalae. However, the effec-tiveness of physical exercise interventions remains insufficiently documented. The aim of this study was to develop and implement a specific and well tolerated protocol-based, intervention to reduce muscle weakness in older adults impacted by COVID-19. Forty six older adults random-ized into Intervention and Control Groups. Isometric and isokinetic strength assessments were conducted for selected muscle groups using JBA Staniak® torquemeter and Biodex System 3 dy-namometer. Functional abilities were evaluated with the Time Up and Go test and Chair Stand Tests. Men in intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in static conditions for knee flexors (KF), trunk extensors (TE) and trunk flexors (TF) and in dynamic conditions for knee extensors (KE). Women in intervention group showed significant improvement in static condition for EF, KF, TE and TF and in dynamic for a KE and for a KF. The interaction GROUP x TESTING SESSION was significant for Chair test (s) and Chair test (n). Our results demonstrate the effec-tiveness of a well-tolerated, protocol-based approach that can be used to diminish long lasting functional deficits in post-covid survivors.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a major prognostic and predictive marker overexpressed in 15- 20 % of breast cancers. The diagnostic reference standard for selecting patients for HER2-targeted therapy is by analysis of tumor biopsies for HER2 expression and amplification. Previously patients were either defined as HER2-positive or negative, however, with approval of novel treatment options, specifically the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan, many breast cancer patients with tumors expressing low levels of HER2 and lacking HER2 amplification have become eligible for HER2-targeted therapy. Such patients will need to be reliably identified by suitable diagnostic methods. Biopsy-based diagnostics are invasive, and repeat biopsies are not always feasible. They cannot visualize heterogeneity of HER2 expression, leading to a substantial number of misdiagnosed patients. An alternative and highly accurate diagnostic method is mo-lecular imaging with radiotracers. In case of HER2, various studies demonstrate the clinical utility and feasibility of such approaches. Affibody-based radiotracers are clinically validated molecules with favorable characteristics for imaging. In this article we summarize the HER2-targeted therapeutic landscape, describe the experience with imaging diagnostics for HER2, and review the currently available clinical data on HER2-Affibody-based molecular imaging as novel diagnostic tool in breast cancer and beyond.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) making up 80% of cases. Some genetic factors leading to NSCLC development include genetic mutations and PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 proteins are targeted in an NSCLC treatment called targeted gene therapy. However, this treatment is effective in a low percentage of patients. This study aimed to create machine learning models to use features like the number of mutations and the level of PD-L1 proteins in cancer cells, along with others, to predict whether a patient will receive clinical benefit from gene therapy treatment. This was done by downloading and merging datasets from cbioportal.org to create a sample size for the model. Features with high correlations to clinical benefit were identified. Three machine-learning models were created using these features to predict clinical benefits in patients, and each model’s accuracy was evaluated. All three models were accurate between 55-85%, with two of the models averaging an accuracy around 75%. Doctors can use these models to more accurately predict whether gene therapy treatment is likely to work in a patient before prescribing it to them.

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a common mitochondrial genetic disease, causing irreversible blindness in young individuals. Current treatments are inadequate, and there is no definitive cure. This study evaluates the effectiveness of delivering wildtype human NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 4 (hND4) gene using mito-targeted AAV(MTSAAV) to rescue LHOH mice. We observed declining pattern electroretinograms amplitudes as mice aged across all groups (P&lt; 0.001), with significant differences among groups (P = 0.023, Control vs. LHON, P = 0.008; Control vs. Rescue, P = 0.228). Inner retinal thickness and intraocular pressure do not change significantly with age or groups. Compared to LHON mice, those rescued with wildtype hND4 exhibit improved retinal visual acuity (0.29± 0.1 cy/deg vs.0.15 ± 0.1 cy/deg) and increased functional hyperemia response (effect of flicker, P&lt;0.001, effect of Group, P=0.004; Interaction Flicker x Group, P&lt;0.001). Postmortem analysis shows a marked reduction in retinal ganglion cell density in the LHON group compared to the other groups (Effect of Group, P&lt;0.001, Control vs. LHON, P&lt;0.001, Control vs. Rescue, P=0.106). These results suggest that MTSAAV-delivered wildtype hND4 gene rescues, at least in part, visual impairment in an LHON mouse model and has the therapeutic potential to treat this disease.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most dangerous metabolic diseases with high rate of mortality worldwide. It is well known that insulin resistance and deficiency in insulin production from pancreatic β-cells are the main characteristic of DM. Due to the detrimental side effects of the current treatment, there is a considerable need to develop new effective antidiabetic drugs, especially alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitors with lesser adverse effects. These inhibitors are known to be directly involved in the delay of carbohydrate digestion, resulting in a reduction of glucose absorption rate and consequently reduce the post-prandial raise of plasma glucose, which can reduce the risk of long-term diabetes complications. Hence, natural products are well-known sources for the discovery of new scaffold for drugs discovery, including new antidiabetic drugs. The phytochemical investigation of Salvia aurita collected from Hogobach pass, Eastern Cape, South Africa (SA), yielded four known abietane diterpenes namely carnosol (1), rosmanol (2), 7-methoxyrosmanol (3), 12-methoxycarnosic acid (4) and one flavonoid named 4,7-dimethylapigenin (5). Structural characterization of these isolated compounds was conducted using 1 and 2D NMR, in comparison with reported spectroscopic data. These compounds are reported for the first time from S. aurita. The biological evaluation of the isolated compound against alpha-glucosidase exhibited strong inhibitory activities for 3 and 2 with IC50 values of 4.2 ± 0.7 and 16.4 ± 1.1 µg/mL respectively, while 4 and 1 demonstrated strong alpha-amylase inhibitory activity amongst the isolated compounds with IC50 of 16.2 ± 0.3 and 19.8 ± 1.4 µg/mL. Molecular docking analysis confirms strong inhibitory activity of 3 against alpha-glucosidase. Additionally, excellent antioxidant capacities were displayed by 2, 1 and 3 respectively as ORAC (25789.9 ± 10.5; 23961.8 ± 14.1; 23939.3 ± 2.4) µM TE/g; 1 and 2 as FRAP (3917.8 ± 2.1; 1522.3 ± 0.9) µM AAE/g; 5 and 2 as TEAC (3190.4 ± 2.8; 2055.0 ± 2.6) µM TE/g. The methanolic extract of S. aurita is a rich source of abietane diterpenes with excellent antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities that can be useful to modulate oxidative stress, and might possibly be excellent candidates for the management of diabetes. This is the first scientific report on the phytochemical isolation and biological evaluation of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of Salvia aurita.

Leishmanial skin lesions are characterized by inflammatory hypoxia alongside the activation of hypoxia inducible factors, HIF-1a and HIF-2a, and subsequent expression of the HIF-a target VEGF-A during Leishmania major infection. However, the factors responsible for HIF-a activation are not known. We hypothesize hypoxia and pro-inflammatory stimuli contribute to HIF-a activation during infection. RNASeq on leishmanial lesions found transcripts associated with HIF-1a signaling are induced. To determine whether hypoxia contributes to HIF-a activation, we followed the fate of myeloid cells infiltrating from the blood and into hypoxic lesions. Recruited myeloid cells experience hypoxia when they enter inflamed lesions, and the length of time in lesions increases their hypoxic signature. To determine whether pro-inflammatory stimuli in the inflamed tissue can also influence HIF-a activation, we subjected macrophages to various pro-inflammatory stimuli and measured VEGF-A. While parasites alone did not induce VEGF-A, and pro-inflammatory stimuli only modestly induce VEGF-A, HIF- stabilization increases VEGF-A during infection. HIF-a stabilization does not impact parasite entry, growth or killing. Alternatively, the absence of ARNT/HIF- signaling enhances parasite internalization. Altogether, these findings suggest HIF-a is active during infection, and while macrophage HIF-a activation promotes lymphatic remodeling through VEGF-A production, HIF-a activation does not impact parasite internalization or control.

The asymmetric skew divergence smooths one of the distributions by mixing it, to a degree determined by the parameter $\lambda$, with the other distribution. Such divergence is an approximation of the KL divergence that does not require the target distribution to be absolutely continuous with respect to the source distribution. In this paper, an information geometric generalization of the skew divergence called the $\alpha$-geodesical skew divergence is proposed, and its properties are studied.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is not only associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as T2DM and obesity, but it is also an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. MASLD has been shown to be independently related to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. MASLD is characterized by a chronic proinflammatory response that, in turn, may induce a prothrombotic state. Several mechanisms such as endothelial and platelet dysfunction, changes in the coagulation cascade, decreased fibrinolytic activity can contribute to induce the prothrombotic state. Platelets are players and addresses of metabolic dysregulation; obesity and insulin resistance are related to platelet hyperactivation. Furthermore, platelets can exert a direct effect on liver cells, particularly through the release of mediators from granules. Growing data in literature support the use of antiplatelet agent as a treatment for MASLD. The use of antiplatelets drugs seems to have potential clinical implication for the prevention of HCC patients with MASLD, since platelets contribute to fibrosis progression and cancer development. This review aims to summarize the main data on the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of MAFLD and its main complications such as cardiovascular events and the development of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, we will examine the role of antiplatelet therapy not only in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events but also as a possible anti-fibrotic and anti-tumor agent.

Osteosarcoma (OS) are the most prevalent malignant bone tumors in adolescents and young adults.. OS cells grow in a permissive local microenvironment which modulates their behavior and facilitates all steps in tumor development (e.g., proliferation/quiescence, invasion/migration, drug resistance) and contributes to their intrinsic heterogeneity. The lung parenchyma is the most common metastatic site in OS, and metastatic foci are frequently associated with a poor clinical outcome. Although multiple factors may be responsible for the disease, including genetic mutations (e.g., Rb, p53), the molecular mechanism of development of OS remains unclear and the conventional treatment for OS is still based on a sequential approach that combines chemotherapy and surgery. Also, despite the increase in clinical trials, the survival rates for OS have not improved. Non-specific targeting therapies thus show poor therapeutic effects with side effects at high doses. For these reasons, many efforts have been done to characterize the complex genome of osteosarcoma thanks to the whole exome analysis with the aim to identify predictive biomarkers to give to these patients a better therapeutic option. This review aims to summarize and discuss the main recent advances in OS molecular research for precision medicine.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common multisystem neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of the population above 60 years. The main neuropathological features of PD are the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the presence of alpha synuclein (Syn)-rich Lewy bodies both manifesting with classical motor signs. Syn has emerged as a key protein in PD pathology as it can spread through synaptic networks to reach several anatomical regions of the body contributing to the appearance of non-motor symptoms (NMS) considerate prevalent among individuals before PD diagnosis and persisting throughout the patient’s life. NMS mainly include loss of taste and smell, constipation, psychiatric disorders, dementia, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior impairment, urogenital dysfunction, and cardiovascular impairment. This review summarizes the more recent findings showing the impact of Syn deposits on several prodromal NMS and emphasizes the importance of early detection of Syn toxic species in biofluids and peripheral biopsies as prospective biomarkers in PD.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), a subtype of glycolipids containing sphingosine, are critical components of vertebrate plasma membranes, playing a pivotal role in cellular signaling and interactions. In human articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA), GSL expression is known notably to decrease. This review focuses on the roles of gangliosides, a specific type of GSL, in cartilage degeneration and regeneration, emphasizing their regulatory function in signal transduction. The expression of gangliosides, whether endogenous or augmented exogenously, is regulated at the enzymatic level, targeting specific glycosyltransferases. This regulation has significant implications for the composition of cell surface gangliosides and their impact on signal transduction in chondrocytes and progenitor cells. Different levels of ganglioside expression can influence signaling pathways in various ways, potentially affecting cell properties, including malignancy. Moreover, gene manipulations against gangliosides have been shown to regulate cartilage metabolism and chondrocyte differentiation in vivo and in vitro. This review highlights the potential of targeting gangliosides in the development of therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis and cartilage injury and addresses promising directions for future research and treatment.

In the world's first pig-to-human cardiac xenotransplant, the elevated levels of porcine cytomeg-alovirus (PCMV) are considered key factors contributing to patient mortality. This has renewed attention to PCMV, a virus widely prevalent in pigs. Currently, there are no effective drugs or vaccines targeting PCMV, and its high detection difficulty poses challenges for prevention and control research. In this study, antiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was selected and inserted into the Rosa26 and miR-17-92 loci of pigs via a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in strategy. Further in vitro viral challenge experiments demonstrated that these genetically edited pig cells could effec-tively limit PCMV replication. Through this process, we constructed a PCMV-infected cell model, validated partial viral interference sites, enhanced gene knock-in efficiency, performed gene editing at two different gene loci, and ultimately demonstrated that RNA interference (RNAi) technology combined with CRISPR/Cas9 has the potential to generate pig cells with enhanced antiviral infec-tion capabilities. This opens up possibilities for the future production of pig populations with anti-viral functionalities.

Cancer treatment is a significant focus in medicine owing to the increasing global incidence. Patients with advanced cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies have limited options and an unfavorable prognosis. Consequently, researchers are investigating complementary approaches to conventional treatments. One such approach is alkalization therapy, which aims to neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) by increasing its pH level. The acidic TME promotes inflammation, tumor progression, and drug resistance. Alkalization therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for various cancers. In addition, natural products, such as triterpenoids, parthenolides, fulvic acid, Taxus yunnanensis, and apple pectin have the potential to alleviate symptoms, maintain physical fitness, and improve treatment outcomes of cancer patients through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this review, we focus on the effects of alkalization therapy and natural products on cancer. Furthermore, we present a case series of advanced cancer patients who received alkalization therapy and natural products alongside standard treatments, resulting in long-term survival. We posit that alkalization therapy together with the supplementation of natural products may confer benefits to cancer patients by mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and complementing standard treatments. However, further research is warranted to validate these clinical findings.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining host health and has a significant impact on human health and disease. In this study, we investigated the alpha diversity of gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients and analyzed the impact of COVID-19 variants, antibiotic treatment, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metformin therapy on gut microbiota composition and diversity. We used a culture-based method to analyze the gut microbiota and calculated alpha-diversity using the Shannon H' and Simpson 1/D indices. We collected clinical data, such as length of hospital stay (LoS), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). We found that patients with T2D had significantly lower alpha-diversity than those without T2D. Antibiotic use was associated with a reduction in alpha-diversity, while metformin therapy was associated with an increase. We did not find significant differences in alpha-diversity between the Delta and Omicron groups. Length of hospital stay, CRP levels, and NLR showed weak to moderate correlations with alpha diversity. Our findings suggest that maintaining a diverse gut microbiota may benefit COVID-19 patients with T2D. Interventions aimed at preserving or restoring gut microbiota diversity, such as avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use and promoting metformin therapy, may improve patient outcomes.

Infection with the malaria parasite Plasmodium, remains a major cause of illness and death world-wide. The development of evasion strategies by the parasite from host immunity and its adaptability to antimalarial drugs has raised the urgency for developing new strategies to combat this disease. One promising avenue is targeting telomeres – sequences found at chromosome termini– and telomerase – the enzyme that catalysis synthesis of telomeres using an intrinsic RNA template. As telomeres shorten critically, cells undergo replicative senescence or apoptosis. Plasmodium, lacking telomerase activity in its human stages, exploits alternative mechanisms, accelerating telomere shortening, aging, and immune evasion. Chemical telomerase inhibitors show promise as antimalarials. In this review, we examine the potential of targeting this system in malaria therapy, with telomerase inhibitors offering a novel approach. A systematic search on PubMed using Boolean techniques identified 246 relevant articles from 1985 to March 31, 2024. After filtering, 43 articles met inclusion criteria, supplemented by snowball sampling. The telomerase inhibitor drug strategy is widely applicable against cancer. However, given the drugability of telomerase and the absolute requirement for active telomere maintenance in the vast majority of parasites including plasmodium, telomerase and telomere maintenance could well represent the Achilles heel of the parasite

To investigate the impact of electrode structure on Electrical Stimulation Therapy (EST) for chronic wound healing, this study designed three variants of flexible microelectrodes (FMs) with Ag-Cu coverings (ACCs), each exhibiting distinct geometrical configurations: hexagonal, cross-shaped, and serpentine. These were integrated with PPY@PDA/PANI (3/6) hydrogel dressings. Comprehensive animal studies, coupled with detailed electrical and mechanical modeling and simulations, were conducted to assess their performance. Results indicated that the serpentine-shaped FM outperformed its counterparts in terms of flexibility and safety, exhibiting minimal thermal effects and a reduced risk of burns. Notably, FMs with metal coverings under 3% demonstrated promising potential for optoelectronic self-powering capabilities. Additionally, simulation data highlighted the significant influence of hydrogel non-uniformity on the distribution of electrical properties across the skin surface, providing critical insights for optimizing EST protocols when employing hydrogel dressings.

In patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), the choice of surgical strategy for histopathologic assessment is still controversial, particularly in terms of preoperative corticosteroid (CS) therapy. To provide further evidence for clinical decision-making, we retrospectively analyzed data from 148 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our institution. Although patients treated with corticosteroids preoperatively were significantly more likely to require a second or third biopsy (p=0.049), it was only necessary in less than 10% of the cases with preoperative corticosteroid treatment. The choice of surgical procedure did not affect diagnostic accuracy (p&gt;0.05). Preoperative CSF sampling did not provide additional information but was associated with delayed surgery (p=0.02). Surprisingly, diagnostic accuracy was significantly lower when patients were treated with anticoagulation or dual antiplatelet therapy (p=0.015). In conclusion, preoperative CS therapy can challenge the histological diagnosis of PCNSL. At the same time, our data suggest that preoperative CS treatment only presents a relative contraindication for an early surgical intervention. The standard surgical approach is stereotactic biopsy, but other approaches can be individually considered. If a definitive diagnosis cannot be made after the first surgical intervention, the timing of a repeat biopsy after discontinuation of CS remains a case-by-case decision.

The ongoing global pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has once again demonstrated the significance of the Coronaviridae family in causing human disease outbreaks. As SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in December 2019, information on its tropism, host range, and clinical presentation in animals is limited. Given the limited information, data from other coronaviruses may be useful to inform scientific inquiry, risk assessment and decision-making. We review the endemic and emerging alpha- and betacoronavirus infections of wildlife, livestock, and companion animals, and provide information on the receptor usage, known hosts, and clinical signs associated with each host for 15 coronaviruses discovered in people and animals. This information can be used to guide implementation of a One Health approach that involves human health, animal health, environmental, and other relevant partners in developing strategies for preparedness, response, and control to current and future coronavirus disease threats.

Some bispecific radiotracers have been developed to overcome the limitations of monospecific tracers and improve detection sensitivity for heterogeneous tumor lesions. Here we aim to synthesize two bispecific tracers targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which are key markers expressed in prostate cancer. A pyridine-based FAP-targeted ligand was synthesized through multi-step organic synthesis, and then connected to the 2-Nal-containing PSMA-targeted motif. Ki(PSMA) values of Ga-complexed bispecific ligands, Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088, were 11.6 ± 3.25 and 28.7 ± 6.05 nM, respectively, and the IC50(FAP) values of Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088 were 10.9 ± 0.67 and 16.7 ± 1.53 nM, respectively. The uptake values for PSMA-expressing LNCaP tumor xenografts were 9.05 ± 1.54 and 8.85 ± 1.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV010184 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were lower than the monospecific PSMA-targeted tracer [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 (16.7 ± 2.30 %ID/g). The uptake values for FAP-expressing HEK293T:hFAP tumor xenografts were 1.90 ± 0.41 and 1.20 ± 0.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV01084 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were also lower than the monospecific FAP-targeted tracer, [68Ga]Ga-AV02070 (7.93 ± 1.88 %ID/g). Further investigations are needed to optimize the selection of linkers and targeted pharmacophores to improve the tumor uptake of PSMA/FAP bispecific tracers for prostate cancer imaging.

Ataxin-2 (human gene symbol ATXN2, protein ATXN2) is the disease protein of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 2 (SCA2). The large expansions of a polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch above a threshold of ~33 glutamines cause the multi-system nervous atrophy SCA2, while intermediate expansions of 29-32 glutamines contribute to the risk of the motor neuron diseases Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Fronto-Temporal Lobar Dementia (FTLD). To elucidate the cellular function of ATXN2, we further characterized its direct interaction with alpha-Actinin-1 (symbol ACTN1), which had been observed in high-throughput yeast-two-hybrid surveys. An endogenous complex of ATXN2 and ACTN1 proteins was detected by co-immunoprecipitation. In vitro GST-tag pull-down experiments showed that the Calponin-Homology-domain at the N-terminus of ACTN1 binds to the N-terminus of ATXN2. Although an impact of the polyQ expansion on the interaction was not evident in pull-down experiments, a recent characterization of aged Atxn2-CAG100-KnockIn mice provides evidence. Both proteins associated in the cytosol and at the plasma membrane, as determined by sedimentation experiments in mouse brain, and by immunofluorescence microscopy of a transfected monkey cell line and of rat primary hippocampal neurons. In view of the roles of ACTN1 for spine plasticity and postsynaptic receptor control via reassembly of cortical actin, our data help to explain the impaired dendrite maintenance in SCA2.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the leading cause of global mortality with 1,7 million deaths a year. One of the alternative systems to drug therapy to minimize the risk of CVDs is represented by alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid of the Omega-3 series, known for its cholesterol-lowering effect. The main purpose of this review is to analyze the effects of ALA and investigate the relevant n-6/n-3 ratio in order to maintain functionally beneficial effects. Concerning the lipid-lowering preventive effects, ALA may favorably affect the values of LDL-C and triglycerides in either adult and pediatric populations and it has a positive and protective effect against hypertension, suggesting that ALA is an useful diet-related antihypertensive compound. According to the 2009 EFSA statement, dietary ALA may contribute to reducing the risk of CVDs, thanks to anti-hypertensive, anti-atherosclerotic and cardio-protective effects.

Background: In treatment-refractory cancers, tumor tissues damaged by therapy initiate the repair response; therefore, tumor tissues must be exposed to an additional burden before successful repair. We hypothesized that an agent recognizing a molecule that responds to anticancer treatment–induced tissue injury could deliver an additional antitumor agent including a radionuclide to damaged cancer tissues during repair. We selected the extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-C (TNC) as such a molecule, and three antibodies recognizing human and murine TNC were employed to evaluate X-irradiation–induced changes in TNC uptake by subcutaneous tumors. Methods: TNC expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of BxPC-3 tumors treated with or without X-irradiation (30 Gy) for 7 days. Antibodies against TNC (3-6, 12-2-7, TDEAR) and a control antibody were radiolabeled with 111In and injected into nude mice having BxPC-3 tumors 7 days after X-irradiation, and temporal uptake was monitored for an additional 4 days by biodistribution and single-photon emission computed tomography with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) studies. Intratumoral distribution was analyzed by autoradiography. Results: The immunohistochemical signal for TNC expression was faint in nontreated tumors but increased and expanded with time until day 7 after X-irradiation. Biodistribution studies revealed increased tumor uptake of all three 111In-labeled antibodies and the control antibody. However, a statistically significant increase in uptake was evident only for 111In-labeled 3-6 (35%ID/g for 30 Gy vs. 15%ID/g for 0 Gy at day 1, P &lt; 0.01; ID, injected dose), whereas limited changes in 111In-labeled TDEAR2, 12-2-27, and control antibody were observed (several %ID/g for 0 and 30 Gy). Serial SPECT/CT imaging with 111In-labeled 3-6 or control antibody provided consistent results. Autoradiography revealed noticeably stronger signals in irradiated tumors injected with 111In-labeled 3-6 compared with each of nonirradiated tumors and the control antibody. The signals were observed in TNC-expressing stroma. Conclusion: Markedly increased uptake of 111In-labeled 3-6 in irradiated tumors supports our concept that an agent, such as an antibody, that recognizes a molecule, such as TNC, involved in tissue-injury repair could enhance drug delivery to therapy-experienced tumor tissues. The combination of antibody 3-6 coupled to a tumoricidal drug and conventional therapy has the potential to achieve better outcomes for patients with refractory cancer.

Once discovered, cancer stem cells have become a hot topic in the research of cancer therapy. These cells possess stem cell-like self-renewal and differentiation capacities and are important factors that dominate cancer metastasis, therapy- resistance and recurrence. What's worse, their own characteristics make them difficult to be eliminated. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Targeting colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs) can inhibit colorectal cancer metastasis, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and reduce recurrence. Here, we introduced the origin, marker proteins, identification, cultivation and research techniques of CRCSCs, summarized the signaling pathways that regulate the stemness of CRCSCs, such as Wnt, JAK/STAT3, Notch, and Hh signaling pathway. In addition to these, we also reviewed anti-CRCSC drugs targeting signaling pathways，markers，and other regulators in recent years. These will help researchers gain insight into the current agents targeting to CRCSCs, explore new cancer drugs, and propose potential therapy.

Candida spondylodiscitis (CS) is a rare disease, for which therapeutic option are limited to fluconazole or echinocandins and the treatment should be administered up to 12 months. In case of reduced azole susceptibility, there is a scarcity of therapeutic options with adequate bone penetration and limited toxicity. We report the first case of successful use of rezafungin for a spondylodiscitis due to Candida parapsilosis with reduced susceptibility to azoles. The patient, affected by paraplegia and short bowel syndrome, was diagnosed with CS with culture on vertebral biopsy guided by a 18-FDG-PET/CT scan. He received rezafungin 200 mg weekly for 26 weeks, after 10 weeks of previous antifungal treatment. He had a full clinical, radiologic and biochemical response to the therapy with rezafungin, with no adverse effects. Rezafungin is a promising therapy for Candida osteomyelitis, especially when first line therapies are ineffective or contraindicated.

By combining general relativity and CPT symmetry, the theory of CPT gravity predicts gravitational repulsion between matter and CPT-transformed matter, i.e. antimatter inhabiting an inverted space-time. Such repulsive gravity turned out to be an excellent candidate for explaining the accelerated expansion of the Universe, without the need for dark energy. The recent results of the ALPHA-g experiment, which show gravitational attraction between antihydrogen atoms and the Earth, seem to undermine this success in the cosmological field. Analyzing the above theory, we find two solutions that can be consistent with the experimental results, while preserving the large-scale gravitational repulsion. The first highlights how repulsive gravity can be the result of the interaction with an inverted space-time, but occupied by matter and not antimatter, and therefore the antimatter present in our space-time has no reason to exhibit gravitational repulsion. The second retains the original CPT transformation, resulting in repulsive gravity between matter and antimatter, but with the caveat that antimatter immersed in our space-time cannot exhibit the PT transformation which is the cause of the repulsion. Finally, it is shown that, in a Newtonian approximation of the geodesic equation, time reversal is not a necessary operation for repulsive gravity, therefore opening the possibility of an expanding cosmos with a single time direction.

Monitoring of clients living with HIV encompasses a specific array of activities that routinely check on various aspects of ART following its initiation depending on the availability of resources in that particular state, among other factors as per guidelines from the World Health Organisation. This is a significant practice as it promotes positive health outcomes for patients and efficient utilisation of ART regimens to reduce resistance to the medication – hence it is a measure to guard avoidable costs. It also forms a basis on which decisions are made from. It can be done clinically by assessing for signs e.g., skin rash and symptoms e.g., nausea and vomiting, checking vital organ function and measuring weights across all populations, or can be also be done by assessing specimens for their respective viral loads, white blood cell count, pregnancy status or other infections such as hepatitis B. There have not been any special indications required for one to be eligible for monitoring during ART in developing countries; all qualify for routine monitoring even though some may be more frequent than others in cases of comorbidities such as renal failure where medications can be attributed to exacerbating the condition.

Rapid assessment of maize yields in smallholder farming system is important to understand its spatial and temporal variability and for timely agronomic decision-support. Imageries acquired with unmanned air vehicles (UAV) offer opportunity to assess agronomic variables at field scale, however, it is not clear if this can be translated into reliable yield assessment on smallholder farms where field conditions, maize genotypes, and management practices vary within short distances. In this study, we assessed the predictability of maize grain yield using UAV-derived vegetation indices (VI), with(out) biophysical variables, in smallholder farms. High-resolution images were acquired with UAV-borne multispectral sensor at 4 and 8 weeks after sowing (WAS) on 31 farmers’ managed fields (FMFs) and 12 nearby Nutrient Omission Trials (NOT), all distributed across 5 locations within the core maize region of Nigeria. The NOTs included non-fertilized and fertilized plots (with and without micronutrients), sown with open-pollinated or hybrid maize genotypes. Acquired multispectral images were post-processed into several three (s) vegetation indices (VIs), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference red-edge (NDRE), green-normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI). Biophysical variables, plant height (Ht) and percent canopy cover (CC), were measured with the georeferenced plot locations recorded. In the NOTs, the nutrient status, not genotype, influenced the grain yield variability and outcome. The maximum grain yield observed in NOTs was 9.3 tha^-1, compared to 5.4 tha^-1 in FMF. Without accounting for between- and within-field variations, there was no relationship between UAV-derived VIs and grain yield at 4WAS (r<0.02, P>0.1), but significant correlations were observed at 8WAS (r≤0.3; p<0.001). Ht was positively correlated with grain yield at 4WAS (r=0.5, R²=0.25, p<0.001), and more strongly at 8WAS (r=0.7, R²=0.55, p<0.001), while relationship between CC and yield was only significant at 8WAS. By accounting for within- and between-field variations in NOTs and FMF (separately) through linear mixed-effects modeling, predictability of grain yield from UAV-derived VIs was generally (R²≤0.24), however, the inclusion of ground-measured biophysical variable (mainly Ht) improved the explained yield variability (R² ≥0.62, RMSEP≤0.35) in NOTs but not in FMF. We conclude that yield prediction with UAV-acquired imageries (before harvest) is more reliable under controlled experimental conditions (NOTs), than in actual farmer-managed fields where various confounding agronomic factors can amplify noise-signal within the vegetation canopy.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of TE is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2 - 60 ºC. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.

Objective: We report a case of acute pancytopenia and liver injury after concomitant administration of low-dose methotrexate (MTX), and high-dose esomeprazole and metamizole. Case summary: A 71-year-old patient with chronic systemic idiopathic erosive arthritis was admitted after a pelvic ring fracture. After hospital admission, she received MTX in addition to esomeprazole and metamizole. Subsequent laboratory tests revealed pancytopenia and elevated liver enzymes. The follow-up clinical examinations were unremarkable, with the exception of sub-febrile temperatures. Further investigations did not detect a definitive etiology. Due to the suspicion of methotrexate-induced hematotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, antagonizing therapy with calcium folinate was administered, after which the blood counts and liver parameters normalized. Discussion: Due to the administration of high-dose metamizole immediately before the administration of low-dose MTX, the pre-existing hematotoxic pharmacodynamic effect of MTX was acutely enhanced by that of metamizole, although folic acid was administered preemptively. In addition, the concomitant administration of high-dose esomeprazole and normal dose torasemide resulted in a pharmacokinetic interaction with MTX by decreasing its renal secretion and elimination, further enhancing the concentration-dependent hematotoxic and hepatotoxic side effects of MTX. Conclusions: The relatively high demand for analgesics in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases already being treated with MTX and proton pump inhibitors necessitates that clinicians consider drug-drug interactions as potential causes of adverse drug reactions after the administration of metamizole or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this category of patients, it is strongly recommended to switch to analgesics of other classes.

Most of α-thalassemia cases are caused by deletions of the structural α-globin genes. The degree of microcytosis and hypochromia has been correlated with the number of affected α-globin genes, suggesting a promising role of hematologic parameters as predictive diagnostic tools. However, specific cut-off points for these parameters to discriminate between the different subtypes of α-thalassemia remain to be clearly defined. Six hematologic parameters (total number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width) were evaluated in 174 cases of deletional α-thalassemia (92 heterozygous α+ thalassemia, 39 homozygous α+ thalassemia, 34 heterozygous α0 thalassemia and 9 cases of Hb H disease). A good correlation between the number of deleted alpha genes and MCV (r = -0.672, p<0.001), MCH (r = -0.788, p<0.001) and RDW (r = 0.633, p<0.001) was observed. The deletion of at least two alpha genes in adult individuals with microcytosis without iron deficiency and normal values of Hb A2 and Hb F should be discarded when MCH levels are lower than 23.15 pg. Furthermore, MCH <21.90 pg and/or MCV <70.80 fL are strongly suggestive of the presence of one α0 allele. Finally, an accurate presumptive diagnosis of Hb H disease can be made if both RDW ≥20% and MCH <18.45 pg are seen.

Targeted Protein Silencing (TPS) is an elegant approach to investigate protein function and its role in the cellular landscape, overcoming limitations of genetic perturbation strategies. In contrast to CRISPR/Cas9 and RNA interference, these systems act in a reversible manner and reduce off-target effects. Several TPS have been developed and wisely improved, including compartment delocalization tools and protein degradation systems. In this review, we focus on Anchor-Away, deGradFP, auxin inducible degron (AID) and dTAG technologies, and discuss their recent applications and advances. Finally, we propose Nano-Grad, a novel nanobody-based protein degradation tool to specifically proteolyze endogenous tag-free target protein.

Nano- and microparticles are increasingly widely used in biomedical research and applications, particularly as specific labels and targeted delivery vehicles. Silica has long been considered the best material for such vehicles, but it has some disadvantages limiting its potential, such as the proneness of silica-based carriers to spontaneous drug release. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an emerging alternative, being easily available, cost-effective, biocompatible material with high porosity and surface reactivity, which makes it an attractive choice for targeted drug delivery. CaCO3 particles are used in this field in the form of either bare CaCO3 microbeads or core/shell microparticles representing polymer-coated CaCO3 cores. In addition, they serve as removable templates for obtaining hollow polymer microcapsules. Each of these types of particles has its specific advantages in terms of biomedical applications. CaCO3 microbeads are primarily used due to their capacity for carrying pharmaceutics, whereas core/shell systems ensure better protection of the drug-loaded core from the environment. Hollow polymer capsules are particularly attractive because they can encapsulate large amounts of pharmaceutical agents and can be so designed as to release their contents in the target site in response to specific stimuli. This review focuses first on the chemistry of the CaCO3 cores, core/shell microbeads, and polymer microcapsules. Then, systems using these structures for the delivery of therapeutic agents, including drugs, proteins, and DNA, are outlined. The results of systematic analysis of available data are presented. They show that the encapsulation of various therapeutic agents in CaCO3-based microbeads or polymer microcapsules is a promising technique of drug delivery, especially in cancer therapy, enhancing drug bioavailability and specific targeting of cancer cells while reducing side effects. To date, research in CaCO3-based microparticles and polymer microcapsules assembled on CaCO3 templates has mainly dealt with their properties in vitro, whereas their in vivo behavior still remains poorly studied. However, an enormous potential of these highly biocompatible carriers for in vivo applications is undoubted. This last issue is addressed in depth in the Conclusion and Outlook sections of the review.

To close the nutrient-related yield gaps in maize, balanced nutrition using primary and secondary macronutrients as well as micronutrients is recommended. Multi-nutrient diagnostic field trials were conducted in Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to assess the interactive effects of macronutrients and micronutrients on maize grain yields, nutrient uptake as well as N, P and K use efficiencies. The treatments consisted of a control (zero fertilizer applied), an NPK treatment and 10 other treatments in which macronutrient (Mg, S) and/or micronutrients (B, and Zn) were added to the NPK. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. Data collected were subjected to mixed model with nutrient management strategy as fixed effects while replication nested in location and interaction between location and nutrient management strategy as random effects. The results revealed significant effects (P < 0.05) of nutrient management strategy on maize yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiencies of N, P and K. The study revealed that yield advantage over the recommended NPK fertilizer as a result of application macronutrients and micronutrients were highest with Mg in Lere (2.4 t ha⁻¹), S + B + Zn in Faskari (2.8 t ha⁻¹), S + B in Doguwa (1.5 t ha⁻¹) and S + Zn in Toro (2.4 t ha⁻¹). Addition of Mg, S and B significantly increases macronutrient uptakes over the recommended NPK only. Agronomic use efficiency, internal utilization efficiency, apparent recovery efficiency and partial factor productivity were significantly increased with the addition of S, Mg, and B but were not improved with Zn application. It was concluded that nutrient limitations to maize in the Guinea Savanna go beyond N, P and K. This study recommends that S, Mg, and B are needed to improve maize productivity and engender improve the use efficiency of NPK fertilizers.

Keywords: olfactory rehabilitation; chronic pain; fMRI;

Background and Objectives: Cancer as the second leading cause of death in the United States poses a huge healthcare burden. Barriers to access to advanced therapies influence the outcome of cancer treatment. In this study, we examined whether insurance types affect the quality of cancer clinical care regarding access to an important monoclonal antibody, ramucirumab. Materials and Methods: Data for 13,340 cancer patients with Purchased or Medicaid insurance from the All of Us Database were collected for this study. The Chi-square test of proportions was employed to determine the significance of patient cohort characteristics and ramucirumab usage between Purchased and Medicaid insurance groups. The independent t-test was utilized to assess the influences of other determinants on insurance types. Results: Cancer patients who are African American, with lower socioeconomic status, or with lower educational attainment are more likely to be insured by Medicaid. Analysis of survey questions demonstrated the relationship between income and education level with insurance type as Medicaid cancer patients were less likely to receive primary care and specialist physician access and more likely to request lower cost medications. In addition, those with Medicaid insurance were identified to have poorer access to expensive therapeutics like ramucirumab compared to those with Purchased insurance.  Conclusions: The inequities of the US healthcare system are observed for cancer patient care; access to physicians and therapeutics are highly varied and dependent on insurance types. Socioeconomic status determines insurance type, which unfortunately generates a significant impact on cancer treatment and disease outcome.

Recently, there have been revolutions in the development of both gene therapy and genome surgical treatments for inherited diseases. Much of this progress has been centered around hereditary retinal dystrophies, because the eye is an immune-privileged and anatomically ideal target. Gene therapy treatments, already demonstrated to be safe and efficacious in numerous clinical trials, are benefitting from the development of new viral vectors, such as dual and triple AAVs. CRISPR/Ca9, which revolutionized the field of gene editing, is being adapted into more precise “high fidelity” and catalytically dead variants. New CRISPR endonucleases, such as CjCas9 and Cas12a, are generating excitement in the field as well. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising alternative, allowing human embryo derived stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to be edited precisely in vitro and then reintroduced into the body. This article highlights recent progress made in gene therapy and genome surgery for retinal disorders, and it provides an update on precision medicine FDA treatment trials.

Hypertension is a frequent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the prevalence rate is continuously rising. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms are responsible for hypertension, necessitating a combination of drugs from different classes for best management. Combination therapy is five times more effective in decreasing blood pressure compared to escalating the dose of a single agent. As per the ACCOMPLISH trial analysis, coupling a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor with a calcium channel blocker is more effective than the combination of a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor with diuretics in reducing major cardiovascular events, cardiovascular-related mortality, and the progression of chronic kidney disease. The renin-angiotensin system can be suppressed by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme or angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), resulting, in decreased vascular smooth muscle contraction, heart performance, and reduced aldosterone synthesis. Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting L-type calcium channels, reducing heart performance via negative inotropic, chronotropic, and bathmotropic effects, along with reducing vascular smooth muscle contraction. Diuretics exert their antihypertensive impact by changing body fluid volume and electrolytes. Initially, hypertension treatment commences with a single medication but often, different classes of two or more antihypertensive medications are necessary for achieving the target blood pressure goal. Sometimes, for Resistant hypertension four different classes of antihypertensive medications are necessary to reach the target blood pressure goal.

The increase in the rate and prevalence of diseases associated with the localized and general loss of bone mass calls for an investigation into therapeutic alternatives that largely involve the de-velopment of new biomaterials and cell therapy, converting tissue bioengineering into a prom-ising option. An experimental model of a critical mandibular lesion in rats has been used to study bone re-generation by treating the ostectomy with the biomaterials Evolution® and Gen-Os® (OsteoBiol®, Italy) combined, or not, with dental pulp stem cells (DP-MSC). The results obtained through the Micro-CT and histological study reveal the almost complete re-covery of the lesion in the group with DP-MSC. These results are supported by increases in endoglin, TGF-β, protocollagen I, parathormone, and calcitonin, generating an environment of bone generation and development when combining Evolution® and Gen-Os® (OsteoBiol®, Italy) with DP-MSC. These promising results confirm the transcendental role of DP-MSC in combina-tion with osteogenic biomaterials for bone regeneration, and warrant further studies, including its assessment in clinical trials.

Post-operative chemotherapy is still required for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), and nanocarrier-based drug delivery has been identified as one of the most effective methods. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and non-specific delivery to non-tumor tissues can significantly limit drug accumulation in tumor tissues and cause damage to nearby normal tissues. This study describes a targeted cancer therapy approach that uses AS1411 aptamer-conjugated nanospheres, 100-300 nm in size, loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) to selectively identify tumor cells overexpressing nucleolin (NCL) proteins. The study demonstrates that the active target model, which employs aptamer-mediated drug delivery, is more effective than nonspecific enhanced permeability and maintenance (EPR)-mediated delivery and passive drug delivery in improving drug penetration and maintenance in tumor cells. Additionally, the study shows the potential for anticancer effects through 3D spheroidal and in vivo GBM xenograft models. The DNA-protein hybrid nanospheres utilized in this study offer numerous benefits, such as efficient synthesis, structural stability, high drug loading, dye labelling, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. When combined with nanospheres, the 1411 aptamer has been shown to be an effective drug delivery carrier for precisely targeting tumors. This combination has the potential to produce anti-tumor effects in active targeted therapy of GBM.

The similarities between exosomes and liposomes, together with the high organotropism of several types of exosomes, have recently prompted the development of engineered-exosomes or exosome-mimetics, which may be artificial (liposomal) or cell-derived vesicles, as advanced platforms for targeted drug delivery. Here we provide the current state-of-the-art of using exosome or exosome-inspired systems for drug delivery. We review the various approaches investigated and the shortcomings of each approach. Finally the challenges identified up-to-date in this field are summarized.

Objective: to retrospectively evaluate the incidence rate (IR) of echocardiographic signs suspected for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients after the introduction of a combination therapy with bosentan and sildenafil for treatment or prevention of digital ulcers. Methods: patients attending the Scleroderma Unit of the Universital Hospital of Careggi from July 2010 to July 2023 were enrolled. Patients older than 18 years old, with an history of digital ulcers, treated with bosentan and sildenafil in combination for at least 12 months were included. Patients with a diagnosis of PH preceding the introduction of the therapy were excluded. Demographical data, disease duration, laboratoristic and instrumental data (pulmonary function tests, echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs) and ultrasonographic value of renal resistive index) were collected. The IR of echocardiographic signs suspected for pulmonary hypertension and their 95% confidence interval were calculated in events/1000 patients-years.Results: forty-seven patients were enrolled; mean disease duration was 12,14 years (SD 5,87). Mean duration of the combination treatment was 78.33 (SD 41.37) months and total at-risk time was 3525 months. Two patients (4,2%) presented echocardiographic signs of PH (sPAP 50 mmHg and 40 mmHg); the IR was calculated to be 6.8/1000 patients-years (95% CI 6,02-7,7). In one of the 2 patients RHC excluded PAH, while the other patient refused to undergo to RHC and PAH could not be confirmed/excluded. A stability of PFTs and echocardiografic PAPs was observed during the observation time. Conclusions: the results of this retrospective study suggest that combination therapy with endothelin receptor antagonist and Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors could help in preventing PAH in SSc; prospective case-control studies on larger population are needed to improve knowledge in this field.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), one of the major pro-inflammatory cytokines, plays a key role in an effective immune response. However, the chronic presence of TNFα can lead to several inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease etc. Inhibition of TNFα by pharmacological inhibitors or antibodies has proven to be effective in palliative treatment to some extent. The aim of this study was to develop an anti-TNFα antibody which may be used as a therapeutic option to inhibit TNFα-mediated cytotoxicity. We characterized several hybridoma clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human-TNFα. Four mAbs rescued L929 fibroblast cells from TNFα-triggered cell death and one of these, namely C8 was found to have the highest affinity. To gain insights into the mechanism by which mAb C8 inhibits human TNFα-mediated toxicity, the epitope corresponding to the mAb was delineated. The antigenic determinant was found to comprise of the stretch of amino acids 99-120, of which, 102-104 (QRE) form the core epitope. The observation was supported by bioinformatics analyses of an antigen-antibody complex model. In addition, the binding affinity of mAb C8 to TNFα was found to be comparable with that of Infliximab which is a commercially available anti TNFα mAb.

In this study, the fuzzy c- means classifier has been studied with nine other similarity and dissimilarity measures: Manhattan distance, chessboard distance, Bray-Curtis distance, Canberra, Cosine distance, correlation distance, mean absolute difference, median absolute difference and normalised squared Euclidean distance. Both single and composite modes were used with a varying weight constant (m) and also at different α-cuts. The two best single norms obtained were combined to study the effect of composite norms on the datasets used. An image to image accuracy check was conducted to assess the accuracy of the classified images. Fuzzy Error Matrix (FERM) was applied to measure the accuracy assessment outcomes for a Landsat-8 dataset with respect to the Formosat-2 dataset. To conclude FCM classifier with Cosine norm performed better than the conventional Euclidean norm. But, due to the incapability of the FCM classifier to handle noise properly, the classification accuracy was around 75%.

I wish to suggest a physiological function for alpha-synuclein (a-syn) that has the potential to explain its role in pathology. Intraneuronal proteinaceous Lewy Bodies (LBs), the pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies, consist majorly of a-syn. Ample evidence suggests that LBs are not the result of simple amyloidosis of cytosolic a-syn. Benign soluble unstructured a-syn gets converted into toxic species which preferentially accumulates in LBs. But how these aberrant a-syn molecules are produced in the cytosol, is still not clear. The present hypothesis is an effort to relate a metabolic reaction specific to neuronal function, that is, phase transition, with the pathobiology of a-syn. During high frequency stimulation, which entails rapid phase transition reactions at the presynaptic compartment, aberrant interaction of a-syn with the membrane occasionally generates toxic a-syn molecules. My conjecture is that the physiological function of a-syn is to modulate membrane fluidity by a process wherein it goes through a conformation cycle driven by a flux of energy from mitochondria. It is the range of toxic a-syn produced during aberrant phase transition reaction that is responsible for pathology, not the normal a-syn that reenters the conformation cycle, thereby, resolving the paradox of the Janus-face of a-syn.

Vancomycin is one of the ‘last-line’ classes of antibiotics used in the treatment of life-threatening infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Even though vancomycin was discovered in 1950s it was widely used after 1980s for the treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococci as prevalence of such strains were increased. However, currently it is evident that vancomycin resistant Staphylococcusaureusandvancomycin-resistant Enterococci have been developed as a result of various reasons including use of avaparcin, which is an analog of vancomycin, as feed additive in livestock. In present day context, more attention should be paid on prevention of emergence of resistance for the antibiotics in order to keep antibiotics effective. In order to prevent emergence of resistance, proper guidance for the responsible use of antimicrobials is indispensable. Therefore, almost all stakeholders who use antibiotics should have in depth understanding on the antibiotic they use. As such, it is imperative to be aware of the important aspects of vancomycin. In the present review, efforts have been made to discussthe pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, indications, emergence of resistance, control of resistance, adverse effects and alternative therapy for vancomycin.

In this work, we introduce a new concepts for $\alpha$-type $F$-Suzuki contraction and $\alpha$-type $F$-weak-Suzuki contraction in the context of $b$-metric spaces. Compared to the $\alpha$-type $F$-contraction and $F$-Suzuki contraction mappings, these contractions are essentially weaker. For these type of contraction mappings, sufficient conditions are established for the fixed point's existence and uniqueness in $b$-metric spaces. As a result, the findings encompass several generalizations. To show the usability of our obtained results, we provide a supportive example and an application to a non-linear differential equation with fractional order.

Despite notable advancements in immunotherapy in the past decades, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) remains a promising, potentially curative treatment modality. Only a limited number of studies has performed a direct comparison of two prevalent rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) formulations — specifically, Thymoglobuline (ATG-T, formerly Genzyme) and Grafalon (ATG-G, formerly Fresenius). The primary objective of our retrospective analysis was to compare the outcomes of adult patients undergoing matched or mismatched unrelated donor (MUD/MMUD) allo-HCT, with a graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis based on either ATG-T or ATG-G. A total of 87 patients undergone allo-HCT between 2012 and 2022 were included. We observed no significant differences between ATG-T and ATG-G concerning the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD), regardless of its severity. Conversely, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) occurred less frequently in the ATG-T group compared to ATG-G (7.5% vs. 38.3%, p=0.001). Patients treated with ATG-T manifested a higher incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivations (70% vs. 31.9%, p&lt;0.001), with a shorter time between transplant and CMV (&lt;61 days, 77.8% vs. 33.3%, p=0.008) and a higher median CMV copy number (1000 vs. 0, p=0.004). Notably, despite a higher occurrence of CMV reactivations in the ATG-T cohort, most patients were asymptomatic compared to ATG-G (85.7% vs. 43.8%, p=0.005). Finally, we observed no significant differences in terms of 5-year overall survival (OS) and 3-year probability of relapse while comparing ATG-T and ATG-G (32.0% vs 40.3%, p=0.423; 63.9% vs 55.7%, p=0.438, respectively).

Low soil nitrogen status of savanna soils in Nigeria contributes to the persistent Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. infestation that limits maize production. The application of nitrogen fertilizer to Striga-resistant hybrids may reduce Striga infection and increase grain yields. This study assessed the performance of maize hybrids at low (30 kg ha-1) and high (120 kg ha-1) nitrogen application under natural infestation with Striga at Kafin Madaki and Tudun Wada in 2014 and 2015. Results showed that the application of nitrogen at 120 kg ha-1 reduced number of Striga plants by 59% compared to application at 30 kg N ha-1 in Kafin Madaki and by 21% in Tudun Wada. Compared to 30 kg N ha-1, the 120 kg N ha-1 rate also reduced Striga damage rating by 22% in Kafin Madaki and by 33% in Tudun Wada across the hybrids. Hybrids 8338-1 (5.3) and OBASUPER 1 (4.3) were the only entries with Striga damage rating greater than 4.5 (SDR > 4.5) when averaged across the nitrogen levels at both locations. Grain yield was 86 and 98% higher in Kafin Madaki and Tudun Wada, respectively when N was applied at 120 kg N ha-1 than at 30 kg N ha-1. The hybrids M1124-3 and M1227-14 produced grain yields that were significantly higher than those of the other hybrids in all locations. The hybrid 8338-1 produced the lowest grain yield across locations. Our results showed that, the application of 120 kg N ha-1 to Striga resistant maize hybrids will reduce Striga infection and increase grain yield.

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, involve neuron degeneration linked to the misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins, resulting in β-sheet-enriched aggregates. This phenomenon disrupts the normal folding of proteins critical for cellular function. Genetic mutations, proteolytic cleavage, oxidative stress, and aging contribute to misfolding. Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely tied to alpha-synuclein (αS) misfolding, with A53T mutation and Lewy bodies (LB) in PD brains pivotal to understanding the disease mechanism. Other synuclein homologues (βS, γS) further contribute to synucleinopathies. Mutants (A30P, A53T, E46K, H50Q, and G51D) underscore αS&#39;s role in PD development. This concise review focuses on molecular and pathological aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing αS in PD. The integration of genetic, structural, and mechanistic insights highlights the disorders. complexity, paving the way for future therapeutic strategies targeting protein misfolding and aggregation.

A full potential all-electron density functional method within generalized gradient approximation is used to investigate the electronic, elastic and transport properties of cubic copper sulphide and copper selenide. The electronic structure suggests metallic behavior with a zero energy band gap for both materials. Elastic property calculations suggest a stiff material with the bulk to shear modulus ratio of 0.35 and 0.44 for Cu2S and Cu2Se respectively. The transport properties were estimated using the Boltzmann transport approach. Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and power factor all suggest a potential p-type conductivity for Cu2S and n-type conductivity for Cu2Se.

Neurodevelopmental and late-onset neurodegenerative disorders present as separate entities that are clinically and neuropathologically quite distinct. However, recent evidence has highlighted surprising commonalities and converging features at the clinical, genomic, and molecular level between these two disease spectra. This is particularly striking in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Genetic causes and risk factors play a central role in disease pathophysiology and enable the identification of overlapping mechanisms and pathways. Here, we focus on clinico-genetic studies of causal variants and overlapping clinical and cellular features of ASD and PD. Several genes and genomic regions were selected for our review, including SNCA (alpha-synuclein), PARK2 (parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase), chromosome 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge region, and FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation 1) repeat expansion, which influence development of both ASD and PD with converging features related to synaptic function and neurogenesis. Both PD and ASD display alterations and impairments at the synaptic level, representing early and key disease phenotypes which support the hypothesis of converging mechanisms between the two types of diseases. Therefore, understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms might inform on common targets and therapeutic approaches. We propose to re-conceptualize how we understand these disorders and provide a new angle into disease targets and mechanisms linking neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration.

Through its suggestive name, non-targeted methods (NTMs) do not aim at a predefined "needle in the haystack". Instead, they exploit all the constituents of the haystack. This new form of analytical methods is increasingly finding applications in food and feed testing. However, the concepts, terms, and considerations related to this burgeoning field of analytical testing needs to be propagated for the benefit of ones associated in academic research, commercial development, and official control. This paper addresses the frequently asked questions around notations and terminologies surrounding NTMs. The widespread development and adoption of these methods also necessitates the need to develop approaches to NTM validation, i.e., evaluating the performance characteristics of a method to determine if it is fit-for-purpose. This work aims to provide a roadmap to approaching NTM validation. In doing so, the paper deliberates on the different considerations that influence the approach to validation and provides suggestions thereof.

We performed a comprehensive analysis of angiosarcoma (AS) genomic biomarkers and their associations with the site of origin. We aimed to describe the genomic landscape of AS in a cohort of 143 cases of AS profiled by Caris Life Sciences. Data of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) with a 592 gene panel was available for the entire cohort. Fifty-three cases had data of Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) which we used to study the microenvironment phenotype. Immuno-therapy (IO) response biomarkers: Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and PD-L1 status were included. IO-response markers were present in 36.4% of the cohort and in 65% of head and neck AS (H/N-AS) (p<0.0001). H/N-AS cases had predominantly muta-tions in TP53 (50.0%, p=0.0004), POT1 (40.5%, p<0.0001) and ARID1A (33.3%, p=0.5875). In breast AS, leading alterations were MYC amplification (63.3%, p<0.0001), HRAS (16.1%, p=0.0377), and PI3KCA (16.1%, p=0.2352). A microenvironment with a high immune signature, associated with better response to IO, was present in 13% of the cases. This signature was evenly distributed among different primary sites. We found that the molecular biology for AS varies significantly according to the primary site. Our findings can facilitate the design and optimiza-tion of therapeutic strategies for AS to overcome resistance to IO and targeted therapies.

Background: Convectional methods for drug delivery often faces setbacks due to systemic distribution, short half-life and degradation of therapeutics and therefore reduce concentrations of drug available to target tissue. Nanotheranostic provide a novel method for treating and diagnosing diseases Methodology: collection and review of relevant literatureResult: while nanotheranostic offer advantage of personalized medicine and often combines diagnosis and therapy using single molecular approach, nuclear medicine relies on radioactive isotopes to diagnosed and destroys cancer cells. In both cases, nanocarriers such as lipid-based, polymer-based, drug-conjugate, inorganic nanoparticles are used to deliver drugs/probes/isotopes to target site, generating images and thereafter chemotherapy/radiotherapy begins.Conclusion: Nanotheranostic plays important role in diseases diagnostic, therapy, imaging, monitoring of disease progression / response through the use of nanocarriers. This is made possible through nanoparticles/nanocarriers that delivers drug to the target tissues/cells.

A COVID-19 disease threatens the population and the economies of the countries significantly. Till now, this pandemic has affected 215 counties or territories. Unavailability of vaccine is the primary concern for the society. To avoid the spread of this disease, social isolation must be preserved and the inter and intra-population movement must be minimized. To reduce the possibility of transmission, the categorization of regions based on susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is a must.Due to the unavailability of a large amount of paper collection for this novel COVID-19 diseases, we used current literature available on a COVID-19 susceptibility of the diabetic patient, human reproductivity, hemodialysis patient’s, pregnant women and meteorological factors and geographical location. Countries in the cold region are more susceptible to the risk of COVID-19 transmission. There was no evidence of the spread of this disease from non-respiratory bodies. Diabetic patients and pregnant women were found to be more susceptible to COVID-19 infection. Anosmia was observed in the majority of the COVID-19 infected cases in European countries. No evidence indicates COVID-19's impact on the human reproductive system explicitly. No cases of vertical transmission of this disease have been observed until now. All the studies available till now is the small scale study. Correlation with something always does not mean causation. There are certain factor like pollution level, temperature Diurnal temperature range, geographical factor, humidity, pollution level, wind speed, population density, medical healthcare facilities social and political factor plays a critical role in transmitting the SARS-COV-2 virus. Besides the adverse effects, it has taught us to shed our selfish goals and to promote the welfare of all.

Osteoimmunology was coined about twenty years ago to identify a strict cross talk between bone niche and immune system both in physiological and pathological activities, including cancer. Several molecules are involved in the complex interaction between bone niche, immune and cancer cells. The Receptor Activator ok NF-kB (RANK)/RANK Ligand (RANKL/Osteoprotegerin (OPG) pathway plays a crucial role in bone cells/cancer interactions with subsequently immune system control failure, bone destruction, inhibition of effect and metastasis outcome. The bidirectional cross talk between bone and immune system could became a potential target for anticancer drugs. Several studies evidenced a direct anticancer role with improved survival of bone-targeted therapies such as bisphosphonates and RANKL antagonist Denosumab. Conversely, initial data evidenced a possible anti-bone resorption effect of systemic anticancer drugs through and immunomodulation activity, i.e. new generation antiandrogens (Abiraterone) in prostate cancer. All data could open a future rationale of combined bone, immunologic and targeted therapies in cancer treatment.

Non-targeted effects (NTE) such as bystander effects or genomic instability have been known for many years but their significance for radiotherapy or medical diagnostic radiology are far from clear. Central to the issue are reported differences in response of normal and tumour tissues to signals from directly irradiated cells. This review will discuss possible mechanisms and implications of these different responses and will then discuss possible new therapeutic avenues suggested by the analysis. Finally, the importance of NTE for diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine which stems from the dominance of NTE in the low dose region of the dose response curve will be presented. Areas such as second cancer induction and microenvironment plasticity will be discussed.

Inflammation is a vital aspect of the body's immune response, appearing either as an acute reaction that swiftly develops (e.g., after injury or during an infection) or as a chronic condition that persists over a prolonged period, often linked with autoimmune disorders or cancer. This study introduces potential TNF-alpha inhibitors investigated by Molecular Docking investigation. They are Dactolisib with a binding energy of -10.1 kcal/mol, Nilotinib with -9.6 kcal/mol, Eltrombopag with -9.7 kcal/mol, Radotinib with -9.6 kcal/mol, and Nilotinib again with -9.7 kcal/mol. Additionally, Hypericin exhibited a notable binding energy of -9.9 kcal/mol, suggesting its potential as a natural TNF-alpha inhibitor. While these computational results are preliminary, they provide a foundation for further biological studies to confirm their efficacy. The significance of these findings extends to the scientific community, offering potential applications in the field of inflammatory diseases.

The genetic diversity of coronavirus (CoV) is high, and its infection in animals has not yet been fully revealed. By RT-PCR detection of partial RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of CoV, we screened a total of 502 small mammals belonging to 18 species in 12 genera and 4 orders collected in Dali and Nujiang Prefecture of Western Yunnan Province, China. The prevalence of β-CoV in Chevrieri's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) and Lancangjiang field mouse (A. ilex) were 3.54% (4/113) and 6.67% (6/90), respectively; the prevalence of α-CoV in White-footed Indochinese rat (Rattus nitidus) and long-tailed red-toothed shrew (Episoriculus leucops) was 75% (3/4) and 5.88% (1/17), respectively. The co-infection rates of β-CoV and α-CoV in Kachin red-backed vole (Eothenomys cachinus), Norway rat (R. norvegicus) were 2.22% (2/90), 3.85% (1/26) respectively. The identity of the partial RdRp genes obtained of 13 strains of β-CoV was 83.42%-99.23% at nucleotide level, and it is worth noting that the two strains from Kachin red-backed vole showed highly homology to BOV-36/IND/2015 from Indian bovine and DcCoV-HKU23 from one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Morocco, the nucleotide similarity between 97.86%-98.33%. Similarly, the identity of the 7 strains of α-CoV among the partial RdRp sequences was 94.00%-99.18% at nucleotide levels. The viral load in different tissues was measured by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The average CoV viral load in small mammalian intestinal tissue was 1.25×106copies/g, differently, the mean CoV viral load in liver, heart, lung, spleen and kidney tissue was from 1.29×103 to 4.02×103copies/g, which revealed that CoV has extensive tropism of intestinal tissue in small mammals (P &lt; 0.0001). This result revealed the genetic diversity, epidemiology, and infective tropism of α-CoV and β-CoV in small mammals from Dali and Nujiang, which deepens the comprehending of the retention and infection of coronavirus in natural hosts.

To explore the relevant factors that affect the efficacy of consciousness-regaining therapy (CRT)for prolonged disorder of consciousness(pDOC),a retrospective analysis was conducted on the case data of 114 patients with pDOC admitted to department of functional neurosurgery of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022. Basic information on the cases,data on pDOC disease assessment, consciousness-regaining therapy methods, and efficacy evaluation were collected. A total of 114 patients were grouped and compared based on the efficacy at the end of treatment. Among them, there were 61 cases in the ineffective group and 53 cases in the effective group. There was no statistically significant difference (P&gt;0.05) between the two groups in terms of gender, age, etiology, acute cerebral herniation, emergency craniotomy surgery, emergency decompressive craniectomy, time from onset to start of consciousness-regaining therapy , and duration of consciousness-regaining therapy(P&gt;0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in terms of secondary hydrocephalus, , consciousness-regaining therapy methods, CRS-R grading before treatment, and GOSE score at 6 months after treatment. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the type of therapy (OR=0.169, 95% CI: 0.057-0.508) was a related factor affecting the efficacy of consciousness-regaining therapy (P&lt;0.05).Compared with non-invasive therapy, personalized awakening therapy using various invasive consciousness-regaining therapy methods can help improve the efficacy of therapy for pDOC.

Background: Early postoperative airway management after laryngo-tracheal surgery is crucial. Acute respiratory failure due to glottis’ oedema may occur, requiring reintubation. This can prolong ventilatory assistance, jeopardizing the anastomosis. To date, only judicious steroid administration and fluid management are available to avoid more invasive procedures. High-Flow-Oxygen-Therapy(HFOT) is a noninvasive O2 support method providing humidification, warmed air, Positive-End-Expiratory-Pressure(AIRVO2). No data exist about HFOT use to prevent early complications after laryngo-tracheal surgery. Methods: Between Sept.2020-Sept.2022, 107 consecutive patients underwent laryngo-tracheal surgery received HFOT(Group A). Data and long-term results were compared with those of 80 patients operated between Sept.2018-Aug.2020(Group B), when HFOT was not available. All patients were operated in a single center. No pre- or post-operative settings changed, except for HFOT introduction. We analyzed and compared the risk for “delayed” reintubation (unexpected reintubation within the first 24-48 hours after extubating/laryngeal mask removal) in the two groups. Results: No patients reported HFOT-related adverse events. Control group(B) presented “delayed” reintubation in 37% (p= 0.027), Intensive Care Unit admission in 67%(p=0.005) and longer hospital stay(p=0.001) compared to HFOT group(A). Minor complications rate was 3% in both group and overall mortality was 0%. Re-stenosis was described in 4.6% of HFOT group, without a statistically significant difference (p=0.7006). Conclusions: Our study is the first to investigate HFOT use in patients undergoing laryngo-tracheal surgery, potentially representing a consistent innovation in the peri-operative management of these patients. With the limit of a retrospective series, we would suggest HFOT use for preventing post-operative reintubation rate, possibly reducing ICU admission and hospital stay.

Nanotechnology is making significant transformation to our world, especially in healthcare and the treatment of diseases. It is widely used in different medical applications, such as in treatment and detection. Targeting diseased cell with nanomedicines is one of the numerous applications of nanotechnology. Targeted drug delivery systems for delivering various types of drugs to specific sites are such a dynamic area in pharmaceutical biotechnology and nanotechnology. Compared to conventional drugs, nanomedicines have a higher absorption and bioavailability rate, improving efficacy and minimizing side effects. There are several drug delivery systems including metallic nanoparticles, polymers, liposomes, and microspheres, but one of the most important is the niosomes, which are produced by nonionic surfactants. Because of the amphiphilic nature and structure, hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs can be loaded into niosome structures. Other compounds, including cholesterol, can also be applied to the niosomes' backbone to rigidize the structure. Several variables such as the type of surfactant in niosome production, the preparation method, and the hydration temperature can affect the structure of the niosomes. Nevertheless, in-silico design of drug delivery formulations requires molecular dynamic simulation tools, molecular docking, and ADME (absorption; distribution; excretion; metabolism) properties, which evaluate physicochemical features of formulation and ADME attitudes before synthesis, investigating the interaction between nano-carriers and specific targets. Hence, experimenting in-vitro and in-vivo is essential. In this review, the basic aspects of niosomes are described including their structure, characterization, preparation methods, optimization with in-silico tools, factors affecting their formation, and limitations.

Alpha-B-Crystallin, a member of the small heat shock family of proteins, has been implicated in a variety of cardiomyopathies and in normal cardiac homeostasis. It is known to function as a molecular chaperone, particularly for desmin, but also interacts with a wide variety of additional proteins. The molecular chaperone function is also enhanced by signal-dependent phosphorylation at specific residues under stress conditions. Naturally occurring mutations in CRYAB, the gene that encodes alpha-B-crystallin, have been suggested to alter ionic intermolecular interactions that affect dimerization and affect chaperone function. These mutations have been associated with myofibrillar myopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and promote pathological hypertrophy through different mechanisms such as desmin aggregation, increased reductive stress or activation of calcineurin-NFAT signaling. This review will discuss the known mechanisms by which alpha-B-crystallin functions in cardiac homeostasis and the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies and provide insight into potential future areas of exploration.

This study unveils verapamil's compelling cytoprotective and proliferative effects on pancreatic β-cells amidst diabetic stressors, spotlighting its unforeseen role in augmenting cholecystokinin (CCK) expression. Through rigorous investigations employing MIN6 β-cells and zebrafish models under type 1 and type 2 diabetic conditions, we demonstrate verapamil's capacity to significantly boost β-cell proliferation, enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and fortify cellular resil-ience. A pivotal revelation of our research is verapamil's induction of CCK, a peptide hormone known for its role in nutrient digestion and insulin secretion, which signifies a novel pathway through which verapamil exerts its therapeutic effects. Furthermore, our mechanistic insights reveal that verapamil orchestrates a broad spectrum of gene and protein expressions pivotal for β-cell survival and adaptation to immune-metabolic challenges. In vivo validation in a zebrafish larvae model confirms verapamil's efficacy in fostering β-cell recovery post-metronidazole inflic-tion. Collectively, our findings advocate for verapamil's reevaluation as a multifaceted agent in diabetes therapy, highlighting its novel function in CCK upregulation alongside enhancing β-cell proliferation, glucose sensing, and oxidative respiration. This research enriches the therapeutic landscape, proposing verapamil not only as a cytoprotector but also as a promoter of β-cell re-generation, thereby offering fresh avenues for diabetes management strategies aimed at pre-serving and augmenting β-cell functionality.

This study addresses the challenge of treating skin cancer effectively, especially in visible areas like the face, where traditional methods may be undesirable. Current options, including surgery and radiation therapy, have limitations such as complexity, expense, and imprecise dose delivery. The proposed solution involves additively manufacturing personalized patches using diagnostic imaging data, offering a targeted and controlled dose of beta-emitting isotopes like Y-90. The patches, tailored to the tumor's shape and depth, aim to minimize damage to healthy tissues and structures. Through 3D printing technology we demonstrated the feasibility of creating individualized applicators filled with radioisotopes, that have the potential to deliver therapeutic doses while ensuring patient comfort and affordability. This innovative approach, based on radiation delivery simulations, offers a promising future alternative to conventional radiation therapy methods. Clinical trials are required to validate its efficacy and safety, but the potential for reduced radiation exposure and enhanced treatment precision positions this personalized and targeted therapy as a valuable advancement in skin cancer treatment.

The concept of targeted drug delivery can be described in terms of the drug’s ability to mimic the other biological objects’ property to localize to target cells or tissues. For example, drug delivery systems based on red blood cells or mimicking some of their useful features, such as long circulation in stealth mode, have been known for decades. On the contrary, therapeutic strategies based on macrophages have gained very limited attention until recently. Here we review two biomimetic strategies associated with macrophages, that can be used to develop new therapeutic modalities: First, the mimicry of certain types of macrophages (i.e., the use of macrophages, including tumor-associated, or macrophage-like particles as a carrier for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents); and Second, the mimicry of ligands, naturally absorbed by macrophages (i.e., the use of therapeutic agents specifically targeted at macrophages). We discuss potential applications of biomimetic systems involving macrophages for the new advancements in treatment of infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Up to 25% of early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) patients will relapse despite the improvement achieved by the introduction of HER2-targeted therapy. Beyond trastuzumab, other agents approved for early HER2+ BC include the monoclonal antibody pertuzumab, the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) and the reversible HER2 inhibitor lapatinib. New agents, such as trastuzumab-deruxtecan or tucatinib in combination with capecitabine and trastuzumab, have also shown an improvement in the metastatic setting. Other therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance have been explored in HER2+ BC, mainly in HER2+ that also overexpress estrogen receptors (ER+). One strategy has been to target the cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6) as they are downstream of HER2 and many of the cellular pathways associated with resistance to HER2-targeted therapies play a key role in cell cycle and proliferation. Different trials have explored these strategies with encouraging results, but definitive results are needed. In addition, HER2+ BC is known to be more immunogenic than other BC subgroups, with high variability between tumors. Different immunotherapeutic agents have been investigated in this setting, with promising but controversial results obtained to date.

The TRPV3 calcium ion channel is vital for maintaining skin health and has been associated with various skin-related disorders. Since TRPV3 is involved in the development of skin inflammation, inhibiting TRPV3 could be a potential treatment strategy. Alpha-mangostin isolated from Garcinia mangostana L. extract exhibits diverse positive effects on skin health; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. This study investigated the TRPV3-inhibitory properties of alpha-mangostin on TRPV3 hyperactive mutants associated with Olmsted syndrome and its impact on TRPV3-induced cytokine secretion and cell death. Our findings demonstrate that alpha-mangostin effectively inhibits TRPV3, with an IC50 of 0.077 ± 0.013 μM, showing inhibitory effects on both wild-type and mutant TRPV3. TRPV3 inhibition with alpha-mangostin decreased calcium influx and cytokine release, protecting cells from TRPV3-induced death. These results indicate that alpha-mangostin reduced inflammation in TRPV3-activated skin keratinocytes, suggesting that alpha-mangostin could be potentially used for improving inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis.

Background: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation with imagined defects in appearance. Optical illusions induce illusory effects that distort the presented stimulus thus leading to ambiguous percepts. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we investigated whether BDD is related to differentiated perception during illusory percepts. Methods: 18 BDD patients and 18 controls were presented with 39 optical illusions together with a statement testing whether or not they perceived the illusion. After a delay period, they were prompted to answer whether the statement is right/wrong and their degree of confidence for their answer. We investigated differences of BDD on task performance and self-reported confidence and analysed the brain oscillations during decision-making using nonparametric cluster statistics. Results: Behaviorally, the BDD group exhibited reduced confidence when responding incorrectly, potentially attributed to higher levels of doubt. Electrophysiologically, the BDD group showed significantly reduced alpha power at mid-central scalp areas, suggesting impaired allocation of attention. Interestingly, the lower the alpha power of the identified cluster, the higher the BDD severity, as assessed by BDD psychometrics. Conclusions: Results evidenced that alpha power during illusory processing might serve as a quantitative EEG biomarker of BDD, potentially associated with reduced inhibition of task-irrelevant areas.

In the present work we study the properties of geodesic sub-$ (\alpha,b,s) $-preinvex functions on Hadamard manifolds and establish some basic properties in both general and differential cases. Further, we study sufficient conditions of optimality and proved some new inequalities under geodesic sub-($ \alpha,b,s $)-preinvexity.

Some of the most promising small molecule toxins used to generate antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) include anti-mitotic agents (e.g auristatin and its derivatives) which are designed to attack cancerous cells at their most vulnerable state during mitosis. We were interested to identify a human cystostatic protein eventually showing comparable activities and allowing the generation of corresponding targeted fully human cytolytic fusion proteins. Recently, we identified the human microtubule associated protein tau (MAP tau) which binds specifically to tubulin and modulates the stability of microtubules thereby blocking mitosis and presumably vesicular transport. By binding and stabilizing polymerized microtubule filaments, MAP tau-based fusion proteins skew microtubule dynamics towards cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This biological activity makes rapidly proliferating cells (e.g cancer and inflammatory cells) an excellent target for MAP tau-based targeted treatments. Their superior selectivity for proliferating cells confers additional selectivity towards upregulated tumor-associated antigens at their surface, thereby preventing off-target related toxicity against normal cells bearing tumor-associated antigens at physiologically normal to low levels. In this review, we highlight recent findings on MAP tau-based targeted cytolytic fusion proteins reported in preclinical immunotherapeutic studies.

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is 22 kDa caveolae protein, acts as a scaffold within caveolar membranes. It interacts with alpha subunits of G-protein and thereby regulates their activity. Earlier studies reported elevated or up-regulated levels of caveolin-1 in the serum of prostate cancer patients. Secreted Cav-1 promotes angiogenesis, cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic activities in prostate cancer patients. Cav-1 upregulation is mainly related to prostate cancer metastasis. Keeping above facts in view, the present study was designed to explore Cav-1 as a target for prostate cancer therapy using computational approach. Molecular docking, structural base molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate Cav-1 inhibitors. A predictive model was generated and validated to establish a stable structure. ZINC database of biogenic compounds was used for induced fit docking (IFD) and high throughput virtual screening. The H-bond interactions of the compounds with active site residues of Cav-1 were estimated by IFD and 100 ns long molecular dynamic simulations. The reported compounds showed significant binding and thus can be considered as potent therapeutic inhibitors of Cav-1. This study provides a valuable insight into biochemical interactions of Cav-1 for therapeutic applications and warrants for experimental validation of the predicted ‘active(s)’.