Assessment of mental health and quality of life among children with congenital heart disease.

PURPOSE: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders, identify predictors associated with these disorders, and assess the quality of life (QoL) among children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the National Heart Institute outpatient clinics. It included 204 children with structural congenital heart defects (CHD). In addition to assessing QoL with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scale, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents was utilized to identify psychiatric disorders in the children studied. RESULTS: Children with CHD were at increased risk for mood and anxiety disorders. They were also more susceptible to obsessive-compulsive disorder than the comprative healthy group. In children with CHD, the cyanotic group demonstrated a greater decrease in QoL than the acyanotic group. CONCLUSION: Children with CHD have an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and a lower overall QoL score.

Altered expression of serum lncRNA CASC2 and miRNA-21-5p in COVID-19 patients.

Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a high incidence of spread. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization proclaimed a public health emergency of worldwide concern. More than 6.9 million deaths and more than 768 million confirmed cases had been reported worldwide as of June 18, 2023. This study included 51 patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The present study aimed to identify the expression levels of lncRNA CASC2 and miRNA-21-5p (also known as miRNA-21) in COVID-19 patients and their relation to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. The expression levels of noncoding RNAs were measured by RT-PCR technique. Results detected that CASC2 was significantly downregulated while miRNA-21-5p was significantly upregulated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. A significant negative correlation was found between CASC2 and miRNA-21-5p. ROC curve analysis used to distinguish COVID-19 patients from controls. MiRNA-21-p serum expression level had a significant positive association with temperature and PO2 (p = 0.04 for each). These findings indicate that CASC2 and miRNA-21-p might be used as potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in COVID-19.

Expression profile of LncRNA ANRIL, miR-186, miR-181a, and MTMR-3 in patients with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several studies demonstrated the role of lncRNAs and miRNAs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia; the aim was to detect the expression profiles of serum LncRNA ANRIL, miR-186, miR-181a, and MTMR-3 in patients with preeclampsia. The study included 160 subjects divided into 80 subjects considered as a control group, 80 patients with preeclampsia. We found that there was a significant difference between the preeclampsia and control groups with up-regulation of miR-186 median (IQR) = 4, 29 (1.35-7.73) (P < 0.0001), miR-181a median (IQR) = 2.45 (0.83-6.52) (P = 0.028), and downregulation of lncRNA ANRIL median (IQR) = 0.35(0.28-0.528) (P < 0.0001), MTMR median (IQR) = 0.32(0.155-1.11), (P < 0.0001). ROC curve of lncRNA ANRIL, miR-186, miR-181a, and MTMR-3 in preeclampsia patients showing the roles of these markers in the diagnosis of preeclampsia. In conclusion, serum LncRNA ANRIL, miR-186, miR-181a, and MTMR-3 could be promising biomarkers in the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

The Ifng antisense RNA 1 (IFNG-AS1) and growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) are novel diagnostic and prognostic markers involved in childhood ITP.

Background/aim: IFNG-AS1 is a long noncoding RNA that works as an enhancer for the Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) transcript. GAS5 (growth arrest-specific 5) is a lncRNA that is associated with glucocorticoid resistance. Aberrant expressions of IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 are directly linked to numerous autoimmune disorders but their levels in childhood ITP are still obscure. This study aims to elucidate expressions of target lncRNAs in childhood ITP and their association with pathophysiology and clinical features of the disease as well as their association with types and treatment responses. Method: The fold changes of target lncRNAs in blood samples from children with ITP and healthy controls were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: There were overexpressed lncRNAs IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 in serum of childhood ITP patients [(median (IQR) = 3.08 (0.2-22.39) and 4.19 (0.9-16.91) respectively, Also, significant higher IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 (p < 0.05) were present in persistent ITP (3-12 months) [ median (IQR) = 4.58 (0.31-22.39) and 3.77 (0.87-12.36) respectively] or chronic ITP (>12 months) [ median (IQR) = 5.6 (0.25-12.59) and 5.61 (1.15-16.91) respectively] when compared to newly diagnosed <3 months patients [IFNG-AS1 median (IQR) = 1.21 (0.2-8.95), and GAS5 median (IQR) = 1.07 (0.09-3.55)]. Also, significant higher lncRNAs IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 were present in patients with partial response to treatment [IFNG-AS1 median (IQR) = 4.15 (0.94-19.25), and GAS5 (median (IQR) = 4.25 (0.81-16.91)] or non-response [IFNG-AS1 median (IQR) = 4.19 (1.25-22.39) and GAS5 median (IQR) = 5.11 (2.34-15.27)] when compared to patients who completely responded to treatment (IFNG-AS1 median (IQR) = 2.09 (0.2-14.58) and GAS5 (median (IQR) = 2.51 (0.09-10.33). In addition, following therapy, the expressions of IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 are significantly negatively correlated with platelet count. Conclusion: Findings suggest that lncRNAs IFNG-AS1 and GAS5 are novel diagnostic and prognostic genetic markers for childhood ITP that can aid in a precise prediction of the disease's progress at the time of diagnosis and could be a useful tool for treatment planning.

The Impact of Cell-free Plasma DNA on Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer.

Intorductuion: Increased cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is observed in many diseases such as cancer, myocardial infarction, and autoimmune diseases. It has the ability to alter the receptor cell phenotype, triggering events related to malignant transformation. AIMS: Our study aims at assessing the use of cell-free plasma DNA in the diagnosis of metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: The study included 180 subjects who were classified into four groups: Group I (GI) included 50 perfect health subjects as the control group, Group II (GII) included 40 patients with prostatitis, group III (GIII) included 40 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and Group IV (GIV) included 50 patients with pre-operative prostate cancer (PC). Evaluation of the plasma level of circulating cell-free DNA by real-time PCR and measurement of total PSA (tPSA) and free to total PSA percent (f/tPSA%) were carried out for all groups. RESULTS: Our study revealed that the level of tPSA was significantly higher in prostate cancer patients, while levels of f/t PSA were found to be significantly lower. The level of cfDNA was significantly higher in prostate cancer patients (399.9±88.6ng/ul) when compared to that of group I (12.1±1.5ng/ul) (p<0.01), group II (14.7±2.4 ng/ul) (p<0.01), and group III (26.6±45.6 ng/ul) (p<0.01) respectively. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference in yields of cfDNA between metastatic and non-metastatic groups (P=0.03) with a higher level in the metastatic group.

Bacteriocin-Like Inhibitory Substances from Probiotics as Therapeutic Agents for Candida Vulvovaginitis.

Probiotics can potentially prevent and treat diseases. We examined the inhibitory activity of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLISs) from potentially probiotic lactobacilli and streptococci on Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans clinical isolates from women with vulvovaginitis. Using agar well diffusion assays, BLISs inhibited both Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans isolates. The BLIS from L. pentosus isolates had the highest anti-Candida activity (33/45; 73.3%), followed by BLISs from isolates of L. paracasei subsp. paracasei (31/45; 68.9%), L. rhamnosus I (30/45; 66.7%), L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis I (30/45; 66.7%), and S. uberis II (30/45; 66.7%). Upon characterization according to the retained activity under variable physical and chemical conditions, the BLISs showed stability against heat, pH, and surfactants, but were protease-sensitive, which suggests a proteinaceous nature of the active substances. Using crystal violet assays, the BLISs reduced the Candida biofilm biomass significantly as compared to a control group that lacked BLISs. In vivo testing of the antagonistic activity was performed using the Galleria mellonella (G. mellonella) larvae model. BLISs significantly improved survival in G. mellonella larvae treated with Candida isolates on the first, second, and seventh days, as compared to larvae inoculated with Candida only (p < 0.01). The results show that BLISs can be used as biotherapeutic agents in vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Detrimental impacts of mixed-ion radiation on nervous system function.

Galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), composed of highly energetic and fully ionized atomic nuclei, produces diverse deleterious effects on the body. In researching the neurological risks of GCR exposures, including during human spaceflight, various ground-based single-ion GCR irradiation paradigms induce differential disruptions of cellular activity and overall behavior. However, it remains less clear how irradiation comprising a mix of multiple ions, more accurately recapitulating the space GCR environment, impacts the central nervous system. We therefore examined how mixed-ion GCR irradiation (two similar 5-6 beam combinations of protons, helium, oxygen, silicon and iron ions) influenced neuronal connectivity, functional generation of activity within neural circuits and cognitive behavior in mice. In electrophysiological recordings we find that space-relevant doses of mixed-ion GCR preferentially alter hippocampal inhibitory neurotransmission and produce related disruptions in the local field potentials of hippocampal oscillations. Such underlying perturbation in hippocampal network activity correspond with perturbed learning, memory and anxiety behavior.

Sex-Specific Cognitive Deficits Following Space Radiation Exposure.

The radiation fields in space define tangible risks to the health of astronauts, and significant work in rodent models has clearly shown a variety of exposure paradigms to compromise central nervous system (CNS) functionality. Despite our current knowledge, sex differences regarding the risks of space radiation exposure on cognitive function remain poorly understood, which is potentially problematic given that 30% of astronauts are women. While work from us and others have demonstrated pronounced cognitive decrements in male mice exposed to charged particle irradiation, here we show that female mice exhibit significant resistance to adverse neurocognitive effects of space radiation. The present findings indicate that male mice exposed to low doses (≤30 cGy) of energetic (400 MeV/n) helium ions (4He) show significantly higher levels of neuroinflammation and more extensive cognitive deficits than females. Twelve weeks following 4He ion exposure, irradiated male mice demonstrated significant deficits in object and place recognition memory accompanied by activation of microglia, marked upregulation of hippocampal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and increased expression of the pro-inflammatory marker high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). Additionally, we determined that exposure to 4He ions caused a significant decline in the number of dendritic branch points and total dendritic length along with the hippocampus neurons in female mice. Interestingly, only male mice showed a significant decline of dendritic spine density following irradiation. These data indicate that fundamental differences in inflammatory cascades between male and female mice may drive divergent CNS radiation responses that differentially impact the structural plasticity of neurons and neurocognitive outcomes following cosmic radiation exposure.

Formulation, characterization and in vitro release study of 5-fluorouracil loaded chitosan nanoparticles.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the most suitable conditions to prepare 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). 5-FU loaded CSNPs were prepared employing the ionic gelation technique using three different molecular weights of CS with the polyanion sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as cross-linking agent. The preparation was based on the ionic interaction of positively charged CS and negatively charged STPP. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) of CSNPs was in the range of 3.86-21.82% EE% exhibited a clear increase with increasing CS concentration. The averge particles size was in the nanosize range and monodisperse in nature whereas transmission electron microscope micrographs showed that the prepared nanoparticles have a spherical shape. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X- ray differaction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed successful incorporation of 5-FU in prepared CSNPs. In vitro release of 5-FU from selected formulations exhibited sustained release from the nanoparticles where slower release was observed when higher molecular weight CS was used. The study of drug release kinetics revealed that the release of 5-FU from CSNPs followed a diffusion controlled pattern.

Chemical and nanomechanical analysis of rice husk modified by ATRP-grafted oligomer.

Rice husk (RH), an abundant agricultural residue, was reacted with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, to convert it to a heterogeneous polyfunctional macroinitiator for Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP). The number of active sites placed on the RH surface was small, but they were ATRP active. Non-polar methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polar acrylonitrile (AN) were polymerized from the RH, and a sequential monomer addition was used to prepare an amphiphilic PMMA-b-PAN copolymer on RH surface. FTIR qualitatively confirmed the grafting. Gravimetric and XPS analysis of the different RH surface compositions indicated thin layers of oligomeric PMMA, PAN, and PMMA-b-PAN. The modified surfaces were mapped by nanomechanical AFM to measure surface roughness, and adhesion and moduli using the Derjaguin-Muller-Toropov model. RH grafted with MMA possessed a roughness value of 7.92, and a hard and weakly adhering surface (13.1 GPa and 16.7 nN respectively) while RH grafted with AN yielded a roughness value of 29 with hardness and adhesion values of 4.0 GPa and 23.5 nN. The PMMA-b-PAN modification afforded a surface with a roughness value of 51.5 nm, with hardness and adhesion values of 3.0 GPa and 75.3 nN.