Mentha longifolia Essential Oil and Pulegone in Edible Coatings of Alginate and Chitosan: Effects on Pathogenic Bacteria in Lactic Cheese.

Mentha longifolia is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant that belongs to Lamiaceae family. This study looked at the antibacterial effects of M. longifolia essential oil and pulegone in edible coatings made of chitosan and alginate on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli in cheese. For this purpose, first fresh mint plant was collected from the cold region of Jiroft in Kerman province. Plant samples were dried in the shade at ambient temperature, and essential oil was prepared using Clevenger. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography using mass spectrometric (GC/MS) detection. The major composition of M. longifolia oil was pulegone (26.07%), piperitone oxide (19.72%), and piperitone (11.88%). The results showed that adding M. longifolia essential oils and pulegone to edible coatings significantly reduced the growth of bacteria during storage. The bacterial population decreased by increasing the concentration of chitosan, M. longifolia, and pulegone in edible coatings. When the effects of pulegone and M. longifolia essential oils on bacteria were compared, it was found that pulegone had a stronger effect on bacterial population reduction. Coating treatments showed more antibacterial activity on E. coli than other bacteria. In general, the results of this research showed that alginate and chitosan coatings along with M. longifolia essential oil and its active ingredient pulegone had antibacterial effects against S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and E. coli in cheese.

A Comprehensive Review of the Pharmacological Properties and Bioactive Components of Retama monosperma.

Retama monosperma L. (Boiss.) or Genista monosperma L. (Lam.), known locally as "R'tam", is a spontaneous and annual herb that belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is native to the Mediterranean regions, specifically in the desert areas and across the Middle Atlas in Morocco. This plant has been extensively used in folk medicine and it is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Current research efforts are focusing on the development of novel natural drugs as alternatives to various organic and non-organic chemical products from Retama monosperma. In addition, extract, and isolated compounds obtained from different parts of the chosen plant have been described to exhibit multiple biological and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-helminthic, disinfectant, diuretic, and hypoglycemic effects. The plant-derived extract also acts as an antimicrobial agent, which is highly efficient in the treatment of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Its antiproliferative effects are associated with some mechanisms, such as the inhibition of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In light of these assessments, we critically highlight the beneficial effects of the flowers, stems, seeds extracts, and isolated compounds from R. monosperma (L.) Boiss in human health care, industrial, and other applications, as well as the possible ways to be employed as a potential natural source for future drug discovery.

Comparative Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Kernels, Leaves, Husk, and Bark of Juglans regia L., Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS Analysis and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Leaves, husk, kernels, and bark methanolic extracts of Juglans regia L. were tested for their in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. For these purposes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase were used as the main enzymes to evaluate antidiabetic activities. Moreover, lipoxidase and tyrosinase activities were tested to estimate anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidant properties of Juglans regia L., extracts were determined using three different assays. Leaves extract has an important radical scavenging activity and a-amylase inhibition. Similarly, husk extracts showed high total phenolic content (306.36 ± 4.74 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract) with an important α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 75.42 ± 0.99 µg/mL). Kernels exhibit significant tyrosinase (IC50 = 51.38 ± 0.81 µg/mL) correlated with antioxidant activities (p < 0.05). Husk and bark extracts also showed strong anti-lipoxidase activities with IC50 equal to 29.48 ± 0.28 and 28.58 ± 0.35 µg/mL, respectively. HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis highlights the phenolic profile of methanolic extracts of Juglans regia L. plant parts. The identified polyphenols were known for their antioxidant, antidiabetic (dicaffeoyl-quinic acid glycoside in kernels), and anti-inflammatory (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid in leaves) activities. Further investigations are needed to determine molecular mechanisms involved in these effects as well as to study the properties of the main identified compounds.

Stroke Patients' Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes: A Pre-Post COVID-19 Comparison Study.

Background and Objectives: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant disruption to established medical care systems globally. Thus, this study was aimed to compare the admission and outcome variables such as number of patient and its severity, acute recanalisation therapy given pre-post COVID-19 at a primary stroke centre located in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included adult ischaemic stroke patients. Variables of the study included the number of ischaemic stroke patients, the proportions of recanalisation therapies, stroke severity during admission based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, functional outcome at discharge based on the modified Rankin Scale, and relevant workflow metrics. We compared the outcome between two six-month periods, namely the pre-COVID-19 period (March 2019 to September 2019) and the COVID-19 period (March 2020 to September 2020). Results: There were 131 and 156 patients, respectively, from the pre-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period. The median door-to-scan time and the median door-to-reperfusion time were both significantly shorter in the COVID-19 period (24.5 min versus 12.0 min, p = 0.047) and (93.5 min versus 60.0 min, p = 0.015), respectively. There were also significantly more patients who received intravenous thrombolysis (7.6% versus 17.3%, p = 0.015) and mechanical thrombectomy (0.8% versus 6.4%, p = 0.013) in the COVID-19 period, respectively. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic may not have caused disruptions of acute stroke care in our primary stroke centre. Our data indicated that the number of ischaemic stroke events remained stable, with a significant increase of recanalisation therapies and better in-hospital workflow metrics during the COVID-19 pandemic period. However, we would like to highlight that the burden of COVID-19 cases in the study area was very low. Therefore, the study may not have captured the true burden (and relevant delays in stroke patient management) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect of the pandemic crisis is ongoing and both pre-hospital and in-hospital care systems must continue to provide optimal, highly time-dependent stroke care services.

Focused Review: Potential Rare and Atypical Symptoms as Indicator for Targeted COVID-19 Screening.

The global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 is a known consequence of infection of severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has affected nations worldwide with soaring number of cases daily. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are commonly presented in COVID-19 patients. This focused review aims to discuss these uncommon and atypical COVID-19 symptoms that may be presented which might affect neurological, cardiovascular, cutaneous and ocular systems and their possible mode of actions. Nonetheless, there are some cases of reported uncommon or atypical symptoms which may warrant healthcare professionals to be aware of, especially when in contact with patients. The knowledge and information concerning these symptoms might be able to provide additional cues for healthcare professional by subjecting patients to COVID-19 screening. Meanwhile, it might be able to further enhance the alertness and additional precautions being taken by healthcare personnel, which eventually lead to reduced risk of infections.

The Use of ChatGPT for Education Modules on Integrated Pharmacotherapy of Infectious Disease: Educators' Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an important role in many fields, including medical education, practice, and research. Many medical educators started using ChatGPT at the end of 2022 for many purposes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the potential uses, benefits, and risks of using ChatGPT in education modules on integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease. METHODS: A content analysis was conducted to investigate the applications of ChatGPT in education modules on integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease. Questions pertaining to curriculum development, syllabus design, lecture note preparation, and examination construction were posed during data collection. Three experienced professors rated the appropriateness and precision of the answers provided by ChatGPT. The consensus rating was considered. The professors also discussed the prospective applications, benefits, and risks of ChatGPT in this educational setting. RESULTS: ChatGPT demonstrated the ability to contribute to various aspects of curriculum design, with ratings ranging from 50% to 92% for appropriateness and accuracy. However, there were limitations and risks associated with its use, including incomplete syllabi, the absence of essential learning objectives, and the inability to design valid questionnaires and qualitative studies. It was suggested that educators use ChatGPT as a resource rather than relying primarily on its output. There are recommendations for effectively incorporating ChatGPT into the curriculum of the education modules on integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease. CONCLUSIONS: Medical and health sciences educators can use ChatGPT as a guide in many aspects related to the development of the curriculum of the education modules on integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease, syllabus design, lecture notes preparation, and examination preparation with caution.

Effectiveness of digital tools for smoking cessation in Asian countries: a systematic review.

AIM: The use of tobacco is responsible for many preventable diseases and deaths worldwide. Digital interventions have greatly improved patient health and clinical care and have proven to be effective for quitting smoking in the general population due to their flexibility and potential for personalization. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions for smoking cessation in Asian countries. METHODS: Three major databases - Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and PubMed - for relevant studies published between 1 January 2010 and 12 February 2023 were searched for studies evaluating the effectiveness of digital intervention for smoking cessation in Asian countries. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies of varying designs were eligible for this study collectively involving a total of n = 22,005 participants from 9 countries. Among different digital tools for smoking cessation, the highest abstinence rate (70%) was reported with cognitive behavioural theory (CBT)-based smoking cessation intervention via Facebook followed by smartphone app (60%), WhatsApp (59.9%), and Pharmacist counselling with Quit US smartphone app (58.4%). However, WhatsApp was preferred over Facebook intervention due to lower rates of relapse. WeChat was responsible for 15.6% and 41.8% 7-day point prevalence abstinence. For telephone/text messaging abstinence rate ranged from 8-44.3% and quit rates from 6.3% to 16.8%. Whereas, no significant impact of media/multimedia messages and web-based learning on smoking cessation was observed in this study. CONCLUSION: Based on the study findings the use of digital tools can be considered an alternative and cost-effective smoking cessation intervention as compared to traditional smoking cessation interventions.

Stochasticity of anticancer mechanisms underlying clinical effectiveness of vorinostat.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vorinostat, also called Zolinza®, for its effectiveness in fighting cancer. This drug is a suberoyl-anilide hydroxamic acid belonging to the class of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis). Its HDAC inhibitory potential allows it to accumulate acetylated histones. This, in turn, can restore normal gene expression in cancer cells and activate multiple signaling pathways. Experiments have proven that vorinostat induces histone acetylation and cytotoxicity in many cancer cell lines, increases the level of p21 cell cycle proteins, and enhances pro-apoptotic factors while decreasing anti-apoptotic factors. Additionally, it regulates the immune response by up-regulating programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and interferon gamma receptor 1 (IFN-γR1) expression, and can impact proteasome and/or aggresome degradation, endoplasmic reticulum function, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and angiogenesis inhibition. In this study, we sought to elucidate the precise molecular mechanism by which Vorinostat inhibits HDACs. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could improve our understanding of cancer cell abnormalities and provide new therapeutic possibilities for cancer treatment.

Application of Aleppo pine extract for skin burn treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Pinus halepensis extracts and determine its healing and antibacterial effects, and to evaluate the treatment of skin burns. METHODS: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts and topical based on Aleppo pine plant extracts were prepared. Thirty male and female Wistar rats were used to study the cutaneous toxicity of extracts from the bark of P. halepensis. The extracts' healing potential for burn wounds were also assessed by evaluating the clinical and macroscopic aspects of the wounds. The antibacterial activity of crude extracts of P. halepensis as well as its wound healing abilities was verified in this investigation. RESULTS: In animals with acute dermal toxicity, there were no signs of treatment-related toxicity or death. The extracts of these plants could be transformed into phytomedicines for the treatment of infected wounds. The results demonstrated that formulated ointments are successful in treating second-degree burns in rats and may be suitable for the short-term therapeutic treatment of second-degree burns. CONCLUSION: This study successfully answered our problem, regarding the efficacy of our extract for treating second-degree burns in rats. Further studies are needed to confirm these results by identifying the molecules responsible for these activities and examining their mechanism of action.

Economic Burdens of Uncomplicated Malaria in Primary Health Care (PHC) Facilities of Plateau State, Nigeria: Patients' Perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims at evaluating the costs incurred by patients in Primary Healthcare facilities of Plateau State, Nigeria, due to uncomplicated malaria management. METHODS: Patients' information on resources used and absence from the labour market due to uncomplicated malaria illness were collected using the self-reported cost of illness instruments across 24 selected Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Plateau State. The collated data were used to estimate the direct medical and non-medical costs incurred by patients through the summation of the various costs paid out of pocket for the services; while the indirect cost was estimated using the human capital theory. All analyses were conducted through Microsoft Excel and IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 23 software. RESULTS: The average direct cost per episode of uncomplicated malaria was estimated at NGN 2808.37/USD 7.39, while the indirect average money equivalence of the time lost due to the ailment was estimated at NGN 2717/USD 7.55, giving an average cost of treating uncomplicated malaria borne by patients in Plateau State per episode to be NGN 5525.37/USD 14.94. The projected annual cost of the disease was NGN 9, 921,671,307.22 (USD 27, 560,198.08). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed substantial financial costs borne by patients due to uncomplicated malaria in Plateau State, comprising 50.83% of direct cost and 49.17% of the indirect cost of medications.

Drug-related problems among older people with dementia: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a disorder that causes a decline of cognitive function, and it affects millions of people worldwide. Increased availability of medications used to treat dementia will inevitably increase the likelihood of drug-related problems (DRPs). OBJECTIVE: This systematic review sought to identify DRPs due to medication misadventures, including adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and use of inappropriate medications, among patients with dementia or cognitive impairments. METHODS: The included studies were retrieved from the electronic databases PubMed and SCOPUS, and a preprint platform (MedRXiv) which were searched from their inception through August 2022. The English-language publications that reported DRPs among dementia patients were included. The JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for quality assessment was used to evaluate the quality of studies included in the review. RESULTS: Overall, 746 distinct articles were identified. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and reported the most common DRPs, which comprised medication misadventures (n = 9), such as ADRs, inappropriate prescription use, and potentially inappropriate medication use (n = 6). CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides evidence that DRPs are prevalent among dementia patients, particularly the older people. It indicates that medication misadventures such as ADRs and inappropriate drug use, as well as potentially inappropriate medications, are the most prevalent DRPs among older people with dementia. Due to the small number of included studies, however, additional studies are required to improve comprehension about the issue.

Drug-related problems in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the non-communicable diseases which continues to rise in prevalence and mortality rate throughout the years. Drug-related problems (DRPs) are more prevalent among T2DM patients especially those with co-morbidities. Objective: The objective of this study was to review and assess the prevalence and characteristics of DRPs among hospitalized type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: The systematic review of the literature was carried out using five online databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from the inception of the database until June 2022. Studies included in the review were published in English or Malay language. The data were extracted and assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Results: A total of 939 studies were identified with 20 studies that met inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. The overall prevalence of DRPs in all 20 studies ranged from 7% to 94%. The most common DRPs included drug-drug interaction (DDI), adverse drug reaction (ADR), therapeutic effectiveness problems, and inappropriate medication use. Conclusion: The most common drug classes involved were antidiabetics (metformin), antihypertensives, antiplatelets and antibiotics. The risk factors contributing to DRPs included the presence of comorbidities, the number of medications, and polypharmacy. To conclude, the rate of DRPs incidence in hospitalized T2DM patients was observed to be high. Further future studies with appropriate study designs and methods of detecting DRPs will be necessary to reduce and prevent DRPs occurrences.

Natural sources, biological effects, and pharmacological properties of cynaroside.

Cynaroside is a flavonoid, isolated from several species belonging to the Apiaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Zingiberaceae, Compositae and other families and it can be extracted from seeds, roots, stems, leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, aerial parts, and the whole plant of these species. This paper discloses the current state of knowledge on the biological/pharmacological effects and mode of action to better understand the numerous health benefits of cynaroside. Several research works revealed that cynaroside could have beneficial effects on various human pathologies. Indeed, this flavonoid exerts antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Additionally, cynaroside exhibits its anticancer effects by blocking MET/AKT/mTOR axis by decreasing the phosphorylation level of AKT, mTOR, and P70S6K. For antibacterial activity, cynaroside reduces biofilm development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the incidence of mutations leading to ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella typhimurium was reduced after the treatment with cynaroside. In addition, cynaroside inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which reduced the damage to mitochondrial membrane potential caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It also enhanced the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and lowered that of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Cynaroside abrogated the up-regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p53 protein expression triggered by H2O2. All these findings suggest that cynaroside could be used to prevent certain human diseases.

Association between Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Metabolic Disorders in Middle-Aged Women of Ksar el Kebir (Morocco).

This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA), body composition, and metabolic disorders in a population of Moroccan women classified by menopausal status. This cross-sectional study comprised 373 peri- and postmenopausal women aged 45-64 years old. PA levels were assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Body composition and metabolic disorders were assessed by measurements of anthropometric and biological parameters: weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), WC/HC ratio, percent body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and serum lipids (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, and LDL-C). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Pearson correlations were used to test for associations. The mean total PA score of perimenopausal women was 1683.51 ± 805.36 MET-min/week, and of postmenopausal women was 1450.81 ± 780.67 MET-min/week. In all participants, peri- and postmenopausal women, PA was significantly and inversely associated with BMI, weight, percent body fat, HC, WC, and number of MetS components (p < 0.01), and with fasting blood glucose, TC, TG, and LDL-C (p < 0.05). The frequencies of metabolic disorders, obesity, abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and MetS were significantly lower at moderate and intense levels of PA (p < 0.05), in also all participants. In middle-aged women, particularly those who are peri-menopausal, PA at moderate and intense levels is associated with more favorable body composition and less frequent metabolic disorders. However, in this particular study, PA does not appear to be associated with blood pressure and HDL-C concentrations. Future studies may be needed to further clarify these findings.

Optimization of a Luteolin-Loaded TPGS/Poloxamer 407 Nanomicelle: The Effects of Copolymers, Hydration Temperature and Duration, and Freezing Temperature on Encapsulation Efficiency, Particle Size, and Solubility.

BACKGROUND: Luteolin is a flavonoid compound that has been widely studied for its various anti-cancer properties and sensitization to multidrug-resistant cells. However, the limited solubility and bioavailability of Lut hindered its potential clinical use. Theoretically, the combination of this compound with vitamin E TPGS and poloxamer 407 can produce a synergistic effect to enhance tumor apoptosis and P-glycoprotein inhibition. This study aimed to develop and optimize vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelles loaded with luteolin through investigating certain factors that can affect the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle. METHODS: A micelle was prepared using the film hydration method, and the micellar solution was lyophilized. The cake formed was analyzed. The factors investigated include the concentrations of the surfactants, ratio of vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407, temperature of the hydrating solution, duration of hydration, and freezing temperature before lyophilization. The effects of these factors on the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle were also studied. The encapsulation efficiency was measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while particle size was measured using dynamic light scattering. RESULTS: The optimized micelle was found to have 90% encapsulation efficiency with a particle size of less than 40 nm, which was achieved using a 10% concentration of surfactants at a vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 ratio of 3:1. The optimized temperature for hydrating the micellar film was 40 °C, the optimized mixing time was 1 h, and the optimized freezing temperature was -80 °C. The solubility of the luteolin-loaded micelles increased 459-fold compared to pure Lut in water. The critical micelle concentration of the vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelle was 0.001 mg/mL, and the release study showed that luteolin-loaded micelles exhibited sustained release behavior. The release of luteolin from a micelle was found to be higher in pH 6.8 compared to pH 7.4, which signified that luteolin could be accumulated more in a tumor microenvironment compared to blood. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that several factors need to be considered when developing such nanoparticles in order to obtain a well-optimized micelle.

Natural alternatives from your garden for hair care: Revisiting the benefits of tropical herbs.

Hair shampoos containing botanical ingredients without synthetic additives, such as parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates and silicones are more skin- and environmentally friendly. In recent years, there is a growing demand for shampoo products with botanical extracts. Shampoos with botanical extracts are well-known for their perceived health benefits. They are also generally milder, non-toxic, natural, and less likely to disrupt the hair and scalp's natural pH and oil balance. Many also believe that shampoos with botanical origins have higher standards of quality. Numerous botanical extracts had been used as natural active ingredients in cosmetic formulations to meet consumer demands. In this review, we have revisited six tropical plants commonly added as natural active ingredients in shampoo formulations: Acacia concinna, Camellia oleifera, Azadirachta indica, Emblica officinalis, Sapindus mukorossi, and Garcinia mangostana. These plants have been traditionally used for hair care, and scientific research has shown that they exhibit relevant physicochemical properties and biological activities that are beneficial for hair care and scalp maintenance.

Reviewing the Prospective Pharmacological Potential of Isothiocyanates in Fight against Female-Specific Cancers.

Gynecological cancers are the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in females worldwide. Despite the advancement of diagnostic tools as well as the availability of various therapeutic interventions, the incidence and mortality of female-specific cancers is still a life-threatening issue, prevailing as one of the major health problems worldwide. Lately, alternative medicines have garnered immense attention as a therapeutic intervention against various types of cancers, seemingly because of their safety profiles and enhanced effectiveness. Isothiocyanates (ITCs), specifically sulforaphane, benzyl isothiocyanate, and phenethyl isothiocyanate, have shown an intriguing potential to actively contribute to cancer cell growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, epigenetic alterations, and modulation of autophagy and cancer stem cells in female-specific cancers. Additionally, it has been shown that ITCs plausibly enhance the chemo-sensitization of many chemotherapeutic drugs. To this end, evidence has shown enhanced efficacy in combinatorial regimens with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and/or other phytochemicals. Reckoning with these, herein, we discuss the advances in the knowledge regarding the aspects highlighting the molecular intricacies of ITCs in female-specific cancers. In addition, we have also argued regarding the potential of ITCs either as solitary treatment or in a combinatorial therapeutic regimen for the prevention and/or treatment of female-specific cancers. Hopefully, this review will open new horizons for consideration of ITCs in therapeutic interventions that would undoubtedly improve the prognosis of the female-specific cancer clientele. Considering all these, it is reasonable to state that a better understanding of these molecular intricacies will plausibly provide a facile opportunity for treating these female-specific cancers.

Baicalein as Promising Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Analysis on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives.

Despite significant therapeutic advancements for cancer, an atrocious global burden (for example, health and economic) and radio- and chemo-resistance limit their effectiveness and result in unfavorable health consequences. Natural compounds are generally considered safer than synthetic drugs, and their use in cancer treatment alone, or in combination with conventional therapies, is increasingly becoming accepted. Interesting outcomes from pre-clinical trials using Baicalein in combination with conventional medicines have been reported, and some of them have also undergone clinical trials in later stages. As a result, we investigated the prospects of Baicalein, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the stems of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Oroxylum indicum Kurz, which targets a wide range of molecular changes that are involved in cancer development. In other words, this review is primarily driven by the findings from studies of Baicalein therapy in several cancer cell populations based on promising pre-clinical research. The modifications of numerous signal transduction mechanisms and transcriptional agents have been highlighted as the major players for Baicalein's anti-malignant properties at the micro level. These include AKT serine/threonine protein kinase B (AKT) as well as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, matrix metalloproteinases-2 & 9 (MMP-2 & 9), Wnt/-catenin, Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB, Caspase-3/8/9, Smad4, Notch 1/Hes, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap 1), Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Src/Id1, ROS signaling, miR 183/ezrin, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascades. The promise of Baicalein as an anti-inflammatory to anti-apoptotic/anti-angiogenic/anti-metastatic medicinal element for treating various malignancies and its capability to inhibit malignant stem cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of nanomedicine-based drugs are altogether well supported by the data presented in this review study.

The Use of Blockchain Technology in the Health Care Sector: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Blockchain technology is a part of Industry 4.0's new Internet of Things applications: decentralized systems, distributed ledgers, and immutable and cryptographically secure technology. This technology entails a series of transaction lists with identical copies shared and retained by different groups or parties. One field where blockchain technology has tremendous potential is health care, due to the more patient-centric approach to the health care system as well as blockchain's ability to connect disparate systems and increase the accuracy of electronic health records. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review studies on the use of blockchain technology in health care and to analyze the characteristics of the studies that have implemented blockchain technology. METHODS: This study used a systematic review methodology to find literature related to the implementation aspect of blockchain technology in health care. Relevant papers were searched for using PubMed, SpringerLink, IEEE Xplore, Embase, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. A quality assessment of literature was performed on the 22 selected papers by assessing their trustworthiness and relevance. RESULTS: After full screening, 22 papers were included. A table of evidence was constructed, and the results of the selected papers were interpreted. The results of scoring for measuring the quality of the publications were obtained and interpreted. Out of 22 papers, a total of 3 (14%) high-quality papers, 9 (41%) moderate-quality papers, and 10 (45%) low-quality papers were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Blockchain technology was found to be useful in real health care environments, including for the management of electronic medical records, biomedical research and education, remote patient monitoring, pharmaceutical supply chains, health insurance claims, health data analytics, and other potential areas. The main reasons for the implementation of blockchain technology in the health care sector were identified as data integrity, access control, data logging, data versioning, and nonrepudiation. The findings could help the scientific community to understand the implementation aspect of blockchain technology. The results from this study help in recognizing the accessibility and use of blockchain technology in the health care sector.