Impact of iron deficiency anemia on academic achievement among female university students in Saudi Arabia.

Anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is a prevalent health issue globally and in Saudi Arabia, especially among young adult females. This study investigates the association between anemia and academic achievement among female students at the Female Health Campus of Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study included 118 randomly selected participants aged 18-22. A validated questionnaire was administered to the study participants. The participants underwent blood tests for complete blood count (CBC) parameters and iron profile analysis. The study reported that 52.5% of the female students had anemia and low serum iron levels. Regarding academic performance, significant positive correlations were found between various CBC parameters including white cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and serum iron. However, no significant correlations were observed between red blood cell count and platelet count with academic performance. Demographic variables were also associated with a higher odds ratio of anemia. The study highlights the prevalence of anemia among female students and its potential impact on academic achievement. The current study underscores the importance of addressing anemia in young adult females and implementing appropriate interventions to improve their educational outcomes.

L'anémie, en particulier l'anémie ferriprive (IDA), est un problème de santé répandu dans le monde et en Arabie Saoudite, en particulier chez les jeunes femmes adultes. Cette étude examine l'association entre l'anémie et la réussite scolaire chez les étudiantes du Campus de santé féminine de l'Université de Jazan, Jazan, Arabie Saoudite. Cette étude transversale a inclus 118 participants sélectionnés au hasard âgés de 18 à 22 ans. Un questionnaire validé a été administré aux participants à l'étude. Les participants ont subi des analyses de sang pour les paramètres de la formule sanguine complète (CBC) et une analyse du profil en fer. L'étude a révélé que 52,5 % des étudiantes souffraient d'anémie et de faibles taux de fer sérique. En ce qui concerne les résultats scolaires, des corrélations positives significatives ont été trouvées entre divers paramètres de CBC, notamment le nombre de globules blancs, l'hémoglobine, l'hématocrite, le volume cellulaire moyen, l'hémoglobine cellulaire moyenne, la concentration moyenne d'hémoglobine cellulaire et le fer sérique. Cependant, aucune corrélation significative n'a été observée entre le nombre de globules rouges et le nombre de plaquettes avec les résultats scolaires. Les variables démographiques étaient également associées à un rapport de cotes plus élevé d'anémie. L'étude met en évidence la prévalence de l'anémie chez les étudiantes et son impact potentiel sur la réussite scolaire. L'étude actuelle souligne l'importance de lutter contre l'anémie chez les jeunes femmes adultes et de mettre en œuvre des interventions appropriées pour améliorer leurs résultats scolaires.

Non-coding RNAs and estrogen receptor signaling in breast cancer: Nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches.

This review investigates the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways, particularly in the context of breast cancer therapy, with an emphasis on the emerging potential of nanotechnology for drug delivery. The information was obtained from reputable databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor, and Francis, which contain past and present research. Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, and ER signaling mechanisms heavily influence its progression. Treatment options have traditionally encompassed surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. In recent decades, nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach to breast cancer treatment. By passively targeting tumor cells and reducing toxicity, nanodrugs can overcome the challenges of conventional chemotherapy. Additionally, nanocarriers can stimulate tumor cells, enhancing treatment efficacy. Recent advancements in nanomedicine offer promising approaches for targeted cancer therapy, potentially overcoming the limitations of conventional treatments. This review explores the interactions between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) with ER pathways, their impact on breast cancer progression, and how these interactions can be leveraged to enhance therapeutic efficacy through nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems.

Crosstalk between AML and stromal cells triggers acetate secretion through the metabolic rewiring of stromal cells.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells interact and modulate components of their surrounding microenvironment into their own benefit. Stromal cells have been shown to support AML survival and progression through various mechanisms. Nonetheless, whether AML cells could establish beneficial metabolic interactions with stromal cells is underexplored. By using a combination of human AML cell lines and AML patient samples together with mouse stromal cells and a MLL-AF9 mouse model, here we identify a novel metabolic crosstalk between AML and stromal cells where AML cells prompt stromal cells to secrete acetate for their own consumption to feed the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and lipid biosynthesis. By performing transcriptome analysis and tracer-based metabolic NMR analysis, we observe that stromal cells present a higher rate of glycolysis when co-cultured with AML cells. We also find that acetate in stromal cells is derived from pyruvate via chemical conversion under the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) following ROS transfer from AML to stromal cells via gap junctions. Overall, we present a unique metabolic communication between AML and stromal cells and propose two different molecular targets, ACSS2 and gap junctions, that could potentially be exploited for adjuvant therapy.