Optimizing cancer diagnosis: A hybrid approach of genetic operators and Sinh Cosh Optimizer for tumor identification and feature gene selection.

The identification of tumors through gene analysis in microarray data is a pivotal area of research in artificial intelligence and bioinformatics. This task is challenging due to the large number of genes relative to the limited number of observations, making feature selection a critical step. This paper introduces a novel wrapper feature selection method that leverages a hybrid optimization algorithm combining a genetic operator with a Sinh Cosh Optimizer (SCHO), termed SCHO-GO. The SCHO-GO algorithm is designed to avoid local optima, streamline the search process, and select the most relevant features without compromising classifier performance. Traditional methods often falter with extensive search spaces, necessitating hybrid approaches. Our method aims to reduce the dimensionality and improve the classification accuracy, which is essential in pattern recognition and data analysis. The SCHO-GO algorithm, integrated with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier, significantly enhances cancer classification accuracy. We evaluated the performance of SCHO-GO using the CEC'2022 benchmark function and compared it with seven well-known metaheuristic algorithms. Statistical analyses indicate that SCHO-GO consistently outperforms these algorithms. Experimental tests on eight microarray gene expression datasets, particularly the Gene Expression Cancer RNA-Seq dataset, demonstrate an impressive accuracy of 99.01% with the SCHO-GO-SVM model, highlighting its robustness and precision in handling complex datasets. Furthermore, the SCHO-GO algorithm excels in feature selection and solving mathematical benchmark problems, presenting a promising approach for tumor identification and classification in microarray data analysis.

The Prevalence of and Trend in Drug Use among Adolescents in Mississippi and the United States: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2001-2021.

Mississippi youth are demographically unique compared to those of the nation. The aim of the study was to examine the drug use among adolescents in Mississippi compared to that in the US, which included determining prevalence and trends in drug use as well as drugs on school property and estimating the differences in drug use prevalence by gender and by race. National and Mississippi Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data from 2001 to 2021 were obtained for analysis. Summary statistics, prevalence ratio, and survey Chi-squared tests of independence statistics were generated for the comparison for all students, and by gender and race separately. Trend analysis was conducted using logistic regression combined with joinpoint regression. The six survey questions being studied were the following: have you ever used marijuana, an inhalant, heroin, methamphetamines, or injected drugs, and were you offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property during the last 12 months. Survey packages in R were used to account for the complex sampling design of YRBSS data. On the national level, all six drug-related risk behaviors being studied showed a significant decrease from 2001 to 2021. In Mississippi, however, only "ever used marijuana" showed a decrease trend, while three remain unchanged, and two increased. The 2021 YRBSS data show that Mississippi adolescents exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of drug use, and are more likely to be offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property. This research showed detailed findings on drug use-related issues in Mississippi, which is alarming. This poses an important challenge for public health in Mississippi and sounds an urgent call for drug use intervention among Mississippi adolescents. More concerted actions at the community, school and government level are needed for reducing youth drug use and controlling the drug traffic on school property.

Impact of Toll-like receptor 2 (rs5743708) gene polymorphism in pediatric pneumonia: risk and severity.

Pediatric pneumonia is a common respiratory infection that affects children and is thought to be a major source of mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. Toll-like receptor2 (TLR2) is an important receptor involved in the recognition of bacterial pathogens and the activation of the immune response. Genetic variability in TLR2 may partially explain individual differences in susceptibility to infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of the TLR2 (rs5743708) variant to the risk and severity of pediatric pneumonia infection. The study included 100 pediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia and 100 normal controls who were age and gender matched. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to genotype participants for the TLR2 (rs5743708) variant. The analysis revealed that children with the TLR2 (rs5743708) (G/A) genotype showed a 2.52-fold greater risk of having pneumonia (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.32-4.79; p = 0.005) in comparison with patients who have wild homozygous genotypes. Furthermore, we observed that the TLR2 (rs5743708) (A) allele is connected to a greater risk of pneumonia infection in children (OR: 1.612; 95% CI: 1.07-2.43; p = 0.023) but did not significantly influence infection severity. In conclusion, children with the TLR2 (rs5743708) mutant (G/A) genotype and (A) allele had a significantly higher risk of having pneumonia, but they were not at high risk for the severity of the infection.

Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation of Wi-Fi Router on Thyroid Gland and the Possible Protective Role of Combined Vitamin C and Zinc Administration in Adult Male Albino Rats.

Introduction: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is widely used nowadays in various fields due to rapid expansion of technology and affects different organs such as endocrine glands. Antioxidants protect the cells and act as a free radical scavenger. Aim of Work: The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of EMR emitted from Wi-Fi router on the thyroid gland of adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of combined Vitamin C and zinc. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I (control group), Group II (received combined Vitamin C and Zinc in one tablet called IMMUNO-MASH), and Group III (experimental groups). Group III was divided into two subgroups (A and B) according to the duration of exposure: 6 h and 24 h/day. Each of these groups was divided into two equal subgroups. One was exposed only to EMR while the other was exposed to EMR and received combined Vitamin C and zinc. All rats were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. The thyroid gland was prepared for general histological, anti-calcitonin immunostaining, and ultrastructural study. Furthermore, measurement of total serum T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormone levels and quantitative analysis of immunoreactive C-cells were done. Then, statistical analysis was done on the number of immunoreactive C-cells, data of the body weight, and the hormonal levels. Results: A highly significant increase in the body weight in subgroups exposed to EMR for 24 h/day was observed. Furthermore, they showed a highly significant decline in T3 and T4 levels together with a highly significant increase in TSH level. With increasing period of exposure, there was a variable degree of deterioration in the form of congestion and dilatation of blood vessels, cellular infiltration, follicular disintegration, vacuolar degeneration, and desquamated follicular cells in the colloid. The C-cells showed a significant increase in the mean number compared with the control group. Ultrastructural analysis of follicular cells revealed colloid droplets, deteriorations in rough endoplasmic reticulum, degenerating nuclei, and swollen mitochondria according to the dose of exposure. There was apparent improvement with the use of combined Vitamin C and zinc. Conclusion: Wi-Fi radiation has a very serious effect on thyroid gland morphology and activity. Moreover, experimentally induced hypothyroidism by radiation resulted in increased C-cell number. Combined Vitamin C and zinc could have a protective role against this tissue damage.

Inadequate food safety knowledge and hygiene practices among street food vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Food safety remains a critical issue with outbreaks of foodborne illness. The knowledge gap of food safety and improper hygienic practices of food handlers are the key factors for the transmission of foodborne diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the level of food safety knowledge and practices among street food vendors in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, and its implications on consumers' health. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 respondents in seven areas of Dhaka City. Trained data collectors gather data by interviewing street vendors using a pretested questionnaire. Most of the vendors (98%) were male, with 48% having secondary education and 85% having no food safety training. Although about 89% of the vendors were found to practice hand washing, only a small proportion of them practised using hand gloves while handling raw products (5.6%), cleaning tables (2.2%), preparing foods (1.3%) or handling garbage (0.9%). The education level of the vendors and their work experience were significantly correlated with their hand washing practice, wearing hand gloves and their knowledge about food-borne illnesses. The study demonstrated that formal education played a significant role in vendors' knowledge and practice of health safety measures for food handlers to prevent foodborne illness. Effective food safety training and monitoring are needed to increase vendors' knowledge and practices, and in reducing foodborne diseases.

Expression of PVT-1 and miR-29a/29b as reliable biomarkers for liver cirrhosis and their correlation with the inflammatory biomarkers profile.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The liver is a vital organ responsible for numerous metabolic processes, which can be significantly impacted by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). These ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules have been shown to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, and their dysregulation has been implicated in numerous liver disorders. Our study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of plasmacytoma variant translocation-1 (PVT-1), microRNA-29a/29b (miR-29a/miR-29b), and inflammatory biomarkers [ interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1)] as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which lncRNAs and miRNAs influence liver metabolism is of paramount importance in developing effective treatments for liver-related diseases. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 164 participants, comprising 114 cirrhotic patients with varying grades (35 grade I, 35 grade II, and 44 grade III) and 50 healthy controls. PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The study participants exhibited notable differences in PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression. ROC analysis revealed excellent discriminative power for PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b in distinguishing cirrhotic patients from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the promising potential of PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b as early diagnostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis detection, requiring further validation in larger cohorts. Our findings also reinforce the diagnostic value of circulating inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-ß, and IGF-1) levels for liver cirrhosis screening.

Fluorogenic cell surface glycan labelling with fluorescence molecular rotor dyes and nucleic acid stains.

We show that covalent labelling of sialic acids on live cell surfaces or mucin increases the fluorescence of the fluorescence molecular rotors (FMRs) CCVJ, Cy3 and thioazole orange, enabling wash-free imaging of cell surfaces. Dual labelling with an FMR and an environmentally insensitive dye allows detection of changes that occur, for example, when cross-linking is altered.

Clinical Features and Predictors of Mortality in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Retrospective Study From Southern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY: We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Adult patients who were admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, a large tertiary hospital in Southern Saudi Arabia, with the diagnosis of acute PE were retrospectively examined for the predictors of one-year mortality. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality was 15.6% among 212 patients. In univariate analysis, only age was significantly associated with increased early mortality, whereas age, obesity, presence of active malignancy, hypertension, use of thrombolytics, and Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) were significantly associated with increased late mortality. By use of binary logistic regression, the presence of obesity (HR 6.010, 95%CI 0.048-16.853, p=0.030), active malignancy (HR 3.040, 95%CI 1.147-8.059, p=0.025), and the use of thrombolytics (HR 8.074, 95%CI 2.719-23.977, p<0.001), were independently significant factors for late (overall) mortality, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among Saudi Arabian patients in the Southern Region, our data show that age is an independent factor for increased early and late mortality. The presence of obesity, active malignancy, and the use of thrombolytics, were independently significant factors for increased late (one-year) mortality. These factors should be taken into account for risk stratification and decisions on tailored management of patients with PE. Further prospective multicenter studies are needed.

Awareness and Practice of Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection Toward their Disease in the Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: This study aimed to study the awareness and practice of patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) toward their disease in the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional community-based study, in the central region of the kingdom. The target population of this study was adult patients with H. pylori infection, and a sample of 808 Saudi and non-Saudi male and female individuals were randomly selected using an online questionnaire. A consent form was obtained from all participants. Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee. Results: There were a total of 808 responses. Most participants were female (89.4%) (n = 722) and between the ages of 35 and 60 years (60.8%), and most participants had a bachelor's degree (62.4%). 53.47% of the participants have good knowledge regarding their disease. Most of the participants knew it could cause gastric and duodenal ulcers (82.5%), but they did not know the infection might cause gastric cancer (48.6%). Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of patients with H. pylori infection (53.47%) have good knowledge regarding their disease. Additionally, many participants were aware of the symptoms associated with H. pylori. Furthermore, many participants complained about their treatment.

Insights into the Crosstalk Between miR-200a/lncRNA H-19 and IL-6/SIRT-1 Axis in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly prevalent malignancy that poses a significant threat to women's well-being. Novel biomarker identification helps to improve clinical outcomes and provide tailored treatments. Our research aims to explore the diagnostic potential of miR-200a/lncRNA H-19 and interleukin-6 (IL-6)/SIRT-1 axis crosstalk and evaluate the impact of metastasis on gene expression, which provides valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of BC. In this case-control study, we collected blood samples from 54 nonmetastatic breast cancer (NMBC) patients, 46 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, and 50 healthy individuals. We used real time-polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression levels of lncRNA H-19 and miR-200a, whereas enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the IL-6 levels. In addition, we evaluated SIRT-1 expression level using a Western blot assay. The levels of lncRNA H-19, miR-200a, and IL-6 were higher in BC patients, whereas SIRT-1 levels were lower. Patients with MBC had higher levels of lncRNA H-19, miR-200a, and IL-6 than those with NMBC. In addition, the expression of lncRNA H-19 and miR-200a showed a negative correlation with SIRT-1 expression, whereas the levels of lncRNA H-19 and miR-200a showed a positive correlation with IL-6 expression level. The diagnostic potential of lncRNA H-19 and miR-200a in BC is undeniable. Moreover, the robust association of IL-6/SIRT-1 with lncRNA H-19/miR-200a expression presents a promising opportunity for clinical outcomes and tailored treatments.

Dengue Fever Epidemics and the Prospect of Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Using Clinical Trials in Children.

About half of the world's population is at risk of dengue infection. Epidemics of dengue fever have caused an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in recent years, which led to the exploration of vaccines as a preventive measure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy, immune response, and safety of dengue vaccines in children by analyzing clinical trials. The review followed standard procedures for data extraction using PRISMA guidelines and searching multiple databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Health Source, Science Direct, and Academic Search Premiere. Eligible studies involved children (0-17 years old). Quality assessment was analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria, while data synthesis was conducted using thematic analysis and meta-analysis. Among the 38 selected studies, dengue vaccines showed varying efficacy against all four serotypes. The CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia®) and Tekade (TAK-003) vaccines showed strong protection against severe dengue, but their long-term efficacy varied. Vaccines triggered satisfactory immune responses, notably in those previously exposed to dengue. Safety profiles were mostly favorable, noting mild adverse events post-vaccination. Meta-analysis supported vaccine efficacy and immune response, but safety concerns warrant further exploration. In conclusion, dengue vaccines showed promising efficacy and immune response, particularly against severe manifestations.

Unveiling the Impact of Drying Methods on Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Anthemis palestina.

Different drying techniques may alter the chemical composition of plant extracts and consequently affect their bioactivity potential. The current study was designed to reveal the effect of four different drying methods on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of hydrodistilled essential oil (HD-EO) and methanolic (APM) extract obtained from the aerial part of Anthemis palestina from Jordan. Aerial parts of A. palestina in their fresh (FR) form and after drying in shade (ShD), sun (SD), oven at 40 °C (O40D) and 60 °C (O60D), in addition to microwave (MWD), were used to extract their essential oils by hydrodistillation and to prepare the different methanolic extracts (APM). GC/MS analysis of the different HD-EOs revealed qualitative and quantitative differences among the different samples. While FR, O40D, O60D, and MWD EO samples contained mainly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (35.43%, 29.04%, 53.69%, and 59.38%, respectively), ShD sample was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (33.57%), and SD-EO contained mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes (40.36%). Principal component analysis (PCA) and Cluster analysis (CA) grouped the different drying methods based on their impact on the concentration of chemical constituents. SD-EO demonstrated high DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activity (1.31 ± 0.03) × 10-2; (1.66 ± 0.06) × 10-2 µg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, A. paleistina methanolic extracts (APM) obtained after subjecting the plant to different drying methods showed interesting patterns in terms of their TPC, TFC, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical profiling. Of all extracts, SD-APM extract had the highest TPC (105.37 ± 0.19 mg GA/g DE), highest TFC (305.16 ± 3.93 mg Q/g DE) and demonstrated the highest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities ((4.42 ± 0.02) × 10-2; (3.87 ± 0.02) × 10-2 mg/mL, respectively); all were supported by correlation studies. LC-MS/MS analysis of the different extracts revealed the richness of the SD-APM extract in phenolic acids and flavonoids.

Application of CRISPR-Cas System to Mitigate Superbug Infections.

Multidrug resistance in bacterial strains known as superbugs is estimated to cause fatal infections worldwide. Migration and urbanization have resulted in overcrowding and inadequate sanitation, contributing to a high risk of superbug infections within and between different communities. The CRISPR-Cas system, mainly type II, has been projected as a robust tool to precisely edit drug-resistant bacterial genomes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains effectively. To entirely opt for its potential, advanced development in the CRISPR-Cas system is needed to reduce toxicity and promote efficacy in gene-editing applications. This might involve base-editing techniques used to produce point mutations. These methods employ designed Cas9 variations, such as the adenine base editor (ABE) and the cytidine base editor (CBE), to directly edit single base pairs without causing DSBs. The CBE and ABE could change a target base pair into a different one (for example, G-C to A-T or C-G to A-T). In this review, we addressed the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas system and explored strategies for circumventing these limitations by applying diverse base-editing techniques. Furthermore, we also discussed recent research showcasing the ability of base editors to eliminate drug-resistant microbes.

Effects of Probiotics in Adults with Gastroenteritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

Probiotics have been widely used in gastroenteritis due to acute and chronic illnesses. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of probiotics in different health conditions is inconclusive and conflicting. The aim of this study was to review the existing literature on the effects of probiotics on gastroenteritis among adults. Only original articles on clinical trials that demonstrated the effects of probiotics in adults with gastroenteritis were used for this analysis. Multiple databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and Scopus databases, were searched for the data. The study followed standard procedures for data extraction using a PRISMA flow chart. A quality appraisal of the selected studies was conducted using CADIMA. Finally, a meta-analysis was performed. Thirty-five articles met the selection criteria; of them, probiotics were found effective in the treatment and/or prevention of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in 17 (49%), and the treatment of pouchitis in 4 (11.4%), antibiotic-induced diarrhea in 3 (8.6%), Helicobacter pylori infection in 2 (5.7%) and diverticulitis in 1 (2.9%), while the remaining 7 (20%) were ineffective, and 1 study's results were inconclusive. The meta-analysis did not demonstrate any significant protective effects of probiotics. Having a τ2 value of zero and I2 of 6%, the studies were homogeneous and had minimum variances. Further studies are suggested to evaluate the beneficial effects of probiotics in IBDs and other chronic bowel diseases.

Characterization and Bio-Evaluation of the Synergistic Effect of Simvastatin and Folic Acid as Wound Dressings on the Healing Process.

Wound healing is a significant healthcare problem that decreases the patient's quality of life. Hence, several agents and approaches have been widely used to help accelerate wound healing. The challenge is to search for a topical delivery system that could supply long-acting effects, accurate doses, and rapid healing activity. Topical forms of simvastatin (SMV) are beneficial in wound care. This study aimed to develop a novel topical chitosan-based platform of SMV with folic acid (FA) for wound healing. Moreover, the synergistic effect of combinations was determined in an excisional wound model in rats. The prepared SMV-FA-loaded films (SMV-FAPFs) were examined for their physicochemical characterizations and morphology. Box-Behnken Design and response surface methodology were used to evaluate the tensile strength and release characteristics of the prepared SMV-FAPFs. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and animal studies were also investigated. The developed SMV-FAPFs showed a contraction of up to 80% decrease in the wound size after ten days. The results of the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated a significant upregulation of dermal collagen type I (CoTI) expression and downregulation of the inflammatory JAK3 expression in wounds treated with SMV-FAPFs when compared to control samples and individual drug treatments. In summary, it can be concluded that the utilization of SMV-FAPFs holds great potential for facilitating efficient and expeditious wound healing, hence presenting a feasible substitute for conventional topical administration methods.

Observed evidence for the impact of coastal currents on the recurrent Noctiluca scintillans blooms in the northwest Indian Ocean coast.

Recently, South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) experiences recurrent winter blooms of green Noctiluca scintillans with serious ecological consequences. Here, the analysis of green N. scintillans blooms in SEAS for the past three consecutive years (2018-2021) is presented. The daily monitoring showed intense winter blooms during November with stable sea surface temperatures, high nitrate-phosphate concentrations and relatively lower pH levels. Dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to near hypoxia in the later stages of the bloom. Our analysis finds that the increased occurrence of N. scintillans blooms along SEAS is driven by the coastal currents (EICC), which transport the bloom species from the east coast (south west Bay of Bengal) to west coast of India. Therefore, the N. scintillans seeding from the South west Bay of Bengal intensifies winter blooms in SEAS, thus unveils the influence of oceanic currents in deciding the phytoplankton blooms across the coastal regions of north Indian Ocean.

HPLC and GC Characterization of Dicliptera bupleuroides Aerial Parts and Evaluation of Its Anti-Inflammatory Potential in Vitro, in silico and in Vivo Using Carrageenan and Formalin Induced Inflammation in Rat Models.

The current study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Dicliptera bupleuroides Nees aerial parts methanol extract and its different fractions namely hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol in vitro using cyclooxygenase inhibitory assay (COX-2). In vivo anti-inflammatory evaluation was performed using carrageenan and formalin induced inflammation in rat models followed by molecular docking. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass chromatography (GC/MS) analyses were used for chemical analyses of the tested samples. The tested samples showed significant inhibition in COX-2 inhibitory assay where methanol extract (DBM) showed the highest inhibitory potential at 100 µg/mL estimated by 67.86 %. At a dose of 400 mg/kg, all of the examined samples showed pronounced results in carrageenan induced acute inflammation in rat model at 4th h interval with DBM showed the highest efficiency displaying 65.32 % inhibition as compared to the untreated rats. Formalin model was employed for seven days and DBM exhibited 65.33 % and 69.39 % inhibition at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively approaching that of the standard on the 7th day. HPLC revealed the presence of caffeic acid, gallic acid and sinapic acid, quercetin and myricetin in DBM. GC/MS analysis of its hexane fraction revealed the presence of 16 compounds belonging mainly to fatty acids and sterols that account for 85.26 % of the total detected compounds. Molecular docking showed that hexadecanoic acid followed by decanedioic acid and isopropyl myristate showed the best fitting within cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) while nonacosane followed by hexatriacontane and isopropyl myristate revealed the most pronounced fitting within the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) active sites. Absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion and toxicity prediction (ADMET/ TOPKAT) concluded that most of the detected compounds showed reasonable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicity properties that could be further modified to be more suitable for incorporation in pharmaceutical dosage forms combating inflammation and its undesirable consequences.

Challenges of having a child with thalassemia in Pakistan: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is a persistent hemolytic disease and has debilitating effects on patients and their parents. Parents of these children experience pain and suffer from additional emotional strain as they provide daily and lifetime care and are mostly concerned about the health and future of their children. AIM: The study aimed to understand the experiences of parents of children with thalassemia related to their family, financial, social, treatment, and psychological issues in Pakistan. METHODS: This descriptive phenomenological study recruited 21 parents of children with thalassemia through purposive sampling until data saturation was achieved. Analysis of transcribed interviews was performed through Colaizzi's method and themes and subthemes revolving around diagnosis, challenges, and treatment issues were extracted. FINDINGS: A total of 21 Pakistani parents participated in this study. Most of the participants were females (n = 16, 76.19%), housewives/stay-at-home moms (n = 13 (61.90%), and were uneducated (n = 6, 28.57%). Regarding genetic traits, only three (14.28%) parents declared that they had genetic traits of thalassemia. The findings of our study revealed that thalassemia is enormously influenced by psychosocial and economic problems because of this disease in their families. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that parents of these children face multi-faceted challenges, such as physical, socio-emotional, financial, and familial. These findings may lead to an adequate understanding of their individual needs and efficient utilization of supportive and care programs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: An understanding of such experiences, involving those distinctive to Pakistani culture, is especially vital to inform the care of these children and enhance their quality of life.

Epilepsy in a mouse model of GNB1 encephalopathy arises from altered potassium (GIRK) channel signaling and is alleviated by a GIRK inhibitor.

De novo mutations in GNB1, encoding the Gß1 subunit of G proteins, cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with global developmental delay and epilepsy, GNB1 encephalopathy. Here, we show that mice carrying a pathogenic mutation, K78R, recapitulate aspects of the disorder, including developmental delay and generalized seizures. Cultured mutant cortical neurons also display aberrant bursting activity on multi-electrode arrays. Strikingly, the antiepileptic drug ethosuximide (ETX) restores normal neuronal network behavior in vitro and suppresses spike-and-wave discharges (SWD) in vivo. ETX is a known blocker of T-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and G protein-coupled potassium (GIRK) channels. Accordingly, we present evidence that K78R results in a gain-of-function (GoF) effect by increasing the activation of GIRK channels in cultured neurons and a heterologous model (Xenopus oocytes)-an effect we show can be potently inhibited by ETX. This work implicates a GoF mechanism for GIRK channels in epilepsy, identifies a new mechanism of action for ETX in preventing seizures, and establishes this mouse model as a pre-clinical tool for translational research with predicative value for GNB1 encephalopathy.

Unlocking Endocrown Restoration Expertise Among Dentists: Insights from a Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND This study, employing an online questionnaire, aimed to assess and contrast the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of dentists in Saudi Arabia (SA) regarding endocrowns (EC) as post-endodontic restorations with those of dentists educated in various other countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey among dental interns and practicing dentists in government facilities, private dental centers, and dental colleges in SA, including participants of diverse nationalities. We disseminated validated, closed-ended questionnaires through WhatsApp via Google Forms. The Chi-square test was applied to assess associations between categorical variables, with a P-value of ≤0.05 indicating statistical significance. RESULTS The majority of participants (61.2%) indicated that EC restorations are best suited for molar teeth. Furthermore, 69.6% asserted that the primary objective of employing EC is to accomplish minimally invasive preparations while preserving the existing tooth structure. Among the responses, 68.3% pinpointed debonding of ECs as a significant cause of failure. Notably, substantial differences were observed in responses concerning the knowledge or practice of EC across various factors such as gender, educational attainment, country of graduation, and workplace. CONCLUSIONS The findings reveal a comparatively low adoption of ECs among the participants, irrespective of experience or country of education. This underscores the need for incorporating ECs into dental curricula through theoretical and clinical discussions or considering them as a subject for post-graduate continuing education programs.