Impact of Virtual Reality on Pain, ROM, Muscle Strength and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients: An Integrative Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally, with significant impacts on physical, emotional, and functional well-being. Traditional rehabilitation methods may not fully address the multifaceted challenges faced by breast cancer survivors (BCSs), prompting exploration into innovative approaches such as Virtual Reality (VR) technology. OBJECTIVE: The present review aims to assess the effectiveness of VR in alleviating pain, improving Range of Motion (ROM), enhancing muscle strength, and augmenting the overall quality of life in patients undergoing breast cancer rehabilitation. METHODS: A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on studies investigating the use of VR in breast cancer rehabilitation. PubMed, Scopus, PEDro and Google scholar were searched for articles addressing VR interventions targeting pain management, ROM improvement, muscle strength enhancement, and quality of life enhancement in breast cancer patients. RESULTS: Findings yielded total 12 articles matching the selection criteria. VR technology has shown promising results in addressing the multifaceted needs of breast cancer patients. VR also serves as a distraction tool, positively impacting psychological well-being and mitigating negative psychological symptoms associated with the disease. CONCLUSION: VR represents a non-pharmacological approach to pain management and rehabilitation in breast cancer patients. Its ability to engage emotional, cognitive, and attention processes contributes to its effectiveness in enhancing overall quality of life. Further research is warranted to elucidate the long-term benefits and optimal utilization of VR technology in breast cancer rehabilitation programs.

Understanding Female and Male Insights in Psychology: Who Thinks What?

Evolutionary psychology is the study of human psychological behavior. During childhood, men and women behave similarly; however, as a child approaches puberty, new physical and behavioral changes emerge. Behavioral psychology focuses on understanding the functioning and thought processes of the human mind. The general population lacks knowledge of basic behavioral differences between men and women, leaving them unaware of their role, limitations, societal responsibilities, resulting in an underestimation of their own natural talents and biology. Thus, people tend to follow societal norms rather than exploring and utilizing their natural talents. The current review was designed and conducted to enforce compression on behavioral psychology in both genders as well as to identify variations in hormonal activity and sexual preferences.

Evading Musculoskeletal Conditions Using Qigong as a Rescue Technique.

Classically, Qigong is a Chinese technique that has been practiced in China for the past 3,000 years for healing the inner self. Qigong, wherein "Qi" means body energy and "Gong" denotes cultivation, regulates the energy flow in the body. The Qigong technique comprises a package of deep breathing training, gentle and rhythmic movement, and muscle-strengthening exercises that heal the body to activate one's internal soul energy. It has demonstrated its efficacy by inducing relaxation, building up stamina, strengthening immunity, appreciating muscle conditioning, and minimizing anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it has been beneficial in improving awareness of joint and movement senses. Specifically, Qigong brings healing by regulating energy flow in the whole-body systems. Moreover, it has exhibited a variety of regenerating effects by inducing emotional and mental relaxation. In today's world, Qigong exercises are being used for treating musculoskeletal disorders that are work- and stress-related by nature. Qigong is practiced globally as deep breathing exercises, and meditation is practiced for peace of mind and spirituality, whereas vigorous practice includes martial arts.

Dietary Influences on Skin Health in Common Dermatological Disorders.

The role of diet in the development of skin disorders is well-established, with nutritional deficiency often identified as a risk factor for skin diseases. Imbalances in the skin can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, excessive intake, insufficient nutrients, and hazardous ingredients. Patients frequently inquire about the impact of dietary patterns on skin health when consulting dermatologists in clinical settings. Simultaneously, the popularity of using nutritional supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and nutraceutical blends has been on the rise. It is crucial for dermatologists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare providers to be acquainted with evidence-based dietary interventions, distinguishing them from those that are more market-driven than truly efficacious. This review explores the modification of diet, encompassing both dietary exclusion and supplementation, as a therapeutic approach for conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, bullous disease, vitiligo, and alopecia areata. A comprehensive literature search, utilizing the PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Medscape databases, was conducted to investigate the relationship between each nutrient and various inflammatory skin diseases. The findings emphasize the significance of a well-balanced and thoughtfully planned diet in supplying adequate amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support optimal skin health. Additionally, this comprehensive review navigates through various dietary recommendations, offering insights into their multifaceted impacts on the immune system, gut microbiome, and skin health. The goal is to pave the way for informed and targeted dietary interventions for individuals dealing with food allergies and associated skin conditions.

Noninvasive neuromodulatory effect on cognition in individuals with traumatic brain injury: A single-blinded, two-arm parallel randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the effect of cranial electrical stimulation (CES) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in improving cognition among individuals with mild traumatic brain injury. Patients and methods: The pretest-posttest randomized controlled study was conducted between November 2020 and March 2022. Seventy-two patients (64 males, 8 females; mean age: 40.5±9.5 years; range, 18 to 45 years) experiencing cognitive impairment within three months of traumatic brain injury were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (CES with cognitive training, n=36) and Group 2 (tDCS with cognitive training, n=36). Participants were blinded in the study. Both groups received 30-min sessions of neuromodulation along with 30 min of cognitive training five days a week for four weeks. The patients were assessed at baseline and at the end of two and four weeks of intervention. The primary outcome measure was the Montreal Cognition Assessment (MoCA), and the secondary outcome measure was the Galveston Orientation Amnesia Test (GOAT). Results: Demographic and baseline characteristics depicted normal distribution for both groups (p>0.05). Within group analyses of both groups demonstrated significant differences for both outcome measures (MoCA: p=0.001; GOAT: p=0.001). Between group analyses of MoCA showed significant improvement with p-value of 0.001 while GOAT exhibited p-value of 0.002 showing significant difference between the two groups. Time group interaction effect and covariance analyses depicted significant improvement with p-value of 0.001 for both outcome measures with excellent effect size >0.80. Conclusion: Cranial electrical stimulation was a more effective noninvasive neuromodulatory device than tDCS in improving cognition among individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Weekly assessment of volumetric and dosimetric changes during volumetric modulated arc therapy of locally advanced head and neck carcinoma: Implications for adaptive radiation therapy-A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Chemoradiation in head and neck carcinoma (HNC) shows significant anatomical resulting in erroneous dose deposition in the target or the organ at risk (OAR). Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) can overcome this. Timing of significant target and OAR changes with dosimetric impact; thus, most suitable time and frequency of ART is unclear. METHODS: This dosimetric study used prospective weekly non-contrast CT scans in 12 HNC patients (78 scans). OARs and TVs were manually contoured after registration with simulation scan. Dose overlay done on each scan without reoptimization. Dosimetric and volumetric variations assessed. RESULTS: Commonest site was oropharynx. Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) reduced from 47.5 ± 19.2 to 17.8 ± 10.7 cc. Nodal GTV reduced from 15.7 ± 18.8 to 4.7 ± 7.1 cc. Parotid showed mean volume loss of 35%. T stage moderately correlated with GTV regression. CONCLUSION: Maximum GTV changes occurred after 3 weeks. Best time to do single fixed interval ART would be by the end of 3 weeks.

Transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of fetal versus adult mesenchymal stromal cells and mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can regenerate tissues through engraftment and differentiation but also via paracrine signalling via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Fetal-derived MSCs (fMSCs) have been shown, both in vitro and in animal studies, to be more efficient than adult MSC (aMSCs) in generating bone and muscle but the underlying reason for this difference has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, we aimed to systematically investigate the differences between fetal and adult MSCs and MSC-derived EVs at the phenotypic, RNA, and protein levels. METHODS: We carried out a detailed and comparative characterization of culture-expanded fetal liver derived MSCs (fMSCs) and adult bone marrow derived MSCs (aMSCs) phenotypically, and the MSCs and MSC-derived EVs were analysed using transcriptomics and proteomics approaches with RNA Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS: Fetal MSCs were smaller, exhibited increased proliferation and colony-forming capacity, delayed onset of senescence, and demonstrated superior osteoblast differentiation capability compared to their adult counterparts. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that fMSCs displayed upregulated gene sets such as "Positive regulation of stem cell populations", "Maintenance of stemness" and "Muscle cell development/contraction/Myogenesis" in comparison to aMSCs. Conversely, aMSCs displayed upregulated gene sets such as "Complement cascade", "Adipogenesis", "Extracellular matrix glycoproteins" and "Cellular metabolism", and on the protein level, "Epithelial cell differentiation" pathways. Signalling entropy analysis suggested that fMSCs exhibit higher signalling promiscuity and hence, higher potency than aMSCs. Gene ontology comparisons revealed that fetal MSC-derived EVs (fEVs) were enriched for "Collagen fibril organization", "Protein folding", and "Response to transforming growth factor beta" compared to adult MSC-derived EVs (aEVs), whereas no significant difference in protein expression in aEVs compared to fEVs could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides detailed and systematic insight into the differences between fMSCs and aMSCs, and MSC-derived EVs. The key finding across phenotypic, transcriptomic and proteomic levels is that fMSCs exhibit higher potency than aMSCs, meaning they are in a more undifferentiated state. Additionally, fMSCs and fMSC-derived EVs may possess greater bone forming capacity compared to aMSCs. Therefore, using fMSCs may lead to better treatment efficacy, especially in musculoskeletal diseases.

Zuranolone, a neuroactive drug, used in the treatment of postpartum depression by modulation of GABAA receptors.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression [PPD] is a prevalent and debilitating mood disorder that affects mothers in the weeks to months after childbirth. Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) is a novel pharmaceutical agent that was approved by the US FDA on 4 August 2023 for the management of PPD. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of zuranolone, focusing on its dosing, chemistry, mechanism of action, clinical trials, adverse drug reaction, and overall conclusion regarding its utility in the management of PPD. It also discusses the recommended dosing strategies to achieve optimal efficacy while minimizing adverse effects as the dosage regimen of zuranolone is critical for its therapeutic application. Moreover, it gives insights into neurobiological pathways involved in PPD. METHODOLOGY: Data from randomized controlled trials and observational studies was collected to provide a comprehensive understanding of zuranolone in the management and treatment of PPD. CONCLUSION: Zuranolone represents a promising therapeutic option for women suffering from postpartum depression. However, ongoing research and post-marketing surveillance are essential to further elucidate its long-term safety and efficacy. The integration of zuranolone into clinical practice may significantly improve the quality of life for mothers facing the challenges of postpartum depression.

Group tele-rehabilitation improves quality of life among subjects with Parkinson's disease: A two arm non-parallel non-randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Tele-rehabilitation has lately emerged as a promising medium for increasing patient adherence with significant positive results. One of the most prevalent neurological diseases affecting movement is Parkinson's disease (PD), which causes a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms among patients. Consequentially, the study was designed to compare the efficacy of group tele-rehabilitation with individual tele-rehabilitation in improving quality of life (QoL) among subjects with PD. METHOD: A two-group pretest-posttest, non-randomized clinical study recruited 68 subjects and classified them into two groups, i.e., Group A (group therapy, n = 36) and Group B (individual therapy, n = 32). Groups A and B received a supervised protocol consisting of a 40-min session on alternate days/week for twelve weeks via the WhatsApp Messenger application through group and individual therapy, respectively. The Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39), mental and physical components of the Short Form Survey (SF-12) were used as primary outcome variables, while the Satisfaction questionnaire was used as a secondary outcome variable. RESULT: The p-values related to within-group analyses were <0.05 except SF-12 PCS >0.05 in Group A and <0.05 in Group B. While the p-values related to between-group analyses were <0.05 except for pre-scores of SF-12 (MCS and PCS). The effect sizes for PDQ-39, SF-12 (MCS), and SF-12 (PCS) were -2.37, 3.36, and 0.66 in Group A and 1.95, 2.69, and 2.03 in Group B, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that group tele-rehabilitation is more effective in improving QoL among subjects with PD as compared to individual tele-rehabilitation. Clinical trial Registration NoCTRI/2022/04/041818.

Reduced expression of Ankyrin-G and E-cadherin in duodenal mucosal biopsy of subjects with celiac disease.

Confirmatory diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) include histopathology of duodenal biopsy and tissue trans-glutaminase-IgA. Identification of tissue-specific histological markers is warranted to improve the diagnosis. A genetic study in CD identified the association of ankyrin-G that connects E-cadherin with ß2-spectrin in epithelial cells of the duodenal tissue. We attempted to investigate the differential expression of ankyrin-G, E-cadherin and ß2-spectrin in duodenal biopsy of CD subjects compared to non-CD controls. Duodenal tissue was collected from 83 study participants, of which 50 were CD, and 33 were non-CD controls. Whole RNA was isolated from 32 CD and 23 non-CD controls from available tissues, and differential mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR. Tissue sections from 18 CD cases and 10 non-CD controls were immunostained using monoclonal antibodies. Tissue immunohistochemistry were evaluated for differential expression and pattern of expression. RT-PCR revealed significantly reduced expression of ankyrin-G (fold change=0.63; p=0.03) and E-cadherin (fold change=0.50; p=0.02) among CD subjects compared to non-CD controls. Tissue immunohistochemistry confirmed the reduced expression of ankyrin-G and E-cadherin in CD. Differential expression is grossly limited within the outer columnar epithelial cell layer. Expression fold change of E-cadherin was seen to partially correlate with the serum tTG level (r=0.4; p=0.04). In CD, reduced expression of two key cytoskeletal proteins (ankyrin-G and E-cadherin) in duodenum mucosa was observed, which indicates its implication in disease biology and could be tested as a tissue-specific biomarker for CD. Functional studies may unravel the specific contribution of these proteins in CD pathophysiology.

Identification and optimization of pyridine carboxamide-based scaffold as a drug lead for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

New drugs with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed to tackle the issue of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Here, we have performed phenotypic screening using the Pathogen Box library obtained from the Medicines for Malaria Venture against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. We have identified a pyridine carboxamide derivative, MMV687254, as a promising hit. This molecule is specifically active against M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (M. bovis BCG) but inactive against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli pathogens. We demonstrate that MMV687254 inhibits M. tuberculosis growth in liquid cultures in a bacteriostatic manner. Surprisingly, MMV687254 was as active as isoniazid in macrophages and inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in a bactericidal manner. Mechanistic studies revealed that MMV687254 is a prodrug and that its anti-mycobacterial activity requires AmiC-dependent hydrolysis. We further demonstrate that MMV687254 inhibits M. tuberculosis growth in macrophages by inducing autophagy. In the present study, we have also carried out a detailed structure-activity relationship study and identified a promising novel lead candidate. The identified novel series of compounds also showed activity against drug-resistant M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis clinical strains. Finally, we demonstrate that in contrast to MMV687254, the lead molecule was able to inhibit M. tuberculosis growth in a chronic mouse model of infection. Taken together, we have identified a novel lead molecule with a dual mechanism of action that can be further optimized to design more potent anti-tubercular agents.

Wheatgrass (Triticum Aestivum) Extract Loaded Chitosan Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Formulation, Physicochemical Characterisation and Cytotoxic Potential.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cancer is around the world, and is identified as a multifarious ailment. Amongst the most common reasons for cancer in the world is oxidative stress, and this can be overcome by taking the herbal plant wheatgrass in any form. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present work is to formulate wheatgrass extract-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using Box-Behnken design and to investigate the effect of formulation variables. METHODS: Using the hot homogenisation method, the current work plan aimed to develop wheatgrassfilled chitosan solid lipid nanoparticles by means of a Box-Behnken design. This study investigated the effect of three formulation variables on particle size and entrapment efficiency, namely the sodium alginate concentration, the chitosan concentration, and the sonication time. Extraction of wheatgrass was done in a soxhlet extractor, using methanolic extract. Furthermore, the authors have examined recent patents associated with wheatgrass to enhance their comprehension of this herbal plant. RESULTS: The hot homogenisation technique was used to prepare Triticum aestivum extract loaded with solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). For BBD, all formulations were analysed for particle size, which ranged from 394.4 to 911.2 nm, and for polydispersity index, which ranged from 0.527 to 1.0. Batch code BB SLN-8 was found to be the finest suitable because of a maximum loading capacity of 58.23 ±0.11 % (w/w), maximum entrapment efficiency of 55.12±0.17 % (w/w), and minimum particle size of 394.4nm by using sodium alginate as a surface stabiliser at sonication time ~ 10 min and having maximum percentage yield of 49.87%. During characterisation studies and MCF-6 cell line studies, it was found that wheatgrass has antioxidant potential and is potent against breast cancer. CONCLUSION: As an alternative medicine for cancer, wheatgrass is considered to be effective due to its high antioxidant content.

The combined effect of neuro-modulation and neuro-stimulation on pain in patients with cervical radiculopathy - a double-blinded, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical radiculopathy is one of those disabling conditions which results in central and peripheral pain and thus affects the quality of life. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and exercises produce analgesic effect but their long-term effect has not been available to date. Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is known to produce promising effects on central pain by targeting cortical activity. PURPOSE: To determine the combined effect of tDCS and TENS with exercises on pain and quality of life in patients with cervical radiculopathy. METHOD: Forty four patients (male: female = 26:18) of the age group 18-50 years were recruited and randomly allocated into the experimental group and control group. The experimental group received active anodal tDCS for 20 min with an intensity of 2 mA, while the control group received sham anodal tDCS. TENS over the pain distribution area for 20 min with 5 Hz intensity and 80-150 ms pulse duration followed by neck-specific exercises were given in both groups. This protocol was given 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Pre and post-assessments were obtained through outcome measures that the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index for the measurement of pain, functional disability, and quality of life. RESULT: Paired t-test/Wilcoxon-Signed Rank test, and Index and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the demographic variables within and across the groups, respectively for Neck Disability for Numeric Pain Rating Scale, keeping the P-value < 0.05 as significant. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the between-subject factor differences. Post hoc tests with Bonferroni correction for repeated analyses were performed. Results depicted a significant effect for NDI (P = 0.001 for both groups) and NPRS (P = 0.003 for the experimental group and 0.007 for the control group). Significant Interaction effect (time*group) was observed for NDI (F = 42, 5382.77) and NPRS (F = 42, 1844.57) with a P-value of 0.001 for both outcome measures. Clinical significance was observed for both outcome measures having a mean difference in 50.21 and 4.57 for NDI and NPRS, respectively compared with the established MCID of 13.2 and 2.2 scores for respective outcome measures. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that active tDCS along with TENS and exercise intervention was effective on pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Efficacy of auxin-inducible protein degradation in C. elegans tissues using different auxins and TIR1-expressing strains.

The auxin-inducible degradation system has emerged as a powerful tool to deplete proteins of interest in cells and tissues of various model organisms, including C. elegans 2-5 . Here, we present a detailed protocol to perform AID-driven spatiotemporal depletion of specific proteins in C. elegans tissues. First, we introduced the AID degron and a fluorescent reporter at two conserved proteins: (a) the transcription factor CFI-1 (human ARID3), which is expressed in the nucleus of multiple C. elegans neurons and head muscle cells 6,7 , and (b) the broadly expressed translation initiation factor Y47D3A.21 (human DENR) that localizes in the cytoplasm. Second, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to generate C. elegans strains suitable for AID-mediated protein (CFI-1 and DENR) depletion. Third, we find that the degree of CFI-1 and DENR depletion in C. elegans tissues is comparable upon treatment with either natural auxin (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or a water-soluble synthetic auxin analog (K-NAA). Last, we compare the degree of AID-mediated CFI-1 depletion in C. elegans neurons when the transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR1), component of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex, is provided in neurons or all somatic cells. Altogether, this protocol provides side-by-side comparisons of different auxins and TIR1-expressing lines. Such comparisons may benefit future studies of AID-mediated protein depletion in C. elegans . Graphical abstract: Image provided as pdf (together with Figures). Highlights: Efficient protein depletion in C. elegans tissues upon treatment with either natural or synthetic auxins. Pansomatic TIR1 expression leads to efficient depletion of CFI-1 and DENR.Panneuronal TIR1 expression leads to neuron-specific, yet variable CFI-1 depletion.The AID system is compatible with fluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and behavioral assays.

Enhancement of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Growth and Yield Attributes in a Subtropical Humid Climate through Treated Ganga Sludge-based Organic Fertilizers.

BACKGROUND: Sewage sludge is a by-product of urbanization that poses environmental and health challenges. However, it can also be a valuable source of organic matter and nutrients for agriculture. METHOD: This study aimed to assess the potential of five types of organic fertilizers derived from treated Ganga sludge on the growth of wheat plants. The Patanjali Organic Research Institute has developed five types of granulated organic fertilizer from the stabilized Ganga sludge. RESULTS: The results showed that the organic fertilizers significantly improved the wheat performance in terms of plant height, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, leaf area and other yield parameters. Furthermore, the fertilizers ameliorated soil physicochemical attributes and augmented the availability of macro- and micronutrients. Importantly, levels of heavy metals in soil and wheat grains remained within permissible limits, affirming the safety and appropriateness of these fertilizers for wheat cultivation. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the efficient utilization of treated Ganga sludge as a valuable organic fertilizer source, proposing a sustainable and ecologically sound approach for sewage sludge management and enhancement of agricultural productivity.

Deciphering the crystal structure of a novel nanobody against the NEIL1 DNA glycosylase.

Nanobodies (VHHs) are single-domain antibodies with three antigenic CDR regions and are used in diverse scientific applications. Here, an ∼14 kDa nanobody (A5) specific for the endonuclease VIII (Nei)-like 1 or NEIL1 DNA glycosylase involved in the first step of the base-excision repair pathway was crystallized and its structure was determined to 2.1 Šresolution. The crystals posed challenges due to potential twinning and anisotropic diffraction. Despite inconclusive twinning indicators, reprocessing in an orthorhombic setting and molecular replacement in space group P21212 enabled the successful modeling of 96% of residues in the asymmetric unit, with final Rwork and Rfree values of 0.199 and 0.229, respectively.

Yohimbine ameliorates liver inflammation and fibrosis by regulating oxidative stress and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic liver injury, caused by various aetiologies, causes recurrent tissue damage, culminating in decreased liver regenerative ability and resulting in fibrosis followed by cirrhosis. In this study, the anti-fibrotic activity of Yohimbine hydrochloride (YHC) was investigated using various in vitro models and in vivo models. METHODS: To assess the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects of YHC, lipopolysaccharide or TGF-ß induced differentiation or lipid-induced oxidative-stress models were employed using HLECs, HSC-LX2, and HepG2 cells. Further, thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatic inflammation/fibrosis models were utilized to validate the YHC's anti-fibrotic activity in rats. RESULTS: Inflammation/differentiation experiments in HLECs and HSC-LX2 revealed that YHC treatment significantly (p < 0.001) mitigated the lipopolysaccharide or TGF-ß induced upregulation of inflammatory and fibrotic markers expression respectively. In addition, YHC dose-dependently reduced the TGF-ß induced migration and palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Further, TAA administration (5 weeks) in vivo rat model showed increased inflammatory marker levels/expression, oxidative stress, and pathological abnormalities. Additionally, TAA administration (9 weeks) elevated the fibrotic marker expression, collagen deposition in liver tissues, and shortened longevity in rats. Treatment with YHC dose-dependently mitigated the TAA-induced abnormalities in both inflammation and fibrosis models and improved the survival of the rats. Further mechanistic approaches revealed that TAA administration elevated the JNK, Wnt components and ß-catenin expression in hepatic stellate cells and animal tissues. Further treatment with YHC significantly modulated the JNK/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Moreover, the ß-catenin nuclear translocation results showed that ß-catenin levels were significantly elevated in the nuclear fraction of TAA control samples and reduced in YHC-treated samples. CONCLUSION: Yohimbine treatment significantly improved inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting differentiation, oxidative stress, and collagen deposition by partly modulating the JNK/Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. These results might serve as a foundation for proposing yohimbine as a potential lead compound for liver fibrosis.

Chest Physiotherapy Interventions for Children During SARS-COV-2 Pandemic.

Since the first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2/Coronavirus Disease 2019 (SARS-COV-2/COVID-19) was discovered in Wuhan, China, it spread to vast limits globally and became a public health disaster, affecting nearly all countries around the globe. Along with mainstream medical treatment, alternative medicine desperately was the need of the hour for youngsters to manage their symptoms while being self-quarantined and ultimately to improve their chances of survival and recovery from COVID-19. Since the beginning of SARS-COV-2, few studies address the clinical-functional presentation of viral infection and management with physiotherapy for children. Major online electronic databases PubMed, PEDro, and Google Scholar were researched to identify, organize and commission the current review. To create a search strategy, Medical Subject Headings and Descriptors of Science and Health were utilized. The authors looked for other studies by screening the references list of the potentially pertinent papers. These computerized searches turned up studies and those studies' bibliographies with pertinent citations were examined. Personal protective equipment was a crucial component for protection and contact precaution. Following hypoxia, effective oxygen therapy is administered right away. When necessary, under the right circumstances, nasal high-flow oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, lung-protective breathing methods, and prone positioning can be used. Children with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 may benefit from physiotherapy interventions with a focus on ventilatory management, airway clearance procedures, early activities, and mobilization.

Decoding the therapeutic landscape of alpha-linolenic acid: a network pharmacology and bioinformatics investigation against cancer-related epigenetic modifiers.

Omega-3 (n - 3) and omega-6 (n - 6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are vital for human health, but an imbalance between these types is associated with chronic diseases, including cancer. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a n - 3 PUFA, shows promise as an anticancer agent in both laboratory and animal studies. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying ALA's actions against cancer-related epigenetic modifiers (CaEpM) remain unclear. To understand this, we employed network pharmacology (NP) and molecular docking techniques. Our study identified 51 potential ALA targets and GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed possible molecular targets and signaling pathways of ALA against CaEpM. From PPI analysis, EZH2, KAT2B, SIRT1, KAT2A, KDM6B, EHMT2, WDR5, SETD7, SIRT2, and HDAC3 emerged as the top 10 potential targets. Additionally, GeneMANIA functional association (GMFA) network analysis of these top 10 targets was performed to enhance NP insights and explore ALA's multi-target approach. After an exhaustive analysis of the core FGN subnetwork, it became evident that 9 out of the 15 targets-namely EZH2, SUZ12, EED, PARP1, HDAC3, DNMT1, NCOR2, KAT2B, and TRRAP-manifested evidently strong and abundant interconnections among each other. Molecular docking of both top 10 targets and core FGN targets confirmed strong binding affinity between ALA and SIRT2, WDR5, KDM6B, EHMT2, HDAC3, EZH2, PARP1, and KAT2B, underscoring their roles in ALA's anti-CaEpM mechanism. Our findings suggest that ALA may target key signaling pathways related to transcriptional regulation, microRNA involvement, stem cell pluripotency and cellular senescence in cancer epigenetics. These findings illuminate ALA's potential as a multi-target agent against CaEpM.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Effects of resistance training on muscular strength, endurance, body composition and functional performance among sarcopenic patients: a systematic review.

Background: Sarcopenia, a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength associated with ageing, contributes to a decline in physical abilities, increase in disability and frailty and loss of functional independence. This functional deterioration which comes with ageing, can be slowed in pace with exercise. Objective: The objective of the current review was to thoroughly search for literature assessing impact of RT on physical performance, body composition, muscle strength and endurance in sarcopenic elderly patients. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro databases were brought in use for a thorough search for articles published from 2010 to 2023. Two researchers independently retrieved data from studies that complied with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, while they also evaluated quality of the evidence. Results: In total, 14 studies with 742 patients with mean age of 72.4 ± 9.22 years were included in the analysis for this review. Results indicate, RT improves body composition (p = 0.001), functional performance (p 0.001), postural stability (p = 0.005) and muscle strength (p 0.001) in elderly sarcopenic patients. Conclusion: A promising intervention for the management of sarcopenia is RT. To yield RT's positive effects, a well-designed prescription is the need of the hour, just like it is with other treatment strategies.