Effect of Citrus Flavanones on Diabetes: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Fruits and vegetables play a significant role in the health and nutrition of human beings. Flavanones being the major class of flavonoids are the main phytochemicals in citrus fruits having several favorable effects, particularly in preventing diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to discuss the anti-diabetic potential of citrus flavanones based on in vivo studies. METHODS: A search of Google Scholar, PubMed, NCBI, Research Gate, Science Direct, HEC Digital Library databases for articles that have been published since 2010 was conducted using the keywords citrus, flavanones, and diabetes. RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were identified, in which it was reported that 5 flavanones have antidiabetic effects. These flavanones have many benefits, such as they help in glycemic control, regulate the biomarkers of lipid profile, renal function, and modulate the signaling pathways that increase insulin sensitivity and uptake of glucose, thus are responsible for preventing diabetes and complications related to it. CONCLUSION: Therefore, citrus flavanones are the candidates having promising anti-diabetic potential but their effect needs to be verified through human studies.

Impairing proliferation of glioblastoma multiforme with CD44+ selective conjugated polymer nanoparticles.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer with success of therapy being hampered by the existence of treatment resistant populations of stem-like Tumour Initiating Cells (TICs) and poor blood-brain barrier drug penetration. Therapies capable of effectively targeting the TIC population are in high demand. Here, we synthesize spherical diketopyrrolopyrrole-based Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles (CPNs) with an average diameter of 109 nm. CPNs were designed to include fluorescein-conjugated Hyaluronic Acid (HA), a ligand for the CD44 receptor present on one population of TICs. We demonstrate blood-brain barrier permeability of this system and concentration and cell cycle phase-dependent selective uptake of HA-CPNs in CD44 positive GBM-patient derived cultures. Interestingly, we found that uptake alone regulated the levels and signaling activity of the CD44 receptor, decreasing stemness, invasive properties and proliferation of the CD44-TIC populations in vitro and in a patient-derived xenograft zebrafish model. This work proposes a novel, CPN- based, and surface moiety-driven selective way of targeting of TIC populations in brain cancer.

Sexual and gender minority health in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A scoping review.

Background: Researchers in studies from multiple countries suggest that sexual and gender minority people experience high rates of violence, stigma, and discrimination, as well as mistrust of health care providers and systems. Despite growing evidence related to sexual and gender minority health in North America and Europe, we know little about the health of this population in the Middle East and North Africa. Objectives: We aimed to comprehensively examine the literature related to the health of sexual and gender minority people in the Middle East and North Africa and to identify research gaps and priorities. Design: We conducted a scoping review informed by the framework recommended by Arksey and O'Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) tool. Data sources: We searched the following databases: PubMed (using Medline All on the Ovid platform), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (Ebsco), and Embase (Ovid). The search strategy combined terms for the geographic region of interest (Middle East and North Africa) and the population of interest (sexual and gender minority). Each was operationalized using multiple search terms and, where available, controlled vocabulary terms. Review Methods: Research articles were identified and assessed for inclusion using an explicit strategy. Relevant information was extracted and synthesized to present a descriptive summary of existing evidence. Results: Research designs of the 98 articles we reviewed included quantitative (n = 73), qualitative (n = 20), and mixed methods (n = 5). Most studies were conducted in Lebanon (n = 33), Pakistan (n = 32), and Iran (n = 23) and focused mainly on gender minority individuals (n = 46) and men who have sex with men (n = 32). Five themes emerged from the review: sexual health (52; 53%); mental health (20; 20%); gender identity (17; 17%); violence and discrimination (7; 7%); and experiences with the healthcare system (2; 2%). Although researchers focused on multiple health outcomes in some studies, we included them under the theme most closely aligned with the main objective of the study. Conclusion: Although our study is limited to few countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, we found that sexual and gender minority individuals face multiple adverse sexual and mental health outcomes and experience high rates of stigma, discrimination, and violence. More research is needed from countries outside of Lebanon, Pakistan, and Iran, including community-based participatory approaches and multi-level intervention development. Nurses and other healthcare providers in the region need training in providing inclusive care for this population.