Clinical outcomes of bronchiectasis in India: data from the EMBARC/Respiratory Research Network of India registry.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for poor outcomes can help with risk stratification and targeting of treatment. Risk factors for mortality and exacerbations have been identified in bronchiectasis but have been almost exclusively studied in European and North American populations. This study investigated the risk factors for poor outcome in a large population of bronchiectasis patients enrolled in India. METHODS: The European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC) and Respiratory Research Network of India (EMBARC-India) registry is a prospective observational study of adults with computed tomography-confirmed bronchiectasis enrolled at 31 sites across India. Baseline characteristics of patients were used to investigate associations with key clinical outcomes: mortality, severe exacerbations requiring hospital admission, overall exacerbation frequency and decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s. RESULTS: 1018 patients with at least 12-month follow-up data were enrolled in the follow-up study. Frequent exacerbations (≥3 per year) at baseline were associated with an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 3.23, 95% CI 1.39-7.50), severe exacerbations (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.92-3.83), future exacerbations (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 3.08, 95% CI 2.36-4.01) and lung function decline. Coexisting COPD, dyspnoea and current cigarette smoking were similarly associated with a worse outcome across all end-points studied. Additional predictors of mortality and severe exacerbations were increasing age and cardiovascular comorbidity. Infection with Gram-negative pathogens (predominantly Klebsiella pneumoniae) was independently associated with increased mortality (HR 3.13, 95% CI 1.62-6.06), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was associated with severe exacerbations (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.01-1.97) and overall exacerbation rate (IRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13-1.91). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies risk factors for morbidity and mortality among bronchiectasis patients in India. Identification of these risk factors may support treatment approaches optimised to an Asian setting.

Evodiamine as an anticancer agent: a comprehensive review on its therapeutic application, pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and metabolism in various cancers.

Evodiamine is a major alkaloid component found in the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa. It shows the anti-proliferative potential against a wide range of cancers by suppressing cell growth, invasion, and metastasis and inducing apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Evodiamine shows its anticancer potential by modulating aberrant signaling pathways. Additionally, the review focuses on several therapeutic implications of evodiamine, such as epigenetic modification, cancer stem cells, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Moreover, combinatory drug therapeutics along with evodiamine enhances the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in various cancers by overcoming the chemo resistance and radio resistance shown by cancer cells. It has been widely used in preclinical trials in animal models, exhibiting very negligible side effects against normal cells and effective against cancer cells. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics-based collaborations of evodiamine are also included. Due to its poor bioavailability, synthetic analogs of evodiamine and its nano capsule have been formulated to enhance its bioavailability and reduce toxicity. In addition, this review summarizes the ongoing research on the mechanisms behind the antitumor potential of evodiamine, which proposes an exciting future for such interests in cancer biology.

Janus zirconium halide ZrXY (X, Y = Br, Cl and F) monolayers with high lattice thermal conductivity and strong visible-light absorption.

In this work, the structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of Janus zirconium halide monolayers have been systematically investigated using the first-principles calculations. After verifying the mechanical and dynamical stability of these monolayers, their electronic band structures have been predicted. These Janus monolayers have band gaps of 1.51-1.96 eV, which indicates their suitability for visible light absorption. The relaxation time and mobility of charge carriers are estimated using deformation potential theory, and the mobility of these monolayers has been predicted to be of the order ∼102 cm2 V-1 s-1. The lattice thermal conductivity has been calculated by solving the phonon Boltzmann transport equation using ShengBTE software. At 300 K, the in-plane lattice thermal conductivity has values of 76.94, 54.18, and 95.87 W m-1 K-1 for ZrBrCl, ZrBrF, and ZrClF monolayers, respectively. The higher group velocity and small anharmonic three-phonon scattering rate are the main reasons for the high lattice thermal conductivity of the ZrClF monolayer. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function are calculated to find the absorption coefficients and these monolayers have a high absorption coefficient of the order ∼106 cm-1 in the visible light range. Our results show that Janus zirconium halide monolayers are potential candidates for optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications.

Piperlongumine, a potent anticancer phytotherapeutic: Perspectives on contemporary status and future possibilities as an anticancer agent.

Piperlongumine, a white to beige biologically active alkaloid/amide phytochemical, has high pharmacological relevance as an anticancer agent. Piperlongumine has several biological activities, including selective cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cells of different origins at a preclinical level. Several preclinical studies have documented the anticancer potential of piperlongumine through its targeting of multiple molecular mechanisms, such as cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis, anti- invasive and anti-metastasis pathways, autophagy pathways, and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, piperlongumine inhibits cancer growth by resulting in the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, decreasing glutathione and chromosomal damage, or modulating key regulatory proteins, including PI3K, AKT, mTOR, NF-kß, STATs, and cyclin D1. Furthermore, combined treatment with piperlongumine potentiates the anticancer activity of conventional chemotherapeutics and overcomes resistance to chemo- and radio- therapy. Nanoformulation of piperlongumine has been associated with increased aqueous solubility and bioavailability and lower toxicity, thus enhancing therapeutic efficacy in both preclinical and clinical settings. The current review highlights anticancer studies on the occurrence, chemical properties, chemopreventive mechanisms, toxicity, bioavailability, and pharmaceutical relevance of piperlongumine in vitro and in vivo.

Kirsten rat sarcoma virus protein overexpression in adenocarcinoma lung: Association with clinicopathological and histomorphological features.

CONTEXT: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The constitutive activation of multiple signaling pathways is the major cause of carcinogenesis. AIMS: The study evaluates the frequency of Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) protein overexpression and correlates with clinicopathological and histomorphological features in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)-adenocarcinoma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tertiary hospital-based retrospective and prospective case series included 100 cases of NSCLC-adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The basic panel of Immunohistochemistry including Napsin-A, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), and markers for squamous differentiation, p-40 was used in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. The KRAS monoclonal antibody (9.13, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) was used. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The IBM-Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (SPSS, International Business Machines Corporation, New York, NY, USA) analysis software, version 16 was used for all statistical calculations. RESULTS: KRAS protein expressed in 28.0% (28/100) cases. Cases were grouped as KRAS positive and negative. TTF-1 and Napsin-A were expressed in 89.25% (n = 25) and 92.86% (n = 26) cases, respectively. Stage IV clinical disease was identified in 55% of cases, and 36.84% of cases had a mean survival between 6 and 12 months. In KRAS positive group, the most common pattern of cellular arrangement was acinar/loose clusters pattern present in 64.29% (n = 21) and 75.0% (n = 18) cases followed by the solid pattern present in 42.86% of cases (n = 12), respectively. Necrosis was identified in 57.14% (n = 16) cases. Mucin pattern was present in 32.14% of cases (n = 9), which was significantly different when compared with the KRAS negative group (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: This finding may imply that KRAS mutations may not be entirely triggered by alterations induced by carcinogens in smoke. KRAS gene is frequently mutated in pulmonary tumors. It should be tested in NSCLC owing to its predictive and prognostic effects.

Plumbagin promotes mitochondrial mediated apoptosis in gefitinib sensitive and resistant A549 lung cancer cell line through enhancing reactive oxygen species generation.

Plumbagin (PL) is a natural naphthoquinone compound, isolated from Plumbago zeylanica that has cytotoxic and antimigratory potential in many cancer. However, the cytotoxic mechanism of plumbagin in drug resistant lung cancer is poorly understood. To reveal the mechanism, we studied the anticancer effect of plumbagin in both gefitinib-sensitive and resistant A549 lung cancer cells. The anticancer potential of PL was demonstrated by MTT assay and the result suggested that PL showed cytotoxicity in both gefitinib-sensitive (A549) and gefitinib-resistant (A549GR) lung cancer cells. IC50 values of PL in A549 and A549GR were 3.2 µM and 4.5 µM, respectively. Morphological changes were also observed after treatment with PL. Furthermore, PL decreased cell survival by inhibiting colony formation ability, and inhibited cell migration at very low concentrations. From Annexin V-FITC/PI, AO/EtBr, and DAPI staining, we found that increasing concentration of PL leads to increase in apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Furthermore, western blotting results suggested that Bax and Caspase 3 levels were upregulated after PL treatment. In addition, treatment of PL caused DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner. PL arrested the cell cycle at S-G2/M phase, and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Excess ROS generated by PL disrupted mitochondrial membrane resulted in depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). These results conclude that PL decreases lung cancer cell viability by arresting cells at S-G2/M phase, and induces apoptosis by activation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway through excess ROS generation. Overall findings suggest that plumbagin shows cytotoxic and therapeutic potential against both A549 and A549GR cell lines.

The potential of retinoids for combination therapy of lung cancer: Updates and future directions.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer-related death worldwide. Natural compounds have shown high biological and pharmaceutical relevance as anticancer agents. Retinoids are natural derivatives of vitamin A having many regulatory functions in the human body, including vision, cellular proliferation and differentiation, and activation of tumour suppressor genes. Retinoic acid (RA) is a highly active retinoid isoform with promising anti-lung cancer activity. The abnormal expression of retinoid receptors is associated with loss of anticancer activities and acquired resistance to RA in lung cancer. The preclinical promise has not translated to the general clinical utility of retinoids for lung cancer patients, especially those with a history of smoking. Newer retinoid nano-formulations and the combinatorial use of retinoids has been associated with lower toxicity and more favorably efficacy in both the preclinical and clinical settings. Here, we highlight epidemiological and clinical therapeutic studies involving retinoids and lung cancer. We also discuss the biological actions of retinoids in lung cancer, which include effects on cancer stem cell differentiation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferative. We suggest that the use of retinoids in combination with conventional and targeted anticancer agents will broaden the utility of these potent anticancer compounds in the lung cancer clinic.

Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) wild bark extract induces anticarcinogenic effect in human cancer cells through mitochondrial-mediated ROS generation.

Plants have many medicinal properties including anticancer activity due to the presence of several secondary metabolites. Current cancer treatment policies are not much effective because of side effects and resistance development. Therefore, the discovery of new phytotherapeutics with no or fewer side effects is highly needed. Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) wild, an angiosperm has a broad application in traditional Indian medicinal system including cancer treatment. Despite, there is no study available on the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of P. acerifolium in human cancer cells. Exploring the medicinal properties of P. acerifolium plant by its traditional use will be helpful towards developing novel cancer therapeutics. Hence, we decided to demonstrate the anti-carcinogenic property of P. acerifolium ethanolic bark extract against lung (A549) and pancreatic (PANC-1) cancer cells. The cytotoxicity was demonstrated by MTT assay, morphological changes, and scratch invasion assay. Flow cytometry, fluorescence staining techniques, and cell cycle analysis were confirmed the apoptotic property of P. acerifolium plant. The cell viability assay revealed that P. acerifolium ethanolic bark extract significantly reduced the viability of both A549 and PANC-1 cells. Moreover, PANC-1 cells showed more sensitivity towards P. acerifolium ethanolic bark extract than A549 at higher concentrations. Clear visualization of changes such as cytoplasmic condensation, cellular morphology, cell shrinkage, and augmented number of dead cells in both the cancer cells was observed after treatment. Scratch and invasion assay showed that cell migration and invasion rate of both the cancer cells were significantly reduced. Fluorescence microscopic studies using acridine orange/ethidium bromide and DAPI (4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining showed early and late apoptotic symptoms after treatment with bark extract. Rhodamine-123 and DCFH-DA staining analysis by fluorescence and flow cytometry showed that bark extract depolarized the mitochondria membrane potential and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Cell cycle analysis through flow cytometry using propidium iodide stain showed that P. acerifolium bark extract arrested A549 and PANC-1 cells in sub-G1 phase stated early apoptosis. These findings collectively point to the fact that P. acerifolium bark extract induced cell cytotoxicity in lung and pancreatic cancer cells by modulating mitochondrial-mediated ROS generation, and cell cycle checkpoints.

A pilot study to compare patient perception of obstructive sleep apnea treatment with CPAP or appliance therapy.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device yields optimum results in treating mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However it may be bulky, noisy, and difficult to sleep with for the patient. Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) have shown better compliance but at the expense of lesser efficiency. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient's posttreatment subjective perception of the effectiveness of 2 common treatments of OSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with OSA filled out the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Berlin Sleep Quality Questionnaire before treatment and again at 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. Two groups were formed (n=16 each); one group was treated with MAD and the other with CPAP. The data obtained were recorded and compared with the Mann Whitney U test (between groups) and the Wilcoxon signed rank test (within groups) (α=.05). RESULTS: The analysis showed that the participants perceived significant posttreatment improvement (P<.05) for all variables of the Berlin Sleep Quality Questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for both the MAD and CPAP groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the questionnaires, participants perceived significant improvement in OSA symptoms after treatment in both the MAD and CPAP groups. The study was inconclusive as to whether improvement of perceived symptoms was higher with MAD or CPAP.

Exposure of piperlongumine attenuates stemness and epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenotype with more potent anti-metastatic activity in SOX9 deficient human lung cancer cells.

Phytocompounds have shown hopeful results in cancer therapy. Piperlongumine (PIP), a naturally derived bioactive alkaloid found in our dietary spice, exhibits promising pharmacological relevance including anticancer activity. This study reconnoitred the anti-lung cancer effect of PIP and the allied mechanisms, in vitro and ex vivo. The cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic effects of PIP on lung cancer cells (LCC) were checked via cell viability, colony formation, cell migration, invasion, comet assay, and various staining techniques. Further, multicellular spheroids assay explored the anti-lung cancer potential of PIP, ex vivo. Preliminary results explored that PIP exerts selective cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on LCC by DNA damage and cell cycle arrest. PIP remarkably escalated the cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and promoted dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which triggers activation of caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in LCC. Mechanistically, PIP showed F-actin deformation mediated significant anti-migratory and anti-invasive activity against LCC. Herein, we also found that F-actin dis-organization modulates the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and inhibits the expression of stemness marker proteins, like SOX9, CD-133, and CD-44. Moreover, PIP effectively reduced the size of spheroids with strong apoptotic and cytotoxic effects, ex vivo. This has been the first study to discover the high expression of SOX9 supporting the survival of LCC, whereas its inhibition induces higher sensitivity to PIP treatment. This study concludes a newer therapeutic agent (PIP) with promising anticancer activity against LCC by escalating ROS and attenuating MMP, stemness, and EMT.

Current and future therapeutic approaches of CFTR and airway dysbiosis in an era of personalized medicine.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. This leads to a defective protein that impairs chloride transport, resulting in thick mucus buildup and chronic inflammation in the airways. The review discusses current and future therapeutic approaches for CFTR dysfunction and airway dysbiosis in the era of personalized medicine. Personalized medicine has revolutionized CF treatment with the advent of CFTR modulator therapies that target specific genetic mutations. These therapies have significantly improved patient outcomes, slowing disease progression, and enhancing quality of life. It also highlights the growing recognition of the airway microbiome's role in CF pathogenesis and discusses strategies to modulate the microbiome to further improve patient outcomes. This review discusses various therapeutic approaches for cystic fibrosis (CFTR) mutations, including adenovirus gene treatments, nonviral vectors, CRISPR/cas9 methods, RNA replacement, antisense-oligonucleotide-mediated DNA-based therapies, and cell-based therapies. It also introduces airway dysbiosis with CF and how microbes influence the lungs. The review highlights the importance of understanding the cellular and molecular causes of CF and the development of personalized medicine to improve quality of life and health outcomes.

Transforming native exosomes to engineered drug vehicles: A smart solution to modern cancer theranostics.

Exosomes have been the hidden treasure of the cell in terms of cellular interactions, transportation and therapy. The native exosomes (NEx) secreted by the parent cells hold promising aspects in cancer diagnosis and therapy. NEx has low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, low toxicity and high stability which enables them to be an ideal prognostic biomarker in cancer diagnosis. However, due to heterogeneity, NEx lacks specificity and accuracy to be used as therapeutic drug delivery vehicle in cancer therapy. Transforming these NEx with their innate structure and multiple receptors to engineered exosomes (EEx) can provide better opportunities in the field of cancer theranostics. The surface of the NEx exhibits numeric receptors which can be modified to pave the direction of its therapeutic drug delivery in cancer therapy. Through surface membrane, EEx can be modified with increased drug loading potentiality and higher target specificity to act as a therapeutic nanocarrier for drug delivery. This review provides insights into promising aspects of NEx as a prognostic biomarker and drug delivery tool along with its need for the transformation to EEx in cancer theranostics. We have also highlighted different methods associated with NEx transformations, their nano-bio interaction with recipient cells and major challenges of EEx for clinical application in cancer theranostics.

Expert panel opinion on adult pneumococcal vaccination in the post-COVID era (NAP- EXPO Recommendations-2024).

INTRODUCTION: Pneumococcal diseases pose a significant public health concern in India, with substantial morbidity and mortality, with the elderly and those with coexisting medical conditions being most at risk. Pneumococcus was also seen to be one of the main reasons for co-infection, pneumonia and complications in COVID. Current guidelines recommend vaccination for specific adult populations, but there is a lack of uniformity and guidance on risk stratification, prioritisation and optimal timing. METHODS: Nation Against Pneumococcal Infections - Expert Panel Opinion (NAP-EXPO) is a panel convened to review and update recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in India. The panel of 23 experts from various medical specialties engaged in discussions and evidence-based reviews, discussed appropriate age for vaccination, risk stratification for COPD and asthma patients, vaccination strategies for post-COVID patients, smokers and diabetics, as well as methods to improve vaccine awareness and uptake. OUTCOME: The NAP-EXPO recommends the following for adults: All healthy individuals 60 years of age and above should receive the pneumococcal vaccine; all COPD patients, regardless of severity, high-risk asthma patients, post-COVID cases with lung fibrosis or significant lung damage, should be vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine; all current smokers and passive smokers should be educated and offered the pneumococcal vaccine, regardless of their age or health condition; all diabetic individuals should receive the pneumococcal vaccine, irrespective of their diabetes control. Strategies to improve vaccine awareness and uptake should involve general practitioners (GPs), primary health physicians (PHPs) and physicians treating patients at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Advocacy campaigns should involve media, including social media platforms. CONCLUSION: These recommendations aim to enhance pneumococcal vaccination coverage among high-risk populations in India in order to ensure a reduction in the burden of pneumococcal diseases, in the post-COVID era. There is a need to create more evidence and data to support the recommendations that the vaccine will be useful to a wider range of populations, as suggested in our consensus.

NiO-based nanostructures with efficient optical and electrochemical properties for high-performance nanofluids.

NiO nanostructures were synthesized via a simple wet chemical solution method with varying calcination temperatures. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized by XRD, TG/DSC, FT-IR and high-resolution electron microscopy techniques. The nanostructures revealed dependence of particle size, stoichiometry, optical band gap and luminescence intensity on calcination temperatures. The materials exhibited efficient electrochemical properties with decent capacitance values. Ethylene-glycol-based nanofluids of these nanoparticles registered excellent thermal conductivity enhancement of 59-69% in the room temperature region and 125% enhancement at higher temperatures (80 ° C), establishing NiO to be a top-draw contender for high-performance heat transfer fluids.

Changes in the electrical properties at an early stage of mouse liver carcinogenesis.

The present investigation reports the changes in the electrical properties of hepatic tissue in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 5 MHz at an early stage of liver carcinogenesis using the four-pin electrode method. The hepatocarcinogenesis model was developed by intraperitoneal injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) to male Balb/c mice. Histopathological assessment revealed high-grade dysplasia in the liver of NDEA-treated animals. The ultrastructural investigations indicated the presence of large and clumped cells with inconspicuous cell boundaries. The treatment resulted in significant changes in the dielectric properties of the tissues. A decrease in tissue conductivity along with an increase in relative permittivity was observed. The biophysical changes correlated well with histoarchitectural and morphological changes. The alterations in architectural arrangement and membrane structure of cells may be responsible for the observed changes in the dielectric properties.

Tumour microenvironment and aberrant signaling pathways in cisplatin resistance and strategies to overcome in oral cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Oral cancer is the sixteenth most prevalent cancer in the world and the third-most in India. Despite of several treatment modalities, the cure rate of oral cancer is still low due to drug resistance mechanisms, which are caused by many reasons. It is necessary to improve the existing treatment strategies and discover neoteric therapy to kill cancer cells, which will give oral cancer's cure rate more success. So this review aims to delineate the molecular mechanisms behind cisplatin resistance, specifically the role of the tumor microenvironment, extracellular vesicles, and altered signaling pathways and its overcoming strategies in oral cancer. DESIGN: This review was designed by searching words like cancer, oral cancer, cisplatin-resistance, tumor microenvironment, aberrant signalings, and extracellular vesicles, overcoming strategies for cisplatin resistance in databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, web science, and Scopus. Data available in this review is from 2017 to 2021. RESULTS: After searching too much data, we found these 98 data appropriate for our review. From these data, we found that tumor microenvironment, extracellular vesicles, and altered signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT, EGFR, NOTCH, Ras, PTEN, Nf-κß, and Wnt signaling have a crucial role in resistance development towards cisplatin in oral cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Lastly, this review explores the alternative strategies to overcome cisplatin resistance likely, the combination therapy and targeted therapy by combining more than one chemotherapeutic drug or inhibitors of signaling pathways and also by using nanoparticle loaded drugs that will reduce the drug efflux, which gives new treatment strategies.

Targeting Apoptotic Pathway of Cancer Cells with Phytochemicals and Plant-Based Nanomaterials.

Apoptosis is the elimination of functionally non-essential, neoplastic, and infected cells via the mitochondrial pathway or death receptor pathway. The process of apoptosis is highly regulated through membrane channels and apoptogenic proteins. Apoptosis maintains cellular balance within the human body through cell cycle progression. Loss of apoptosis control prolongs cancer cell survival and allows the accumulation of mutations that can promote angiogenesis, promote cell proliferation, disrupt differentiation, and increase invasiveness during tumor progression. The apoptotic pathway has been extensively studied as a potential drug target in cancer treatment. However, the off-target activities of drugs and negative implications have been a matter of concern over the years. Phytochemicals (PCs) have been studied for their efficacy in various cancer cell lines individually and synergistically. The development of nanoparticles (NPs) through green synthesis has added a new dimension to the advancement of plant-based nanomaterials for effective cancer treatment. This review provides a detailed insight into the fundamental molecular pathways of programmed cell death and highlights the role of PCs along with the existing drugs and plant-based NPs in treating cancer by targeting its programmed cell death (PCD) network.

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis.

BACKGROUND: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. METHODS: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events.

SOX9 as an emerging target for anticancer drugs and a prognostic biomarker for cancer drug resistance.

The dysregulated expression of the transcription factor (TF) Sry-related HMG box 9 (SOX9) has been extensively correlated with various biological effects, including the initiation and progression of cancer. Differential expression of SOX9 has been positively correlated with cancer cell growth, invasion, migration, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Studies showed that expression of SOX9 affects the expression of various miRNAs and vice versa, resulting in the development of cancer drug resistance. However, modulating the expression of SOX9 reverses drug resistance by modulating the expression of miRNAs. Therefore, in this review, we summarize current research focusing on SOX9 as a cancer therapeutic target and a prognostic biomarker of cancer drug resistance.

SOX9: An emerging driving factor from cancer progression to drug resistance.

Dysregulation of transcription factors is one of the common problems in the pathogenesis of human cancer. Among them, SOX9 is one of the critical transcription factors involved in various diseases, including cancer. The expression of SOX9 is regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), methylation, phosphorylation, and acetylation. Interestingly, SOX9 acts as a proto-oncogene or tumor suppressor gene, relying upon kinds of cancer. Recent studies have reported the critical role of SOX9 in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, activation of SOX9 signaling or SOX9 regulated signaling pathways play a crucial role in cancer development and progression. Accumulating evidence also suggests that SOX9 acquires stem cell features to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, SOX9 has been broadly studied in the field of cancer stem cell (CSC) and EMT in the last decades. However, the link between SOX9 and cancer drug resistance has only recently been discovered. Furthermore, its differential expression could be a potential biomarker for tumor prognosis and progression. This review outlined the various biological implications of SOX9 in cancer progression and cancer drug resistance and elucidated its signaling network, which could be a potential target for designing novel anticancer drugs.