Flavonoids as Potential Therapeutics Against Neurodegenerative Disorders: Unlocking the Prospects.

Neurodegeneration, the decline of nerve cells in the brain, is a common feature of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Oxidative stress, a key factor in NDDs such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease can lead to neuronal cell death, mitochondria impairment, excitotoxicity, and Ca2+ stress. Environmental factors compromising stress response lead to cell damage, necessitating novel therapeutics for preventing or treating brain disorders in older individuals and an aging population. Synthetic medications offer symptomatic benefits but can have adverse effects. This research explores the potential of flavonoids derived from plants in treating NDDs. Flavonoids compounds, have been studied for their potential to enter the brain and treat NDDs. These compounds have diverse biological effects and are currently being explored for their potential in the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Flavonoids have various beneficial effects, including antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties. Their potential to alleviate symptoms of NDDs is significant.

Polyalthia longifolia-mediated green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: characterization, photocatalytic and antifungal activities.

The biological synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from plant extracts has emerged as a novel method for producing NPs with great scalability and biocompatibility. The present study is focused on bio-fabricated zinc oxide nanomaterial characterization and investigation of its photocatalytic and antifungal activities. ZnO NPs were biosynthesized using the leaf extract of Polyalthia longifolia without using harmful reducing or capping chemicals, which demonstrated fungicidal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. The results showed that the inhibition of the radial growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris was enhanced as the concentration increased from 100 ppm to 300 ppm. The effectiveness of the photocatalytic activity of biosynthesized ZnO NPs was analyzed using MB dye degradation in aqueous medium under ultraviolet (UV) radiation and natural sunlight. After four consecutive cycles, the photocatalytic degradation of MB was stable and was 84%, 83%, 83%, and 83%, respectively, during natural sunlight exposure. Under the UV sources, degradation reached 92%, 89%, 88%, and 87%, respectively, in 90 minutes. This study suggests that the ZnO NPs obtained from plant extract have outstanding photocatalytic and antifungal activities against F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and have the potential for application as a natural pest control agent to reduce pathogenesis.

Label-Free Field Effect Transistors (FETs) for Fabrication of Point-of-Care (POC) Biomedical Detection Probes.

Field effect transistors (FETs)-based detection probes are powerful platforms for quantification in biological media due to their sensitivity, ease of miniaturization, and ability to function in biological media. Especially, FET-based platforms have been utilized as promising probes for label-free detections with the potential for use in real-time monitoring. The integration of new materials in the FET-based probe enhances the analytical performance of the developed probes by increasing the active surface area, rejecting interfering agents, and providing the possibility for surface modification. Furthermore, the use of new materials eliminates the need for traditional labeling techniques, providing rapid and cost-effective detection of biological analytes. This review discusses the application of materials in the development of FET-based label-free systems for point-of-care (POC) analysis of different biomedical analytes from 2018 to 2024. The mechanism of action of the reported probes is discussed, as well as their pros and cons were also investigated. Also, the possible challenges and potential for the fabrication of commercial devices or methods for use in clinics were discussed.

Construction, Features and Regulatory Aspects of Organ-Chip for Drug Delivery Applications: Advances and Prospective.

Organ-on-chip is an innovative technique that emerged from tissue engineering and microfluidic technologies. Organ-on-chip devices (OoCs) are anticipated to provide efficient resolutions to dealing with challenges in pharmaceutical advancement and individualized illness therapies. Organ-on-chip is an advanced method that can replicate human organs' physiological conditions and functions on a small chip. It possesses the capacity to greatly transform the drug development process by enabling the simulation of diseases and the testing of drugs. Effective integration of this advanced technical platform with common pharmaceutical and medical contexts is still a challenge. Microfluidic technology, a micro-level technique, has become a potent tool for biomedical engineering research. As a result, it has revolutionized disciplines including physiological material interpreting, compound detection, cell-based assay, tissue engineering, biological diagnostics, and pharmaceutical identification. This article aims to offer an overview of newly developed organ-on-a-chip systems. It includes single-organ platforms, emphasizing the most researched organs, including the heart, liver, blood arteries, and lungs. Subsequently, it provides a concise overview of tumour-on-a-chip systems and emphasizes their use in the evaluation of anti-cancer medications.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel Ti/BTB-MOFs as porous anticancer and antibacterial agents.

Nano compounds, especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have significant properties. Among the most important properties of these compounds, which depend on their specific surface area and porosity, are biological properties, such as anticancer and antibacterial properties. In this study, a new titanium/BTB metal-organic framework (Ti/BTB-MOF) was synthesized by using titanium nitrate and 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (BTB) under microwave radiation. The structure of the synthesized Ti/BTB-MOF was characterized and confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis mapping, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The in vitro anticancer properties of Ti/BTB-MOF were evaluated using the MTT method against MG-63/bone cancer cells and A-431/skin cancer cells. The in vitro antibacterial activity was tested using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. In the anticancer activity, IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values of 152 µg/mL and 201 µg/mL for MG-63/bone cancer cells and A-431/skin cancer cells, respectively, were observed. In the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2-64 µg/mL were observed against studied pathogenic strains. The antimicrobial activity of Ti/BTB-MOF was higher than that of penicillin and gentamicin. Therefore, the synthesized Ti/BTB-MOF could be introduced as a suitable bioactive candidate.

LncRNA NEAT1 in the pathogenesis of liver-related diseases.

Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that is widely expressed in a variety of mammalian cell types. Altered expression levels of the lncRNA NEAT1 have been reported in liver-related disorders including cancer, fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, and hepatic ischemia. lncRNA NEAT1 mostly acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge various miRNAs (miRs) to regulate different functions. In regard to hepatic cancers, the elevated expression of NEAT1 has been reported to have a relation with the proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. Furthermore, NEAT1 upregulation has contributed to the pathogenesis of other liver diseases such as fibrosis. In this review, we summarize and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which NEAT1 contributes to liver-related disorders including acute liver failure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver carcinoma, providing novel insights and introducing NEAT1 as a potential therapeutic target in these diseases.

Dendritic cell-derived exosome (DEX) therapy for digestive system cancers: Recent advances and future prospect.

Tumor-mediated immunosuppression is a fundamental obstacle to the development of dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines, which despite their ability to stimulate host anti-tumor CD8 T cell immunity, have not been able to generate meaningful therapeutic responses. Exosomes are inactive membrane vesicles that are nanoscale in size and are produced by the endocytic pathway. They are essential for intercellular communication. Additionally, DC-derived exosomes (DEXs) contained MHC class I/II (MHCI/II), which is frequently complexed with antigens and co-stimulatory molecules and is therefore able to prime CD4 and CD8 T cells that are specific to particular antigens. Indeed, vaccines with DEXs have been shown to exhibit better anti-tumor efficacy in eradicating tumors compared to DC vaccines in pre-clinical models of digestive system tumors. Also, there is room for improvement in the tumor antigenic peptide (TAA) selection process. DCs release highly targeted exosomes when the right antigenic peptide is chosen, which could aid in the creation of DEX-based antitumor vaccines that elicit more targeted immune responses. Coupled with their resistance to tumor immunosuppression, DEXs-based cancer vaccines have been heralded as the superior alternative cell-free therapeutic vaccines over DC vaccines to treat digestive system tumors. In this review, current studies of DEXs cancer vaccines as well as potential future directions will be deliberated.

Epidemiology and management of Fusarium wilt of Eucalyptus camaldulensis through systemic acquired resistance.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis is a multifunctional tree and is globally used for the reclamation of problematic lands. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is prone to attack by a number of pathogens, but the most important threat is the Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum). Keeping in view the importance of E. camaldulensis and to manage this disease, five plant activators, i.e., salicylic acid (C7H6O3), benzoic acid (C7H6O2), citric acid (C6H8O7), dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4), monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) and nutritional mixture namely Compound (NPK) and nutriotop (Fe, Zn, Cu, B, Mn) were evaluated in the Fusarium infested field under RCBD in the Research Area, Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF). Among plant activators, salicylic acid and a combination of compound + nutriotop exhibited the lowest disease incidence and enhanced fresh and dry weight of leaves compared to other treatments and control. Results of the environmental study indicated maximum disease incidence between 35-40 °C (max. T), 6-25 °C (mini. T), 70-80% relative humidity and 1.5-2.5 km/h wind speed while pan evaporation expressed weak correlation with disease development. It was concluded that Fusarium wilt of Eucalyptus camaldulensis could be managed through activation of the basal defense system of the host plant with provision of salicylic acid and balanced nutrition by considering environmental factors. Recent exploration is expected to be helpful for future research efforts on epidemiology and ecologically sound intervention of Fusarium wilt of Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

Flavonoids and Alzheimer's disease: reviewing the evidence for neuroprotective potential.

Neurodegeneration, which manifests as several chronic and incurable diseases, is an age-related condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and poses a significant threat to the public's health for the elderly. Recent decades have experienced an alarming increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), a severe public health issue due to the ongoing development of people living in modern civilizations. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading trigger of age-related dementia. Currently, there are no efficient therapeutics to delay, stop, or reverse the disease's course development. Several studies found that dietary bioactive phytochemicals, primarily flavonoids, influence the pathophysiological processes underlying AD. Flavonoids work well as a supplement to manufactured therapies for NDDs. Flavonoids are effective in complementing synthetic approaches to treat NDDs. They are biologically active phytochemicals with promising pharmacological activities, for instance, antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects. The production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and oxidative stress (OS) are downregulated by flavonoids, which slow the course of AD. Hence, this research turned from preclinical evidence to feasible clinical applications to develop newer therapeutics, focusing on the therapeutic potential of flavonoids against AD.

Cardiac markers in left-sided breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between radiotherapy (RT) and cardiac biomarkers in women with left-sided breast cancer. METHODS: This prospective observational study recruited patients with stage I-III left-sided breast cancer without coronary heart disease who required adjuvant RT. High-sensitivity troponin I(hsTnI), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP) levels were measured pre-RT, immediately after RT, and 3 months post-RT. Cardiac-sparing RT techniques were utilized (Field-in-Field IMRT/VMAT ± voluntary deep inspiration breath-hold). Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests and multivariable quantile regression (QR). RESULTS: One hundred five patients completed the study, with 63 evaluable at three months post-RT. Pre- and post-RT biomarkers showed no significant differences. Median pre-RT and post-RT values were: hsTnI (0.012ng/mL; 0.012ng/mL), hsCRP (3.1 mg/L; 2.8 mg/L), and NT-proBNP (59pg/mL; 45pg/mL). Three months post-RT, hsTnI, hsCRP and NT-proBNP levels also showed no significant differences. Multivariable QR revealed no association between heart Dmean [median(IQR): 2.87 Gy (2.05-3.94)] and post-RT biomarkers. Age and BMI were associated with hsCRP and NT-proBNP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: hsTnI, NT-proBNP, and hsCRP are not correlated with contemporary low cardiac exposure in left-sided breast cancer patients treated with contemporary RT techniques.

A comprehensive review of lncRNA CRNDE in cancer progression and pathology, with a specific glance at the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process.

It has been suggested that the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE), may contribute to the formation of human cancer. It is yet unknown, though, what therapeutic significance CRNDE expression has for different forms of cancer. CRNDE has recently been proposed as a possible diagnostic biomarker and prognostic pred for excellent specificity and sensitivity in cancer tissues and plasma. To provide the groundwork for potential future therapeutic uses of CRNDE, we briefly overview its biological action and related cancer-related pathways. Next, we mainly address the impact of CRNDE on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition, or EMT, is an essential biological mechanism involved in the spread of cancer.

Exploring opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in aquaculture to meet increasing food demand.

The increasing global population drives a rising demand for food, particularly fish as a preferred protein source, straining capture fisheries. Overfishing has depleted wild stocks, emphasizing the need for advanced aquaculture technologies. Unlike agriculture, aquaculture has not seen substantial technological advancements. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, cameras, and algorithms offer solutions to reduce human intervention, enhance productivity, and monitor fish health, feed optimization, and water resource management. However, challenges such as data collection, standardization, model accuracy, interpretability, and integration with existing aquaculture systems persist. This review explores the adoption of AI techniques and tools to advance the aquaculture industry and bridge the gap between food supply and demand.

Adjuvant Novel Nanocarrier-Based Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer has the lowest survival rate due to its late-stage diagnosis, poor prognosis, and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. These factors decrease the effectiveness of treatment. They release chemokines and cytokines from the tumor microenvironment (TME). To improve the effectiveness of treatment, researchers emphasize personalized adjuvant therapies along with conventional ones. Targeted chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems and specific pathway-blocking agents using nanocarriers are a few of them. This study explored the nanocarrier roles and strategies to improve the treatment profile's effectiveness by striving for TME. A biofunctionalized nanocarrier stimulates biosystem interaction, cellular uptake, immune system escape, and vascular changes for penetration into the TME. Inorganic metal compounds scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) through their photothermal effect. Stroma, hypoxia, pH, and immunity-modulating agents conjugated or modified nanocarriers co-administered with pathway-blocking or condition-modulating agents can regulate extracellular matrix (ECM), Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF),Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk receptors (TAM) regulation, regulatory T-cell (Treg) inhibition, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) inhibition. Again, biomimetic conjugation or the surface modification of nanocarriers using ligands can enhance active targeting efficacy by bypassing the TME. A carrier system with biofunctionalized inorganic metal compounds and organic compound complex-loaded drugs is convenient for NSCLC-targeted therapy.

Is it too early to recommend local treatment in oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a plea for equipoise.

Oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (OMD NSCLC) has been proposed to bridge the spectrum between non-metastatic and widely metastatic states and is perceived as an opportunity for potential cure if removed. Twelve clinical trials on local treatment have been reported, yet none are conclusive. These trials informed the development of a joint clinical practice guideline by the American & European Societies for Radiation Oncology, which endorses local treatment for OMD NSCLC. However, the heterogeneity between prognostic factors within these trials likely influenced outcomes and can only support guidance at this time. Caution against an uncritical acceptance of the guideline is discussed, as strong recommendations are offered based on expert opinion and inconclusive evidence. The guideline is also examined by a patient's caregiver, who emphasizes that uncertain evidence impedes shared decision making.

Revolutionizing Infection Control: Harnessing MXene-Based Nanostructures for Versatile Antimicrobial Strategies and Healthcare Advancements.

The escalating global health challenge posed by infections prompts the exploration of innovative solutions utilizing MXene-based nanostructures. Societally, the need for effective antimicrobial strategies is crucial for public health, while scientifically, MXenes present promising properties for therapeutic applications, necessitating scalable production and comprehensive characterization techniques. Here we review the versatile physicochemical properties of MXene materials for combatting microbial threats and their various synthesis methods, including etching and top-down or bottom-up techniques. Crucial characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/TEM, FTIR, XPS, and BET analysis provide insightful structural and functional attributes. The review highlights MXenes' diverse antimicrobial mechanisms, spanning membrane disruption and oxidative stress induction, demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Despite translational hurdles, MXene-based nanostructures offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, with applications in drug delivery and diagnostics, presenting a promising path for advancing infection control in global healthcare.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial study of Crossobamon orientalis body oil.

Geckos and their products have been used in Asian traditional medicine. Medicinal properties of desert-dwelling Gecko species, Crossobamon orientalis remain unexplored. In this study, natural bioactive macromolecules present in oil extracted from C. orientalis (COO) and their biological activities were evaluated. Chemical constitution of COO was explored by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial activities of COO extracts were assessed using various assays, including DPPH free-radical-protocol, HET-CAM method, in ovo-antiviral technique, and disc-diffusion method. GC-MS study reported 40 different compounds in COO. n-hexane and methanol extracts of COO demonstrated highest DPPH radical inhibition, with values of 70 and 63.3%, respectively. Extracts of COO in solvents, namely 1-butanol, methanol, diethyl ether, and n-hexane significantly inhibited the proliferation of four pathogenic viruses. Maximum zone of inhibition was observed for Escherichia coli (13.65 ± 0.57 mm). These findings suggest that COO possesses potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against viral and bacterial strains, thanks to its biologically active components having no side effects. Further studies are essential to isolate and identify individual bioactive compounds present in COO and to investigate their potential as therapeutic agents.

The Global Impact of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Effects on Various Aspects of Life.

In this study COVID-19 effects on different aspects of life that how this virus created a mess in every discipline of life starting from a small tuck shop of a street to a huge business with a chain between different countries; and some preventive measures are also suggested. Not only mental healthiness as well as physical health of people was also disturbed to a large extent. People being quarantined did not do any practice and had nothing to do, their boredom made them mentally and physically inactive. For minimization the effect of this pandemic on mental healthiness, interventions were practiced and psychological support systems were developed to help mentally effected people; on the other hand, to improve physical health the hospital workers worked day and night in return they got affected too either mentally or physically. Many of the youngsters started alcohol consumption during quarantine. Because of the closure of educational institutes, the students were sent back to their homes where there was no proper guidance for them and they lost their interests in studies; and in a sense educational impact of COVID-19 was also unbearable. Agricultural system was affected badly and the whole world passed through a huge economic loss. The flights and traffic were blocked throughout the world, and it is the only positive impact that COVID-19 led to the environment by improving water and air quality as there was a remarkable reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases.

Nucleic acid vaccines-based therapy for triple-negative breast cancer: A new paradigm in tumor immunotherapy arena.

Nucleic acid vaccines (NAVs) have the potential to be economical, safe, and efficacious. Furthermore, just the chosen antigen in the pathogen is the target of the immune responses brought on by NAVs. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment shows great promise for nucleic acid-based vaccines, such as DNA (as plasmids) and RNA (as messenger RNA [mRNA]). Moreover, cancer vaccines offer a compelling approach that can elicit targeted and long-lasting immune responses against tumor antigens. Bacterial plasmids that encode antigens and immunostimulatory molecules serve as the foundation for DNA vaccines. In the 1990s, plasmid DNA encoding the influenza A nucleoprotein triggered a protective and targeted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, marking the first instance of DNA vaccine-mediated immunity. Similarly, in vitro transcribed mRNA was first successfully used in animals in 1990. At that point, mice were given an injection of the gene encoding the mRNA sequence, and the researchers saw the production of a protein. We begin this review by summarizing our existing knowledge of NAVs. Next, we addressed NAV delivery, emphasizing the need to increase efficacy in TNBC.

The interaction between lncRNAs and transcription factors regulating autophagy in human cancers: A comprehensive and therapeutical survey.

Autophagy, as a highly conserved cellular process, participates in cellular homeostasis by degradation and recycling of damaged organelles and proteins. Besides, autophagy has been evidenced to play a dual role through cancer initiation and progression. In the early stage, it may have a tumor-suppressive function through inducing apoptosis and removing damaged cells and organelles. However, late stages promote tumor progression by maintaining stemness features and induction of chemoresistance. Therefore, identifying and targeting molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for human cancers. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of autophagy by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs). In addition, a wide array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of regulatory ncRNAs, have been evidenced to regulate the function of these autophagy-related TFs through tumorigenesis. Subsequently, the lncRNAs/TFs/ATGs axis shows great potential as a therapeutic target for human cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize new findings about the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy-related TFs with therapeutic perspectives.

Pb uptake, accumulation, and translocation in plants: Plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular response: A review.

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic contaminant that is ubiquitously present in the ecosystem and poses severe environmental issues, including hazards to soil-plant systems. This review focuses on the uptake, accumulation, and translocation of Pb metallic ions and their toxicological effects on plant morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes. We highlight that the uptake of Pb metal is controlled by cation exchange capacity, pH, size of soil particles, root nature, and other physio-chemical limitations. Pb toxicity obstructs seed germination, root/shoot length, plant growth, and final crop-yield. Pb disrupts the nutrient uptake through roots, alters plasma membrane permeability, and disturbs chloroplast ultrastructure that triggers changes in respiration as well as transpiration activities, creates the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activates some enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Pb also impairs photosynthesis, disrupts water balance and mineral nutrients, changes hormonal status, and alters membrane structure and permeability. This review provides consolidated information concentrating on the current studies associated with Pb-induced oxidative stress and toxic conditions in various plants, highlighting the roles of different antioxidants in plants mitigating Pb-stress. Additionally, we discussed detoxification and tolerance responses in plants by regulating different gene expressions, protein, and glutathione metabolisms to resist Pb-induced phytotoxicity. Overall, various approaches to tackle Pb toxicity have been addressed; the phytoremediation techniques and biochar amendments are economical and eco-friendly remedies for improving Pb-contaminated soils.