Impact of cannabinoids on synapse markers in an SH-SY5Y cell culture model.

Patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis show reduced synaptic connectivity compared to healthy individuals, and often, the use of cannabis precedes the onset of schizophrenic psychosis. Therefore, we investigated if different types of cannabinoids impact methylation patterns and expression of schizophrenia candidate genes concerned with the development and preservation of synapses and synaptic function in a SH-SY5Y cell culture model. For this purpose, SH-SY5Y cells were differentiated into a neuron-like cell type as previously described.

Autologous non-vascularized fibula with compression plating in the management of aseptic complex non-union of long bones.

Background: The surgical treatment of non-union of long bones are challenging especially when bones are osteoporotic or there is a large bone gap due to repeated surgeries and implant failures. Plate with intramedullary fibula provides a stable construct as fibula acts as a second implant with better anchorage and high pull-out strength. The aim of our study is to present our experience of treating complex non-union of long bones using compression plating (LCP/DCP) in combination with autologous non-vascularized fibular graft (ANVFG).

Comparison of efficacy and safety of tofacitinib and azathioprine in patients with alopecia areata and variants: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune pathology manifested by loss of hair.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib and azathioprine in patients with AA and variants.

Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trail (RCT) carried out at the Department of Dermatology, Medical Teaching Institute-Lady Reading Hospital (MTI-LRH), Peshawar, Pakistan, patients aged ≥ 12 years diagnosed with AA, alopecia totalis (AT) or alopecia universalis (AU) with minimum 50% scalp hair loss for a period ≥ 06 years were included.

Targeting of S-phase kinase associated protein 2 stabilized tumor suppressors leading to apoptotic cell death in squamous skin cancer cells.

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is an F-box protein overexpressed in human cancers and linked with poor prognosis. It triggers cancer pathogenesis, including stemness and drug resistance. In this study, we have explored the potential role of Skp2 targeting in restoring the expression of tumor suppressors in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) cells.

A novel fusion of genetic grey wolf optimization and kernel extreme learning machines for precise diabetic eye disease classification.

In response to the growing number of diabetes cases worldwide, Our study addresses the escalating issue of diabetic eye disease (DED), a significant contributor to vision loss globally, through a pioneering approach. We propose a novel integration of a Genetic Grey Wolf Optimization (G-GWO) algorithm with a Fully Convolutional Encoder-Decoder Network (FCEDN), further enhanced by a Kernel Extreme Learning Machine (KELM) for refined image segmentation and disease classification. This innovative combination leverages the genetic algorithm and grey wolf optimization to boost the FCEDN's efficiency, enabling precise detection of DED stages and differentiation among disease types.

Establishing superfine nanofibrils for robust polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk and powerful artificial muscles.

Spider silk exhibits an excellent combination of high strength and toughness, which originates from the hierarchical self-assembled structure of spidroin during fiber spinning. In this work, superfine nanofibrils are established in polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk by optimizing the flexibility of polymer chains, which exhibits combination of breaking strength and toughness ranging from 1.83 GPa and 238 MJ m to 0.

Prevalence of crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Background: CCHFV is well recognized as a major public health threat and its prevalence and epidemiological distribution in Pakistan and specifically in KP province is not well documented.

Methods: We used a gold-standard PCR-based diagnostic assay for confirmation of CCHFV among suspected patients. A total of 150 patients were enrolled from June 2022 to September 2022 and their blood samples were collected for PCR confirmation.

Exploiting transcription factors to target EMT and cancer stem cells for tumor modulation and therapy.

Transcription factors (TFs) are essential in controlling gene regulatory networks that determine cellular fate during embryogenesis and tumor development. TFs are the major players in promoting cancer stemness by regulating the function of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Understanding how TFs interact with their downstream targets for determining cell fate during embryogenesis and tumor development is a critical area of research.

Signaling networks guiding erythropoiesis.

Purpose Of Review: Cytokine-mediated signaling pathways, including JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, and Ras/MAPK pathways, play an important role in the process of erythropoiesis. These pathways are involved in the survival, proliferation, and differentiation function of erythropoiesis.

Recent Findings: The JAK/STAT pathway controls erythroid progenitor differentiation, proliferation, and survival.

Sanguinarine Triggers Apoptosis in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells through Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathway.

Background: The benzophenanthridine Sanguinarine (Sng) is one of the most abundant root alkaloids with a long history of investigation and pharmaceutical applications. The cytotoxicity of Sng against various tumor cells is well-established; however, its antiproliferative and apoptotic potential against the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) cells remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer potential of Sng against cSCC cells and elucidated the underlying mechanisms relevant to the drug action.

Soybean-mediated suppression of BjaI/BjaR quorum sensing in impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

The acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing (QS) system orchestrates diverse bacterial behaviors in response to changes in population density. The role of the BjaI/BjaR QS system in USDA 110, which shares homology with LuxI/LuxR, remains elusive during symbiotic interaction with soybean. Here this genetic system in wild-type (WT) bacteria residing inside nodules exhibited significantly reduced activity compared to free-living cells, potentially attributed to soybean-mediated suppression.

Augmentation of elastic stable intramedullary nail with external fixator in the management of comminuted shaft femur fracture in adolescents.

Background: The management of adolescent femur fractures continues to evolve and remains controversial. Currently, operative fixation methods are favoured, offering options such as external fixator, flexible and locked intramedullary nailing, compression and locked plating. Our study aims to introduce a novel approach for treating adolescent femoral shaft fractures by combining an external fixator with an elastic stable intramedullary nail.

Deregulated transcription factors in the emerging cancer hallmarks.

Cancer progression is a multifaceted process that entails several stages and demands the persistent expression or activation of transcription factors (TFs) to facilitate growth and survival. TFs are a cluster of proteins with DNA-binding domains that attach to promoter or enhancer DNA strands to start the transcription of genes by collaborating with RNA polymerase and other supporting proteins. They are generally acknowledged as the major regulatory molecules that coordinate biological homeostasis and the appropriate functioning of cellular components, subsequently contributing to human physiology.

Polidocanol sclerotherapy for the treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst, with or without pathological fractures: A prospective, comparative study.

Introduction: Polidocanol sclerotherapy in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) with or without pathological fractures has been a topic of debate. While some studies recommend intralesional curettage as the preferred treatment, others suggest intralesional sclerosants as an effective alternative.

Material And Methods: This study evaluates the use of polidocanol-based percutaneous sclerosant therapy in 28 patients with ABCs, of which 8 patients had pathological fracture.

Orthopaedic problems in the blind.

Background: Blindness is a common problem in every society and country. The problem ranges from complete blindness to partially sighted in the affected population. India has close to 12 million visually impaired people.

Corrigendum: Curcumin-mediated degradation of S-phase kinase protein 2 induces cytotoxic effects in human papillomavirus-positive and negative squamous carcinoma cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.

Shrinking the battlefield in cancer therapy: Nanotechnology against cancer stem cells.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, presenting a significant healthcare challenge owing to the limited efficacy of current treatments. The application of nanotechnology in cancer treatment leverages the unique optical, magnetic, and electrical attributes of nanomaterials to engineer innovative, targeted therapies. Specifically, manipulating nanomaterials allows for enhanced drug loading efficiency, improved bioavailability, and targeted delivery systems, reducing the non-specific cytotoxic effects characteristic of conventional chemotherapies.

Epigenetic inhibitors and their role in cancer therapy.

Epigenetic modifications to DNA are crucial for normal cellular and biological functioning. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling are the most common epigenetic mechanisms. These changes are heritable but still reversible.

Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Non-Coding RNAs in Stroke-Induced Tissue Regeneration.

Stroke is a major contributor to mortality and impairment on a global scale, with few effective treatments available. Aberrant expression of various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been identified after stroke onset, impacting neurogenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and autophagy. The roles and mechanisms of ncRNAs hold great promise for future ischemic stroke treatments, as they could modify stroke impact and course on a well-controllable molecular level.

Short versus long proximal femoral nail in the management of intertrochanteric fractures - a comparative study.

Introduction: Intertrochanteric fractures are those that occur in the region spanning from the extracapsular basilar neck region to the region along the lesser trochanter proximal to the development of medullary canal. Low-energy falls account for 90% of fractures in people over the age of 50, with females having a higher prevalence. Intertrochanteric fractures in children and teenagers are caused by high-energy trauma.

Reduction of fluid forces for flow past side-by-side cylinders using downstream attached splitter plates.

A two-dimensional numerical simulation is performed to investigate the drag reduction and vortex shedding suppression behind three square cylinders with attached splitter plates in the downstream region at a low Reynolds number (Re = 150). Numerical calculations are carried out using the lattice Boltzmann method. The study is carried out for various values of gap spacing between the cylinders and different splitter plate lengths.

Concomitant valgus hip osteotomy in operative fixation of displaced proximal femoral neck fractures.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered the preferred treatment for displaced proximal femoral neck fractures. However, in many countries this option is economically unviable. To improve outcomes in financially disadvantaged populations, we studied the technique of concomitant valgus hip osteotomy and operative fixation (VOOF).