Single chain fragment variable, a new theranostic approach for cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a significant global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite recent advancements in CVD management, pharmaceutical treatments often suffer from poor pharmacokinetics and high toxicity. With the rapid progress of modern molecular biology and immunology, however, single-chain fragment variable (scFv) molecule engineering has emerged as a promising theranostic tool to offer specificity and versatility in targeting CVD-related antigens.

IONIC NANOMEDICINE STRATEGY TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE CHEMO-PTT COMBINATION CANCER THERAPEUTICS.

Herein, a detailed investigation of nanodrugs derived by combining a chemotherapy (chemo) and photothermal therapy (PTT) approaches to enhance chemo drug efficacy is presented. Tamoxifen and its metabolite; N-desmethyltamoxifen are the selected chemo drugs that were electrostatically attached with a PTT agent, NaIR820, via a metathesis approach to develop two different ionic material (IM)-based chemo-PTT drugs. Ionic nanomaterials (INMs) were synthesized using reprecipitation method, and these carrier- free nanoparticles were characterized in detail.

Comparative Outcomes of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Moderate-Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a prevalent condition among the elderly, characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve, which, if untreated, can lead to heart failure and decreased quality of life in terms of reduced activity and high mortality in one to two years. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has long been the standard treatment for AS. However, it poses significant risks, particularly in older patients with comorbidities.

Tetra aniline-based polymers ameliorate BPA-induced cardiotoxicity in Sprague Dawley rats, in silico and in vivo analysis.

Aims: Bisphenol A (BPA), xenoestrogen, is an environmental toxicant, that generates oxidative stress leading to cardiotoxicity. The oxidative stress can be neutralized by natural and synthetic antioxidants. The present study elucidates the highly selective antioxidative potential of synthetic tetra aniline polymers Es-37 and L-37 against Bisphenol A-induced cardiac cellular impairments and the role of miRNA-15a-5p in the regulation of different apoptotic proteins.

First-principles study of electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of MGaB (M = Ti, Hf) MAX phases.

Integrating ceramic and metallic properties in MAX phases makes them highly desirable for diverse technological applications. In this study, through first-principles density functional theory (DFT), we investigated the physical properties of two new 312 MAX compounds, MGaB (M = Ti, Hf). Chemical stability is confirmed via formation energy assessment, while mechanical stability is established by determining elastic stiffness constants.

Development of palliative care clinical practice guidelines and referral care pathways for primary care practitioners in Pakistan.

Background: Despite a large burden of life-limitingillness, there exists a dearth of services of palliative care in Pakistan. International guidelines have questionable applicability in Pakistan due to the socioeconomic differences. We generated a protocol describing the process of developing comprehensive palliative care guidelines and palliative care referral pathways for primary care practitioners to adopt in Pakistan.

Doxorubicin-Based Ionic Nanomedicines for Combined Chemo-Phototherapy of Cancer.

Synergistic combination therapy approach offers lots of options for delivery of materials with anticancer properties, which is a very promising strategy to treat a variety of malignant lesions with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The current study involves a detailed investigation of combination ionic nanomedicines where a chemotherapeutic drug is coupled with a photothermal agent to attain dual mechanisms (chemotherapy (chemo) and photothermal therapy (PTT)) to improve the drug's efficacy. An FDA-approved Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) is electrostatically attached with a near-infrared cyanine dye (ICG, IR783, and IR820), which serves as a PTT drug using ionic liquid chemistry to develop three ionic material (IM)-based chemo-PTT drugs.

Cationic Porphyrin-Based Ionic Nanomedicines for Improved Photodynamic Therapy.

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of monosubstituted cationic porphyrin as a photodynamic therapeutic agent. Cationic porphyrin was converted into ionic materials by using a single-step ion exchange reaction. The small iodide counteranion was replaced with bulky BETI and IR783 anions to reduce aggregation and enhance the photodynamic effect of porphyrin.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of genkwanin against aflatoxin B-induced testicular toxicity.

Aflatoxin B (AFB) is the most hazardous aflatoxin that causes significant damage to the male reproductive system. Genkwanin (GNK) is a bioactive flavonoid that shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Therefore, the current study was planned to evaluate the effects of GNK against AFB-induced testicular toxicity.

Cardioprotective effect of tetra(aniline) containing terpolymers through miR-15a-5p and MFN-2 regulation against hypertrophic responses.

Objective: Cardiac hypertrophy is a condition of abnormal cardiomyocyte enlargement accompanied by ventricular wall thickening. The study aims to investigate the role of miR-15a-5p in the regulation of mitofusin-2 (MFN-2) and to explore the cardioprotective effect of terpolymers ES-37 and L-37.

Methods: In this study, the Sprague Dawley rats' cardiac hypertrophic model was established by administering 5 mg/kg Isoproterenol subcutaneously every other day for 14 days.

A cohort study investigating the role of Bisphenol A in the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is an abnormal division of breast cells. Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental toxicant, is identified as an emerging risk factor for breast cancer development. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the BPA levels in breast cancer patients in Pakistan.

Effectiveness of analog of Humanin in ameliorating streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in Sprague Dawley rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with numerous complications, including nephropathy, which principally occur due to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Humanin (HN), a novel peptide generated from mitochondria, has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential as observed in different disease models. However, role of HN in diabetic nephropathy (DN) has not yet been explored.

[Profiling of Targeted miRNAs (8-nt) for the Genes Involved in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiac Hypertrophy].

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and cardiac hypertrophy (CH) are among the top ten leading cause of deaths, worldwide. T2DM and cardiac hypertrophy are the chronic diseases, have close association and direct life-threatening complications like stroke, myocardial infarction, retinopathy, nephropathy, and limb amputation. In addition to other medical approaches, miRNAs-based strategy is considered most efficient for early detection of chronic diseases and also has potential for the treatment of T2DM and cardiac hypertrophy like it is being used for cancer in clinical trials.

How to become a strategic purchaser of rehabilitation services.

Rehabilitative care is often overlooked and underfunded despite being a key component of universal health coverage, and now faces further neglect due to indirect impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Policy-makers can leverage strategic purchasing approaches to make the most of available funds and maximize health gains. To implement more strategic purchasing of rehabilitation, health planners must: (i) develop and prioritize evidence-based rehabilitation service packages; (ii) use fit-for-purpose contracting and provider payment mechanisms to incentivize quality and efficient service delivery; and (iii) strengthen stewardship.

C-Reactive Protein and High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponins Correlate with Oxidative Stress in Valvular Heart Disease Patients.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major contributor to loss of physical function and longevity. Oxidative stress is one of the key causative factors involved in heart disease including VHD. Here, we aimed to illuminate the role and relation of oxidative stress to the VHD risk markers in the human population.

Effects of Se nanoparticles supplementation on growth performance, hematological parameters and nutrient digestibility of Labeo rohita fingerling fed sunflower meal based diet.

The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of selenium nanoparticles on the growth, hematology and nutrients digestibility of Labeorohita fingerlings. Fingerlings were fed with seven isocaloric sunflower meal-based diet supplemented with different concentrations of nanoparticles naming T1 to T7 (0, 0.5, 1, 1.

N-Acetyl Cysteine, Selenium, and Ascorbic Acid Rescue Diabetic Cardiac Hypertrophy via Mitochondrial-Associated Redox Regulators.

Metabolic disorders often lead to cardiac complications. Metabolic deregulations during diabetic conditions are linked to mitochondrial dysfunctions, which are the key contributing factors in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in diabetes-induced cardiac hypertrophy are poorly understood.

Association between Dietary Habits and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Yangon, Myanmar: A Case-Control Study.

In Myanmar, the escalating prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and impaired glucose tolerance among adults was recently reported, with the highest prevalence in the Yangon Region. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors in dietary habits and their relationship with T2DM in urban Myanmar residents. We conducted a case-control study recruiting 300 individuals aged 25-74 years living in the Yangon Region, consisting of 150 newly diagnosed cases attending a diabetes clinic, and 150 controls, who were community residents and free of diabetes.

Mentha longifolia Alleviates Exogenous Serotonin-Induced Diabetic Hypoglycemia and Relieves Renal Toxicity via ROS Regulation.

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus with consequences of diabetic nephropathy. Here we amined to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of methanolic Mentha longifolia (MML) against serotonin-induced hypoglycemia allied toxicity in the rat model of diabetes. Diabetes was induced in rats via alloxan administration and validated by blood glucose level measurement.

Dosimetric Comparison of Whole Breast Radiotherapy Using Field-in-Field and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Techniques in Left-Sided Breast Cancer Patients.

Introduction The radiotherapy of left-sided breast cancers is challenging because of neighboring critical organs, posing an increased risk of complications. Various radiation delivery techniques have been used to deliver the desired dose of radiation to the target area while keeping the doses to nearby structures within constraints. The main aim of this study is to quantify doses delivered to the organs at risk (OARs) including heart, left lung, spinal cord, and contralateral breast, and to the planning target volume (PTV) using Field-in-Field (FIF) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT).

Parental perception on screen time and psychological distress among young children.

Objective: We aimed to assess the parent-reported screen time of children, identify the perceived risk factors for increased screen time and its relationship to psychological distress in children.

Materials And Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 230 employees from medical and non-medical departments were included.

Isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria among tuberculosis patients, a study from a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Background: There is scarce knowledge on the prevalence of diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Pakistan. In the absence of culture and identification, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) causing NTM disease are liable to be misinterpreted as tuberculosis (TB). Introduction of nucleic acid amplification testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) offers improved diagnostic accuracy, compared with smear microscopy, and also assists in differentiating MTBC from other mycobacteria.

Relationship of FIB-4 index with transient elastography in chronic hepatitis C patients having APRI ≥ 0.5 - ≤2 in a resource-limited setting in Pakistan.

Objective: We aimed to study the extent of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients with indeterminate APRI score of ≥ 0.5 - ≤2 (between higher and lower cut off value) and correlate it to transient elastography (TE) and FIB 4 index.

Method: A cross-sectional study, 80 patients with CHC mono infection, APRI score ≥ 0.

The Impact of Evidence-Based Transformation on Healthcare Practices at a Teaching Hospital.

Objective In this study, we aimed to compare the frequency of anemia, blood transfusions, and the use of antimicrobial therapy (AMT) before the implementation of standard protocols in obstetrics and gynecology with the data after one year of implementation at a teaching hospital. Methods In this retrospective observational study, the pre-intervention data (group A) were compared to the data after the implementation of standard protocols (group B). Data were retrieved from hospital electronic medical records and were entered and analyzed on SPSS Statistics version 24 (IBM, Armonk, NY).