FGF21 affects the glycolysis process via mTOR-HIF1α axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Metabolic reprogramming, particularly glycolysis, is essential in processes like cancer and immune response. While FGF21's role in hepatocyte glucose metabolism has been linked to glucose transporters and its impact on aerobic glycolysis and cellular growth in HCC remain unclear. In this study, we investigated FGF21-mediated modulation of glucose metabolism in HCC through mTOR and HIF1α axis in HCC.

A time trade-off study in the UK, Canada and the US to estimate utilities associated with the treatment of haemophilia.

Introduction: Haemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder caused by a deficient or absent clotting factor, leading to frequent bleeding. Multiple intravenous (IV) infusions have been the standard prophylactic treatment; however, newer treatment options involve less frequent subcutaneous (SC) injections. To inform future health economic evaluations, this study applied the time trade-off (TTO) method for estimation of utilities associated with haemophilia treatment for both people with the disease and potential caregivers.

"Sexual sacrifice": a qualitative exploration of husbands' experience of living with survivors of breast cancer-sexual dysfunction in Malaysia.

Purpose: Experiencing sexual dysfunction (SD) alongside a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has significant consequences, not only for wives but also for their husbands. Therefore, we explored husbands' perspectives on sexuality and their encounters in dealing with wives' SD following a BC diagnosis.

Methods: This qualitative study, conducted within the phenomenological framework, focused on sexually active husbands whose wives faced SD after being diagnosed with BC in Kelantan.

Deciphering cellular and molecular mechanism of MUC13 mucin involved in cancer cell plasticity and drug resistance.

There has been a surge of interest in recent years in understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying cancer progression and treatment resistance. One molecule that has recently emerged in these mechanisms is MUC13 mucin, a transmembrane glycoprotein. Researchers have begun to unravel the molecular complexity of MUC13 and its impact on cancer biology.

Cases of less-than-expected FVIII activity in previously treated patients during post-marketing surveillance of N8-GP.

Introduction: Turoctocog alfa pegol (N8-GP) is a glycoPEGylated, extended half-life (EHL), human recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) approved for the treatment and prevention of bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia A. Since its launch in August 2019, > 800 patients have been treated worldwide.

Aim: To present data from identified post-marketing cases of less-than-expected FVIII activity in previously treated patients (PTPs) without inhibitors after switching to N8-GP.

Role of available COVID-19 vaccines in reducing deaths and perspective for next generation vaccines and therapies to counter emerging viral variants: an update.

The COVID-19 disease wreaked havoc all over the world causing more than 6 million deaths out of over 519 million confirmed cases. It not only disturbed the human race health-wise but also caused huge economic losses and social disturbances. The utmost urgency to counter pandemic was to develop effective vaccines as well as treatments that could reduce the incidences of infection, hospitalization and deaths.

Differential differentiation of B cell lymphopoiesis in lethal and non-lethal murine malaria models.

B cells in protection against malaria and need of experiencing many episodes in humans to achieve a state of immunity is largely unknown. The cellular basis of such defects in terms of B cell generation, maturation and trafficking was studied by taking Plasmodium chabaudi, a non-lethal and Plasmodium berghei, a lethal murine model. A flow cytometry (FCF) based evaluation was used to study alterations in generation and maintenance of B cells in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria as well as in murine malaria models.

Stimulating immunoglobulin response by intramuscular delivery of exopolysaccharides-adjuvanted mannheimiosis vaccine in goats.

Background And Aim: Pneumonic mannheimiosis (PM) is a common respiratory bacterial disease among small ruminants. Despite numerous management methods, vaccination remains a suitable strategy to combat or reduce PM in goats and sheep. Thus, a study was conducted in Malaysia to evaluate the immunogenicity of exopolysaccharide-adjuvanted A2 vaccine (EPS-MHA2) under laboratory and field conditions for its potential use as an efficient vaccine against PM.

Combined effect of ipilimumab and nivolumab improves oncology endpoints in metastatic melanoma patients.

Metastatic melanoma has less frequency, but considered as the most dreaded cancer. The combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab is proving their mettle in treating metastatic melanoma. The patients when administered with the combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab have shown improved median progression free survival, objective response rate and overall survival rate compared with nivolumab and ipilimumab monotherapy.

Diet as a modifiable factor in tumorigenesis: Focus on microbiome-derived bile acid metabolites and short-chain fatty acids.

Several lines of evidences have implicated the resident microbiome as a key factor in the modulation of host physiology and pathophysiology; including the resistance to cancers. Gut microbiome heavily influences host lipid homeostasis by their modulatory effects on the metabolism of bile acids (BAs). Microbiota-derived BA metabolites such as deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are implicated in the pathogeneses of various cancer types.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) polymorphisms are linked to systemic lupus erythematosus: an updated meta-analysis.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) molecule controls T cell immune response. Functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CTLA-4 gene have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  However, the genetic association of the CTLA-4 variants with vulnerability to SLE remained contradictory.

NADP/H binding nearly doubles the stability of a drug target: an unfolding study.

Aspartate beta semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) was studied using various spectroscopic techniques and size exclusion chromatography to examine the unfolding of free (apo) and NADP/H-bound (holo) forms of ASADH. Non-cooperative guanidinium chloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of the apo ASADH was discovered, and no partially folded intermediate structures were stabilized. On the other hand, it was observed that GdnHCl's unfolding of holoenzyme was a cooperative process without any stable intermediate structure.

Transcriptomics sequencing data of SE-MC4 under exponential and stationary growth stages.

SE-MC4 is a non-model microalga exhibiting superior oil-accumulating abilities. However, biomass production in SE-MC4 is limited due to low cell proliferation especially after prolonged cultivation under oil-inducing culture conditions. Present data consist of next generation RNA sequencing data of SE-MC4 under exponential and stationary growth stages.

Link between MnSOD Ala16Val (rs4880) polymorphism and asthma risk is insignificant from sequential meta-analysis.

The mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzyme protects lungs against oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radical superoxide produced in the respiratory function. This has relevance to asthma. Therefore, it is of interest to describe the potential effect of MnSOD Ala16Val genetic polymorphism to asthma risk.

Microbes in gynecologic cancers: Causes or consequences and therapeutic potential.

Gynecologic cancers, starting in the reproductive organs of females, include cancer of cervix, endometrium, ovary commonly and vagina and vulva rarely. The changes in the composition of microbiome in gut and vagina affect immune and metabolic signaling of the host cells resulting in chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, genome instability, epithelial barrier breach and metabolic dysregulation that may lead to the onset or aggravated progression of gynecologic cancers. While microbiome in gynecologic cancers is just at horizon, certain significant microbiome signature associations have been found.

Preliminary study on serum immunoglobulin G responses following intramuscular inoculation of adjuvanted polyhydroxyalkanoate microparticles with Pasteurella multocida vaccine in white rats.

A natural biodegradable polymer, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), was adjuvanted with a vaccine seed to observe the biomaterial's ability in enhancing an immune response in rats. The adjuvant potential of PHA was tested using the whole-killed Pasteurella multocida B:2 (PMB2) vaccine in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to detect changes in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) responses. A common PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], from Bacillus megaterium UMTKB-1 was constructed into microparticles using the solvent evaporation method.

Prioritization and characterization of validated biofilm blockers targeting glucosyltransferase C of .

To date, several Glucosyltransferase C (GtfC) inhibitors have been identified and experimentally validated. All these inhibitors have been validated at different experimental conditions like degree of purity, animal models, kinetic conditions, experimental environment etc.; and most of these inhibitors (ligands) proved to be quite effective in their respective validation environment.

Pickering-emulsion-templated synthesis of 3D hollow graphene as an efficient oil absorbent.

The preparation of graphene in three-dimensional mode represents an alternative method to maintain its characteristically large surface area, which, under normal circumstances, is diminished by the restacking of the individual sheets. Sufficiently stable 3D graphene enables the high surface area characteristic of monoatomic graphene layers to be obtained. Based on the coupling of the high surface area and the void spaces that are thus created, which act as pores, 3D graphene is anticipated to have potential as a sorbent material.

Bioprospecting of indigenous marine microalgae with ammonium tolerance from aquaculture ponds for microalgae cultivation with ammonium-rich wastewaters.

We isolated fifty-two strains from the marine aquaculture ponds in Malaysia that were evaluated for their lipid production and ammonium tolerance and four isolates were selected as new ammonium tolerant microalgae with high-lipid production: TRG10-p102 Oocystis heteromucosa (Chlorophyceae); TRG10-p103 and TRG10-p105 Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyceae); and TRG10-p201 Amphora coffeiformis (Bacillariophyceae). Eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) in three diatom strain was between 2.6 and 18.

Inhibitory effects of tangeretin and trans-ethyl caffeate on the HMG-CoA reductase activity: Potential agents for reducing cholesterol levels.

One of the pathways to reduce cholesterol production in the liver is through the inhibition of HMG-Coa reductase (HMGCR) by current drugs, statins. However, these have side effects if consumed in prolonged periods. Tangeretin and trans-ethyl caffeate as alternative drugs in reducing hypercholesterolemia and preventing atherosclerosis have never been reported.

Superhydrophilic graphene oxide/electrospun cellulose nanofibre for efficient adsorption of organophosphorus pesticides from environmental samples.

Superhydrophilic graphene oxide/electrospun cellulose nanofibre (GO/CNF) was synthesized, characterized and successfully used in a solid-phase membrane tip adsorption (SPMTA) as an adsorbent towards a simultaneous analysis of polar organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in several food and water samples. Separation, determination and quantification were achieved prior to ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detector. The influence of several parameters such as sample pH, adsorption time, adsorbent dosage and initial concentration were investigated.

Potency of inhibitors depends upon the accessibility of their aromatic rings within the hydrophobic specificity pocket: a novel avenue for future aldose reductase inhibitor design.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Light scattering effect of polyvinyl-alcohol/titanium dioxide nanofibers in the dye-sensitized solar cell.

In the present work, polyvinyl-alcohol/titanium dioxide (PVA/TiO) nanofibers are utilized as a light scattering layer (LSL) on top of the TiO nanoparticles photoanode. The TiO nanoparticles decorated PVA/TiO nanofibers display a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.06%, which is 33% higher than TiO nanoparticles without LSL, demonstrating the incorporation of PVA/TiO nanofibers as LSL reduces the radiation loss and increases the excitation of the electron that leads to high PCE.