Exploring the associations of tobacco smoking and serum cotinine levels with selected inflammatory markers in adults with HIV in South Africa.

This study examined the associations between tobacco smoking and serum cotinine levels, an objective biochemical measure of tobacco smoke exposure, with markers of inflammation, i.e., interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Investigating the altered expression of miR-486-5p and miR-novel-chr1_40444 in dysglycemia in a South African population.

Aims: This study aims to investigate miR-486-5p and miR-novel-chr1_40444 expressions in dysglycemic individuals. Validating RNA-sequencing findings in a larger sample via reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR), we aim to address global diagnostic and screening limitations, using an African cohort as an example.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,271 individuals [normoglycemic (n = 974), prediabetic (n = 206), screen-detected type 2 diabetes (n = 91)] from the ongoing Vascular and Metabolic Health (VMH) study in Cape Town, South Africa.

The effect of cigarette smoking on the oral microbiota in a South African population using subgingival plaque samples.

Disturbances in the oral microbiota may be due to several mechanisms and factors, such as smoking. An imbalance in oral bacteria may result in changes to the innate immune system and the development of periodontal disease. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of oral microbiota in smokers and non-smokers in a South African population using subgingival plaque samples.

The protective role of resveratrol against high glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

High glucose concentrations result in oxidative stress, leading to damage of cellular constituents like DNA, proteins, and lipids, ultimately resulting in apoptosis. Resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexin, has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on diabetes. This study investigated the influence of high glucose (HG) on HepG2 cells and assessed resveratrol's effect on high-glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.