Herbal drug‑based nanotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Quercetin‑contained nanocarrier as a multipurpose therapeutic agent against hepatocellular carcinoma (Review).

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for ~75% of all primary liver cancers and exhibiting a high incidence rate. Unfortunately, the response rate to chemotherapeutic agents for liver cancer is relatively low, primarily due to the development of drug resistance and the lack of targeted therapeutic agents. The present study focused on the anticancer mechanisms of quercetin and the development of innovative nanocarriers designed to enhance its efficacy against HCC while mitigating drug resistance.

Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives targeting the tumor microenvironment: A review.

Polysaccharides have gained attention as valuable supplements and natural medicinal resources, particularly for their anti-tumor properties. Their low toxicity and potent anti-tumor effects make them promising candidates for cancer prevention and treatment. The tumor microenvironment is crucial in tumor development and offers potential avenues for novel cancer therapies.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities of the genus Schisandra polysaccharides: A review.

The genus Schisandra, a member of the Magnoliaceae family, is a well-known tonic traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of traditional medicinal and functional food used in China. Polysaccharides are one of its main active constituents, which have a wide range of bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, anti-diabetes, hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, and anti-fatigue. In this paper, we review the extraction, isolation, purification, structural characterization, bioactivities, as well as structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides from the genus Schisandra.

Zinc Acetate Hydrate Supplementation versus Polaprezinc Supplementation for Improving Hypozincemia in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Zinc supplementation may ameliorate zinc deficiency in maintenance hemodialysis patients; however, no standard protocol has been established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH) and polaprezinc (PPZ) as zinc supplements in hemodialysis patients. We enrolled 75 hemodialysis patients with serum zinc levels <60 g/dL for this study and randomly assigned Zinc supplementation to these 75 patients: 37 received ZAH (50 mg/day), and 38 received PPZ (34 mg/day).

Double hits with bioactive nanozyme based on cobalt-doped nanoglass for acute and diabetic wound therapies through anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic functions.

Regeneration of pathological wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, poses a significant challenge in clinical settings, despite the widespread use of drugs. To overcome clinical side effects and complications, drug-free therapeutics need to be developed to promote angiogenesis while overcoming inflammation to restore regenerative events. This study presents a novel bioactive nanozyme based on cobalt-doped nanoglass (namely, CoNZ), which exhibits high enzymatic/catalytic activity while releasing therapeutic ions.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of L. Roots and Aerial Parts Extracts.

Natural products, mainly plants, have a crucial role in folk medicine. Particularly, L. has been traditionally used in Mongolian medicine to treat various diseases, including chronic tracheitis, tuberculosis, and psoriasis.

Evaluation of osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on random and aligned polycaprolactone-polyaniline-gelatin scaffolds.

Biocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds have gained tremendous attention because of their potential in tissue engineering. In this study, the aim was to reach a feasible setup from a ternary hybrid of polyaniline (PANI), gelatin (GEL), and polycaprolactone (PCL) to fabricate aligned and random nanofibrous scaffolds by electrospinning for tissue engineering purposes. Different setups of PANI, PCL, and GEL were electrospun.

Novel acid trehalase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 37 from sp.: cloning, expression and characterization.

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the sp. 90 kDa protein was in good agreement with the corresponding sequence of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 37 protein (trehalase) from PC 15 v2.0.

Discovery of FXR/PPARγ dual partial agonist.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ are nuclear receptor 1 superfamily of transcription factors. FXR and PPARγ agonists have been individually investigated in clinical trial of anti-diabetic agents in the patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Regarding recent agonist development, the partial agonists for FXR and PPARγ are drawing attention from the standpoint of avoiding overactive responses caused by full agonists.

Secoergostane- and ergostane-type steroids from Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus.

In this study, we described the isolation of an 8,14-secoergostane-type, a 9,11-secoergostane-type, and three ergostane-type steroids from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus. The structure of (22Z)-3β,5α,11-trihydroxy-9,11-secoergosta-7,22-diene-6,9-dione, previously reported, have been revised to (22E).

The role of milk-derived exosomes in the treatment of diseases.

Exosomes (EXOs) are natural nanoparticles of endosome origin that are secreted by a variety of cells in the body. Exosomes have been found in bio-fluids such as urine, saliva, amniotic fluid, and ascites, among others. Milk is the only commercially available biological liquid containing EXOs.

MAPK-interacting kinase 1 regulates platelet production, activation, and thrombosis.

The MAPK-interacting kinase (Mnk) family includes Mnk1 and Mnk2, which are phosphorylated and activated in response to extracellular stimuli. Mnk1 contributes to cellular responses by regulating messenger RNA (mRNA) translation, and mRNA translation influences platelet production and function. However, the role of Mnk1 in megakaryocytes and platelets has not previously been studied.

Synthesis of 6-Halo-Substituted Pericosine A and an Evaluation of Their Antitumor and Antiglycosidase Activities.

The enantiomers of 6-fluoro-, 6-bromo-, and 6-iodopericosine A were synthesized. An efficient synthesis of both enantiomers of pericoxide via 6-bromopericosine A was also developed. These 6-halo-substituted pericosine A derivatives were evaluated in terms of their antitumor activity against three types of tumor cells (p388, L1210, and HL-60) and glycosidase inhibitory activity.

Enantiomeric composition of natural pericosine A derived from Periconia byssoides and α-glycosidase inhibitory activity of (-)-enantiomer.

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of natural pericosine A, which appeared in literature first in 1977, from Periconia byssoides was conducted using a column CHIRALPAK® AD-H to determine the enantiomeric composition of the original mixture which was found to be 68: 32 mixtures of (+)- and (-)-enantiomer, respectively. Furthermore, two independently isolated samples of pericosine A from the same fungus were also analyzed to show the two peaks in the HPLC charts at approximate 1:1 ratio. These results concluded that pericosine A derived from Periconia byssoides was indeed an enantiomeric mixture.

Biosensors, modern technology for the detection of cancer-associated bacteria.

Cancer is undoubtedly one of the major human challenges worldwide. A number of pathogenic bacteria are deemed to be potentially associated with the disease. Accordingly, accurate and specific identification of cancer-associated bacteria can play an important role in cancer control and prevention.

Boswellia serrata extract shows cognitive benefits in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial in individuals who suffered traumatic brain injury.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. TBI can result in neuropsychiatric and cognitive problems as well as neurodegenerative pathologies that can appear right after or develop and persist years after injury.

Method: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial on patients who suffered from TBI three months to three years ago.

Usefulness of Medication Guidance Sheets for Patients With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Receiving ESHAP±R Therapy.

Background/aim: The occurrence of chemotherapy-related serious adverse events (AEs) is associated with a poor prognosis of hematopoietic malignancies. We have developed a medication guidance sheet (MGS) for monitoring AEs occurring when combining chemotherapy with etoposide, methylprednisolone, cisplatin, cytarabine, and rituximab (ESHAP±R). In this study, the usefulness of MGS was investigated in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

Molecular Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of SNIPER (ER) that Induces Targeted Protein Degradation of ERα.

Manipulation of protein stability using small molecules has a great potential for both basic research and clinical therapy. Based on our protein knockdown technology, we developed chimeric degrader molecules SNIPER(ER)s that target the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This chapter describes the design and synthesis of SNIPER(ER) compounds and methods for the evaluation of their activity in cellular systems and in a tumor xenograft model.

Attitudes towards Mandatory Occupational Vaccination and Intention to Get COVID-19 Vaccine during the First Pandemic Wave among Mongolian Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Mandatory occupational vaccination for health care workers (HCWs) is a debatable issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine Mongolian HCWs' attitudes towards mandatory occupational vaccination, the intention to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and the associated factors. A cross-sectional study based on an online survey with a convenience sampling strategy was conducted from February to April 2021 among 238 Mongolia HCWs.

Reduction-Responsive and Multidrug Deliverable Albumin Nanoparticles: An Antitumor Drug to Abraxane against Human Pancreatic Tumor-Bearing Mice.

Many macromolecular antitumor drugs were developed based on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, for example, albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles (nab-PTX and Abraxane) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil). However, these EPR effect-based therapeutic systems are less effective in malignant tumors with low vascular permeability, such as pancreatic tumors. Because the EPR effect depends on nanoparticles' size, we first determined nanoparticles' size associated with a high tumor-targeting rate in a human pancreatic tumor xenograft model with low vascular permeability.

Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of exposure to potentially toxic elements by consuming agricultural products irrigated with wastewater effluents.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have many adverse health effects due to bioaccumulation capability and their long persistence in the environment. As a renewable water source, the effluents of municipal wastewater treatment systems have been used to irrigate agricultural products widely. However, the evidence on the bioaccumulation of PTEs in crops irrigated with these effluents is still scarce, with no available study in low and middle-income countries.

Range of serum transthyretin levels in hemodialysis patients at a high risk of 1-year mortality: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Transthyretin (TTR) is a sensitive marker of nutritional status and independent risk factor for mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, its range associated with prognosis in Japanese hemodialysis patients is unknown.

Methods: Maintenance hemodialysis Patients (n = 664) were enrolled, and their TTR levels were measured to assess 1-year mortality.

Clinical perspectives of Treponema pallidum subsp. Endemicum infection in adults, particularly men who have sex with men in the Kansai area, Japan: A case series.

Bejel, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. Endemicum (TEN), is a locally transmitted disease among children and juveniles in hot and dry regions. The number of adult cases of TEN infection outside of endemic areas has recently increased.

Association of methicillin resistance with mortality of hospital-acquired bacteremia.

Objective: Methicillin-resistant (MR) bacteremia (SAB) is associated with higher mortality rates than methicillin-susceptible (MS) SAB. This study assessed potential predictors of mortality and evaluated the association of methicillin resistance with mortality in patients with SAB.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients with hospital-acquired SAB, from 2009 to 2018.