Efficacy of Fetal Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles in Metabolic Syndrome.

Background/objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride levels, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs)-derived small extracellular vesicles' (sEVs) preparations in managing MetS.

Method: Twenty-four rats were fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet to induce MetS for 16 weeks and randomized into three groups ( = 8/group): a MetS Control group treated with normal saline, MetS Low Dose (LD) group treated with a LD of sEVs preparations (3 × 10 particle/rat), and MetS High Dose (HD) group treated with a HD of sEVs preparations (9 × 10 particles/rat).

Palm Tocotrienol Activates the Wnt3a/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway, Protecting MC3T3-E1 Osteoblasts from Cellular Damage Caused by Dexamethasone and Promoting Bone Formation.

Prolonged glucocorticoid (GC) treatment increases oxidative stress, triggers apoptosis of osteoblasts, and contributes to osteoporosis. Tocotrienol, as an antioxidant, could protect the osteoblasts and preserve bone quality under glucocorticoid treatment. From this study, we aimed to determine the effects of tocotrienol on MC3T3-E1 murine pre-osteoblastic cells treated with GC.

A Narrative Review of Prognostic Gene Signatures in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using LASSO Cox Regression.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignancies of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC is recognized as the eighth most commonly occurring cancer globally in men. It is essential to distinguish between cancers arising in the head and neck regions due to significant differences in their etiologies, treatment approaches, and prognoses.

Targeting Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Thiadiazine Thione Derivatives: An In Vivo Study of Its Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Pyretic, Anti-Nociceptive, and Anti-Sedative Properties.

Thiadiazine thione (THTT) has gained significant interest owing to its pharmacological potentials, particularly its antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory properties. Leishmaniasis is a clinical syndrome caused by infection with species and is associated with an inflammatory response and nociception. The available treatments against leishmaniasis are inadequate, as they are associated with high cost, toxicity, and increased resistance.

Stem Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Comparison of the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Neural Stem Cells, and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Background/objectives: (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a debilitating, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor neuron death in the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. With an incidence rate of about 4.42 cases per 100,000 people annually, ALS severely impacts motor function and quality of life, causing progressive muscle atrophy, spasticity, paralysis, and eventually death.

Sedentary Behaviour and Its Correlates Among Older Adults in Malaysia.

Sedentary behaviors (SBs), which are low-energy, wakeful activities performed in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture, are independently associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including mental health disorders, non-communicable diseases, and an increased risk of mortality. This study investigated associations between sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, mental health, nutritional status, social support, functional limitations, and SB among older persons in Malaysia. Data from 3977 individuals aged 60 years and above, extracted from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018, were analyzed using complex samples logistic regression.

Explainable AI in Diagnostic Radiology for Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review, and What Doctors Think About It.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently made unprecedented contributions in every walk of life, but it has not been able to work its way into diagnostic medicine and standard clinical practice yet. Although data scientists, researchers, and medical experts have been working in the direction of designing and developing computer aided diagnosis (CAD) tools to serve as assistants to doctors, their large-scale adoption and integration into the healthcare system still seems far-fetched. Diagnostic radiology is no exception.

Sex life dissatisfaction contribute to intention toward infidelity among Malaysians: relationship satisfaction as a mediator.

Background: Intention toward infidelity or extramarital affairs could be caused by sex life dissatisfaction and low relationship satisfaction. Although sex is just a tiny part of a marriage's relationship, the importance of sex life in a relationship cannot be easily underestimated. Past studies have found some important associations between sex life and relationship satisfaction in determining whether a person would decide to engage in marital infidelity.

Performance analysis of Leica Biosystems p16 monoclonal antibody in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer death globally, with newly diagnosed oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cases rising to 54,000 in the US alone in the year 2022. Recently, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection was more prevalent in OPSCC patients than the traditionally known carcinogens such as tobacco or alcohol. HPV 16 is the most common causative HPV strain, which is found in 5-10% of HNSCC patients.

Therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy for endobronchial glomus tumors: a case series.

Background: Glomus tumors (GTs) are rare, comprising only 2% of all soft tissue tumors. Pulmonary GTs are exceptionally rare, with fewer than 80 cases reported to date. Little is known about the therapeutic outcomes of rigid bronchoscopy for endobronchial GT.

Eight patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor treated with rigid bronchoscopy.

Background: Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) accounts for 0.04-0.7% of all lung tumors, and endobronchial IMT accounts for only 10% of all pulmonary IMTs.

Beyond individual-level factors that influence family planning uptake among women with diabetes mellitus: a systematic literature review.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among women increased consistently together with the increase in the overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus globally. One of the components in holistic diabetes care among women are preconception interventions. Family planning usage has been one of the components in preconception care among this group of population, especially among women with unoptimised diabetes mellitus, where family planning may allow disease optimisation prior to pregnancy.

Prevalence of dengue and leptospirosis coinfection and associated mortality rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dengue and leptospirosis are prominent vector-borne diseases in tropical and subtropical regions, sharing overlapping geographic distribution and clinical presentations, which complicates diagnosis and management. Co-infection of these pathogens places additional strain on healthcare resources in endemic areas. This study aims to systematically estimate the prevalence and mortality rates of dengue and leptospirosis co-infections and assess their clinical implications.

Oculomotor Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism, ADHD or Co-occurring Autism and ADHD.

Oculomotor characteristics, including accuracy, timing, and sensorimotor processing, are considered sensitive intermediate phenotypes for understanding the etiology of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and ADHD. Oculomotor characteristics have predominantly been studied separately in autism and ADHD. Despite the high rates of co-occurrence between these conditions, only one study has investigated oculomotor processes among those with co-occurring autism + ADHD.

Monster of the Night: Identifying Pakistani Gender-Based, Religious, and Cultural Influences on Sleep Paralysis Among University Students.

The present study has explored the folk knowledge about the phenomenon of sleep paralysis in Pakistani society. The research aimed to gain a nuanced glimpse focusing on three major factors, culture, religion, and gender, that influence the lived experiences of those who face sleep paralysis. In this qualitative research, to have a holistic perception of indigenous knowledge about it, we selected both male and female participants who have experienced sleep paralysis.

Evaluation of keratinized tissue augmentation using amnion/chorion allograft vs. autogenous connective tissue in implant therapy: a retrospective study.

Objectives: Successful implant therapy must also ensure the integration of the soft tissues around the crown/abutment emergence profile. The existing literature does not consistently agree on the necessity of a minimal amount of keratinized tissue (KT), though it appears advantageous for the long-term stability and aesthetics of implants. The purpose of this clinical retrospective study is to compare the effectiveness of amnion/chorion membrane and autogenous subepithelial connective tissue in increasing the keratinized mucosa and maintaining it over a 5-year follow-up.

Reinforcement learning based route optimization model to enhance energy efficiency in internet of vehicles.

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) transforms the automobile industry through connected vehicles with communication infrastructure that improves traffic control, safety and information, and entertainment services. However, some issues remain, like data protection, privacy, compatibility with other protocols and systems, and the availability of stable and continuous connections. Specific problems are related to energy consumption for transmitting information, distributing energy loads across the vehicle's sensors and communication units, and designing energy-efficient approaches to processing received data and making decisions in the context of the IoV environment.

Utilizing machine learning to predict hospital admissions for pediatric COVID-19 patients (PrepCOVID-Machine).

The COVID-19 pandemic has burdened healthcare systems globally. To curb high hospital admission rates, only patients with genuine medical needs are admitted. However, machine learning (ML) models to predict COVID-19 hospitalization in Asian children are lacking.

A higher infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii in soft ticks infesting domestic hens: A novel report from Pakistan.

Ticks are the second most important hematophagous ectoparasites after mosquitoes and serve as vectors for various pathogens, transmitting them to wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. Argas persicus are the soft ticks that are known to parasitize domestic poultry. Hard ticks are known to be the reservoir of Toxoplasma (T.

Non-communicable diseases and their associations with outpatient services utilisation: insight from a population-based survey in Malaysia.

Objectives: Multimorbidity has been recognised as a global public health issue, and individuals with multimorbidity have been found to have high healthcare utilisation. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among adults in Malaysia, identify factors associated with multimorbidity, and assess the association between the number of non-communicable diseases and outpatient services utilisation.

Design And Setting: A retrospective secondary data analysis using data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, a cross-sectional household survey among the population in Malaysia.

Technical Note: Self-Irrigation Device for Intraoral Home Care.

Following surgical treatment of a jaw cyst, bony cavities are formed. These cavities are prone to infection when they communicate with the oral environment. Hence, proper irrigation is a crucial aspect of postsurgical care, as it helps to reduce debris buildup and the risk of infection.

Effectiveness of artificially planted mangroves on remediation of metals released from ship-breaking activities.

The pervasive and escalating issue of toxic metal pollution has gathered global attention, necessitating the exploration of innovative ecological strategies like phytoremediation. This study explored the extent of potentially toxic metal contamination status and the effectiveness of three planted mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza,and Excoecaria agallocha) in phytoremediation efforts to reduce pollution level. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of elements in the sediment of the area followed a descending sequence: Fe (27,136.

Impacts of Linear Alkylbenzene (LABs) on ecosystems: Detection, fate and remediation.

This review article provides a thorough examination of an interaction between linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and ecosystems. The review covers various aspects of LABs' impact on ecosystems, focusing on detection and treatment strategies to mitigate ecological consequences. It delves into LABs' role as molecular markers for sewage pollution, their physicochemical properties contributing to persistence, and their effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, including disruptions to endocrine systems.

Caregiving burden for adults with epilepsy and coping strategies, a systematic review.

Objectives: Caregiving for adults with epilepsy (AWE) imposes a different degree and scope of challenges than for children and teenagers with epilepsy, and it remains understudied. This study aimed to identify the types of caregiver burdens, needs, and coping strategies in caregiving for AWE.

Methods: Previous studies relevant to this topic were identified from 7 databases.

The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in Huntington's disease: Implications for therapeutic targeting.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and psychiatric disturbances. A common feature of neurodegenerative disorders is mitochondrial dysfunction, which affects the brain's sensitivity to oxidative damage and its high oxygen demand. This dysfunction may plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.