Biomaterials as a Vital Frontier for Stem Cell-Based Tissue Regeneration.

Biomaterials and tissue regeneration represent two fields of intense research and rapid advancement. Their combination allowed the utilization of the different characteristics of biomaterials to enhance the expansion of stem cells or their differentiation into various lineages. Furthermore, the use of biomaterials in tissue regeneration would help in the creation of larger tissue constructs that can allow for significant clinical application.

Comorbidities and clinical complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an overview.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes major challenges to the healthcare system. SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to millions of deaths worldwide and the mortality rate is found to be greatly associated with pre-existing clinical conditions. The existing dataset strongly suggests that cardiometabolic diseases including hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity serve as strong comorbidities in coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Oxidative Stress-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying CVD is key for better management or prevention. Oxidative stress has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD.

EXOC6 (Exocyst Complex Component 6) Is Associated with the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction.

EXOC6 and EXOC6B (EXOC6/6B) components of the exocyst complex are involved in the secretory granule docking. Recently, EXOC6/6B were anticipated as a molecular link between dysfunctional pancreatic islets and ciliated lung epithelium, making diabetic patients more prone to severe SARS-CoV-2 complications. However, the exact role of EXOC6/6B in pancreatic β-cell function and risk of T2D is not fully understood.

-2548G>A LEP Polymorphism Is Positively Associated with Increased Leptin and Glucose Levels in Obese Saudi Patients Irrespective of Blood Pressure Status.

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the link between common -2548G>A (rs7799039) promoter variant of the human leptin gene (LEP) with leptin and serum glucose leptin levels in obese Saudi patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 206 Saudi adults (80 obese normotensive nondiabetics, 76 obese hypertensive with Type 2 Diabetes and 50 normotensive nondiabetic controls) were genotyped for -2548G>A LEP polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism technique. Results: Participants with minor AA genotype had significantly higher blood glucose levels (6.

In silico Analysis of Publicly Available Transcriptomics Data Identifies Putative Prognostic and Therapeutic Molecular Targets for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. However, the molecular mechanism involved in its pathogenesis is not well characterized.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to identify key cellular pathways and differentially expressed genes along the thyroid cancer pathogenesis sequence as well as to identify potential prognostic and therapeutic targets.

Renoprotective effect of vinpocetine against ischemia/reperfusion injury: Modulation of NADPH oxidase/Nrf2, IKKβ/NF-κB p65, and cleaved caspase-3 expressions.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) during kidney transplantation is a serious clinical problem with a high mortality rate and a lack of therapy. Therefore, there is a need to improve the ability of the kidney to tolerate IRI during transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of vinpocetine; a derivative of vincamine alkaloid; against renal IRI in rats with the elucidation of the involved mechanisms.

The Association Between FokI Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms With Metabolic Syndrome Among Pregnant Arab Women.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a serious health condition that is becoming extremely threatening in Saudi Arabia. The link between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and maternal MetS has been observed in several ethnic groups, but is yet to be clarified in the Arabian population. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the VDR genotype and the risk of MetS and its components in pregnant Saudi women.

Natural products and synthetic analogues against HIV: A perspective to develop new potential anti-HIV drugs.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is responsible for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), one of the major pandemic diseases. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the standard HIV-treatment regimen that usually comprises a combination of three or more antiretroviral drugs. HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors are the main HAART target, which involves the use of both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces soluble platelet activation markers and PAI-1 in the early moderate stage of COVID-19.

Introduction: Coagulation dysfunction and thromboembolism emerge as strong comorbidity factors in severe COVID-19. However, it is unclear when particularly platelet activation markers and coagulation factors dysregulated during the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Here, we sought to assess the levels of coagulation and platelet activation markers at moderate and severe stages of COVID-19 to understand the pathogenesis.

Nano-targeting vascular remodeling in cancer: Recent developments and future directions.

Tumor growth and progression are strictly dependent on the adequate blood supply of oxygen and nutrients. The formation of new blood vessels and vascular networks is essential to ensure this demand. Blood vessels also facilitate the invasion of cancer cells into nearby tissues and their subsequent metastasis.

Iron Overload Induces Oxidative Stress, Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Chondrocytes.

Clinical and experimental evidence point to the presence of considerable links between arthropathy, osteoarthritis (OA) in particular, and iron overload possibly due to oxidative stress and tissue damage. However, the specific cellular targets of iron overload-related oxidative stress in OA remain ambiguous We examined the effects of iron overload on chondrocyte health using the C-20/A4 chondrocyte cell line. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to mimic iron overload .

Metformin enhances LDL-cholesterol uptake by suppressing the expression of the pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in liver cells.

Purpose: Metformin (MF) intake associates with reduced levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). This has been attributed to the activation of AMPK, which differentially regulates the expression of multiple genes involved in cholesterol synthesis and trafficking. However, the exact mechanism underlying the LDL-C lowering effect of MF remains ambiguous.

Travel ban effects on SARS-CoV-2 transmission lineages in the UAE as inferred by genomic epidemiology.

Global and local whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 enables the tracing of domestic and international transmissions. We sequenced Viral RNA from 37 sampled Covid-19 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed infections across the UAE and developed time-resolved phylogenies with 69 local and 3,894 global genome sequences. Furthermore, we investigated specific clades associated with the UAE cohort and, their global diversity, introduction events and inferred domestic and international virus transmissions between January and June 2020.

The Impact of the COVID-19 "Infodemic" on Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in the world of information and digital literacy. The amount of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 that has circulated through social media (SM) since January 2020 is notably significant and has been linked to rising levels of anxiety and fear amongst SM users.

Aim: This study aimed to assess SM practices during COVID-19 and investigated their impact on users' well-being.

The 3D Bioprinted Scaffolds for Wound Healing.

Skin tissue engineering and regeneration aim at repairing defective skin injuries and progress in wound healing. Until now, even though several developments are made in this field, it is still challenging to face the complexity of the tissue with current methods of fabrication. In this review, short, state-of-the-art on developments made in skin tissue engineering using 3D bioprinting as a new tool are described.

Insights into the Role of Gremlin-1, a Bone Morphogenic Protein Antagonist, in Cancer Initiation and Progression.

The bone morphogenic protein (BMP) antagonist Gremlin-1 is a biologically significant regulator known for its crucial role in tissue differentiation and embryonic development. Nevertheless, it has been reported that Gremlin-1 can exhibit its function through BMP dependent and independent pathways. Gremlin-1 has also been reported to be involved in organ fibrosis, which has been correlated to the development of other diseases, such as renal inflammation and diabetic nephropathy.

Supragingival microbiome alternations as a consequence of smoking different tobacco types and its relation to dental caries.

This study aimed to assess the effect of smoking different tobacco types on the supragingival microbiome and its relation to dental caries. Forty supragingival plaque samples were collected from smokers of a single tobacco type and non-smokers seeking treatment at the University Dental Hospital Sharjah, UAE. DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was determined for all participants who were divided into two groups: no-low caries (NC-LC: DMFT = 0-4; n = 18) and moderate-high caries (MC-HC: DMFT = 5-20; n = 22).

Upadacitinib protects against cisplatin-induced renal and hepatic dysfunction without impairing its anticancer activity.

Cisplatin-induced renal and hepatic dysfunctions are major drawbacks and obstacles to its clinical applications. Induction of inflammation is a part of its molecular mechanism of toxicity. The impact of upadacitinib, a selective JAK1-inhibitory anti-inflammatory agent, on cisplatin-induced adverse effects, histopathologic changes, kidney and liver functions, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers were investigated compared to silymarin and losartan in male Wistar rats.

NADPH-derived ROS generation drives fibrosis and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in systemic sclerosis: Potential cross talk with circulating miRNAs.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune disorder characterized by diffuse fibrosis and vascular abnormalities of the affected organs. Although the etiopathology of this disease is largely unknown, endothelial damage and oxidative stress appear implicated in its initiation and maintenance. Here, we show for the first time that circulating factors present in SSc sera increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, collagen synthesis, and proliferation of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs).

Antibacterial Activity of Small Molecules Which Eradicate Methicillin-Resistant Persisters.

The serious challenge posed by multidrug-resistant bacterial infections with concomitant treatment failure and high mortality rates presents an urgent threat to the global health. We herein report the discovery of a new class of potent antimicrobial compounds that are highly effective against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA). The compounds were efficiently synthesized in one-pot employing a cascade of Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé and aza-Michael addition reactions.

Diversity of site-specific microbes of occlusal and proximal lesions in severe- early childhood caries (S-ECC).

Background: Severe-early childhood caries (S-ECC) a global problem of significant concern, commonly manifest on the occlusal, and proximal surfaces of affected teeth. Despite the major ecological differences between these two niches the compositional differences, if any, in the microbiota of such lesions is unknown.

Methods: Deep-dentine caries samples from asymptomatic primary molars of children with S-ECC (n 19) belonging to caries-code 5/6, (ICDAS classification) were evaluated.

Complement System: An Immunotherapy Target in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor and the second most fatal cancer worldwide. Several parts of the immune system contribute to fighting cancer including the innate complement system. The complement system is composed of several players, namely component molecules, regulators and receptors.

Changes of Gut Microbiota by Natural mtDNA Variant Differences Augment Susceptibility to Metabolic Disease and Ageing.

We recently reported on two mouse strains carrying different single nucleotide variations in the mitochondrial complex I gene, i.e., B6-mt mice carrying m.