Advancements in Life Sciences (E-Journal, University of the Punjab)
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Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Navigating Controversies and Pioneering Advances
Get PDFThis review examines Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), a significant complication of diabetes affecting nearly half of diabetic patients. DPN is crucial to understand due to its high prevalence and profound impact on patients’ quality of life, causing pain, sensory loss, motor dysfunction, and heightened risks of foot ulcers and amputations. As a leading cause of disability, grasping DPN’s pathophysiology, early diagnosis, and treatment options are essential for alleviating its burden. Key facets of DPN include its complex pathophysiology stemming from chronic hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular problems that damage nerves. The review highlights the rising rates of diabetes and DPN in regions like Saudi Arabia, noting that factors such as poor glycemic control, prolonged diabetes duration, and comorbidities like hypertension significantly contribute to DPN progression. Diagnostic challenges are also addressed; traditional nerve conduction studies are gold standards yet limited in detecting early-stage neuropathy, especially small-fiber damage. Emerging methods, like skin biopsy and corneal confocal microscopy, show promise for earlier detection. Treatment mainly focuses on glycemic control and pain management without reversing nerve damage. Innovative therapies targeting DPN mechanisms include antioxidant treatments, anti-inflammatory agents, and phytomedicine, which utilizes bioactive compounds for their neuroprotective effects. The review concludes by stressing the need for ongoing research into DPN's molecular mechanisms and the development of personalized medicine approaches, which could significantly enhance patient outcomes.Keywords: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy; DPN induced disability; DPN Pathophysiology; DPN treatment; DPN controversies
Structure-based multitargeted screening of bioactive compounds of Catharanthus roseus against breast cancer
Get PDFBackground: Breast cancer (BC) remains a major global challenge, with current treatments targeting hormone receptors with partial agonists/antagonists that frequently cause side effects and resistance.Methods: This study investigates bioactive compounds of Catharanthus roseus as potential EGFR and ERα inhibitors. Protein-ligand interactions, which are important in drug design, were assessed using the PyRx 0.8 virtual screening tool. The LOTUS database was used to generate a bioactive compound library (N = 291) of C. roseus constituents. The physiochemical properties of selected hits were investigated to identify lead-like compounds.Result: Among the screened compounds, five compounds namely, LTS0049153, LTS0192836, LTS0084120, LTS0052616, and LTS0199033 exhibited strong binding to ERα and EGFR, and interacted with key amino acid residues of ERα and EGFR proteins. These compounds have favorable physiochemical properties and meet Lipinski's criteria.Conclusion: The compounds LTS0049153, LTS0192836, LTS0084120, LTS0052616, and LTS0199033 can be used as ERα and EGFR inhibitors for BC treatment. However, more experimental validation is needed to optimize these compounds as ERα and EGFR inhibitors.Keywords: Breast cancer; EGFR; Erα; Virtual screening; Drug likeness Editorial Expression of Concern:18 May 2025: Following publication of this paper, the internal audit (consequent to concerns on quality raised by Web of Science) notified Advancements in Life Sciences about missing record of the Turnitin Originality / AI Reports. By this Editorial Expression of Concern, we alert the scientific community of the errors as we reconcile the records.Editorial Note:28 May 2025: Missing record of the Turnitin Originality / AI Reports has been reconciled by conducting fresh analyses as per the editorial policy. Expression of concern is hereby revoked
Neutropenic fever in patients with Hematologic Malignancies: Microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility
Get PDFBackground: Neutropenic fever is a life-threatening complication for patients with hematological malignancies during the course of their management. Early and precise detection of causative microorganisms are crucial. The purpose of this study was to identify the spectrum of these microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility.Methods: A total of 58 patients with proven hematological malignancies at The Basrah Center for Oncology and Hematology were included. Blood samples were inoculated into bottles of Bract/Alert blood culture system and sent to the reference lab for study. Culture from positive bottles were plated on appropriate media, and incubated at 37°C and 30°C for bacterial and fungal isolation, respectively. a bacterial suspension with a turbidity equivalent to 0.5 McFarland (1.5 × 108 CFU/mL) was prepared and used for the Vitec2 system (bioMerieux). Statistical analysis using SPSS software version 26 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among 58 patients with approved hematologic malignancies, 29.31% (n:17) samples established positive blood culture. Of them, 9 were gram-negative (15.52%) and 4 were gram-positive bacteria (6.89%), 1 was gram-positive bacillus facultative anaerobe (1.73) and, 3 patients (5.17%) showed fungemia.Conclusion: Thirty- five % of the samples studied were culture-positive. The most frequent microorganisms were gram-positive bacteria. CRP is a useful predictor of mortality for febrile neutropenic patients.Keywords: Neutropenic fever; Blood culture; Chemotherapy; hematologic malignancies Editorial Expression of Concern:18 May 2025: Following publication of this paper, the internal audit (consequent to concerns on quality raised by Web of Science) notified Advancements in Life Sciences about problems in use of English language and references. By this Editorial Expression of Concern, we alert the scientific community as we address the errors.Editorial Note:31 May 2025: You are viewing the latest version of this article having minor corrections related to the use of English language and in references section. Expression of concern is hereby revoked
The effect of TGF-β1 gene expression on patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Get PDFBackground: A systemic autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affects a wide range of ages and populations worldwide. In chronic RA, lymphocytes, synovial cells, antigen-presenting cells, their cytokines, and most importantly, Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) are the leading players. The most critical for angiogenesis, immunosuppression, fibrosis, and chronic inflammation is TGF-β1, a potent anti-inflammatory mediator in RA with high expression at the site of RA.Methods: A total of 53 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (anti-CCP and RF positive) and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited using purposive sampling. Patients were enrolled from Al Zahraa Hospital, Al Karama Teaching Hospital, and affiliated clinics in Wasit Province. Inclusion criteria comprised confirmed RA diagnosis according to ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria, while patients with other autoimmune, infectious, or chronic inflammatory diseases were excluded. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Blood samples were collected for TGF-β1 gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was determined, and disease activity was classified using the DAS28 score.Results: RA patients showed significantly higher TGF-β1 expression than controls (ΔΔCt = −0.9 ± 2; t(52) = −3.28, P = 0.0019), corresponding to a geometric mean fold change of 1.87 [95 % CI: 1.28 – 2.71]. The expression of TGF-β1 on leukocytes did not vary significantly between males and females. Furthermore, TGF-β1 gene expression did not change amongst patients with low, moderate, and high disease activity levels.Conclusion: The elevated level of TGF-β1 in the contemporary study might be correlated with RA in Iraqi patients. This relationship seems independent of gender and disease activity status and highlights the importance of TGF-β1 in RA pathogenesis, indicating its possible contribution as a disease detection biomarker. The implications of these findings are significant for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying RA and may influence future therapeutic strategies.Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, TGF-β1, Expression, Cytokines, Autoimmune diseas
Role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in Iraqi thalassemic patients infected with Toxoplasmosis
Get PDFBackground: Toxoplasmosis is caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite infects all types of endothermic animals, including mammals and birds, and is widespread throughout the world. A widespread form of hereditary anemia and the most common cause of hematologic disorders is Thalassemia. Interferon (IFN) is necessary for cellular immune activation against viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. This study aims to evaluate the role of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in modulating immunity in thalassemia patients infected with T. gondii.Methods: Blood samples were collected from the period of March-June, 2022, from 165 thalassemia diagnosed individuals and 80 healthy volunteers at Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. The ages of all patients were from 2 to 45 years. Thalassemia was diagnosed by blood tests conducted as per doctor’s prescription.Result: The thalassemic individuals infected with toxoplasmosis showed the highest IgG antibody titers, while the control group with toxoplasmosis ranked second. The thalassemic individuals, with or without toxoplasmosis, also showed significantly higher concentrations of IFN-γ compared to the T. gondii-positive control group and healthy subjects.Conclusion: It is concluded that the highest IFN-γ levels were found in the thalassemic group as compared with other study groups.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; Thalassemia; IgM; IgG; IFN-γ leve
In silico Drug Design of Natural Apolipoprotein E4 Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease Management
Get PDFBackground: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among the elderly and one of the most difficult public health issues. The APoE4 allele is the main risk factor for late-onset sporadic AD.Methods: This study chose phytochemicals from Ginkgo biloba because of their well-documented neuroprotective properties. A total of 258 G. biloba compounds were obtained from the LOTUS database and screened against the Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) protein using the in silico method. Physicochemical and ADMET properties prediction assessment was conducted using the ADMETLab 3.0 web tool. Result: The hit compounds quercetin, saccharic acid, acacetin, and L-tyrosine were discovered to strongly bind to ApoE4 protein and interact with key ApoE4 protein residues. In addition, these compounds had several amino acid interactions in common with the control compounds. Furthermore, these four compounds have distinct ADMET profiles, and the expected properties, such as solubility, permeability, and toxicity, fall within acceptable limits, making them potential drug candidates.Conclusion: The compounds (quercetin, saccharic acid, acacetin, and L-tyrosine) can be used as ApoE4 inhibitors to manage AD.Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; dementia; apolipoprotein E4; Ginkgo biloba; drug-likeness
Understanding the Role of Genetics in Tumour and Cancer Biology
No full textThe interplay between genetics and cancer has been a focal point of research for decades, leading to profound understandings into the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis. In this comprehensive review article, we explore the genetic basis of cancer, encompassing the diverse array of alterations that underline oncogenic transformation. From oncogenes to tumor suppressor genes, and from point mutations to chromosomal rearrangements, we delve into the molecular hallmarks of cancer and their implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Drawing on recent advancements in genomic technologies, we discuss the role of next-generation sequencing, single-cell sequencing, and computational modeling in unraveling the complexity of cancer genetics. Furthermore, we examine the clinical implications of genetic predisposition to cancer, highlighting the importance of genetic testing and counselling in cancer risk assessment and management. Through an exploration of tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and therapeutic resistance, we underscore the challenges and opportunities in precision oncology. Finally, we discuss future directions in cancer genetics research, including precision prevention strategies and ethical considerations.Keywords: Cancer Genetics; Oncogenes; Tumor Suppressor Genes; Genetic Alterations; Precision Oncology; Clonal Evolution Editorial Note:28 May 2025: While reconciling the record of Turnitin originality analysis, 56% content of this article was found generated using AI tool/s without clear disclosure along with similarity on more than 4% with at least one source published prior to this article. Editorial board of Advancements in Life Sciences has started the process of retracting this article due to the above post-publication findings. The process shall be concluded after registering responses from the authors. Meanwhile, full text of the article shall remain unavailable for citations (this notice has been updated following insights derived from relevant COPE cases and the industry standards).Rescinded: Editorial Expression of Concern18 June 2025: Editorial expression of concern issued on 28 May 2025 is hereby rescinded on account of author's explanation / justification of the AI generated / paraphrased content. Author's justification reads "As non-native English speakers, we did utilize AI-based tools solely for language enhancement purposes such as grammar correction and improving readability—during the manuscript’s preparation. These tools were not used for generating scientific content or writing the main body of the article. We now recognize that even such linguistic support should have been explicitly disclosed at the time of submission, and we deeply regret this oversight". Readers may access rebuttal letter here. However, the board has decided to keep the contents of this article unchanged
Evaluating the Self-Care Efficacy and Needs of Cancer Patients Experiencing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Get PDFBackground: Chemotherapy involves the strategic use of chemotherapeutic agents to manage cancer. While effective, it can harm healthy cells, leading to adverse effects. Our study aims to identify the self-care gaps faced by cancer patients and provide them with the essential knowledge, skills, and support to manage their condition effectively.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive-analytic design was employed, involving a purposive sample of 100 patients with cancer experiencing side effects from chemotherapy. A predesigned questionnaire evaluated the history of chemotherapy and its side effects, Psychological, social, and religious needs, and Level of independence in basic self-care and daily living skills. Descriptive and inferential statistics organized, tallied, and examined the gathered data. Results: The majority 88 percent of clients meet their needs moderately adequate, only 9 percent of clients meet their needs adequately and 3 percent of clients cannot meet their needs. The overall mean score was 20.99 (SD = 4.802) out of a maximum possible score of 24, indicating that most patients demonstrated autonomy in self-care effectiveness concerning daily activities. A significant correlation was observed between the levels of independence and the demographic variables of the patients. Additionally, there is a noteworthy positive correlation (r = 0.303) between mental health, social, and spiritual requirements and the degree of independence in essential self-care efficacy among cancer patients.Conclusion: The health team's primary duty is to raise awareness of and provide an explanation of self-care management of the disease. This will help people adopt a positive mindset and teach them how to practice at standard levels.Keywords: Self-care efficacy; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Side effects; Patient needs
Thyroid Hormone Synergizes with PPARγ and cAMP to Drive UCP1 Transcription and Brown-like Adipocyte Phenotype in 3T3-L1 Cells
Get PDFBackground: Brown adipose tissue expresses uncoupling protein 1(Ucp1), a mitochondrial protein essential for energy balance and non-shivering thermogenesis. This study aimed to show how cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparγ), and triiodothyronine (T3) pathways together stimulate Ucp1 expression in white adipose tissue.Methods: Differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, both transiently transfected and stably transduced with a UCP1 vector, were used to assess the effects of T3, Pparγ, cAMP agonists, and their combinations on Ucp1 expression.Results: The results showed that treatment with T3, Pparγ agonists, and cAMP agonists significantly increased Ucp1 promoter activity in both undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. In differentiated cells, combined treatment with rosiglitazone, T3, and forskolin led to a time-dependent increase in Ucp1 expression: 5-fold on Day 4, 7.5-fold on Day 8, and 10.5-fold on Day 12 (P < 0.001). Prdm16 mRNA increased 1.5-fold on Days 4 and 8 (P < 0.001), and 3-fold on Day 12 (P < 0.01) after T3 and rosiglitazone treatment, with forskolin added in the final 12 hours. Pgc1α expression peaked at a 2-fold increase on Day 12 (P < 0.05). Cidea expression was markedly upregulated, showing a maximum increase approximately 3 fold on Day 12 (P < 0.001). Elovl3 doubled on Days 4 and 8, and increased approximately 3-fold by Day 12 (P < 0.001).Conclusion: This study suggests that activating PPARγ, cAMP, and T3 pathways can induce browning of white adipose tissue, offering potential therapeutic strategies for obesity management.Keywords: Brown Adipose Tissue; cAMP; PPARγ; Thyroid Hormones; Ucp1; White Adipose Tissue; Transdifferentiation, Brown-Like Adipocyt
Evaluation of the General Population’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Herpes Zoster Vaccination in the Northern Border and Al-Jouf Region of Saudi Arabia
Get PDFBackground: The knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the general population concerning HZ and its vaccine are not well established in many regions of Saudi Arabia, including the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia (NBRSA) and Al-Jouf Region of Saudi Arabia (AJRSA). Accordingly, this study intended to evaluate the KAP of the individuals residing in the NBRSA and AJRSA.Methods: The data of this cross-sectional investigation was collected employing an online survey questionnaire through Google Forms. The questionnaire comprised questions related to demography and KAP of the general population of NBRSA and AJRSA about HZ and HZ vaccination. The data was collected and the significance of the results was analyzed by utilizing SPSS version 21 software (p 50%) had poor awareness about HZ and HZ vaccine. An appreciable number of participants (68.11%) were eager to learn more about HZ. The main source of information for HZ was the internet (46.37%) for most of the individuals.Conclusion: There is a considerable information gap as well as a low HZ vaccination rate among the people of NBRSA and AJRSA warranting initiating educational and awareness programs in these regions.Keywords: Shingles; Herpes Zoster; Vaccine; Northern Border Region; Al-Jouf; Saudi Arabi