Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Sex Life Post Childbirth and the Role of the Partner Relationship: A Qualitative Study
Full text linkSexual problems are common among postpartum women, and sexual functioning during the postpartum period is affected by biological, psychological, and social factors. There is limited research exploring women’s experiences within their romantic relationships and sex lives during the postpartum period. This qualitative study utilized the phenomenological approach to gain a better understanding of the experiences of postpartum women in their romantic relationships and their sexual functioning after childbirth. A total of eight eligible postpartum women were interviewed individually. Data from the interviews were analyzed utilizing the phenomenological data analysis approach and grouped into emerging themes. Four themes were extracted for postpartum sex life and partner relationship: (a) general changes in sex life, (b) relationship dynamics, (c) partner’s support, and (d) parenting and partner roles. Results of this study identified potential areas for intervention to improve relationship satisfaction and sexual functioning
Determining the Potential Cytotoxic Effects of NGR-tagged Ruthenium Substituted Rubredoxin on HT-1080 Cells
No full textRubredoxin is a small, iron-containing electron transfer protein commonly found in anaerobic bacteria. In this study, rubredoxin was engineered to incorporate a ruthenium (Ru) metal center in place of its native iron (Fe) and an Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) targeting peptide. The NGR sequence selectively binds to CD13, a cell surface aminopeptidase that is overexpressed in certain malignant tumors, including HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell line. The resulting construct, referred to as NGR-tagged ruthenium substituted rubredoxin (NGR-RuRd), was designed to evaluate the potential of metal-substituted proteins as selective anticancer agents.
The cytotoxic effects of NGR-RuRd were assessed in vitro using the PrestoBlue™ cell viability assay in both CD13-positive HT-1080 cells and CD13-negative MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of NGR-RuRd (50 µM to 500 µM), and viability was compared to multiple controls, including untreated cells, Triton X-100 as a positive control for cell death, wild-type rubredoxin (WtRd), and iron-containing NGR-tagged rubredoxin (NGR-Rd).
In HT-1080 cells, NGR-RuRd caused a statistically significant, dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. At the highest concentration tested (500 µM), viability was reduced to approximately 66 percent compared to the untreated control group (p \u3c 0.0001). Significant cytotoxic effects were also observed at lower concentrations, including 300 µM and 50 µM. In contrast, MCF-7 cells did not show a significant reduction in viability at any tested concentration, with viability remaining above 90 percent across all treatment groups. WtRd and NGR-Rd had no significant cytotoxic effects in either cell line suggesting that the presence of both the ruthenium center and the NGR targeting sequence may be important for selective activity.
Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparisons confirmed the significance of the results. These findings support the conclusion that NGR-RuRd selectively targets and induces cytotoxicity in CD13-expressing cancer cells while sparing non-targeted cell types. This suggests that engineered rubredoxin variants have potential as a platform for the development of targeted cancer therapies.
Future work will investigate the underlying mechanisms of cell death, including the roles of apoptosis and necrosis of NGR-RuRd. Overall, this research contributes to the growing interest in metal-based and protein-based therapeutic strategies in oncology.
Rubredoxin is a small, iron-containing electron transfer protein commonly found in anaerobic bacteria. In this study, rubredoxin was engineered to incorporate a ruthenium (Ru) metal center in place of its native iron (Fe) and an Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) targeting peptide. The NGR sequence selectively binds to CD13, a cell surface aminopeptidase that is overexpressed in certain malignant tumors, including HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell line. The resulting construct, referred to as NGR-tagged ruthenium substituted rubredoxin (NGR-RuRd), was designed to evaluate the potential of metal-substituted proteins as selective anticancer agents.
The cytotoxic effects of NGR-RuRd were assessed in vitro using the PrestoBlue™ cell viability assay in both CD13-positive HT-1080 cells and CD13-negative MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of NGR-RuRd (50 µM to 500 µM), and viability was compared to multiple controls, including untreated cells, Triton X-100 as a positive control for cell death, wild-type rubredoxin (WtRd), and iron-containing NGR-tagged rubredoxin (NGR-Rd).
In HT-1080 cells, NGR-RuRd caused a statistically significant, dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. At the highest concentration tested (500 µM), viability was reduced to approximately 66 percent compared to the untreated control group (p \u3c 0.0001). Significant cytotoxic effects were also observed at lower concentrations, including 300 µM and 50 µM. In contrast, MCF-7 cells did not show a significant reduction in viability at any tested concentration, with viability remaining above 90 percent across all treatment groups. WtRd and NGR-Rd had no significant cytotoxic effects in either cell line suggesting that the presence of both the ruthenium center and the NGR targeting sequence may be important for selective activity.
Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparisons confirmed the significance of the results. These findings support the conclusion that NGR-RuRd selectively targets and induces cytotoxicity in CD13-expressing cancer cells while sparing non-targeted cell types. This suggests that engineered rubredoxin variants have potential as a platform for the development of targeted cancer therapies.
Future work will investigate the underlying mechanisms of cell death, including the roles of apoptosis and necrosis of NGR-RuRd. Overall, this research contributes to the growing interest in metal-based and protein-based therapeutic strategies in oncology
Gene profiling and clinicopathological features for prognostic modeling of recurrence in non-metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Accurate risk stratification of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is critical for selecting the most appropriate treatment options. Existing prognostic systems, which incorporate various clinical and pathological parameters, have limitations in terms of accuracy. However, it remains unclear whether integrating molecular data with clinicopathological features can enhance the identification of high-risk tumors. The objective of this study was to establish a model to predict RCC recurrence by integrating molecular data with clinicopathological features and to evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a non-invasive prognostic marker.
METHODS: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on 73 RCC patients, including 54 with clear-cell RCC (ccRCC). A prognostic model for disease-free survival (DFS) in non-metastatic ccRCC (NMCCRCC) was constructed and validated with two external datasets. The prognostic potential of ctDNA was assessed by its detection rates, mutation concordance with tumor tissue DNA, and association with clinical outcomes.
RESULTS: Frequently altered genes in ccRCC included VHL (72.22%), PBRM1 (25.93%), BAP1 (20.37%), TP53 (11.11%), KDM5C (11.11%), and SETD2 (16.67%). Advanced T stage, BAP1, and SETD2 mutations were independent risk factors for recurrence in NMCCRCC patients. The model achieved a concordance index (C-index) of 0.833 and demonstrated area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.900 to 0.821 for 1- to 5-year outcomes. In external validation, the model also demonstrated reliable performance in the external validation cohorts, with AUC values ranging from 0.688 to 0.751 and 0.721 to 0.768, respectively. The mutation concordance between ctDNA and tumor tissue DNA was 61.54%, with higher ctDNA detection rates observed in patients with distant metastasis.
CONCLUSIONS: Our prognostic model, factoring in T stage and genetic mutations in BAP1 and SETD2, effectively predicted recurrence in NMCCRCC patients. The potential of ctDNA as a non-invasive prognostic biomarker was underscored by its high detection rates and mutation concordance
Community Colleges and Financial Wellness Resources: What Financial Wellness Information Do Community Colleges Make Available on Their Websites?
No full textOver the past two decades, community colleges have increasingly implemented financial wellness programs to support community college students’ needs, including becoming more knowledgeable about budgeting, credit, and student loans, as well as how to navigate adult life and related expenses. However, no studies have explored whether community colleges integrate financial wellness resources into their websites and which types of information these institutions may include. Subsequently, this brief scanned 1,585 community college websites, locating 219 institutional (.edu) webpages on community college websites. Content analysis revealed that public community colleges were much more likely to publish financial wellness webpages, while most community colleges published asynchronous resources and links to educational software that do not require any institutional human resources. Implications for financial wellness programming in community colleges are addressed
A Holistic Approach to Treatment of Rosacea During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review
Full text linkBackground: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that is commonly exacerbated during pregnancy. Many patients suffer from emotional distress as a result of their rosacea, but the standard treatment options can cause harm to a developing fetus.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE using the keywords “rosacea,” “pregnancy,” “treatment,” “holistic,” “edema, and “osteopathic manipulative treatment” (OMT). 113 papers were extracted and screened to determine eligibility based on inclusion criteria: primary sources, rosacea diagnosis, and documented treatment. Those that did not meet criteria were excluded and 20 papers remained for this review.
Results: The 20 included sources had a total of 230 participants who presented with rosacea fulminans (RF) or rosacea-associated edema. Treatment options included antibiotics, steroids, topical antiseptic, wet compresses, and OMT. Of the patients who were pregnant, complications included ocular perforation, corneal transplant, fetal arrhythmia, oligohydramnios, and intrauterine death. Some patients even elected for termination of pregnancy due to rosacea-related anxiety and depression.
Discussion: The emotional distress that these patients faced and physical harm to their babies confirms the need for a holistic approach to treating rosacea during pregnancy. An expected limitation is that some of these complications may be the result of chance, while others may have been due to medications used. It was concluded that pregnancy-safe antibiotics or low-dose topical steroids in combination with OMT or holistic management would be the most effective approach
Parasocial Relationships and Women’s Friendship Expectations, Perceptions, and Satisfaction
Full text linkTelevision (TV) and film have increasingly become meaningful ways for people to connect, whether through discussing content, engaging with celebrities online, or forming imagined relationships with fictional characters. These one-sided connections are known as parasocial relationships (PSR). While prior research has mainly focused on how PSR influence romantic relationships—affecting ideals, expectations, perceptions, and satisfaction—the current study expands this examination to non-romantic relationships, specifically friendships.
The aim of this research is to explore how stronger non-romantic PSR might influence an individual\u27s expectations, beliefs, perceptions, and overall satisfaction with their real-life friendships. Participants completed several assessments, including the Parasocial Relationship Measure, Relationship Assessment Scale, Perceived Social Support Measure - Friends Scale (PSS-Fr), and Acquaintance Description Form (ADF-F2). These measures collectively evaluated the strength of participants\u27 PSR alongside their expectations and satisfaction within their actual friendships.
Results highlight the significant role PSR play in contemporary media interactions, revealing their potential to satisfy emotional needs, shape personal identity, and offer psychological validation. Additionally, generational and technological differences emerged, with younger audiences forming intense, immediate connections through serialized media content, while older viewers more often developed nostalgia-driven bonds via episodic formats. Although PSR can provide emotional benefits, such as self-affirmation, they may also lead to heightened expectations or feelings of inadequacy in real-world relationships. These insights underscore important implications for media creators, mental health professionals, and future research exploring the broader impacts of PSR on emotional well-being and social dynamics
Augmentation of Transforming Growth Factor-β-induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition by Interleukin-1β: Role of DNA Methylation
No full textLung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A better understanding of
mechanisms related to tumor initiation, progression and metastasis might help develop better
prevention and treatment regimens. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is related to
metastasis and the development of therapy resistance. The aim of our study is to determine how inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1 (IL-1) enhances transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) induced EMT in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, and whether regulation of DNA methylation is involved in this enhancement. Cells in 4 treatment groups (IL-1 alone, TGF-β alone, IL-1 and TGF-β cotreatment and untreated control) were analyzed over a 96-hour period. Total RNA and genomic DNA were isolated at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. RT-PCR was used to measure mRNA levels of DNA methylating and DNA demethylating enzymes as well as established markers of EMT progression. Results of RT-PCR showed no significant difference in DNMT1 andDNMT3a mRNA expression between TGF-β alone and TGF-β-IL1 cotreatment. However, IL-1 significantly decreased TET-1 mRNA expression as compared to untreated controls, and inhibited TGF-β induction of TET-1 at 24 and 48 hours. Future experiments will examine changes in global levels of 5mC and 5hmC, as well as DNMT and TET enzyme activity. We hypothesize that decreased TET activity facilitates early steps in EMT transition initiated by TGF-β
How Adverse Childhood Trauma Affects Coping Behaviors and Anxiety in College Students During COVID-19: A Neurobiological Perspective
Full text linkThe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has uprooted college students from the traditional college environment and placed additional stressors on them, yet its effects are still emerging. In the present study, 329 college students (Mage=19.74, SDage= 1.96) completed measures of generalized anxiety, behavioral coping, and adverse childhood experiences between July 2020 and March 2021 of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hypothesized that more adverse childhood experiences would be associated with more maladaptive behavioral coping strategies. In addition, less adaptive coping strategies would be positively associated with more anxiety among college students. Results indicated that negative coping behaviors were associated with more adverse childhood experiences and anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student mental health and the need for targeted inventions for this population
Spine-tingling 3D prints: bringing spinal tracts to life!
Full text linkThe concept of “neurophobia” has been a known global issue in the attitudes of medical trainees. Accordingly, studies have suggested that medical students considered neurology the most challenging specialty and one in which they had the least knowledge and confidence. Studies noted that the primary culprit was the comparatively increased complexity of neuroanatomy and insufficient teaching. Herein, we propose a novel way of teaching a common neuroanatomy and neuropathology concept - the spinal tracts. We have designed and built a 3D-printed model of the spinal cord and brain stem cross sections and brain coronal sections to enhance the learning and visualization of the spinal ascending and descending tracts. Transparent tubing and LED lighting strips clearly outline each pathway\u27s starting point, decussation location, and final destination. This project provides students and medical trainees an alternative to the common 2D form of textbook learning through a tangible and visual model to improve comprehension of neuroanatomical concepts
Health complications of antibacterial-based mouthwash on oral microbiota: literature review
Full text linkIntroduction
The human microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses, is a diverse and dynamic community of microorganisms that maintains both systemic and oral health. This population regulates immune response, prevents pathogen colonization, and facilitates metabolic processes such as nitrate reduction. Oral microbiota are distinct from gut microbiota but are interconnected through microbial translocation and inflammatory signaling, disruption of this balance is linked to various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that antibacterial mouthwash use may reduce nitrate-reducing bacteria, impairing nitric oxide (NO) production, a key molecule in vasodilation and blood pressure regulation. Understanding this relationship is crucial in assessing the long-term cardiovascular impact of antibacterial-based mouthwashes.
Methods
A literature review was conducted using PubMed, with keywords such as “Oral Microbiota and Antibacterial Mouthwash.” Studies ranged from 2014 to 2025. Inclusion criteria focused on studies evaluating antibacterial-based mouthwash effects on oral microbiota and excluded studies involving non-antibacterial mouthwashes, non-English publications, participants under 18 years of age, and studies with confounding medical conditions affecting normal flora were excluded. Variables such as mouthwash frequency, population, and blood pressure changes were used. Initially, 39 studies were identified; 34 were excluded based on criteria, resulting in five relevant articles. The Downs and Black risk of bias assessment tool was applied to evaluate study quality.
Results
Of the five included studies, multiple findings indicated a potential link between antibacterial mouthwash use and elevated blood pressure. Bondonno et al. (2014) reported an increase in systolic blood pressure after three days of antibacterial mouthwash use. Joshipura et al. (2019) identified a higher risk of hypertension in participants using mouthwash twice or more daily. Conversely, Babbateen et al. (2019) found no significant blood pressure change following single-use mouthwash exposure, suggesting sustained use may be required to observe notable effects. These studies collectively highlight that frequency and duration of antibacterial mouthwash exposure may influence blood pressure outcomes, likely by altering NO bioavailability through nitrate-reducing bacteria depletion.
Discussion
The reviewed studies indicate that frequent antibacterial mouthwash use may increase blood pressure due to reduced NO production. Joshipura et al. (2019) demonstrated a strong association between routine mouthwash use and higher hypertension risk, while Bondonno et al. (2014) showed acute systolic pressure increases with short-term use. These findings align with the understanding that NO plays a critical role in vascular relaxation. While Babbateen et al. (2019) found no immediate changes with single-use exposure, this suggests that cardiovascular effects may be cumulative with continued use. These findings emphasize the importance of balancing bacterial reduction with preserving beneficial nitrate-reducing species.
Conclusion
The findings support that regular antibacterial mouthwash use may contribute to increased blood pressure by reducing nitrate-reducing bacteria and limiting NO production. Frequent exposure should be approached with caution, especially in individuals at risk for hypertension. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness of the systemic effects of antibacterial mouthwash and underscore the importance of further research to fully understand its cardiovascular impact