Narra J (Journal)
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Effects of traditional music therapy on the psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrine aspect of burnout syndrome in healthcare workers: A randomized controlled trial
Full text linkBurnout syndrome (BOS) is an occupational phenomenon highly prevalent among healthcare workers, particularly physicians and nurses. Despite its prevalence, no single therapy universally addresses all cases of BOS. The aim of this study was to develop a novel approach to managing BOS through traditional music therapy, evaluated from psychosomatic, neurological, immunological, and endocrine perspectives. The study involved 80 participants who were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received traditional music therapy for 10–15 minutes, three times a week, over four weeks. Key outcomes were assessed at weeks 2 and 4. Measurements included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cortisol, saliva β-endorphin, saliva immunoglobulin A (IgA), and serum FOXP3. Instruments included the MBI-HSS questionnaire and HRV measuring devices. Over four weeks, significant improvements were observed in the MBI scores (p=0.001), HRV (p=0.001), and FOXP3 delta (p=0.035) in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found for cortisol, β-endorphin, or IgA. These findings suggest that traditional music therapy positively impacts the psychological, neurological, and immunological aspects of BOS and potentially influences immunological and endocrine responses. Future research should explore the effects of longer intervention durations, test varying doses, and examine the combination of music therapy with other non-pharmacological treatments to enhance its therapeutic potential
Post-traumatic stress disorder, stress burden, and quality of life among caregivers of children with cancer in Egypt
Full text linkCaregivers of children with cancer frequently endure considerable psychological distress. The challenging nature of caregiving, combined with the emotional burden of witnessing a child's illness and treatment, can impact the quality of life and lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in these caregivers. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD among caregivers of pediatric cancer patients and to identify the risk factors contributing to its development. Additionally, it examined the stress burden on caregivers and its impact on their quality of life. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted over six months at the outpatient pediatric oncology clinics in Ain Shams University Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, Cairo, Egypt. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, Zarit Burden Interview, and PCASEE quality of life were utilized to assess the PTSD symptoms, perceived burden, and quality of life, respectively. A total of 60 caregivers of children with cancer and 60 caregivers of children without cancer were included. Among the caregivers of children with cancer, 91.3% (n=55) exhibited post-traumatic stress symptoms, with 31.3% (n=19) meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared to 0% of caregivers of children without cancer. Caregivers of children with cancer had significantly higher stress burden and lower quality of life scores compared to caregivers of children without cancer (48.66±9.95 vs 13.25±5.64; p=0.001 and 51.8±15.2 vs 72.2±14.3; p<0.001, respectively). Young age (p=0.033), being a mother (p=0.003), and taking care of those with tumor relapse (p=0.012) were identified as significant factors associated with PTSD development among caregivers of cancer patients. Moreover, caregivers of children with cancer experienced significantly higher stress burden levels and reduced quality of life compared to those caring for children without cancer (p=0.001), further increasing their risk of developing PTSD. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted psychological support and interventions to improve the well-being of these caregivers
Peptide-based drug as atherosclerosis multitarget therapy from Lytechinus variegatus spine: An in silico study
Full text linkAtherosclerosis is a leading cardiovascular disease characterized by the buildup of plaques within arterial walls. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of peptides derived from Lytechinus variegatus spines as novel therapeutic agents for atherosclerosis using an in silico approach. Key proteins involved in atherosclerosis were selected as target proteins: vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), protein kinase B (AKT1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Comprehensive analysis involving ligand and protein preparation, toxicity, and allergenicity assessments, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) predictions, and molecular docking were conducted to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic properties, binding affinity (kcal/mol), root mean square deviation (RMSD) (Å), as well as a 2D and 3D visualization. Toxicity predictions revealed that peptide 9 was non-toxic and non-allergenic, with a lethal dose 50 (LD50) of 3,000 mg/kg, indicating its safety. Peptide 9 demonstrated the most promising results, effectively inhibiting VEGFR2 (-10,90 kcal/mol), AKT1 (-10,56 kcal/mol), EGFR (-9,82 kcal/mol), MAPK8 (-9,64 kcal/mol), and ET-1 (-11,41 kcal/mol) with strong binding affinities and specificity. These interactions suggested that peptide 9 from Lytechinus variegatus spines may serve as a competitive multitarget inhibitor, offering potential multitarget therapeutic activity against atherosclerosis. Peptide 9 also had high water solubility and did not affect the concentration or excretion of other drugs or compounds, minimizing the risk of drug-drug interactions
Impact of semen insemination on the vaginal microbiome profile of candidiasis rat model: A preliminary forensic study on sexual violence evidence
Full text linkSexual violence, including sexual intercourse, can occur in women experiencing vaginal discharge, particularly in cases of vaginal candidiasis. In candidiasis, the vaginal microbiome undergoes changes that could serve as a diagnostic indicator or as evidence of sexual activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of semen insemination on the vaginal microbiome profile of candidiasis rats and to determine its forensic investigations in cases of sexual violence. An experimental study was carried out using Wistar strain rats (Rattus norvegicus), consisting of four male rats (for spermatozoa donors) and twenty-four female rats. The female rats were divided into four groups: normal condition (control), normal condition post-semen insemination, candidiasis rats, and candidiasis rat post-semen insemination. Vaginal microbiome profiles were examined for each group, using alpha diversity (Chao 1, Shannon, Simpson, and Faith PD indices) and beta diversity (Bray Curtis, Jaccard, Unweighted Unifrac and Weighted Unifrac indices). Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test for alpha diversity and the PERMANOVA test for beta diversity. The vaginal microbiome profiles of normal and candidiasis rats showed no significant differences (p>0.05). In candidiasis rats, the microbiome predominantly consisted of the Eukaryota kingdom, particularly Candida albicans. Semen insemination did not significantly affect the vaginal microbiome profile of candidiasis rats in the short term (p>0.05). However, the study highlights that the presence of Eschericia-Shigella, Roseomonas, and Archaea in the vaginal microbiome post-semen insemination potentially serves as an indicator of infection or sexual activity in forensic contexts
Artificial intelligence-based deep learning algorithms for ground-glass opacity nodule detection: A review
Full text linkGround-glass opacities (GGOs) are hazy opacities on chest computed tomography (CT) scans that can indicate various lung diseases, including early COVID-19, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising tool for analyzing medical images, such as chest CT scans. The aim of this study was to evaluate AI models' performance in detecting GGO nodules using metrics like accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, area under the curve (AUC) and precision. We designed a search strategy to include reports focusing on deep learning algorithms applied to high-resolution CT scans. The search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect to identify studies published between 2016 and 2024. Quality appraisal of included studies was conducted using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool, assessing the risk of bias and applicability concerns across four domains. Two reviewers independently screened studies reporting the diagnostic ability of AI-assisted CT scans in early GGO detection, where the review results were synthesized qualitatively. Out of 5,247 initially identified records, we found 18 studies matching the inclusion criteria of this study. Among evaluated models, DenseNet achieved the highest accuracy of 99.48%, though its sensitivity and specificity were not reported. WOANet showed an accuracy of 98.78%, with a sensitivity of 98.37% and high specificity of 99.19%, excelling particularly in specificity without compromising sensitivity. In conclusion, AI models can potentially detect GGO on chest CT scans. Future research should focus on developing hybrid models that integrate various AI approaches to improve clinical applicability
Ethanol extract from Ziziphus nummularia stem inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation through TP53 regulating kinase (TP53RK)-mediated p53 activation: In silico and genes expression investigations
Full text linkThe p53 signaling pathway plays a critical role in regulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, and senescence, making it a key target in cancer research. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an ethanol extract from the stem of Ziziphus nummularia on the proliferation and expression of genes involved in the p53 pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. To achieve this, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of downstream genes linked to cell cycle and senescence, including CycE or CCNE1, RBL1, and E2F1. Molecular docking simulations using Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) were also performed to assess the potential inhibitory activity of metabolite compounds from Z. nummularia stem against p53-regulating kinase (TP53RK). The results showed that the IC50 value of Z. nummularia stem ethanol extract against MCF-7 cells was 38.27±0.72 µg/mL. The results also revealed a reduction in the expression of downstream genes linked to cell senescence and the cell cycle: CycE or CCNE1 (p=0.011), RBL1 (p=0.008), and E2F1 (p=0.005), which was observed through RT-qPCR analysis of mRNA expression. This fact indicated that the inhibitory effects on proliferation by the ethanol extract of Z. nummularia stem might occur via pathways associated with cell senescence and cell cycle arrest. Molecular docking results of metabolite compounds from Z. nummularia stem suggested that squalene (Rerank score -112.70 kJ/mol), and nummularine B (Rerank score -110.68 kJ/mol) had potential as TP53RK inhibitors. These Rerank scores were smaller compared to the Rerank score of adenyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), which was the native ligand of TP53RK, as confirmed by molecular dynamics analysis. These in silico results were confirmed by the decrease in p21 (CDKN1A) mRNA expression. In conclusion, the anti-proliferative effects of the ethanol extract from Z. nummularia stem on breast cancer cells occurred by affecting cell cycle-related genes and inhibiting apoptosis protection mediated by overexpression of p21 (CDKN1A) through p53 activity
Prognosis value of circulating telomere repeat binding factor 2 and leukocyte telomere length in breast cancer mortality
Full text linkTelomere repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2) is currently a novel tumor marker, yet its clinical implication has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of circulating TRF2 and leukocyte telomere length in 5-year mortality in breast cancer patients. In this cohort retrospective study, breast cancer patients were included and the length of telomeres and circulating TRF2 were quantified. Receiver operating characteristics and the Youden index were used to determine the optimal cut-off. To analyze the overall survival rate in 5 years, Kaplan Meier analysis was used, while the prognostic value of both variables was analyzed in Cox proportional hazard regression on both univariate and multivariate models. Our data indicated that the optimal cut-off points for TRF2 and leukocyte telomere length were 598 pg/mL and 0.93 kb, respectively. Based on the optimal cut-off points, the participant’s data was grouped, and our data indicated that the high TRF2 group had a poorer overall survival rate in comparison to the low group (91.3% vs 83.87%; log-rank test; p<0.01). The overall survival between short and long telomeres was comparable (88.24% vs 88.37%; log-rank test; p=0.64). TRF2 (hazard ratio (HR): 3.66; 95%CI: 1.45–9.29) and molecular subtype (p=0.04) were identified as independent factors to predict mortality. In conclusion, a high circulating TRF2 in breast cancer participants was associated with lower overall 5-year survival rates in comparison with the low TRF2 group. Moreover, high TRF2 could predict the mortality of the breast cancer population to be 3.66 times higher than the lower group. In contrast, telomere length was not associated with overall survival rate nor predicting mortality in five years
Role of LBX1 rs11190870 polymorphism in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the Acehnese population: A preliminary study
Full text linkGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11190870 near the ladybird homeobox 1 (LBX1) gene as being associated with the susceptibility and severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, no such genetic studies have been conducted in the Indonesian population. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic profile of AIS patients in the Acehnese population, with a focus on LBX1 rs11190870, and to assess its association with disease severity. A total of 30 female AIS patients were included. Genetic analysis was performed to determine the rs11190870 genotype in each subject. The association between rs11190870 and curve progression, measured by Cobb angle, was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. The T allele was found to be more prevalent (73.3%), with the TC genotype being the most common (53.3%). A significant association was observed between LBX1 rs11190870 and curve progression, where patients with the TT genotype exhibited a larger Cobb angle compared to those with TC or CC genotypes (p=0.01). This is the first study to characterize the genetic profile of AIS and its association with curve severity in the Acehnese population. These findings suggest that LBX1 rs11190870 may act as a disease modifier in AIS. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm the role of LBX1 rs11190870 in AIS susceptibility and severity in the Indonesian population
Factors associated with newly diagnosed ischemic stroke among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Thailand: A population-based case-control study
Full text linkStroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years. Its incidence is rising across Asia, with ischemic stroke accounting for approximately 80% of total stroke cases in Thailand. Stroke often leads to long-term disabilities, including impairments in speech, communication, and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with newly diagnosed ischemic stroke. A matched case-control study was conducted, including 154 newly diagnosed ischemic stroke cases and 183 non-stroke controls, all with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data were collected between February and September 2022 (post-COVID-19 period) using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics, lifestyle factors, perceived social support, and self-care management (SCM). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The majority of participants were female (60.8%), Buddhist (92.9%), and agriculturists (66.5%), with a mean age of 58.9 (±9.9) years. Factors associated with ischemic stroke included male (aOR: 3.53; 95%CI: 1.73–7.21), Buddhism (aOR: 3.53, 95%CI: 1.11–11.25), sedentary occupation (aOR: 5.78; 95%CI: 2.61–12.81), and T2DM duration >10 years (aOR: 6.19, 95%CI: 3.55–10.80). Protective factors included age ≥60 years (aOR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.31–0.98) and moderate SCM levels (aOR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.26–0.80). This study highlighted that prolonged T2DM and sedentary occupations significantly contributed to ischemic stroke risk. Targeted prevention strategies, including lifestyle modifications and enhanced diabetes self-care management, may help reduce the burden of ischemic stroke
Colchicine attenuates chemical hypoxia-induced pyroptosis through downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B and caspase-1 in cardiomyocytes
Full text linkMyocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. During MI, cardiomyocyte necrosis and inflammation are crucial in the post-MI cardiac remodeling process, including pyroptosis. Although colchicine is a well-known anti-inflammatory drug that has been clinically studied in the context of MI, its role in cardiac pyroptosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of colchicine in pyroptosis in vitro, using CoCl2-induced H9c2 cells. Prior to the primary experiment, the hypoxic model in H9c2 cells was optimized by evaluating hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression and viability in cells exposed to various concentrations of CoCl2 at different time intervals. Subsequently, an in vitro hypoxia model was established by treating H9c2 cells with CoCl2 (600 µM), with or without colchicine (1 µM), for 3 hours. Flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB), interleukin 18 (IL-18), caspase-1, and HIF-1α in pyroptotic cells. Immunofluorescence was used to assess caspase-1 localization and its colocalization with propidium iodide during late-stage pyroptosis. Our data indicated that CoCl2-induced hypoxia significantly upregulated NF-κB, caspase-1, and IL-18 expression, and increased pyroptotic cell death in H9c2 cells. Colchicine treatment attenuated these effects, leading to a marked reduction in NF-κB, caspase-1, and IL-18 expression in hypoxic cells. Colchicine treatment significantly decreased the number of late pyroptotic cells. The protective effect of colchicine was more pronounced in late hypoxia (24-hour) setting compared to early hypoxia (3-hour). These findings suggest that colchicine attenuates cardiac pyroptosis in hypoxic H9c2 cells, as evidenced by the significant downregulation of key proteins involved in this pathway, including NF-κB, caspase-1, and IL-18. This protective effect appeared to be more effective in late hypoxia