Biomedicine (Journal)
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An Investigation into the Potent Anticancer, Antimicrobial, and Anti-inflammatory Activities of a Punica granatum Nanoemulgel
No full textPurpose: The objective of this study is to formulate a nanoemulgel using Punica granatum (P. granatum) seed oil and study the antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The process to formulate a nanoemulsion from P. granatum seed oil involved using the self-nanoemulsifying technique, with Span 80 and Tween 80 serving as the emulsifying agents. Carbopol hydrogel was combined with the nanoemulsion to produce the nanoemulgel. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), rheological behavior, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties were subsequently examined.
Results: The nanoemulsion formulation with a PDI of 0.229 and a particle size of 189.44 nm was identified as the optimal formulation. The P. granatum seed oil nanoemulgel showed significant effects on MRSA, K. pneumoniae, and C. albicans, with zone inhibition diameters of 29 ±1.1 mm, 26 ±1.8 mm, and 18 ±0.7 mm, respectively, and significant activity against LX-2, B16-F1, Hep-3B, and HeLa cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 169.82 ±2.7, 39.81 ±0.8, 61.65 ±1.2, and 25.11 ±1.3 µg/mL, respectively, which were superior to those of the original oil. Regarding its anti-inflammatory effects, P. granatum seed oil demonstrated activity against both COX-1 and COX-2, with greater selectivity for COX-1.
Conclusions: Consequently, a novel P. granatum seed oil nanoemulgel was developed, representing a promising step forward in the development of pharmacological dosage form
The Integrative Role of Melatonin in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review of Evidence from Circadian Biology, Lifestyle Medicine, and Psychoneuroimmunology
No full textMelatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, is known for regulating circadian rhythms and has emerging therapeutic potential in psychiatric disorders. This systematic review examines evidence from clinical and preclinical studies to assess melatonin’s efficacy in the following conditions: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Beyond its role in circadian regulation, melatonin exhibits antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, which intersect with nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).
The review finds that melatonin improves sleep quality, restores circadian balance, and modulates stress-related neuroimmune pathways. It also supports neuroplasticity and reduces oxidative stress, contributing to resilience against psychosocial and environmental stressors. Lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene, enhance melatonin’s effects, positioning it as a valuable component of multimodal treatment strategies. Within the PNI framework, melatonin facilitates communication between the nervous and immune systems, offering potential for targeted psychiatric interventions. This synthesis underscores melatonin’s promise as a therapeutic and adjunctive strategy in personalized mental health care. Future research should prioritize rigorous clinical trials, biomarker-driven patient stratification, and integrative approaches combining melatonin with lifestyle interventions and digital health tools to optimize its therapeutic impac
Mini-Review of Clinical Data Service Platforms in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study of the iHi Data Platform
No full textIn the past two decades, healthcare organizations have transitioned from the early stages of digitization and digitalization to a more comprehensive process of digital transformation, a shift significantly accelerated by the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). Consequently, the development of high-quality clinical data warehouses, derived from electronic health records (EHRs) and enriched with multidomain data, such as genomics, proteomics, and Internet of Things (IoT) information, has become essential for the creation of the modern patient digital twin (PDT). This approach is critical for leveraging AI in the evolving landscape of clinical practice. Leading medical centers and healthcare institutions have adopted this model, as summarized in this review.
Since 2020, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) has been constructing its data ecosystem by integrating EHRs with extensive genomic databases. This initiative has led to the development of a data service platform, the ignite Hyper-intelligence (iHi®) platform. The iHi platform serves as a case study exemplifying the workflow of the smart data chip, which facilitates the deep cleaning and reliable de-identification of clinical data while incorporating analytical platforms related to genomics and the microbiome to enhance insight extraction processes. The ability to predict complex interactions and disease trajectories among PDTs, digital counterparts of healthcare professionals, and virtual socioeconomic environments will be pivotal in advancing personalized healthcare and optimizing patient outcomes. Future challenges will involve the unification of cross-institutional data platforms and ensuring the interoperability of AI inferences—key factors that will define the next era of AI-driven healthcare
Plasma Levels of miR-21b and miR-146a Can Discriminate Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Severity.
No full textObjectives: This study tried to examine the ability of the estimated plasma gene-expression levels (PGEL) of microRNA (miR)-146a and miR-21b to distinguish patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) out of arthritis patients who did not fulfill the diagnostic spectrum of either RA or osteoarthritis (OA); the diagnostic Gray-Zone (GZ).
Patients & Methods: Enrolled patients underwent full diagnostic workup and were categorized as highseropositive and fulfilled the diagnostic spectrum for RA (RA-group), seronegative and fulfilling the diagnostic spectrum of OA (OA-group) and low-seropositive or seronegative patients who did not fulfill diagnostic criteria of RA or OA (GZ-group). Blood samples were obtained for quantification of PGEL of miR-146a and miR-21-b using the quantitative Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and results were related to patients\u27 seropositivity and clinical data.
Results: The mean fold change of PGEL of miR-146a and miR-21b was significantly higher in patients than in control samples, in samples of high-seropositive patients than in other samples, and in samples of low-seropositive than in seronegative patients. Both markers showed a positive significant correlation with Disease Activity Score-28 for RA-activity and seropositivity. Using the ROC curve analysis, the PGEL of both microRNAs could identify high-seropositive among the studied arthritis patients, but Regression Analysis defined high PGEL of miR-146a as the most significant predictor to identify RApatients and predict their disease activity. Statistical analyses defined miR-146a as the significant parameter that could differentiate between early RA and OA patients among GZ patients.
Conclusion: Early arthritis that does not fulfill the diagnostic spectrum of a certain type of arthritis is not uncommon and challenges therapeutic decision-making. The estimated PGEL of MicroRNA-146a might enlighten this gray diagnostic zone and allow differentiation between patients with early RA and early OA, and help to stratify RA patients according to disease activity and severity
Robotic Spine Surgery - Surgical technique and nuances for improving safety
No full textThe integration of robotic technology into spinal surgery has led to a remarkable transformation, offering improved precision and safety. The “CT-Fluoro merge” and “Scan-and-Plan” methods for pedicle screw application promise numerous advantages, minimizing risks associated with traditional approaches. Our early series of patients who underwent robot-assisted pedicle screw placements for various indications, predominantly lumbar spondylosis, revealed no complications related to screws, neurological deficits, or unplanned returns to the operating theatre, thus emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the robot. Studies have consistently demonstrated the superiority of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement in terms of accuracy, with decreasing rates of technical issues indicating improvements in reliability and precision. Our experiences align with these findings, signalling the emergence of robotic spine surgery as the forthcoming standard of care in the field. This short communication explores the steps involved in robotic pedicle screw placement, discusses nuances for improving safety, and emphasizes its benefits and implications for the future of spinal care
Genetic variations in extracellular matrix degradation pathways linking to major depressive disorder: Evidence from a large-scale genetic association study
No full textDysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation pathways has been increasingly implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), yet its genetic basis remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between ECM-related genetic polymorphisms and MDD susceptibility. In a case-control study, we analyzed 317 MDD patients and 1,268 sexmatched controls from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB). Genomic DNA was analyzed using the Affymetrix TWB array, targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 140 ECM degradation genes (Reactome database). Full-model association tests identified significant SNPs, validated with 5,000 max(T) permutations and adjusted via logistic regression for age, body mass index, education level, and marital status. We identified 12 SNPs across 10 ECMrelated genes significantly associated with MDD, including ADAM metallopeptidase domain
17 (ADAM17, rs55820761), brevican (BCAN, rs11264511), CD44 molecule (CD44, rs12270356), collagen type XVII alpha 1 chain (COL17A1; rs2282436 and rs10883962), collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1; rs16830979 and rs10883962), collagen type VI alpha 6 chain (COL6A6, rs16830219), cathepsin L (CTSL, rs2274611), Kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (KLK2, rs2664156), matrix metallopeptidase 11 (MMP11, rs738791), and nicastrin (NCSTN, rs3753391 ). This study provides the first genetic evidence linking ECM degradation pathways to MDD susceptibility, identifying novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and precision therapy. Further research and cross-population studies are needed to confirm these findings
Circadian Rhythms and Neuroendocrine Dysregulation in ADHD: Therapeutic Insights from Omega-3 Fatty Acids
No full textAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by circadian rhythm disturbances, particularly delayed sleep phase. These involve superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN) dysregulation, altered melatonin secretion, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which may be exacerbated by artificial light exposure. Genetic studies further implicate circadian mechanisms, linking ADHD with polymorphisms in clock genes such as PER and CLOCK.
Nutraceuticals, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), have been proposed as modulators of circadian rhythms. N-3 PUFAs are essential for brain health and may influence melatonin synthesis and sleep–wake regulation. Preclinical and clinical findings suggest that supplementation can improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes in ADHD, possibly through circadian pathways, though direct clinical evidence remains limited.
This review integrates findings on melatonin and cortisol dysregulation in ADHD and evaluates n-3 PUFAs as potential non-photic zeitgebers. N-3 PUFAs may modulate circadian clock genes in the SCN, restore rhythm synchronization, normalize melatonin secretion, stabilize HPA axis activity, and reduce systemic inflammation. Future research should focus on well-designed trials to clarify the circadian effects of n-3 supplementation in ADHD.
This review integrates findings on melatonin and cortisol dysregulation in ADHD and evaluates potential roles of n-3 PUFAs as non-photic zeitgebers. We highlight shared mechanisms whereby n-3 PUFAs may enhance circadian stability by modulating melatonin synthesis, normalizing cortisol rhythms, and influencing clock gene expression. Furthermore, n-3 supplementation may attenuate HPA axis hyperactivation and neuroinflammatory pathways, offering mechanistic links between metabolic, immune, and chronobiological regulation
In vitro and in silico evaluation of Andrographis paniculata ethanolic crude extracts on 3 fatty acid synthase expression on breast cancer cells
No full textBackground Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key rate-limiting enzyme in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway has been identified to be overexpressed in breast cancer. This overexpression has been affiliated with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapeutics. Consequently, FASN has come into focus as an appealing potential target for breast cancer treatment. Available FASN inhibitors, however, are unstable and have been correlated with adverse side effects. Objective This present study aims to investigate the potential of Andrographis paniculata ethanolic crude extract (AP) as a potent FASN inhibitor in breast cancer cells. Materials & Methods This study used MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis to measure cell viability and apoptosis following AP treatment (0 – 500 μg/mL). Furthermore, FASN protein expression was evaluated using immunocytochemistry whereas lipid droplet formation was quantified using Oil Red O staining. Literature-based identified AP phytochemicals were subjected to the prediction of molecular docking and ADMET properties. Results This study demonstrated that AP significantly reduced cell viability while inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition, for the first time, exposure to AP was demonstrated to drastically reduce intracellular FASN protein expression and lipid droplet accumulation in EMT6 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Docking simulation analysis demonstrated AP phytochemicals may have exerted an inhibitory effect by targeting the FASN Thioesterase (TE) domain similarly to the known FASN inhibitor, Orlistat. Moreover, all AP phytochemicals also possessed drug-likeness properties
which are in accordance with Lipinski’s rule of five. Conclusions These results highlight the potential of A. paniculata ethanolic crude extract as a FASN inhibitor and hence might have the potential to be further developed as a potent chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer treatment
