Psoriasis is defined as a chronic autoimmune disorder of the skin in which abnormal proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes are blamed as the central culprit of disease etiopathogenesis. A complex interplay between environmental factors and genetic risk factors has been suggested to trigger the disease. However, epigenetic regulation appears to connect external stimuli and genetic abnormalities in the development of psoriasis. The discordance in the prevalence of psoriasis between monozygotic twins and environmental factors that contribute to its onset have caused a paradigm shift regarding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this disease. Epigenetic dysregulation may be involved in aberrancies of keratinocyte differentiation, T-cell activation, and other plausible cells, leading to the initiation and perpetuation of psoriasis. Epigenetics is characterized by heritable alterations in the transcription of genes without nucleotide change and is commonly considered at three levels, i.e., DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs. To date, scientific evidence has indicated abnormal DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA transcription in psoriatic patients. In order to reverse aberrant epigenetic changes in psoriasis patients, several compounds and drugs (epi-drugs) have been developed to affect the major enzymes involved in the methylation of DNA, or the acetylation of histones, which aim to correct the aberrant methylation and acetylation patterns. A number of clinical trials have suggested the therapeutic potential of such drugs in the treatment of psoriasis. In the present review, we attempt to clarify recent findings with respect to epigenetic irregularities in psoriasis and discuss future challenges.

The domperidone maleate, a lipophilic agent classified as a Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II substance with weak water solubility. Self- Emulsifying Drug Delivery System is a novel approach to improve water solubility and, ultimately bioavailability of drugs. This study aimed to develop and characterize new domperidone-loaded self-emulsifying drug delivery systems as an alternative formulation and to evaluate the permeability of domperidone-loaded self-emulsifying drug delivery systems by using Caco-2 cells and via single-pass intestinal perfusion method. Three self-emulsifying drug delivery systems were prepared and characterized in terms of pH, viscosity, droplet size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, conductivity, etc. Each formulation underwent 10, 100, 200, and 500 times dilution in intestinal buffer pH 6.8 and stomach buffer pH 1.2, respectively. Female Sprague Dawley rats were employed for in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion investigations. Results of the study revealed that the ideal self-emulsifying drug delivery systems formulation showed narrow droplet size, ideal zeta potential, and no conductivity. Additionally, as compared to the control groups, the optimum formulation had better apparent permeability (12.74 ± 0.02×10-4) from Caco-2 cell monolayer permeability experiments. The study also revealed greater Peff values (2.122 ± 0.892×10-4 cm/s) for the optimal formulation from in situ intestinal perfusion analyses in comparison to control groups (Domperidone; 0.802 ± 0.418×10-4 cm/s). To conclude, prepared formulations can be a promising way of oral administration of Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II drugs.

Paranjothy and Wade's (2024, A meta-analysis of disordered eating and its association with self-criticism and self-compassion. International Journal of Eating Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24166) systematic review and meta-analysis of disordered eating and its association with self-criticism and self-compassion provides a valuable synthesis of 135 studies. They found that greater levels of self-criticism and increased disordered eating were associated with lower levels of self-compassion. These findings highlight the importance of further investigating the complex relationship between these variables to inform effective interventions. This commentary explores what the findings of Paranjothy and Wade (2024) tell us and how we can use their findings to address unresolved problems. I will focus on two primary areas in this commentary: (1) the specificity of self-criticism and (2) how we could use existing data to enhance the understanding of the etiology and maintenance of disordered eating in relation to self-criticism and self-compassion to conduct further research. This commentary argues that there is a need for refinement of the self-criticism construct (e.g., through qualitative research) to understand how self-criticism varies across different individuals and cultures, particularly for under-researched populations. I recommend further research using meta-analytic structural equation modeling to test different theoretical models to pin down how self-criticism and self-compassion function as mechanisms of change in disordered eating.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a deadly, chronic, progressive, irreversible interstitial lung disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue resulting in permanent lung damage. The average survival time following diagnosis is only 3-5years, with a 5-year survival rate shorter than that of many cancers. Alveolar epithelial cell injury followed by irregular repair is the primary pathological process observed in patients with IPF. An evident characteristic of IPF is the development of fibroblastic foci representing active fibrotic areas. Most of the cells within these foci are believed to be myofibroblasts, which are thought to be the primary source of abnormal extracellular matrix production in IPF. The lung phenotype in IPF is characterized by significantly different processes from healthy lungs, including irregular apoptosis, oxidative stress, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways. The exact cause of IPF is not fully understood and remains mysterious. It is not suppressing that non-coding RNAs are involved in the development and progression of IPF. Accordingly, here we aimed to identify non-coding RNA molecules during TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation. Differential expression and functional enrichment analysis were employed to reveal the impact of non-coding RNAs during TGFβ-associated lung fibrosis. Remarkably, LOC101448202, CZ1P-ASNS, LINC01503, IER3-AS1, MIR503HG, CLMAT3, LINC02593, ACTA2-AS1, LOC102723692, LOC107985728, and LOC105371064 were identified to be differentially altered during TGFβ-stimulated myofibroblast activation. These findings strongly suggest that the mechanism of lung fibrosis is heavily under control of non-coding RNAs, and RNA-based therapies could be a promising approach for future therapeutic interventions to lung fibrosis.

This study aimed to demonstrate the role of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) developing on the background of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). The presence of EBV in tumoral tissue, lymphocytes, and peritumoral normal thyroid tissue was investigated using the in situ hybridization method in paraffin blocks. The subtypes of PTC, tumor diameter, TNM stage, multifocality, invasion of thyroid capsule, perineural invasion, and muscular tissue invasion were identified and compared according to EBV involvement. Eighty-one patients with HT diagnosis, with 93.8% (n=76) female and 6.2% (n=5) male, were included in the study. Papillary microcarcinoma was the pathological diagnosis in 24.2% (n=15) of the cases. EBV was identified in 58.06% (n=36) of the tumor cells nuclei, 58.06% (n=36) in the tumor cell cytoplasm, 16.12% (n=10) in tumor infiltrative lymphocytes, and 53.2% (n=33) in normal parenchymal follicle epithelial cells (NPFEC). In the T2 stage, the rate of EBV nuclear positivity in patients was significantly higher (p=0.034). The classic variant of papillary carcinoma was accompanied by a significantly higher rate of EBV-negative NPFEC (67.6%, p=0.049). In multifocal tumors, EBV positivity was found to be significantly higher in lymphocytes in the surrounding tissues (58.3%, p=0.034). A significant increase in EBV positivity in the surrounding tissue lymphocytes was observed in multifocal PTC developing on a background of HT. This suggests a possible association between HT and EBV.

In the field of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), each cycle brings high cost and long-term clinical and laboratory studies. In order to eliminate the negative effects of this process on families, the necessity of standardized ART protocols that can be applied to each individual with low cost and fast results is essential. Although artificial intelligence has the potential to respond strongly to this need, the integration of artificial intelligence into ART is slower compared to other branches of medicine. Increasing understanding of artificial intelligence by researchers will accelerate this integration. In order to understand and be able to use artificial intelligence, this chapter will first discuss the conceptual confusion in artificial neural networks, deep learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Finally, gaps will be filled with artificial intelligence-related application areas and examples in ART.

Since ancient times, humans have been utilizing various plants for medicinal purposes, a practice that has persisted from early civilizations to the present day. Plants serve as rich sources of biomolecules, although many of their contents remain unidentified. Bryophytes are considered important reservoirs for new natural products, with mosses being less explored compared to liverworts despite their broader species diversity. This study contains the content analysis of ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane extracts of Calliergonella cuspidata to predict and compare their biochemical compound profiles. The ethanol extract revealed the presence of 3-Formyl-N-methyl-9-[phenylethynyl]dibenzo2,3-a:5,6-a'-thiazine and Eicosane, while Beta-Elemene and Neophytadiene were identified in the methanol extract, and predominantly alkanes were found in the n-hexane extract. Subsequently, antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH method with the ethanol extract, yielding an EC50 value of 1.0237 mg/ml.

Background and Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the Hospital Recycling Program conducted for the wastes generated during the practice of nurses on the recycling behavior and waste amounts of the nurses. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test control group was conducted with 64 nurses. Data were collected by the Nurse Descriptive Characteristics Form, Recycling Scale for Sustainable Hospital, and Unit Waste Registration Form. The Hospital Recycling Program based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour was applied to the intervention group. Results: The Hospital Recycling Program had a positive effect on attitudes/behavior intention, and recycling behavior scores of nurses in the intervention group; the amount of recyclable waste was significantly increased compared to the control group (p

Purpose: The effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) on cervical disc herniation (CDH) have not been extensively studied. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the IASTM technique on pain, functionality and psychology in CDH. Methods: A two-armed randomized controlled trial was carried out with 24 patients with CDH. Participants were randomized into two groups: conventional physiotherapy (n=12) and IASTM plus conventional physiotherapy (n=12). A conventional rehabilitation consists of a hot pack, electrotherapy, and exercises five days a week for four weeks. IASTM technique has been used for two sessions per week for four weeks. Patients were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Both groups had improvements in VAS scores (p

Over recent decades, climate change has led to an increase in the number of species introduced to areas outside their natural ranges. This inevitable increase in the Mediterranean Sea is facilitated through various vectors such as shipping, aquaculture, and escapes/releases from the aquarium trade and most importantly, opening of the Suez Canal. Despite the significant threats posed by non-indigenous species, current research efforts in the Aegean Sea remain fragmented, limiting our understanding of the overall impact of these species and other ecological threats. This study is crucial in providing a comprehensive assessment of the Aegean Sea’s marine ecosystems and offering an up-to-date evaluation of their current state. The non-indigenous species list was compiled based on the existing literature, covering the whole Aegean basin lying between the southern limits being roughly delimited by Kythira, Crete, Karpathos, Rhodes, Datça Peninsula, and the Straits of Çanakkale, and focusing on the vectors of introduction, origins, and observation years of species. A total of 393 non-indigenous species have been listed, with the highest number of species belonging to Mollusca. Since the year 2000, a significant increase in the introduction of non-indigenous species into the Aegean Sea has been observed. By synthesizing scientific literature on the presence of marine non-indigenous species along the Greek and Turkish Aegean coasts, this study establishes a comprehensive baseline for comparative purposes and to contribute to future monitoring efforts.