Recent Updates Research Articles

The Therapeutic Effects of Withaferin A against Cancer: Overview and Updates

Cancer is a rapidly rising health problem among the global population, and this burden causes a significant challenge for public health. Current chemotherapeutic agents have different limitations, including drug resistance and severe side effects, and it demands a robust approach to accessing promising anti-cancer therapeutics. The natural compounds have been extensively studied to identify improved therapeutic agents for cancer therapy. Withaferin A (WA) is a steroidal lactone found in Withania somnifera and possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenesis, and anticancer properties. Multiple studies have shown that WA treatment attenuated various cancer hallmarks by inducing apoptosis and reducing angiogenesis and metastasis with reduced side effects. WA is a promising agent for the treatment of various cancer, and it targets various signaling pathways. With recent updates, the current review highlights the therapeutic implications of WA and its molecular targets in different cancer.

Advancing Research: The ECT-AD Study and Recent Updates

Agitation is present in over 50% of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Severe agitation, characterized by intense physically and verbally aggressive behaviors that pose risks of harm to a patient and staff, is more likely to occur in those with more advanced dementia. There have not been any FDA-approved treatments for severe agitation in people with advanced dementia until the recent approval of brexpiprazole. Psychotropic medications used off-label generally have limited efficacy and risk for adverse effects. Behavioral interventions are not effective in the most severely agitated patients. Alternative nonpharmacological approaches are needed for severe dementia-related agitation refractory to psychopharmacologic and behavioral interventions. Existing literature that provides evidence for the safety and efficacy of acute electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in reducing agitation in this population are limited to case series and clinical reviews. In this session we will describe the ECT-AD study and provide updates on this NIA-funded multisite research consortium clinical trial designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ECT for severe agitation in advanced dementia.

Recent updates on treatment patterns in patients with treated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders from a nationwide real-world database in South Korea.

The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is steadily increasing across Korea. We analyzed ADHD patients with ADHD medications (Rx) characteristics and treatment patterns compared to patients without Rx and identified the differences between pediatric-/adult- and active-/transient-patients with Rx. Using a nationwide claims dataset from 2020 to 2021, we conducted a prevalence-based cross-sectional study and analyzed the recent patients' characteristics and patterns among ADHD patients. Among 132 017 ADHD patients with Rx, differences from 20 312 without Rx across all characteristics except sex. We found significant differences in characteristics and treatment patterns between pediatric-/adult- and active-/transient-patients with Rx. Age-specific sex ratios notably diverged in pediatric patients (61.2%), but remained similar in adults, revealing significant psychiatric comorbidities differences. Active-patients peaked at 6-11 years (41.4%), while transient-patients at 18-30 years (36.1%). Predominantly, methylphenidate (89.7%), atomoxetine (27.8%), and clonidine (2.8%) were prescribed, with 85% experiencing treatment changes within methylphenidate formulations. In pediatric patients, extended-release methylphenidate was preferred (56.1%), adults favored oral delivery system methylphenidate (71.5%), and active-patients had higher treatment rates than transient-patients across all patterns, with low monotherapy rates. This study provides epidemiologic insights into recent characteristics and treatment patterns of ADHD patients with Rx in Korea, providing valuable evidence for identifying those actively receiving ADHD treatment in future healthcare policy decisions.

The metabolites of Piper sarmentosum and their biological properties: a recent update

The metabolites of Piper sarmentosum and their biological properties: a recent update

Update on T-Cell Lymphoma Epidemiology.

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are a group of rare subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma derived from mature T-lymphocytes. Recent updates in lymphoma classification based on the cell-of-origin pathogenesis have shed new light on TCL epidemiology and outcomes. Contemporary regional consortia and international studies, including those conducted recently in Asia and South America, have provided an updated delineation of the major subtypes across various global regions. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), remains the most common subtype globally except in Asia, where extra-nodal NK-T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) has emerged as the most prevalent. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is the second most common subtype globally except in South America where its incidence falls behind adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and ENKTL. ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been recognized as the second most common subtype in some parts of South America. Studies on the newly classified breast implant-associated ALCL (BIA-ALCL) are beginning to reveal its distribution and risk factors. Deciphering the epidemiology of TCLs is a challenging endeavor due to the rarity of these entities and ongoing refinement in classification. Collaborative efforts on prospective registries based on the most current WHO classifications will help capture the true epidemiology of TCL subtypes to better focus resources for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic efforts.

Adverse Events Reported in Trials Assessing Manual Therapy to the Extremities: A Systematic Review.

Objective: This review aimed to describe the quality and comprehensiveness of adverse event (AE) reporting in clinical trials incorporating manual therapy (MT) as an intervention for extremity conditions using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)-Harms extension as the benchmark. The secondary aim was to determine whether the quality of AE reporting improved after the availability of the CONSORT reporting checklist. Design: Systematic review. Methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple databases to identify trials where MT was used to treat extremity conditions. Studies that reported AEs were identified and evaluated using the CONSORT-Harms extension. The frequency of trials reporting study AEs before and after the publication of the updated 2010 CONSORT statement was calculated, along with the categorization of how study AEs were reported. Results: Of the 55,539 studies initially identified, 220 trials met all inclusion criteria. Eighty trials (36.4%) reported AE occurrence. None of the studies that reported AEs adhered to all 10 criteria proposed by the 2010 CONSORT-Harms extension. The most commonly reported criterion was number four, which clarified how AE-related information was collected (30% of trials). The least reported criterion was number six, which describes the participant withdrawals for each arm due to AEs and the experience with the allocated treatment (1.3% of trials). The nomenclature used to describe AEs varied substantially. Fifty-nine of 76 trials (33.3%) were published after the updated CONSORT Harms-checklist was available, compared to 21 of 44 trials (46.7%) published before it was available. Conclusion: Reporting of AEs in trials investigating MT for extremity conditions is poor. Every included trial lacked adherence to all 10 criteria proposed by the CONSORT-Harms Extension. The quality and comprehensiveness of AE reporting did not improve after the most recent CONSORT update recommending AE reporting. Clinicians must obtain informed consent before performing any intervention, including MT, which requires disclosing potential risks, which could be better known with improved tracking, analyzing, and reporting of AEs. The authors recommend improved adherence to best practices for adequately tracking and reporting AEs in future MT trials.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Education Policy in Addressing Skill Gaps and Enhancing Employability

The National Education Policy (NEP) was implemented in India to revamp the education system in order to better cater to the demands of the 21st century, with a focus on holistic development, flexibility, and innovation. Potential outcomes of the NEP may involve alterations in curriculum structure, a heightened emphasis on vocational training and skill enhancement, enhancements in teacher education and professional growth, and initiatives to foster equality and inclusivity in education. Nevertheless, a comprehensive evaluation and analysis would be necessary to fully comprehend the impact of the NEP and how effectively it is being executed, along with its real-world consequences. It is imperative to refer to recent reports, studies, or government updates for a more precise evaluation of the current impact of the NEP. This research seeks to evaluate the efficacy of educational policy interventions in addressing skill gaps and improving employability in the job market. Given the rapid advancements in technology and changes in the global economic scenario, the demand for specific skills is constantly evolving, presenting challenges for educational institutions to keep up. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of education policy data with qualitative assessments of stakeholder viewpoints. Qualitative evaluations will consist of conducting interviews and focus groups with important stakeholders such as policymakers, educators, employers, and recent graduates. These qualitative perspectives will offer detailed viewpoints on the advantages, disadvantages, and obstacles in implementing current education policies to address skill gaps and enhance workforce preparedness. The results of this research are intended to guide data-driven policy suggestions for enhancing education systems to effectively address the needs of the changing labor market, ultimately leading to continuous economic development, decreased unemployment rates, and enhanced prospects for individuals to secure meaningful and satisfying job opportunities. Keywords: National Education Policy, Skill Development, Employability, Bridging Gap

The Plethora of Microbes with Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Inflammation, which has important functions in human defense systems and in maintaining the dynamic homeostasis of the body, has become a major risk factor for the progression of many chronic diseases. Although the applied medical products alleviate the general status, they still exert adverse effects in the long term. For this reason, the solution should be sought in more harmless and affordable agents. Microorganisms offer a wide range of active substances with anti-inflammatory properties. They confer important advantages such as their renewable and inexhaustible nature. This review aims to provide the most recent updates on microorganisms of different types and genera, being carriers of anti-inflammatory activity.

The Third Country Regime for Investment Firms

AbstractIn this article we discuss how an investment firm established outside the EU may provide services (to clients) in the EU. We explore how such third country firms may enter the European market and discuss the current state of the third country regimes as provided (partly) under EU law, their use—or notable lack thereof—and the challenges involved in the supervision of third country firms. We note that the recent updates to the third country equivalence regime for the provision of services to professional clients render the use of this regime even more difficult. In respect of the (optional) third country regime for the provision of services to retail clients, we observe that this regime is much akin to a full license requirement, albeit with notable difficulties when it comes to supervision and enforcement. Altogether, we come to the unfortunate conclusion that the EU third country regime for investment firms established in third countries can barely be called successful.

Corporate Tax Residency in Singapore

This article delves into the significance of Singapore residency for companies, focusing on factors such as the control and management of businesses. It highlights recent updates by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore regarding virtual board meetings and outlines additional economic criteria, applicable in select instances, for determining corporate tax residency. Additionally, it examines the implications of Singapore residency for tax treaty benefits, relief from double taxation, and eligibility for tax incentives, offering insights into navigating Singapore's tax landscape for practitioners and businesses.

Unlocking the Therapeutic Potentiality of Natural Products in Cancer Therapy: A Recent Update and Current Prospects

Abstract: Cancer is one of the main causes of mortality that affects a large propotion of population worldwide each year. Traditional and synthetic medications are less successful in cancer treatment. The deleterious effects of synthetic compounds divert our attention toward the utilization of naturally derived compounds in current clinical research. The impact of biodiversity on population development and livelihood represents a wider area of interest that still heavily relies on natural medicines against the cure of various ailments. Since ancient times, people have been using natural plants because of their accessibility and economical affordability as a safe therapeutic alternative to traditional synthetic drugs. Currently, plants are used because of their remarkable properties in the form of staple drugs. These plants gain huge attention as a safe treatment option with anti-tumor, chemo-protective and anti-proliferative properties than conventional harmful therapeutics. The secondary metabolites extracted from medicinal plants lead to the production of innovative therapeutic strategies against cancer and other diseases. Targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals agents, through chemical and conventional methods is a significant challenge. The discovery of nano-vectors provides a solution to this issue with the innovation of plant-based nanoparticles have been manufactured using an ecologically sound method. Based on the highlights provided, the current review provides updated knowledge on diverse aspects of medicinal plants including challenges, significance and their role as a potential therapeutic agent against the treatment of various diseases, especially cancers. This subsequent review entails and clarifies the benefits of phytochemicals extracted from Asian medicinal plants due to their imperative values in cancer treatment and other pharmacological targets. The recent discoveries and findings linked to the understanding of medicinal drugs with significance on wide range of phytochemical constituents or secondary metabolites are a current attempt to update our knowledge towards the progress of natural therapeutics novel strategies.

Can International Business Perspective Measure Sustainable Development of BRICS Countries? A Panel Data Analysis

The level of international business is highly dependent on the numerous macroeconomic and sustainable development factors that play their respective roles in defining a developing nation's economic progress. While examining the long-term growth of an economy, the consistency of the performance of the various elements in terms of their sustainability is a crucial matter to investigate. Moreover, it is known that the sustainable development of an economy is strongly associated with environmental impacts. Finally, the focus on new development patterns must be the highest concern for emerging economies. Considering this, the current study speculates on the relationship between foreign direct investment and the interaction effect of carbon emissions and poverty with control variables such as per capita income and education in BRICS economies. It concentrates on panel data ranging from 1993 to 2019 to explore the association among the said variables.  It identifies the unique and definite macroeconomic parameters that are crucial for encouraging foreign direct investment in different countries. Applying the Panel Auto Regressive Distributed Lag Model, the study finds a positive interaction effect between carbon emissions and poverty that focuses on improving foreign direct investment in the long run. In the short run, an increase in per capita income always proves that BRICS will demonstrate less dependence on FDI net flows. The study also concentrates on the unit root measurement of the data by applying Panel Unit Root Test.  Finally, to check the direction of causality, Pairwise Dumitrescu Hurlin Panel Causality Tests have been performed. The most recent update from these countries demonstrates that the strategy for achieving future sustainable economic growth is clear and swift. Hence, it emphasises the requirement of separate and exclusive policy-making to promote long-term sustainable economic growth in BRICS.

Recent updates on remediation approaches of environmentally occurring pollutants using visible light-active nano-photocatalysts.

Photocatalysis emerges as a potential remedy for the issue of an unreliable light source. Recognized as the most dependable and potent energy source sustaining life on Earth, sunlight offers a promising solution. Sunlight is abundant and free, operational costs associated with running photocatalytic system using nanoparticles are often lower compared to system relying on artificial light source. The escalating problem of water pollution, particularly in highly industrialized nations, necessitates effective wastewater treatment methods. These methods aim to combat elevated pollution levels, encompassing pharmaceuticals, dyes, flame retardants, and pesticide components. Advanced oxidation processes within photocatalytic wastewater treatment exhibit substantial promise for removing complex organic pollutants. Doped nanomaterials, with their enhanced properties, enable efficient utilization of light. Coupled nanomaterials present significant potential in addressing both water and energy challenges by proficiently eliminating persistent pollutants from environment. Photocatalysis when exposed to sunlight can absorb photons and generate e- h + pairs. This discussion briefly outlines the wastewater treatment facilitated by interconnected nanomaterials, emphasizing their role in water-energy nexus. In exploring the capabilities of components within a functional photocatalyst, a comprehensive analysis of both simple photocatalysts and integrated photocatalytic systems is undertaken. Review aims to provide detailed explanation of the impact of light source on photon generation and significance of solar light on reaction kinetics, considering various parameters such as catalyst dosage, pH, temperature, and types of oxidants. By shedding light on these aspects, this review seeks to enhance our understanding of intricate processes involved in photocatalysis and its potential applications in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

A Comprehensive Review of Patented Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian Anurans.

Since the 1980s, studies of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from anuran skin secretions have unveiled remarkable structural diversity and a wide range of activities. This study explores the potential of these peptides for drug development by examining granted patents, amino acid modifications related to patented peptides, and recent amphibians' taxonomic updates influencing AMP names. A total of 188 granted patents related to different anuran peptides were found, with Asia and North America being the predominant regions, contributing 65.4% and 15.4%, respectively. Conversely, although the Neotropical region is the world's most diversified region for amphibians, it holds only 3.7% of the identified patents. The antimicrobial activities of the peptides are claimed in 118 of these 188 patents. Additionally, for 160 of these peptides, 66 patents were registered for the natural sequence, 69 for both natural and derivative sequences, and 20 exclusively for sequence derivatives. Notably, common modifications include alterations in the side chains of amino acids and modifications to the peptides' N- and C-termini. This review underscores the biomedical potential of anuran-derived AMPs, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between AMP description and practical drug development while highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation to facilitate biomedical discoveries.

Brown Adipose Tissue, Batokines, and Bioactive Compounds in Foods: An Update.

The discovery of metabolically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) in human adults and the worldwide increase in obesity and obesity-related chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has made BAT a therapeutic target in the last two decades. The potential of BAT to oxidize fatty acids rapidly and increase energy expenditure inversely correlates with adiposity, insulin and glucose resistance, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Currently, BAT is recognized by a new molecular signature; several BAT-derived molecules that act positively on target tissues have been identified and collectively called batokines. Bioactive compounds present in foods are endowed with thermogenic properties that increase BAT activation signaling. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to BAT activation and the batokines secreted by it within the thermogenic state is fundamental for its recruitment and management of obesity and NCDs. This review contributes to recent updates on the morphophysiology of BAT, its endocrine role in obesity, and the main bioactive compounds present in foods involved in classical and nonclassical thermogenic pathways activation.

Brusatol's anticancer activity and its molecular mechanism: a research update.

Brusatol (BT) is a quassinoid compound extracted from Brucea javanica that is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Brusatol possesses biological and medical activity, including antitumor, antileukemia, anti-inflammatory, antitrypanosomal, antimalarial, and antitobacco mosaic virus activity. To summarize and discuss the antitumor effects of BT and its mechanisms of actions, we compiled this review by combining the extensive relevant literature and our previous studies. We searched and retrieved the papers that reported the pharmacological effects of BT and the mechanism of BT antitumor activity from PubMed until July 2023. Numerous studies have shown that BT is a unique nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor that acts on various signaling pathways and has good antitumor properties. Brusatol shows great potential in cancer therapy by inhibiting cell proliferation, blocking the cell cycle, promoting tumor cell differentiation, accelerating tumor cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, suppressing angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis, and reversing multidrug resistance. This review summarizes recent updates on the antitumor activity and molecular mechanisms of BT and provides references for future development and clinical translation of BT and its derivatives as antitumor drugs.

Papillary glioneuronal tumor: A rare case with recent updates as per 2021 CNS WHO 5th classification.

The papillary glioneuronal tumor is a WHO grade 1, rare neuronal-glial tumor and comprises 0.02% of all CNS tumors. Histologically, it is a mixture of glial and neuronal components showing a pseudopapillary pattern with hyalinized vessels. PGNT is considered a low-grade neoplasm, and surgical excision has been curative in most cases. In this paper, we report a new case of papillary glioneuronal tumor in a 44-year-old male having a divergent presentation, to analyze it due to the rarity of its occurrence as per the latest classification.

An insight into recent updates on analytical techniques for bioactive alkaloids.

Alkaloids represent a wide class of naturally existing nitrogen-containing organic compounds having diverse biological activities. They are primary bioactive substances extracted from diverse plant parts. Due to their diverse biological activities, they are frequently used as medicines. The alkaloids have diverse pharmacological impacts on the human body; alkaloids are used for prevention, treatment, and reduction of discomfort associated with chronic illnesses. As most alkaloids exist in plants in complex form, combined with numerous other natural plant components, it is essential to recognize and characterize these molecules using different analytical techniques. We aimed to review the literature on the methods and protocols for the analysis of naturally occurring alkaloids. We carried out a literature survey using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases and other relevant published materials. The keywords used in the searches were "alkaloids," "analytical methods," "HPLC method," "GC method," "electrochemical methods," and "bioanalytical methods," in various combinations. In this article, several classes of alkaloids are presented, along with their biological activities. Moreover, it includes a thorough explanation of chromatographic techniques, hyphenated techniques, electrochemical techniques, and current trending analytical methods utilized for the isolation, identification, and comprehensive characterization of alkaloids. The various analytical techniques play an important role in the identification as well as the characterization of various alkaloids from plants, plasma samples, and urine samples. The hyphenation of various chromatographic techniques with mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy plays a crucial role in the characterization of unknown compounds.

Investigating the sensitivity of losses to time-dependent components of seismic risk modeling

Conventional earthquake risk modeling involves several notable simplifications, which neglect: (1) the effects on seismicity of interactions between adjacent faults and the long-term elastic rebound behavior of faults; (2) short-term hazard increases associated with aftershocks; and (3) the accumulation of damage in assets due to the occurrence of multiple earthquakes in a short time window, without repairs. Several recent earthquake events (e.g. 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes, New Zealand; 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes, USA; and 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes) have emphasized the need for risk models to account for the aforementioned short- and long-term time-dependent characteristics of earthquake risk. This study specifically investigates the sensitivity of monetary loss (i.e. a possible earthquake-risk-model output) to these time dependencies, for a case-study portfolio in Central Italy. The investigation is intended to provide important insights for the catastrophe risk insurance and reinsurance industry. In addition to salient catastrophe risk insurance features, the end-to-end approach for time-dependent earthquake risk modeling used in this study incorporates recent updates in long-term time-dependent fault modeling, aftershock forecasting, and vulnerability modeling that accounts for damage accumulation. The sensitivity analysis approach presented may provide valuable guidance on the importance and appropriate treatment of time dependencies in regional (i.e. portfolio) earthquake risk models. We find that the long-term fault and aftershock occurrence models are the most crucial features of a time-dependent seismic risk model to constrain, at least for the monetary loss metrics examined in this study. Accounting for damage accumulation is also found to be important, if there is a high insurance deductible associated with portfolio assets.

Recent Advances in Structural Optimization of Quinazoline-Based Protein Kinase Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy (2021-Present).

Cancer is a complicated, multifaceted disease that can impact any organ in the body. Various chemotherapeutic agents have a low selectivity and are very toxic when used alone or in combination with others. Resistance is one of the most important hurdles that develop due to the use of many anticancer therapeutics. As a result, treating cancer requires a target-specific palliative care strategy. Remarkable scientific discoveries have shed light on several of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer, resulting in the development of various targeted anticancer agents. One of the most important heterocyclic motifs is quinazoline, which has a wide range of biological uses and chemical reactivities. Newer, more sophisticated medications with quinazoline structures have been found in the last few years, and great strides have been made in creating effective protocols for building these pharmacologically active scaffolds. A new class of chemotherapeutic agents known as quinazoline-based derivatives possessing anticancer properties consists of several well-known compounds that block different protein kinases and other molecular targets. This review highlights recent updates (2021-2024) on various quinazoline-based derivatives acting against different protein kinases as anticancer chemotherapeutics. It also provides guidance for the design and synthesis of novel quinazoline analogues that could serve as lead compounds.