Present Review Research Articles

Essential Oils of Some Potential Medicinal Plants and their Wound Healing Activities.

The wound has been recognised as a deep cut or tearing of the epidermis, which is also referred to as trauma and harm to the body tissues. Healing of wounds requires a coordinated series of cellular processes, including cell attraction, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. These processes involve interactions between various cells, such as macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, growth hormones, and proteases. The outcome of wounds can be fatal if not treated properly, resulting in chronic wounds, chronic pain, and even death. Wound healing is replacing missing tissue with tissue repairs and regeneration. Some local variables are the presence of tissue maceration, foreign objects, biofilm, hypoxia, ischemia, and wound infection. Sustained growth factor delivery, siRNA delivery, micro-RNA targeting, and stem cell therapy are all emerging possible therapeutic approaches for wound healing. Traditional approaches, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicines, are also being used for treatment. The therapeutic application of nanoformulations in wound infections has shown various beneficial effects. Several herbal medicines, especially essential oils have shown potential wound healing activities, such as lavender, tea tree, sesame, olive, etc. Various nanoparticles and their nanoformulations have been explored in wound healing therapy. The present review article highlights several aspects of essential oils for wound healing activity through a novel drug delivery system. Further, some patents on wound healing through herbal medicine have been listed.

Role of circular RNAs in preeclampsia (Review).

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, which affects 3-8% of pregnant individuals worldwide each year. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PE are some of the most important problems faced by obstetrics. There is growing evidence that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of PE. The present review summarizes the research progress of circRNAs and then describes the expression patterns of circRNAs in PE and their functional mechanisms affecting PE development. The role of circRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PE, and the research status of circRNAs in PE are summarized in the hope of finding novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of PE.

Reconstruction of deep and perforating corneal defects in dogs-A review (Part III/III): The use of corneal sutures and reporting of ocular discomfort.

The surgical reconstruction of severe corneal disease is a common and crucial component of the clinical practice of veterinary ophthalmology. The first part of the present review described procedures that utilize autogenous ocular tissues, homologous donor tissues, and heterologous donor tissues in dogs, while the second part reviewed the use of biomaterials and keratoprosthetics in this species. This third part is dedicated to the review of the use of corneal sutures including suture type and suture pattern in corneal reconstruction of small animals including dogs and cats. The review also focused on the way studies report postoperative ocular discomfort/pain and how this is treated. Lastly, the author briefly presents the simple but effective techniques available to bury corneal knots for corneal reconstructive surgery in small animal patients, such as the "tugging" and "deep-superficial-superficial-deep" methods for simple interrupted sutures, and the adaptation of the latter for simple continuous sutures.

Alterations in Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Various Cognitive Impairments.

Cognitive impairment is a typical symptom of both neurodegenerative and certain other diseases. In connection with these different pathologies, the etiology and neurological and metabolic changes associated with cognitive impairment must differ. Until these characteristics and differences are understood in greater detail, pharmacological treatment of the different forms of cognitive impairment remains suboptimal. Neurotransmitter receptors, including neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), dopamine receptors, and glutamine receptors, play key roles in the functions and metabolisms of the brain. Among these, the role of nAChRs in the development of cognitive impairment has attracted more and more attention. The present review summarizes what is presently known concerning the structure, distribution, metabolism, and function of nAChRs, as well as their involvement in major cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, schizophrenia, and diabetes mellitus. As will be discussed, the relevant scientific literature reveals clearly that the α4β2 and α7 nAChR subtypes and/or subunits of the receptors play major roles in maintaining cognitive function and in neuroprotection of the brain. Accordingly, focusing on these as targets of drug therapy can be expected to lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as AD and schizophrenia.

Nutrition learning gaps in the undergraduate curricula of Nursing and Medicine degree and diploma programs in Tanzania Mainland

BackgroundNutrition has been widely ignored in the curricula of many health professional training programs in Sub-Saharan African countries. The present review was conducted to explore the adequacy of medical and nursing curricula in training graduates to treat, educate effectively, and counsel patients/clients with nutritional disorders in Tanzania.MethodsAn assessment of accredited medical and paramedical curricula in mainland Tanzania. The assessment followed Stufflebeam's CIPP model (context, input, process, and product) to enhance methodological rigour and transparency.ResultsOf the twelve curricula studied, only one had a dedicated course for nutrition. In the undergraduate medicine degree curriculum, only 119 out of 6580 hours over five years were allocated for nutrition training, which is merely 1.7% of the total curriculum hours. Similarly, in the undergraduate nursing degree curriculum only 370 hours out of 5280 over four years were allocated for nutrition training, which is equivalent to 0.07% of the total hours. In the paramedical diploma programs of clinical medicine and nursing, nutrition content was scattered among various courses within the curriculum. Most curricula were teacher-centred with limited use of validated methods to assess trainee on skills such as Observed Structured Practical/ Clinical Examination.ConclusionsBased on this assessment of accredited curricula, nutrition receives scant attention in medical and paramedical education in mainland Tanzania. Thus, it is imperative to support integrating stronger nutrition content into medical and paramedical schools focusing on skills and attitudes to enhance the efficient implementation of the nation’s nutrition policies and strategies.

Diagnostic Performance of Host and Viral DNA Methylation Analysis in the Identification of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: DNA methylation-based biomarkers have been investigated as useful tools in the carcinogenesis process, including the triage of HPV-associated cancers. In this context, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on evaluating the changes in the level of DNA methylation in cases of pre-cancerous (i.e., anal intraepithelial neoplasia, AIN-1, -2., -3) and cancerous (i.e., squamous cell carcinoma, SCC) anal lesions. Methods: A research in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was carried out, following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, using the following keywords: “anal cancer”, “anal intraepithelial neoplasia”, “methylation”, and “epigenetic”. All observational studies that reported the level of DNA methylation by grade of anal lesions and for different target genes were included. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the studies’ quality, whereas pooled prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were employed to verify the accuracy of the test in the detection of high-grade lesions. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 1555 clinical samples. The prevalence of methylation-positive samples by histological grading was 27%, 45%, 54%, and 98% for AIN1, AIN2, AIN3, and SCC, respectively. Similar results were observed for the DOR, with higher ORs in more severe lesions. The pooled AUC (95%CI) for the diagnosis of ≥AIN2 was 0.68 (0.63–0.73). Conclusions: The present review and meta-analysis support the introduction of DNA methylation-based biomarkers in the triage of subjects with low-grade anal lesions and in the monitoring of treatment outcomes. Standardized protocols and a prospective study design are needed to implement methylation tests in clinical practice.

Ferroptosis: Potential therapeutic targets and prognostic predictions for acute myeloid leukemia (Review).

Ferroptosis is a relatively recently discovered type of regulated cell death that is induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. The key contributing factors to ferroptosis are the loss of glutathione peroxidase 4 which is required for reversing lipid peroxidation, the buildup of redox-active iron and the oxidation of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ferroptosis has been associated with a number of diseases, including cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, acute renal damage and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and there may be an association between ferroptosis and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present review aims to describe the primary regulatory pathways of ferroptosis, and the relationship between ferroptosis and the occurrence and development of AML. Furthermore, the present review comprehensively summarizes the latest advances in the treatment and prognosis of ferroptosis in AML.

Challenges and opportunities in managing biodegradable plastic waste: A review.

Biodegradable plastics have certain challenges in a waste management perspective. The existing literature reviews fail to provide a consolidated overview of different process steps of biodegradable plastic waste management and to discuss the support provided by the existing legislation for the same. The present review provides a holistic overview of these process steps and a comprehensive relative summary of 13 existing European Union (EU) laws related to waste management and circular economy, and national legislations plus source separation guidelines of 13 countries, to ensure the optimal use of resources in the future. Following were the major findings: (i) numerous types and low volumes of biodegradable plastics pose a challenge to developing cost-effective waste management infrastructure; (ii) biodegradable plastics are promoted as food-waste collection aids, but consumers are often confused about their proper disposal and are prone to greenwashing from manufacturers; (iii) industry-level studies demonstrating mechanical recycling on a full scale are unavailable; (iv) the existing EU legislation dealt with general topics related to biodegradable plastics; however, only the new proposal on plastic packaging waste and the EU policy framework for bioplastics clearly mentioned their disposal and (v) clear disparities were observed between disposal methods suggested by national legislation and available source separation guidelines. Thus, to appropriately manage biodegradable plastic waste, it is necessary to develop waste processing and material utilization infrastructure as well as create consumer awareness. In the end, recommendations were provided for improved biodegradable plastic waste management from the perspective of systemic challenges identified from the literature review.

Assessing basic/fundamental psychological need fulfillment: systematic mapping and review of existing scales to foster cumulative science.

Because the fulfillment of basic/fundamental psychological needs affects people's motivation and well-being, measuring the degree to which these needs are met is of interest to researchers across various domains. Although numerous self-assessment tools have been developed, no recent comprehensive reviews exist, hindering cumulative scientific progress. The present systematic review aimed to identify and analyze the main approaches to developing self-report scales for assessing basic/fundamental psychological need fulfillment. The objective is to inform readers interested in selecting instruments for their studies and those intending to develop new scales. Following PRISMA, we conducted a search of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest in August 2023. The following information was extracted from eligible studies: Scale name, abbreviation, theoretical basis, application domain, final scale construction, scale development and validation methodology, and citation count. Our search identified 32 primary studies, in which 31 original scales were developed and validated, and 89 secondary studies that aimed to modify these original scales. The predominant theoretical basis was Self-Determination Theory, although eight scales were based on alternative need typologies. The scales were either domain-general or specific to contexts such as work, education, or exercise/sports contexts. While most were designed to measure need satisfaction, some also addressed need support, frustration, and thwarting. Despite significant efforts in developing, adapting, and applying scales to measure need fulfillment, we found several issues resulting from diverse perspectives on conceptualizing psychological needs and need typologies, discordant approaches in developing and validating measures, and other inconsistencies that should be acknowledged and addressed in future research.

Non-ketotic hyperglycemia-induced hemichorea-hemiballism – A case presentation and literature review

Non-ketotic hyperglycemia-induced hemichorea-hemiballism (NKHHH) is an infrequent hyperkinetic movement disorder, also known as diabetic striatopathy or Chorea hyperglycemia basal ganglia syndrome (C-H-BG), characterized by repetitive, uncontrollable movements in the unilateral or bilateral limbs. An insult to the contralateral basal ganglia causes NKHHH to develop. NKHHH is caused by ischemia, followed by non-ketotic hyperglycemia and poorly controlled diabetes. NKHHH is a rare condition with a unique cause that only affects one side of the corpus striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen). Clinical events of hemichorea-hemiballism, laboratory tests (elevated blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels), and imaging modalities (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) all contribute to diagnosing NKHHH. The objective of this case report is to represent cross-sectional imaging findings in a 55-year-old female who presented with hemichorea-hemiballism following non-ketotic hyperglycemia. In conclusion, the clinical manifestation of NKHHH and its computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are crucial in determining the appropriate management.

Quantitative Assessment of Body Composition in Cirrhosis.

Changes in body composition often accompany the progression of liver disease and seem to be an aggravating pathophysiological factor. Specifically, accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass, lower muscle quality, and changes in body fat distribution have been shown to be associated with poor clinical outcomes. The aim of the present narrative review was to discuss the current status and relevance of commonly applied, advanced, non-invasive methods to quantify skeletal muscle mass, muscle fat infiltration-i.e., myosteatosis-and fat distribution. This review focuses in particular on Computed Tomography (CT), Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasonography (US). We propose future directions to enhance the diagnostic and prognostic relevance of using these methods for quantitative body composition assessment in patients with cirrhosis.

Rare Oncogenic Fusions in Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors: A Case Series and Literature Review

Background and Objectives: Central Nervous System (CNS) pediatric tumors represent the most common solid tumors in children with a wide variability in terms of survival and therapeutic response. By contrast to their adult counterpart, the mutational landscape of pediatric CNS tumors is characterized by oncogenic fusions rather than multiple mutated genes. CNS pediatric tumors associated with oncogenic fusions represent a complex landscape of tumors with wide radiological, morphological and clinical heterogeneity. In the fifth CNS WHO classification, there are few pediatric CNS tumors for which diagnosis is based on a single oncogenic fusion. This work aims to provide an overview of the impact of rare oncogenic fusions (NTRK, ROS, ALK, MET, FGFR, RAF, MN1, BCOR and CIC genes) on pathogenesis, histological phenotype, diagnostics and theranostics in pediatric CNS tumors. We report four cases of pediatric CNS tumors associated with NTRK (n = 2), ROS (n = 1) and FGFR3 (n = 1) oncogenic fusion genes as a proof of concept. Cases presentation and literature review: The literature review and the cohort that we described here underline that most of these rare oncogenic fusions are not specific to a single morpho-molecular entity. Even within tumors harboring the same oncogenic fusions, a wide range of morphological, molecular and epigenetic entities can be observed. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for caution when applying the fifth CNS WHO classification, as the vast majority of these fusions are not yet incorporated in the diagnosis, including grade evaluation and DNA methylation classification.

Remdesivir in solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The use of remdesivir in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been studied. The present systematic review and analysis aimed to assess its effectiveness in this population. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, medRxiv, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify relevant articles published up to April 2024. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane assessment tool. Data analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software ver. 3.0. The meta-analysis included seven eligible retrospective studies, involving a total of 574 SOTRs. The findings indicated no significant differences in mortality rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-2.39), hospitalization rate (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.10-4.79), need for mechanical ventilation (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.44-2.18), or need for oxygen therapy (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 0.75-18.34) between the groups that received remdesivir and those that did not. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of intensive care unit admissions between the two groups (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.24-4.57). Our meta-analysis found that remdesivir offers no clinical benefits to SOTRs infected with COVID-19. Additional high-quality research is required to assess the potential clinical advantages of remdesivir for SOTRs with COVID-19.

RECENT ADVANCES IN THE ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION OF CHITOSAN-SILVER NANOCOMPOSITE COATINGS ON METALLIC IMPLANTS WITH ENHANCED BIOCIDAL PROPERTIES

This review covers the latest issues related to the development of medical technologies based on chitosan coatings. The progress of modern implantology requires medicine to adapt constantly to new opportunities and challenges. Infections may occur at the implantation site or in the body and may require treatment with antibiotics or surgery to resolve them. Due to its unique properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and antibacterial activity, chitosan has been proposed to be co-deposited with biocidal silver nanoparticles in the form of nanocomposite coatings on the surface of metallic implants to extinguish local inflammations. The mechanism of co-deposition of chitosan with metal ions and particles using electrophoretic deposition has not yet been thoroughly explained. This, among others, results from a number of factors that influence the process and their mutual relations. Therefore, the present review aims at a deeper understanding of the mechanism of creating chitosan-silver nanocomposite coatings.

The Concept of Agency, Animal Wellbeing, and the Practical Realities of Ex Situ Breeding Programs in Zoos and Aquariums

Conservation and animal wellbeing are two key goals of the modern zoo and aquarium. In the case of ex situ conservation breeding programs, there is a unique paradox between these concepts; on some occasions, facilities must balance and mitigate arising conflicts between the wellbeing of animals with the goals of the conservation project. Exerting control over the reproductive lives of animals—choosing when and where they breed, whom they breed with, whether breeding is prohibited altogether, and so on—results in an inherent reduction in the animal’s agency. Considering the growing recognition that providing choice and control to animals enhances wellbeing, it is essential to examine how populations and their breeding are managed. The present review presents challenges in supporting agency for animals bred ex situ by thoroughly exploring the practical realities of working with these animals. Various challenges and areas of consideration, including current research directions, suggestions for future practices, and opportunities moving forward, are highlighted. The importance of careful population management in maximising wellbeing, including the inherent dichotomy of the necessity to limit some reproductive autonomy to preserve animal wellbeing while meeting the needs of breeding programs.

Current progress of anti‑PD‑1/PDL1 immunotherapy for glioblastoma (Review).

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common central nervous system malignancy in adults. GBM may be classified as grade IV diffuse astrocytoma according to the 2021 World Health Organization revised classification of central nervous system tumors, which means it is the most aggressive, invasive, undifferentiated type of tumor. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), particularly anti‑programmed cell death protein‑1 (PD‑1)/PD‑1 ligand‑1 immunotherapy, has been confirmed to be successful across several tumor types. However, in GBM, this treatment is still uncommon and the efficacy is unpredictable, and <10% of patients show long‑term responses. Recently, numerous studies have been conducted to explore what factors may indicate or affect the ICB response rate in GBM, including molecular alterations, immune expression signatures and immune infiltration. The present review aimed to summarize the current progress to improve the understanding of immunotherapy for GBM.

Role of Phytochemicals in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects millions of people around the world. In the past decades, phytochemicals have gained attention for the treatment of atopic dermatitis due to their inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, which could be beneficial in alleviating the suffering associated with atopic dermatitis. Although various conventional treatments, such as immune modulators and biologicals, are available for the treatment of atopic dermatitis their effectiveness can be limited due to some adverse effects. The present review aimed to explore the various phytochemicals to be identified as a complementary and alternative treatment option for the management of atopic dermatitis. Phytochemicals offer the potential advantage of reducing both local and systemic side effects associated with long-term use of corticosteroids, as well as addressing the higher costs of biological drug therapies. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify the pharmacologically proven phytochemicals for the management of atopic dermatitis by covering articles published from 2015 to 2023. Various phytochemicals, such as berberine, piperine, ferulic acid, baicalin, vasicine, neferine, kaempferol, α- Boswellic Acid, gallic acid, etc., werebe highlighted for their potential therapeutic effects in atopic dermatitis. In conclusion, phytochemicals present a promising, safe, complementary, and alternative treatment option for atopic dermatitis management.

Emergence of Long COVID: Threat to Humanity Persists!

The transition of COVID-19 from a pandemic to an endemic disease will result in the further spread of SARS-CoV-2 among the vulnerable populations, especially those who still remain unvaccinated. Thus, infections are destined to increase and the majority of humanity will become infected within a short span of time. As with most viral infections, post-infection sequelae are a reality for COVID too. In fact, it has already been observed that 10-20% of COVID patients who have fully recovered, go on to develop lingering symptoms that persist for a long period of time. This has been termed as long COVID or post-COVID condition. This underscores the fact that the danger still looms and we’re not out of the woods yet. The present review article highlights the major facets of long COVID and suggests possible remedial measures that could make it a thing of the past.

Efficacy of different protocols of non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of the present systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of different protocols of NSPT without any adjunctive therapy in subjects with type 2 diabetes, by considering clinical and patient-centered outcomes. For the purposes of the study randomized controlled clinical trials with more than 3-month follow-up were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central. Then the articles were screened for inclusion and considered based on the protocols adopted, the outcome measure, follow-up, and the level of glycemic control. A total of 23 articles about 22 studies were included. NSPT was more effective than just oral hygiene measures/no treatment in reducing periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at 3 months (0.47 mm [0.29-0.65 mm] and 0.50 mm [0.24-0.76 mm], respectively) and 6 months (0.56 mm [0.28-0.84 mm] and 0.45 mm [0.13-0.77 mm], respectively for PPD and CAL) follow-up (very low and low level of evidence). The meta-analysis found no evidence of a difference between full-mouth disinfection versus quadrant protocol clinical outcomes (very low level of evidence). One study found no evidence of a difference in periodontal clinical response between good versus poor glycemic control. Based on the results of the present research NSPT protocols could be considered more efficacious than others in terms of clinical outcomes in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, NSPT resulted in efficacious improvement of periodontal parameters and HbA1c levels compared to no treatment or oral hygiene instructions alone.

Annatto (Bixa orellana)-Based Nanostructures for Biomedical Applications—A Systematic Review

Plants are a source of valuable organic chemical compounds with complex structures rich in therapeutic activities. The encapsulation of compounds in nanostructured systems is an alternative to avoid limitations, such as instability and low solubility, and to promote therapeutic use. The objective of the present review was to summarize the data in the literature on the physicochemical characteristics, biomedical efficacy, and toxicity of nanostructures containing extracts and oils obtained from annatto (Bixa orellana). For this, searches were conducted in the CINAHL, LILACS, Embase, FSTA, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies that carried out the development, physical-chemical characterization, and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and/or in vitro, in vivo, or clinical toxicity of nanostructures containing extracts and oils derived from annatto were included in the review. Of the 708 articles found, nine met the inclusion criteria. The included studies developed different nanostructures (nanofibers, nanocochleates, chitosan, lipid, polymeric, and metallic nanoparticles). These nanostructures showed leishmanicidal, photoprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory efficacy, and tissue regeneration potential with no or low toxic effects in the tested models. Thus, the present work supports the nanostructuring of annatto extracts and oils as a relevant approach to the development of new technologies for biomedical applications.