All Articles

Advancements in Cancer Gene Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract:

Gene therapy is a cancer treatment that is superior to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other less selective and specifically harmful forms of treatment. It entails the aberrant replacement, alteration, and deletion of a gene within a normal or healthy copy of a gene. Recent trials have made significant progress toward improved targeting and expression in particular tumors, shielding patients from several challenges, such as biosafety, low-specificity, and low-efficiency delivery. To replicate transgenes and vectors more safely and effectively, numerous genetic approaches are being improved. These developments in gene treatments include the ability to be modified for recurring cancer treatment, with the potential to elevate neoplastic disorders as the main therapeutic target. This review discusses the developments in cancer gene therapy and how they affect individuals undergoing gene transfer via different methods.

The Advantages of Employing the Immune Response Mediated by Immunoglobulins in Preclinical and Clinical Research: An Essential Review

Abstract:

Immunoglobulins, commonly known as antibodies, are glycoprotein molecules present on B lymphocytes and within the bloodstream. They are essential components of the immune response, as they detect the harmful molecules of test compounds and stimulate the immune system to manifest proportional counter-responses. This means that when the body encounters harmful molecules and pathogens, B cells must respond to every harmful antigen by producing antibodies tailored to bind to those antigens. This process is enhanced through class switching, which allows B cells to change the type of antibody they produce, and somatic hyper-mutation, which increases the binding affinity of antibodies by introducing mutations in the antibody genes. These mechanisms ensure an effective and precise immune response, enabling the body to defend itself efficiently against a wide range of harmful antigens and adapt its response to future infections or chemical expo...

Assessing the Effects of Blessing (Biofield) Energy Treatment on Zea mays L. saccharata Productivity

Abstract:

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) is a high-demand, nutrient-sensitive cereal crops whose yield and crop quality depend heavily on early vegetative vigor and stress resilience. Spiritual Blessing (Biofield) Energy Treatment (SBET) has emerged as a non-invasive, biostimulatory approach to alter seed germinability, metabolic efficiency, and physiological development without ecological toxicity.

Use of a Novel Exogenous Allogeneic Multi-Growth Factor Concentrate in Bone Regeneration of the Mandible: A Case Report

Abstract:

Regeneration of new bone continues to be one of the most significant challenges in implant dentistry to correct osseous deficiencies in preparation for dental implant surgery. The need for effective bone regenerative strategies has fueled the development of many therapeutic methods, including the use of biologics such as bone morphogenetic proteins, bone marrow aspirates, mesenchymal stem cells, and platelet-derived growth factors. One therapeutic strategy that has not been investigated is the use of exogenous growth factors on bone regeneration of the jaws. The goal of this study is to evaluate if a novel exogenous allogeneic multi-growth factor concentrate, AlloSpark-GF has a positive effect on bone regeneration in the grafted mandible using histology and histomorphometry.

An Integrated Systems Thinking-Artificial Intelligence Approach to Advancing Biology and Biomedicine

Abstract:

The complexity of living systems, ranging from cellular networks to organisms to ecosystems, poses a significant challenge to the progress of contemporary biology and biomedicine. Living organisms are complex adaptive systems that are characterized by nonlinear interactions, causal-dynamic feedback loops, and context-dependent behaviors that give rise to emergent properties that are not completely explainable or predictable from the properties of the individual components alone. Investigating and understanding systemic complexity is therefore essential for advancing biology and biomedicine. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has been developed for analyzing large-scale, high-dimensional datasets generated by experimental and clinical research. AI enables the identification of correlations, causal patterns, and predictive relationships, which are difficult to discern using traditional analytical approaches. However, without an overarching framework, it risks be...

Breastfeeding Reimagined: Examining Augmented Reality, Maternal Support, and Breast Pumping Experiences in a Randomized Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract:

Pump-dependent milk expression frequently occurs in environments that lack the sensory and emotional cues associated with direct breastfeeding, which may interfere with relaxation and milk let-down. Emerging digital technologies such as augmented reality (AR) may help recreate visual and emotional cues that support the physiological processes associated with milk expression.

Cyclic Peptides: Prominent Next Generation Targeted Therapies

Abstract:

Cyclic peptides are expected to play a significant role in the future of drug discovery and development. Their unique properties, such as enhanced target affinity, metabolic stability, and favorable pharmokinetic profiles, make them promising candidates for addressing complex therapeutic targets. Innovations in design and synthetic techniques, including phage display and genetic code expansion with noncanonical amino acids, are enabling the development of diverse cyclic peptide libraries. These advancements are expected to bridge the gap between traditional small molecules and biologics, offering significant promise in the treatment of complex diseases.

The therapeutic potential of cyclic peptides is broad, with applications in various pharmacological activities, including antibiotics, antifungals, anticancer, and immunosuppressants. The number of cyclic peptide drugs under research has reached hundreds, some have entered the late clinical stage. Wi...

Partial Substitution of Mineral Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers to Increase Yield and Profitability of Irrigated Lowland Rice Cultivation

Abstract:

Uganda has the world's lowest fertilizer use rate at just 1-1.5 kg per hectare. This limited use is a key factor hindering rice productivity in the country. Farmers can use affordable organic fertilizers to partially replace expensive mineral fertilizers, increasing the profitability of rice cultivation. This study focused on identifying the optimal combinations and application rates of inorganic fertilizers and organic inputs to enhance the yield and profitability of irrigated rice, particularly by varying nitrogen levels, the most limiting nutrient. Using a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers improved paddy yields by enhancing nitrogen efficiency and increasing profitability, as demonstrated by the cost-benefit ratio. In contrast, mineral fertilizers produced the lowest yields and profits. The optimal fertilizer option identified was a combination of mineral and organic fertilizers, using a low nitrogen rate of 30 kg/ha. T...

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Purine Modified 3′-deoxy-D-ribonucleosides and Evaluation of Their Antiproliferative Activity

Abstract:

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of a series of purine modified 3′ deoxyribonucleosides was studied from purine derivatives as acceptors and an excess of 3′-deoxyuridine as the donor, prepared by the chemical deamination of 3′-deoxycytidine, using recombinant uridine and purine nucleoside phosphorylases as biocatalysts in enzymatic reactions. Eight purine nucleosides were prepared in 24%-84% yields after column chromatography. Among the tested purine derivatives, 2,6-dichloropurine was found to be the best substrate in the enzymatic transglycosylation reaction catalyzed by the E. coli purine phosphorylase (PNP) via intermediate 1-phosphate-3-deoxy-D-ribofuranose, and dihalogenated purine 3'-deoxyriboside was prepared in 84% yield. The anticancer nucleoside, cordycepin, was synthesized by the enzymatic transglycosylation reaction of adenine in 70% yield from 3´-deoxyuridine. Two enzymatic approaches to 2-fluorocordycepin were tested from 2-flu...

Incidence and Management of Sural Neuritis Post-Peroneal Tendon Repair – Case Series

Abstract:

Sural neuritis is a recognized and common complication resulting from iatrogenic injury, postsurgical or posttraumatic fibrosis, traction injury, or chronic nerve compression. Previously in a case series by Stockton and Brodsky, sural neuritis was reported as a complication in 16.6% of the patients who underwent peroneal tendon repair. Patients with sural neuritis often report pain and tingling in the distribution of the sural nerve along the lateral posterior leg, lateral foot, and the fifth digit. Symptoms of sural neuritis could be intense and debilitating, necessitating prompt recognition and treatment.