Search

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) serves as the enzymatic catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which is capable of modifying the expression of downstream target genes through the trimethylation of Lys-27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3). In addition to its role in H3K27me3 modification, EZH2 may influence gene expression through alternative mechanisms. The involvement of EZH2 in cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence has been established. Its significant contributions to the pathophysiology of cancer have garnered considerable attention. Consequently, pursuing EZH2 as a target for cancer therapy has become a prominent area of research, leading to the development of various EZH2 inhibitors. A growing number of efforts are being made to investigate the possible application of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in medical applications after the practical application of this technique to decrease gene expression in various research models. Pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 induces apoptosis in cancer cells, while siRNA-mediated downregulation of EZH2 suppresses cancer cell growth. The cell cycle is modulated by siRNA-induced suppression of EZH2, yet its precise cause is unclear. Furthermore, inadequate research has been done on the signaling route affecting cancer cells' cell cycle following EZH2 suppression with siRNA. Investigating the molecular basis of EZH2 siRNA's anticancer activity will aid in developing fresh methods for identifying, managing, and preventing cancer., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: None. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The intricate relationship between gut microbiota and the brain has emerged as a pivotal area of research, particularly in understanding myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This complex condition is characterized by debilitating fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and a wide array of systemic manifestations, posing significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies highlight the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a crucial pathway in ME/CFS pathophysiology, suggesting that alterations in gut microbial composition may impact immune responses, neurochemical signaling, and neuronal health. This narrative review systematically explores English-language scholarly articles from January 1995 to January 2025, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The findings underscore the potential for targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at correcting gut dysbiosis. As research progresses, a deeper understanding of the microbiota-gut-brain connection could lead to innovative approaches for managing ME/CFS, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals.

Neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive impairments, pose a significant global health challenge. This study explores the potential of nanotherapeutics as a promising approach to enhance drug delivery across physiological barriers, particularly the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (B-CSFB). By employing nanoparticles, this research aims to address critical challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. The multifactorial nature of these disorders necessitates innovative solutions that leverage nanomedicine to improve drug solubility, circulation time, and targeted delivery while minimizing off-target effects. The findings underscore the importance of advancing nanomedicine applications to develop effective therapeutic strategies that can alleviate the burden of neurodegenerative diseases on individuals and healthcare systems., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Dhariwal, Jain, Mir, Singh, Jain, Kumar, Tariq, Verma, Deshmukh, Yadav and Malik.)

Benzo-fused γ-lactams are fundamental in medicinal chemistry, acting as essential elements for various therapeutic agents due to their structural adaptability and capability to enhance biological activity. In their synthesis, transition metals play a pivotal role as catalysts, offering more efficient alternatives to traditional methods by facilitating C-N bond formation through mechanisms like intramolecular coupling. Recent advances have especially spotlighted transition-metal-catalyzed C-H amination reactions for directly converting C(sp 2 )-H to C(sp 2 )-N bonds, streamlining the creation of these compounds. Furthermore, biocatalytic approaches have emerged, providing asymmetric synthesis of lactams with high yield and enantioselectivity. This review examined the transition metal-catalyzed synthesis techniques for producing benzo-fused γ-lactams, marking a significant leap in organic synthesis by proposing more effective, selective, and greener production methods. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers in the fields of transition metal catalysts and those engaged in synthesizing these lactams., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Investigating effective nanomaterials for the detection of hydroxyurea anticancer drugs is essential for promoting human health and safeguarding environmental integrity. This research utilized first-principles estimations for examining the adhesion and electronic characteristics of hydroxyurea (HU) on both pristine and Si-decorated innovative two-dimensional boron nitride allotrope, known as Irida analogous (Ir-BNNS). Analyzing the adsorption energy revealed that the HU molecule has a significant interaction (E ad  = -1.27 eV) with the Si@Ir-BNNS, whereas it has weak interaction P-Ir-BN. Moreover, the analysis of the electron density distributions was conducted to investigate the microcosmic interaction mechanism between HU and Ir-BNNS. The Si@Ir-BNNS was highly sensitive to HU due to the observable alterations in the electrical conductance and magnetism. At ambient temperature, the Si@Ir-BNNS had a recovery time of 5.96 ms towards HU molecules. The DFT estimations can be conducive to exploring the applications of Si@Ir-BNNS in effectively sensing HU., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the inflammatory pathway, is the target for various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective inhibitors known as coxibs. This study focuses on the development of novel imidazole derivatives as COX-2 inhibitors, utilizing a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) approach to enhance binding affinity and selectivity. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock Vina, revealing binding energies of -6.928, -7.187, and -7.244 kJ/mol for compounds 5b, 5d, and 5e, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations using GROMACS provided insights into the stability and conformational changes of the protein-ligand complexes. Key metrics such as RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and hydrogen bond analysis were employed to assess the interactions. The binding free energy of the inhibitors was estimated using the MMPBSA method, highlighting compound 5b (N-[(3-benzyl-2-methylsulfonylimidazol-4-yl)methyl]-4-methoxyaniline) with the lowest binding energy of -162.014 kcal/mol. ADMET analysis revealed that compound 5b exhibited the most favorable pharmacokinetic properties and safety profile. Overall, this investigation underscores the potential of these novel imidazole derivatives as effective COX-2 inhibitors, with compound 5b emerging as the most promising candidate for further development., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related death and the most frequent malignancy among women in Western countries. Although there have been advancements in combination treatments and targeted therapies for the metastatic diseases management, metastatic breast cancer is still the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among U.S. women. The routes of metastasis encompass invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, infiltration into a remote location to establish a metastatic niche, and the formation of micro-metastases in a new environment. Each of these processes is regulated by changes in gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely expressed by a variety of organisms and have a key role in cell activities including suppressing or promoting cancer through regulating various pathways. Target gene expression is post-transcriptionally regulated by miRNAs, which contribute to the development, spread, and metastasis of breast cancer. In this study, we comprehensively discussed the role of miRNAs as predictors of breast cancer metastasis, their correlation with the spread of the disease to certain organs, and their potential application as targets for breast cancer treatment. We also provided molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in the progression of breast cancer, as well as current challenges in miRNA-based therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, as one of the primary issues with the treatment of solid malignancies is the efficient delivery of miRNAs, we examined a number of cutting-edge carriers for miRNA-based therapies and CRISPR/Cas9 as a targeted therapy for breast cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)