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Throughout history, the utilization of plant products as medicinal remedies has been widespread, with numerous modern drugs finding their origins in the plant kingdom. Taxol, derived from Taxus species, stands out as an exceptional and highly potent anticancer medication. In this study, we present a rapid one-pot synthesis method for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the leaves of Taxus wallichiana Zucca in the presence of sunlight. The synthesized AgNPs were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and HPLC Q-TOF. The AgNPs were further investigated for their antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiurolithi properties. The anticancer activity was assessed through a sulforhodamine B assay conducted on the MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cell line and SiHa human cervical cancer cell line. The findings of this study reveal the impressive antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiurolithi characteristics exhibited by AgNPs synthesized from leaf extracts. This research highlights an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to producing AgNPs by utilizing plant extracts as reducing agents, underscoring the immense potential of natural resources in advancing nanotechnology and its applications.

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are a rising issue when it comes to human health. Microbial pathogens that cause harmful infections are quickly becoming resistant to the antimicrobial action of traditional antibiotics. Nanotechnology, an innovative sector being an indispensable part of healthcare and research, has in-depth and extensive applications. Nano-compounds have been promising antimicrobial agents, anti-cancerous mediators, vehicles for drug delivery, formulations for functional foods, identification of pathogens, food and drug packaging industry, and many more. However, the chemical synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has certain drawbacks such as causing toxicity and other adverse effects. For more than a decade, the use of NPs that are conjugated or green-synthesized has gained popularity due to the two-fold action of metallic NPs mixed with biological sources. In contrast, NPs synthesized using plant or microbial extracts, conjugated with biologically active components, appear to be a safe alternative approach as they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Such environmentally safe techniques are referred to as “green nanotechnology” or “clean technology” and are feasible alternatives to chemical methods. Furthermore, NPs conjugated with natural biomolecules have improved bioavailability and have minimal side effects, as they are smaller in size and have higher permeability in addition to being reducing and stabilizing agents possessing excellent antioxidant activity. NPs serve as potential antimicrobial agents due to their affinity towards sulphur-rich amino acids, adhere to microbial cell walls by means of electrostatic attraction, and disrupt the cytoplasmic membrane along with the nucleic acid of microbes. They possess anticancer activity owing to oxidative stress, damage to cellular DNA, and lipid peroxidation. The green-synthesized NPs are thus a promising and safe alternative for healthcare therapeutic applications.

Background: In Saudi Arabia, cervical cancer, frequently caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is a common cancer. The usual procedures for screening and diagnosing cervical cancer include Pap smears and HPV tests, even though they have considerable drawbacks, particularly for older women (> 60 years) who have limited access to or compliance with these tests. Urinalysis is a simple, noninvasive test that has been suggested as an alternative procedure. This study aimed to investigate the change in urinalysis characteristics in cervical cancer patients in elderly females and the possible use of urinalysis as a screening or diagnostic tool for cervical cancer in older women. Methods: This was an exploratory cross-sectional study of 190 cervical cancer patients diagnosed between January 2018 and August 2021. Based on age, the study included two groups, < 60 years and ≥ 60 years. Urinalysis characteristics, including bacterial count, blood level, protein level, and squamous epithelial cell shedding, were compared between the age groups by using the chi-squared and Kruskal-Walli tests. Results: The results showed a significant difference between aged females and younger females with cervical cancer at the blood level, protein level, and squamous epithelial cell shedding in the urine. The older women (≥ 60 years) had higher incidences of increased bacterial count, blood levels, protein levels, and squamous epithelial cell shedding than the younger women (< 60 years). Conclusions: The main finding of the study implies that there are significant changes in urine characteristics in cervical cancer patients including hyperproteinemia, hematuria, and squamous cell shedding in elderly patients compared to younger patients, and it proposes a potential role for urinalysis as a screening tool for cervical cancer in older women. Urinalysis could be a potential screening tool for cervical cancer in older women who have not been screened or have no screening access. Further studies are needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saudi Medical Journal is the property of Saudi Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Researching medical sample storage is crucial for maintaining the integrity of biological specimens and ensuring the accuracy of research investigations and diagnostic tests. Improper storage conditions can lead to sample degradation, compromising the reliability of results. Standardized storage procedures are essential for quality control, particularly in multicenter trials where samples are collected and processed at various locations. Moreover, ethical considerations dictate careful handling of patient samples to uphold privacy and rights. Methods: This study focuses on the surface phenotype of T cells, which is vital for diagnosing immunodeficiency disorders and autoimmune diseases and for monitoring disease activity and treatment efficacy. The effect of storage duration on T cell surface proteins is multifactorial, influenced by factors like protein degradation, cellular metabolism, and cytokine release. Long-term storage can lead to the gradual loss of T cell function, necessitating techniques to preserve cell activity. Changes in surface markers can affect disease diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of accurate sample processing. Results: Findings from this study reveal time-dependent changes in T cell surface markers during storage. CD3 levels declined significantly after the fourth day, with FITC labeling proving superior to APC. CD4 levels remained consistent until the fourth day, contrasting with previous findings on foreskin tissue. HLA-DR levels declined rapidly, indicating unsuitability for storage, consistent with other studies on cryopreserved cells. CD16 and CD8 levels decreased gradually, while CD56 declined rapidly after the third day, consistent with recent research. Conclusions: There were detectable and significant differences after the samples were stored for an improper period, which may have affected the integrity of the results, suggesting that understanding the factors influencing T cell surface protein changes during storage is crucial for maintaining result integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 is a pandemic disease and is widespread over the world. This disease shows a 5.1% mortality. The understanding of the disease has expanded rapidly in many areas, including virological, epidemiological, clinical, and management dimensions. To better understand the inflammatory and immune profiles that impact the pathogenesis and development of severe COVID-19 symptoms, further studies are essential. This research aims to explore the inflammatory and adaptive immune responses associated with COVID-19, considering factors such as genetic diversity and environmental exposure among Saudi patients. The goal is to determine if patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit different disease phenotypes. Materials and Methods: This case-control study includes 115 participants (healthy and with COVID-19 infection), 55 of which had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in intensive care units (ICUs) at different hospitals in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Whole blood samples were collected from June to September 2021 for cellular analyses, and inflammation marker data were collected from hospital records. The expression of activation markers on B (CD27 and CD38) and T cells (CD27 and HLA-DR) was obtained using the flow cytometry technique. Also, serum was collected for cytokine measurements, including IL-6, INF-γ, and TNF- α. Results: The results indicated that lymphopenia and excessive T cell activation were more prevalent in severe cases than in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the results revealed that severe COVID-19 patients had an increased frequency of CD19+ B cells, with changes in B cell subsets. The current study implies impairment and changes in the phenotype of adaptive cells (including T and B cells), with an increase in HLA-DR molecules and inflammation markers with pro-inflammatory cytokines in severe COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: The current study implies impairment and changes in the phenotype of adaptive cells (including T and B cells), with an increase in HLA-DR molecules and inflammation markers in severe COVID-19 cases, which could be targeted for therapeutic interventions. This might be a valuable approach for the diagnosis and treatment of severe COVID-19 cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that affects the general population. Commiphora gileadensis (C gileadensis) is a small tree that grows in the Middle East. Objective: This study explored the effect of C gileadensis on blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and T lymphocytes subsets using flow cytometry. Methodology: Forty male mice were classified into four groups: negative control; diabetic nontreated; and two groups of diabetic mice treated with C gileadensis sap and acetone extract. The blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and HbA1c were estimated for each mouse in the four groups. Moreover, total lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD25+ subsets were estimated for all groups. Results: The blood glucose levels, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HbA1c were significantly reduced in mice treated with C gileadensis sap and acetone extract compared with the diabetic group. Total lymphocyte and CD3+ were reduced in diabetic mice treated with C gileadensis sap and acetone extract compared with the untreated diabetic group (P <.05). In addition, CD4+ and CD8+ subsets were decreased in the same groups compared with the untreated one (P <.05). CD4+ CD25+ cells were decreased in all diabetic groups compared with the control group (P <.05). CD8+ CD25+ were increased in diabetic groups treated with C gileadensis sap and acetone extract compared with the untreated diabetic group (P <.05). Conclusion: The present study concludes that C gileadensis sap and acetone extracts reduce the blood glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profile in diabetic mice. Moreover, this herb has anti-inflammatory properties that may help in the normalization of glycemic index and prevent T1DM progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare disability causing female-oriented pediatric neurodevelopmental unmet medical need. RTT was recognized in 1966. However, over the past 56 years, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has authorized no effective treatment for RTT. Recently, Trofinetide was approved by the USFDA on 10 March 2023 as the first RTT treatment. This article underlines the pharmaceutical advancement, patent literature, and prospects of Trofinetide. The data for this study were gathered from the PubMed database, authentic websites (Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Neuren Pharmaceuticals, and USFDA), and free patent databases. Trofinetide was first disclosed by Neuren Pharmaceuticals in 2000 as a methyl group containing analog of the naturally occurring neuroprotective tripeptide called glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE). The joint efforts of Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Neuren Pharmaceuticals have developed Trofinetide. The mechanism of action of Trofinetide is not yet well established. However, it is supposed to improve neuronal morphology and synaptic functioning. The patent literature revealed a handful of inventions related to Trofinetide, providing excellent and unexplored broad research possibilities with Trofinetide. The development of innovative Trofinetide-based molecules, combinations of Trofinetide, patient-compliant drug formulations, and precise MECP2-mutation-related personalized medicines are foreseeable. Trofinetide is in clinical trials for some neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including treating Fragile X syndrome (FXS). It is expected that Trofinetide may be approved for treating FXS in the future. The USFDA-approval of Trofinetide is one of the important milestones for RTT therapy and is the beginning of a new era for the therapy of RTT, FXS, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brain injury, stroke, and other NDDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial effluents containing dyes are the dominant pollutants, making the drinking water unfit. Among the dyes, methylene orange (MO) dye is mutagenic, carcinogenic and toxic to aquatic organisms. Therefore, its removal from water bodies through effective and economical approach is gaining increased attention in the last decades. Photocatalytic degradation has the ability to convert economically complex dye molecules into non-toxic and smaller species via redox reactions, by using photocatalysts. g-C3N4 is a metal-free n-type semiconductor, typical nonmetallic and non-toxici polymeric photocatalyst. It widely used in photocatalytic materials, due to its easy and simple synthesis, fascinating electronic band structure, high stability and abundant availability. As a photocatalyst, its major drawbacks are its limited efficiency in separating photo-excited electron–hole pairs, high separated charge recombination, low specific surface area, and low absorption coefficient. In this review, we report the recent modification strategies adopted for g-C3N4 for the efficient photodegradation of MO dye. The different modification approaches, such as nanocomposites and heterojunctions, as well as doping and defect introductions, are briefly discussed. The mechanism of the photodegradation of MO dye by g-C3N4 and future perspectives are discussed. This review paper will predict strategies for the fabrication of an efficient g-C3N4-based photocatalyst for the photodegradation of MO dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]