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Objectives: FGF-8, a member of the FGF family, plays a crucial role in cellular processes and has been implicated in cancer progression. The study aims to comprehend FGF-8's involvement in bone metastasis, emphasizing its potential as a diagnostic marker and focusing on its association with Bone-Alkaline Phosphatase (B-ALP) and other biochemical parameters. Methods: The case-control study spans 12 months, involving 60 participants, including 30 with secondary bone metastases and an equal number without metastasis. FGF-8 levels were quantified using ELISA, and B-ALP, serum ALP, and various biochemical parameters were assessed. The study employed standardized procedures to minimize bias, including matching cases and controls, and obtaining ethical approval. Results: In patients with bone metastasis, serum ALP levels, particularly B-ALP, were significantly higher. The metastatic group exhibited elevated FGF-8 concentrations, showcasing a positive correlation with B-ALP and serum calcium levels. The study successfully differentiated ALP isoenzymes through heat inactivation and L-phenylalanine inhibition. Additionally, serum calcium levels were markedly elevated in the metastatic group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that FGF-8 is a potential diagnostic marker for bone metastasis, particularly in breast and prostate cancers. Elevated FGF-8 levels correlate with increased B-ALP and serum calcium, indicating its role in osteoblastic differentiation in metastasis. The study proposes the utility of ELISA-based kits for FGF-8 in serum as a practical and efficient method for assessing bone tumor progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an efficient method for growing MnO2nanoflakes by reactive magnetron sputtering for super capacitor applications. The physical vapor deposition technique presented in this work is simple, unique, without much chemical usage, direct and economically viable route for growing nanoflakes as per the requirement for different applications. Here, MnO2 nanoflakes were directly deposited on the steel cold finger substrate at liquid nitrogen temperature. The MnO2nanoflakes electrodebased supercapacitor cell in three electrode configuration delivers good specific capacitance value∼374 F g-1 at current density of1.1 Ag-1 in 1M sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) aqueous electrolyte solution. The symmetric two electrode super capacitor cell delivers ahigh capacitance value∼64 Fg-1 at 1.17 Ag-1, good cycling ability, 85.59% of capacitance retention after 1500 cycles along with good energy and power density, 7.2 Wh kg-1 and 607 Wkg-1 respectively. This work opens a new avenue towards efficient designing of catalyst-free MnO2 nanoflakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome (GM) has been identified as a crucial factor in the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. In the case of prostate cancer, commensal bacteria and other microbes are found to be associated with its development. Recent studies have demonstrated that the human GM, including Bacteroides , Streptococcus , Bacteroides massiliensis , Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , Eubacterium rectale , and Mycoplasma genitalium , are involved in prostate cancer development through both direct and indirect interactions. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of these interactions are yet to be fully understood. Moreover, the microbiota influences systemic hormone levels and contributes to prostate cancer pathogenesis. Currently, it has been shown that supplementation of prebiotics or probiotics can modify the composition of GM and prevent the onset of prostate cancer. The microbiota can also affect drug metabolism and toxicity, which may improve the response to cancer treatment. The composition of the microbiome is crucial for therapeutic efficacy and a potential target for modulating treatment response. However, their clinical application is still limited. Additionally, GM-based cancer therapies face limitations due to the complexity and diversity of microbial composition, and the lack of standardized protocols for manipulating gut microbiota, such as optimal probiotic selection, treatment duration, and administration timing, hindering widespread use. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive exploration of the GM's involvement in prostate cancer pathogenesis. We delve into the underlying mechanisms and discuss their potential implications for both therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in managing prostate cancer. Through this analysis, we offer valuable insights into the pivotal role of the microbiome in prostate cancer and its promising application in future clinical settings., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.