BioMed Research International最新文献

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are cells obtained from the blood that are used not only in clinical tests but also in various research applications. The slow-freezing (SLF) method, currently the standard for PBMC cryopreservation, involves extended storage at -80°C before transfer to liquid nitrogen. Delays in this transfer, such as overnight or weekend holds, risk a gradual decline in cell viability. Additionally, variability in freezing duration can lead to inconsistent cell quality, emphasizing the need for an alternative freezing method that allows for more timely transfer to liquid nitrogen. This study is aimed at clarifying whether the method of using a freezer with an applied electromagnetic field (EMF) is superior to the currently used standard SLF method for PBMC cryopreservation. A comparison of the number of viable cells, cell viability, and cell activity showed that the EMF method was equivalent to the SLF method. However, the shortest time required for freezing was significantly shorter with the EMF method than the SLF method (0.25 vs. 3 h), allowing for earlier transfer of PBMC to liquid nitrogen. This demonstrates that the EMF method offers an advantage in operational efficiency, particularly for facilities that routinely process and store PBMCs, such as biobanks and other storage-focused departments.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly affects women's quality of life, with fluctuations in estrogen levels implicated in symptom severity. Lower estrogen levels during the premenstrual phase may contribute to mood swings, anxiety, and fatigue. Nigella sativa (NS) has been examined as a potential alternative therapeutic approach for various diseases. Therefore, in the current experiment, we aimed to investigate the impact of NS on serum estradiol levels and the severity of PMS symptoms in women.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants with moderate to severe PMS were identified using a Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) questionnaire and randomly allocated to the placebo or treatment groups. Two capsules were consumed once a day for two menstrual cycles, and the severity of symptoms in the participants was monitored daily during the intervention, employing the daily record of severity of problems (DRSP).

Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in serum estradiol levels and total average PMS scores between the two groups. In comparison, after 2 months of NS supplement, serum estradiol concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, and the total mean PMS scores were significantly reduced when compared with the placebo group.

Conclusion: The outcomes of this study indicated the favorable effects of NS in reducing the severity of PMS. This could be achieved by increasing serum estradiol concentration in premenstrual women with PMS. Additionally, NS can provide anti-inflammatory and potential hormonal and antioxidant support, helping to reduce symptoms of PMS. Therefore, NS is an alternative or complementary method deserving further investigation based on scientific evidence to clarify its role in PMS treatment.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has caused widespread morbidity and mortality worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers innate and adaptive immune responses, but excessive cytokine release can drive hyperinflammation, acute respiratory distress syndrome and poor clinical outcomes. Although serological and molecular assays, such as ELISA and RT-qPCR, remain central to COVID-19 diagnostics, they have limited capacity to reveal host-pathogen interactions at the tissue level. Therefore, profiling the human lung proteome offers a powerful strategy to identify molecular signatures associated with viral pathogenesis and disease severity. This review emphasises emerging technologies that advance lung proteome profiling during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Novel strategies include phage display for high-throughput identification of antibody-antigen interactions, yeast two-hybrid for mapping virus-host protein interactions and lateral flow immunoassays for rapid, point-of-care detection. Conversely, omics-based technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, microarrays and mass spectrometry are transforming our understanding of the lung proteome by revealing patterns of gene expression, protein abundance and immune heterogeneity. Therefore, comparing these conventional diagnostic assays with innovative approaches, we highlight their unique contributions to lung proteome research. These tools not only improve diagnostic precision but also hold the potential to uncover biomarkers for early risk stratification and therapeutic targeting. Prioritising integrative proteome-focused strategies may ultimately guide personalised interventions and enhance preparedness for future viral outbreaks.

Background: Birth asphyxia is a major cause of newborn deaths worldwide, especially in developing countries where access to skilled delivery care is limited. It is a significant health challenge in Ethiopia, contributing to many newborn deaths and long-term health issues. Despite efforts to improve maternal and newborn care, it remains a serious concern. Thus, this study was aimed at identifying the determinants of birth asphyxia among newborns at a tertiary care hospital in Central Ethiopia.

Methods: An institution-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 345 participants with a case-to-control ratio of 1:2. Data were collected using a pretested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and a data abstraction checklist. The collected data were entered into Epi Info Version 7.2 and analyzed using SPSS Version 27. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of birth asphyxia. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of associations. Statistical significance was set at a p value < 0.05.

Result: In this study, the place of residence (rural) (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.29-4.26), premature rupture of membrane (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI: 1.52-7.92), prolonged labor (AOR = 10.12; 95% CI: 5.36-19.11), noncephalic fetal presentation (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.01-5.74), instrumental delivery (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.15-6.16), and cesarean section delivery (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.84-8.63) were identified as independent determinants of birth asphyxia.

Conclusion: Rural residence, premature rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, noncephalic fetal presentation, instrumental delivery, and cesarean section delivery were determinants of birth asphyxia. Efforts to reduce birth asphyxia should focus on improving maternal healthcare in rural areas, enhancing the management of labor complications, and ensuring skilled delivery care, especially for noncephalic presentations and operative deliveries.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2014/725921.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/3189217.].

Background: Survival analyses often violate the proportional hazards (PH) assumption, compromising the validity of widely used statistical tests such as the log-rank test and Cox regression. To address this limitation, we introduce the event-adjusted rank sum (EARS) test, a nonparametric method designed to provide robust time-to-event data analysis without relying on PH.

Materials and methods: The EARS test adjusts survival times by dividing each event time by the proportion of events within its respective group. These adjusted survival times are then compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. To account for censoring, the resulting p value is adjusted based on the overall proportion of censored observations. We validated the EARS test through simulations involving 1000 cohorts with group sizes ranging from 50 to 1000 patients and censoring rates between 5% and 75%. Additionally, we compared the performance of EARS to the log-rank test and restricted mean survival time (RMST) under both PH and non-PH conditions using both simulated and clinical datasets.

Results: In simulation studies, the EARS and log-rank tests agreed in 96.6% of cases. Under the null hypothesis, the EARS test demonstrated a Type I error rate of 2% across two to five groups, slightly higher than the log-rank test's 1%. Power analyses revealed that EARS detected true differences in 63% of cases compared to 68% for the log-rank test. In 1000 datasets violating the PH assumption, EARS identified significant differences in 94.4% of cases versus 98.0% for RMST, with both methods agreeing 96.4% of the time on null hypothesis rejection. Analyses of clinical cohorts further confirmed the reliability of the EARS test, showing consistent alignment with established tests in most scenarios.

Conclusion: The EARS test offers a simple, nonparametric alternative for survival analysis that remains reliable across diverse conditions and varying censoring distributions. Its accessibility and robust performance make it a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians, especially in settings where the PH assumption is violated or advanced statistical software is unavailable. An R package implementing the EARS test is openly available.

Objective: Despite the remarkable advances in approved therapeutic approaches, the recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very high after treatment. Therefore, introducing innovative therapeutic modalities such as targeted molecular therapies is inevitable. Lysine demethylase 6A (KDM6A) is a member of the KDM6 family with histone demethylase activity. This gene frequently mutates in different cancers, and its mutations are associated with the increased likelihood of carcinogenesis. This study is aimed at evaluating if inducing KDM6A expression could attenuate cancerous features of HCC cells.

Method: A lentiviral-based vector was used to induce KDM6A expression in Huh-7 cells. The impact of KDM6A overexpression on the cancerous phenotype of HCC cells was assessed by measuring proliferation rate, migration and colony formation capacity, and differentiation induction toward hepatocytes.

Results: KDM6A overexpression significantly altered cellular morphology, proliferation rate, cell cycle pattern, colony formation, and migration capacity of HCC cells. In addition, induction of differentiation toward hepatocytic fate resulted in down/upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers associated with the cadherin switch. Furthermore, the expressions of ALB and HNF4α, key hepatocytic hallmarks, were increased.

Conclusion: Overexpression of KDM6A could be used as a potential noninvasive molecular therapeutic strategy to prevent metastasis and recurrence rate in HCC.

Background: Rondeletia leucophylla has traditionally been used to treat various ailments, though scientific evidence is limited. This study is aimed at exploring its phytochemical profile through in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigations.

Materials and methods: The dried coarse powder of R. leucophylla stem and leaves was extracted with methanol, then concentrated and dried using a rotary evaporator. The extract was subsequently evaluated through in vitro and in vivo pharmacological assays, preliminary phytochemical screening with standard reagents, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and various in silico approaches.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of R. leucophylla (MERL) revealed the presence of steroids, carbohydrates, and glycosides, while GC-MS identified 70 bioactive compounds. MERL showed a total phenolic content of 34.075 mg GAE/μg. Its DPPH assay indicated strong antioxidant activity (IC₅₀: 28.87 μg/mL) compared to the standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, IC₅₀: 26.82 μg/mL). The extract also exhibited moderate thrombolytic activity (39.42%) and antimicrobial effects against various bacterial and fungal strains. The anti-inflammatory results showed that the 400 mg/kg dose stopped paw edema by 49.01%, which is close to aceclofenac's 65.19% reduction. MERL showed strong antidiarrheal action, lowering the number of feces by 87.84% at 600 mg/kg, which was about the same as the standard drug (90.54%). The hypoglycemic effect depended on the dose; the 400 mg/kg dose lowered blood sugar levels significantly close to the control dose (p < 0.001). Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of selected compounds to key oxidative stress-related targets, exceeding standard benchmarks, while ADMET profiling indicated favorable drug-like properties and low toxicity.

Conclusion: This study supports the traditional use of R. leucophylla, highlighting its antioxidant, thrombolytic, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic potentials, warranting further pharmacological exploration.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/4876078.].