BioMed Research International最新文献

Background: Yemen ranks 120th in diabetes-related mortality in 2020, with a mortality rate of 15.42 per 100,000 people. Awareness and early detection of diabetic complications are vital.

Objective: This study is aimed at assessing the awareness of diabetes complications, specifically retinopathy, nephropathy, and hypoglycemia symptoms and associated factors, among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, in order to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2022; 900 randomly selected participants were involved. A prevalidated questionnaire was utilized to assess awareness of diabetic complications. Statistical analyses were performed to identify correlations between demographic factors and awareness levels.

Results: Of 900 patients (mean age 47.6, mostly male), 60.8% understood common health issues and the need for annual care (p < 0.001). However, significant awareness gaps were identified: 34.0% were unaware of hypoglycemia symptoms, 40.3% did not recognize the importance of renal testing, and 40.2% lacked awareness of eye examinations. Longer disease duration (> 6 years) was associated with lower awareness of hypoglycemia symptoms (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98, p = 0.025). Females had lower awareness of renal testing (OR = 0.675, 95% CI 0.56-0.82, p < 0.01). Higher education doubled awareness (OR = 2.03-2.13, 95% CI 1.50-2.50, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The study highlights significant gaps in awareness of diabetic complications, particularly hypoglycemia symptoms, renal testing importance, and eye examinations. Younger age and higher education levels were positively associated with awareness, while longer disease duration and female gender were negatively correlated. Targeted educational interventions are essential, especially for older populations and those with lower educational attainment, to enhance diabetes self-care and improve health outcomes.

Objective: To compare the surgical feasibility and safety of three approaches (anterior, transgluteal, posterior) for constructing a porcine model of irreparable acetabular labral tear.

Methods: After a cadaveric anatomical exploration in two pigs to define feasible corridors, 36 male Chinese miniature pigs were randomized (1:1:1) to anterior, transgluteal, or posterior approaches for model construction and labral reconstruction. Primary intraoperative outcomes were blood loss, operative time, and a 0-10 surgical exposure score; postoperative complications and survival were assessed over 3 months.

Results: The anterior approach showed greater blood loss and longer operative time than posterior and transgluteal (both p < 0.001), while exposure was worst with anterior (p < 0.001) and only trended better with transgluteal versus posterior (p = 0.056). Postoperative events included sciatic nerve-related claudication (4/12 posterior), acetabular chondral lesions (3/12 anterior), and poor wound healing (4/12 anterior; 2/12 posterior). One-month survival was lower in anterior versus transgluteal (p = 0.025), with most deaths within 2 weeks; 2- and 3-month survival were also lower for anterior versus transgluteal (p = 0.026; p = 0.011). At 2 months, survival was lower in anterior versus posterior (p = 0.011).

Conclusion: The transgluteal approach appears to be a relatively safe and effective option for constructing porcine hip models; nevertheless, conclusions should be interpreted with caution given the undetermined mortality etiology in the anterior group.

This study examined the influence of cultural, religious, and gender-related factors on modern contraceptive use among married women in Garbatula sub-county, Isiolo County, Kenya. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 300 married women aged 15-49 years through multistage random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Findings showed that reduced religious influence (AOR = 13.918; 95%CI : 2.54-76.30), male involvement in reproductive decision-making (AOR = 7.765; 95%CI : 2.30-26.23), and higher women's empowerment (AOR = 4.322) were strong positive predictors of modern contraceptive use, whereas rigid cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes were significant barriers. The study concludes that contraceptive behavior in pastoralist settings is shaped by religious and gender norms rather than access alone. It recommends engaging religious leaders, strengthening male-centered family planning education, and integrating gender-sensitive strategies within the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) to enhance uptake.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/3098327.].

The risk for Candida infections in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is three times higher than in the general population. Despite a DM prevalence of 15.8% reported in Libya (2024), the laboratory identification and susceptibility testing of fungal infections in patients with DM are not routinely performed. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and antifungal drug resistance patterns of Candida species in the oral mucosa of Libyan patients with Type 2 DM. Oral samples were collected with a sterile cotton swab, and 182 Candida isolates were phenotypically identified using the API ID 32 C and VITEK 2 Compact systems. Isolates were screened for their susceptibility to fluconazole and five other antifungals using disk diffusion and VITEK AST-YS07 cards. Statistically significant associations were found between Candida carriage and clinical presentation (p = 0.032), denture wearing (p = 0.025) and sex (p = 0.012). Although Candida albicans was the predominant species isolated (37.4%), the majority of isolates comprised non-albicans Candida (NAC). Candida humicola and Candida dubliniensis coexisted with other Candida species. Most Candida species showed susceptibility or dose-dependent susceptibility (DDS) to fluconazole with low resistance to the other antifungal drugs. Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii and Candida krusei were resistant to fluconazole, and multidrug resistance was observed in some C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. krusei isolates. Candida membranifaciens and Candida parapsilosis showed either DDS or resistance to fluconazole. The emerging resistance to second-line antifungals requires the establishment of routine Candida identification and antifungal susceptibility testing to guide species-specific treatment.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) constitutes a sophisticated network that is paramount in preserving tissue integrity and modulating cellular behaviors. Recent revelations regarding phase separation provide a groundbreaking perspective on the ECM, elucidating how this phenomenon affects the spatial organization and functionality of its components. This review delves into the implications of phase separation in ECM-related pathologies and underscores its prospective role as a therapeutic target. By adeptly manipulating phase separation, pioneering therapeutic strategies can be devised to restore the equilibrium of the ECM, employing biomimetic materials and cutting-edge drug delivery systems to advance tissue repair and regeneration. Such innovative approaches hold the promise of enhancing treatment outcomes by directly addressing the molecular mechanisms that underpin ECM dysfunction. Ongoing research into phase separation is imperative for translating these insights into clinical applications, potentially transforming therapies for intricate ECM disorders and offering renewed hope for improved patient care.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most widespread metabolic diseases characterized by increased blood glucose levels. According to the most recent research, the treatment of diabetes could be improved with the use of green-synthesized nanoparticles due to their biocompatibility, efficient cellular uptake, and targeted therapy.

Objective: In the present study, nanoparticles were biosynthesized using pine needle leaf extract to assess their antidiabetic potential in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model.

Methods: Initially, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), yttrium-doped AgNPs (Y-AgNPs), and gadolinium-chromium-yttrium-doped AgNPs (GCY-AgNPs) were green-synthesized using pine needle leaf extract and characterized by UV-Vis, PL, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, TEM, and VSM. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg), followed by administration of pine needle leaf extract (PNLE), AgNPs, Y-AgNPs, GCY-AgNPs (7.5 mg/kg each), and glibenclamide (GLB, 5 mg/kg) to diabetic rats for 7 or 21 days. The assessment included body weight, blood glucose levels, and biochemical, lipid, and kidney histology, along with molecular docking for nanoparticle-protein interactions.

Results: Diabetic rats exhibited weight reduction alongside increased blood glucose levels. Treatment with green-synthesized nanoparticles markedly reduced blood glucose, along with aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, serum triglycerides (TG), total serum cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The intraperitoneal injection of green-synthesized nanoparticles provided notable protection to rat kidneys against STZ-induced damage by maintaining the cortical and tubular structures, as well as mitigating the histopathological lesions. In-silico docking studies confirmed strong interactions of the nanoparticles with the antidiabetic targets via hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions, revealing possible therapeutic applications.

Conclusion: Among all nanoparticle formulations, GCY-AgNPS showed the strongest protective effect against STZ-induced diabetic kidney damage. The findings exhibited significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects against STZ-induced diabetes in rats.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease that affects individuals of diverse age groups globally and exhibits variable responses to different treatments. Type 2 inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of asthma through the production of cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, thereby inducing characteristic features of asthma such as elevated eosinophil levels and airway hyperresponsiveness. The findings of the current study indicate that over 50% of individuals suffering from asthma exhibit Type 2 inflammation, with a higher prevalence observed in severe asthma. Moreover, biologics specifically designed to target Type 2 inflammation not only demonstrate favorable outcomes in treating severe asthma but also offer promising prospects for managing this condition. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to comprehend the intricate mechanisms of Type 2 inflammation in asthma. This article is aimed at providing an overview of the involvement of structural cells, innate immune cells, and adaptive immune cells in relation to Type 2 inflammation in asthma.