Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Ab Malik N, Mohamad Yatim S, Mokhtar KN, Md Ramli SNR, Dissanayaka WL, Pelekos G, et al.
    Br J Nutr, 2023 Jan 28;129(2):218-230.
    PMID: 35416136 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114522000964
    This systematic review aimed to provide a synthesis of the evidence relating to how the provision of vitamin D supplements influences oral health status. An electronic database search was performed across six databases using a standardised search strategy. The PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) was used to define the review question. The screening and selection followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses process (PRISMA). The quality of reporting was assessed using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, and the bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane tool RoB2. A total of 1812 studies were retrieved. 1427 studies were excluded due to unmet inclusion criteria. Full texts of seventy-five potential studies were retrieved and ultimately six studies met the inclusion criteria. There were limitations in the quality of reporting of studies (between 49 % and 73 %). 70 % of the risk of bias items were in the low risks category. Vitamin D interventions varied with respect to dosage and duration. Qualitative syntheses identified significantly better oral health outcomes. Heterogeneity of study design, intervention and outcomes precluded quantitative synthesis. Few clinical trials investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on oral health. There is considerable heterogeneity among studies interventions and oral health outcomes. Quality of reporting of studies has limitations and there is evidence of study biases. Nonetheless, qualitative synthesis of the evidence suggests that vitamin D supplements improve oral health outcomes, particularly periodontal health. Calcium may also play a significant role. Further high-quality trials are required of comparable vitamin D supplements with similar oral health outcomes focused to inform quantitative synthesis of the evidence.
  2. Farooq H, Sabesan GS, Monowar T, V Chinni S, Zainol NH, Latt S, et al.
    Curr Med Mycol, 2023 Jun;9(2):23-28.
    PMID: 38375519 DOI: 10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1432
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The increasing rate of opportunistic infections caused by Candida and other yeasts is becoming a major health concern worldwide. However, systematic data on the epidemiology and the yeast species infections in Malaysia is still limited. In this regard, the present research aimed to identify pathogenic yeasts utilizing an economically practical and easily available molecular technique and evaluate the prevalence of pathogenic yeasts in a Malaysian tertiary care hospital.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Yeast isolates were collected from Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Kedah, Malaysia, from October 2020 to October 2021. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by one enzyme-based polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

    RESULTS: Candida albicans was the most prevalent species, accounting for 120 isolates (59%) in total. The most prevalent non-albicans Candida species were C. tropicalis (n=33, 16%), C. krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii) (n=12, 5.8%), C. glabrata (n=12, 5.8%), and C. parapsilosis (n=6, 3%). Other unusual Candida species were C. guilliermondii (2), C. metapsilosis (2), C. orthopsilosis (1), C. lusitaniae (1), C. rugosa (1), C. haemulonii (1), C. bracarensis (1), and C. dubliniensis (1). Moreover, Talaromyces marneffei (1), Kodamaea ohmeri (1), Cryptococcus neoformans (3), and Cryptococcus laurentii (1) were among the other yeasts identified.

    CONCLUSION: The Molecular technique used in this study identified 96% of isolates, including mixed species. According to the findings, the most prevalent species are C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. glabrata.

  3. Kamarudin Z, Jamaluddin N, Latar NHM, Pauzi SHM, Muhammad R
    J Cancer Res Ther, 2023 Oct 01;19(7):2104-2107.
    PMID: 38376332 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1506_21
    High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the tonsil is rare and has a poor prognosis. The usual presentation is a neck mass with locoregional cervical lymphadenopathy. An axillary lymphadenopathy as a primary presentation of NEC of the tonsils is uncommon and challenging to treat. Tonsil neuroendocrine tumors display aggressive behaviors associated with early recurrence and metastasis after surgical resection. Managing this condition is demanding compared to NECs of gastrointestinal origin since, to date, the management of head-and-neck neuroendocrine tumors is still not well established. We present a 49-year-old female with a rare case of NEC of the tonsil presenting primarily with axillary lymph nodes metastasis. The patient's axillary lymph node was biopsied and revealed a Grade III neuroendocrine tumor. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan was done in searching of a primary lesion and showed a highly metabolic mass of the left tonsil as well as a left axillary lymph node suggestive of metastasis. The patient has been managed with a multimodality approach, with a combination of chemotherapy regimen and surgical resection of the axillary lymph node. Subsequent PET scan evaluation showed a complete response of the primary tumor with residual left axillary lymph node metastasis. NECs of tonsil presented with axillary lymph nodes metastasis is rare and has a poor prognostic outcome. It poses a dilemma with regard to management, as surgical resection of the metastasis is not promising given the possibility of early recurrence.
    MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Lymph Nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Palatine Tonsil; Neuroendocrine Tumors*; Lymphadenopathy*
  4. Pai UKN, Pillai S, Arunkumar NR
    J Cancer Res Ther, 2023 Oct 01;19(7):2108-2110.
    PMID: 38376333 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1309_21
    Malignant melanoma, primarily a cutaneous malignancy, can also involve mucosal surfaces and constitutes 2% to 7% of all gynecological malignancies. Primary melanoma of the uterine cervix is an uncommon tumor and has poor prognosis. In the female genital tract, the synchronous occurrence of primary malignant melanoma in the cervix and vagina is rare. We report a case of a 48-year-old female patient who presented with a blackish vaginal mass and associated growth in the cervix. Biopsy from the vaginal mass was reported as malignant melanoma. Following this, she underwent radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. After 12 months, the patient is doing well.
    MeSH terms: Cervix Uteri; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Pelvis; Skin Neoplasms*; Vagina
  5. Mohd Tohir MZ, Martín-Gómez C
    Open Res Eur, 2023;3:178.
    PMID: 38370026 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.16538.1
    BACKGROUND: In the near future, the rapid adoption of electric vehicles is inevitable, driven by environmental concerns and climate change awareness. However, this progressive trend also brings forth safety concerns and hazards, notably regarding the risk of EV fires, which have garnered significant media attention. This necessitates the need to study for comprehensive fire risk assessment strategies aimed at preventing and mitigating such incidents.

    METHODS: This study presents a framework for assessing fire risks in EVs using Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). By integrating disparate data sources into a unified dataset, the proposed methodology offers a holistic approach to understanding potential hazards. The study embarked on a comprehensive exploration of EV fire causes through qualitative FTA.

    RESULTS: Through this approach, the work discerned five major causes: human factors, vehicle factors, management factors, external factors, and unknown factors. Using a meticulous weighted average approach, the annual EV fire frequency for each country was deduced, revealing an average annual EV fire rate of 2.44 × 10 -4 fires per registered EV. This metric provides a significant benchmark, reflecting both the probability and inherent risk of such incidents. However, uncertainties in data quality and reporting discrepancies highlight the imperative of continued research.

    CONCLUSIONS: As EV adoption surges, this study underscores the importance of comprehensive, data-driven insights for proactive risk management, emphasizing the necessity for vigilant and adaptive strategies. The findings emphasize the pivotal role of this assessment in shaping response strategies, particularly for first responders dealing with EV fires. In essence, this research not only elevates the understanding of EV fire risks but also offer a foundation for future safety measures and policies in the domain.

  6. Marlida Y, Susalam MK, Harnentis H, Jamsari J, Huda N, Noordin WNM, et al.
    J Adv Vet Anim Res, 2023 Dec;10(4):801-808.
    PMID: 38370893 DOI: 10.5455/javar.2023.j736
    OBJECTIVE: This research aims to investigate the microbial diversity of Budu prepared from fresh and frozen fish from the Pariaman and Pasaman districts in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, as well as provide basic information about Budu quality.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: To obtain the bacterial microbial composition, deoxyribonucleic acid extraction was carried out using amplicon-sequencing of the 16S-rRNA gene in the V3-V4 region from two types of Budu and carried out in duplicate.

    RESULTS: Budu prepared with fresh (Pariaman) or frozen (Pasaman) fish was dominated by Firmicutes (78.455%-92.37%) and Proteobacteria (6.477%-7.23%) phyla. The total microbial species in Budu from Pariaman were higher (227 species) than in Pasaman (153 species). The bacterial species found are Lentibacillus kimchi (1.878%-2.21%), Staphylococcus cohnii (0.597%-0.70%), Peptostreptococcus russeli (0.00%-0.002%), Clostridium disporicum (0.073%-0.09%), Clostridium novyi (0.00%-0.01%), Nioella sediminis (0.00%-0.001%), and Shewanella baltica (0.00%-0.003%). Lentibacillus kimchi, S. cohnii, and C. disporicum are found in both Budu. Nioella sediminis and S. baltica are found in Budu Pariaman. Peptostreptococcus russeli and C. novyi were found in Budu Pasaman.

    CONCLUSION: Metagenomic analysis of Budu from different fish, Pariaman (fresh fish) and Pasaman (frozen fish) showed that the biodiversity of bacteria was barely different. Both Budu found lactic acid bacteria from the Enterococcaceae family, genus Vagococcus, and pathogenic bacteria, such as S. cohnii, P. russeli, C. disporicum, and S. baltica. The discovery of various species of pathogenic bacteria indicates that development is still needed in the Budu production process to improve Budu quality.

  7. Muttaqin Z, Sartika T, Saputra F
    J Adv Vet Anim Res, 2023 Dec;10(4):817-819.
    PMID: 38370908 DOI: 10.5455/javar.2023.j738
    OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to analyze the matrilineal structure of Gallus sp. in Southeast Asia, especially in the D-loop region.

    MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total of 563 sequences from eight countries (Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand) in Southeast Asia are used in this study. Data collected from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) regarding the genus Gallus sp. in a Southeast Asian country. Data analysis was performed using MEGA 7.2 and DnaSP v6.

    RESULTS: In the haplotype found in Gallus sp. in Southeast Asia, there are 89 haplotypes. Using a neighbor-joining (Nj) analysis, 89 haplotypes found three haplogroups for Gallus sp. in Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, the genetic diversity of the d-loop is exceptionally high, with a haplotype diversity value of 0.524 to 1.

    CONCLUSION: D-loop cannot be used as a specific marker for breeds or country-specifics.

  8. Chakraborty PK, Chaudhury S, Chaudhari B, Hussain M, How SL
    Ind Psychiatry J, 2023 Nov;32(Suppl 1):S42-S47.
    PMID: 38370974 DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_215_23
    BACKGROUND: Almost all over the world, psychiatry training of undergraduate medical students has been criticized to be deficient in imparting required knowledge and improving the perception of students towards psychiatry and psychiatric treatment. Considering the large mental health need gap in the community, it is essential to improve undergraduate students' attitude toward psychiatry.

    AIM: Hence, this study was planned to study the impact of psychiatry clinical posting on attitude toward psychiatry of undergraduate medical students.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Undergraduate medical students undergoing psychiatry posting were assessed on the first and last day of clinical posting with the help of semi-structured proforma consisting of sociodemographic information, favored future career choice, the relevance of psychiatry to their future careers, the usefulness of particular knowledge and skills, the value of knowledge of psychiatric specialties and the utility of different settings for learning psychiatry.

    RESULTS: After their clinical posting, students had a more positive attitude towards the usefulness of psychiatry knowledge in future general practice and the usefulness of psychiatry knowledge from undergraduate training in the future. Knowledge of alcohol withdrawal management, detection and management of delirium, and Mental Health Acts were perceived more essential in the future. Also, specialties such as deaddiction and child and adolescent psychiatry were felt more useful in future practice. After posting, students perceived that psychiatry can also be learned at medical and surgical wards as well as during home visits. However, despite some positive changes in attitude toward psychiatry, there was no significant change in choosing psychiatry as a career by the students after posting.

    CONCLUSION: Undergraduate psychiatry training during clinical posting was able to make some positive changes in the knowledge and attitude of students. However, still, there were lacunae in some areas of concern. Preference of psychiatry as a branch of specialization was not increased after posting. This indicates the need for better reforms in psychiatry education at the undergraduate level to improve the perception of undergraduate students about psychiatry.

  9. Choon YW, Choon YF, Nasarudin NA, Al Jasmi F, Remli MA, Alkayali MH, et al.
    Front Genet, 2023;14:1258083.
    PMID: 38371307 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1258083
    Rare diseases (RDs) are rare complex genetic diseases affecting a conservative estimate of 300 million people worldwide. Recent Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) studies are unraveling the underlying genetic heterogeneity of this group of diseases. NGS-based methods used in RDs studies have improved the diagnosis and management of RDs. Concomitantly, a suite of bioinformatics tools has been developed to sort through big data generated by NGS to understand RDs better. However, there are concerns regarding the lack of consistency among different methods, primarily linked to factors such as the lack of uniformity in input and output formats, the absence of a standardized measure for predictive accuracy, and the regularity of updates to the annotation database. Today, artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning, is widely used in a variety of biological contexts, changing the healthcare system. AI has demonstrated promising capabilities in boosting variant calling precision, refining variant prediction, and enhancing the user-friendliness of electronic health record (EHR) systems in NGS-based diagnostics. This paper reviews the state of the art of AI in NGS-based genetics, and its future directions and challenges. It also compare several rare disease databases.
  10. Wu Y, Lewis W, Wai JL, Xiong M, Zheng J, Yang Z, et al.
    Chemistry (Basel), 2023 Sep;5(3):1745-1759.
    PMID: 38371491 DOI: 10.3390/chemistry5030119
    While fluorescent sensors have been developed for monitoring metal ions in health and diseases, they are limited by the requirement of an excitation light source that can lead to photobleaching and a high autofluorescence background. To address these issues, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based protein or small molecule sensors have been developed; however, most of them are not highly selective nor generalizable to different metal ions. Taking advantage of the high selectivity and generalizability of DNAzymes, we report herein DNAzyme-based ratiometric sensors for Zn2+ based on BRET. The 8-17 DNAzyme was labeled with luciferase and Cy3. The proximity between luciferase and Cy3 permiQed BRET when coelenterazine, the substrate for luciferase, was introduced. Adding samples containing Zn2+ resulted in a cleavage of the substrate strand, causing dehybridization of the DNAzyme construct, thus increasing the distance between Cy3 and luciferase and changing the BRET signals. Using these sensors, we detected Zn2+ in serum samples and achieved Zn2+ detection with a smartphone camera. Moreover, since the BRET pair is not the component that determines the selectivity of the sensors, this sensing platform has the potential to be adapted for the detection of other metal ions with other metal-dependent DNAzymes.
  11. Sharif Nia H, Moshtagh M, Khoshnavay Fomani F, She L, Kohestani D, Rahmatpour P, et al.
    Palliat Support Care, 2023 Dec;21(6):1041-1047.
    PMID: 35735064 DOI: 10.1017/S1478951522000736
    OBJECTIVES: Hope is a contextual concept that has significant effects on human well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Herth Hope Index (P-HHI) among Iranian patients with cancer.

    METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 320 patients with cancer from September to December 2020. After translating the HHI into Persian, content, convergent and discriminant, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), and reliability of the P-HHI were assessed.

    RESULTS: The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the P-HHI was composed of two factors: Life Expectancy and Thinking Positive, which explained 55.20% of the total variance.

    SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The research revealed that the P-HHI has acceptable validity and reliability, which can be used to measure the hope concept among Iranian patients with cancer.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translating; Reproducibility of Results; Hope*
  12. Moslemi E, Dehghan P, Khani M, Sarbakhsh P, Sarmadi B
    Br J Nutr, 2023 Apr 14;129(7):1151-1162.
    PMID: 35832028 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114522002124
    High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an efficient method to improve vascular function, maximal oxygen consumption, and muscle mitochondrial capacity. However, acute HIIT overstresses the oxidative system and causes muscle soreness and damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of date seeds on exercise-induced oxidative stress and aerobic and anaerobic performance following HIIT sessions. Thirty-six physically active men and women aged 18-35 years were assigned to take 26 g/d of date seed powder (DSP, n 18) or wheat bran powder (placebo, n 18) before and after HIIT workouts for 14 d. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), total oxidant status (TOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-iso-PGF2α were determined at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and 24-h post-intervention. We used the Cooper and running-based anaerobic sprint test to assess aerobic and anaerobic performance at the study's beginning and end. Independent-samples Student's t tests, ANCOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA were used to compare the quantitative variables. Positive changes were observed in TAC, TOS, OSI, GPx, MDA and visual analogue scale after intervention and at 24-h post-exercise (P < 0·05). Likewise, peak power and fatigue index were significantly improved in DSP in comparison with the placebo group. Levels of SOD, uric acid, 8-iso-PGF2α, VO2 max and average power were not changed after training. Our results showed that date seed supplementation in active participants performing HIIT bouts ameliorated oxidative stress and improved performance parameters.
  13. Ishak N, Pachayappan K, Lee Hwa C, Kamil MAM
    Curr Med Mycol, 2023 Sep;9(3):45-49.
    PMID: 38361956 DOI: 10.22034/CMM.2023.345063.1418
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Invasive fungal infections caused by Cyberlindnera fabianii (Cy. fabianii) have recently increased despite the low virulence potential of this yeast. However, limited information about the widely-used commercial biochemical identification systems has led to an underestimation of Cy. fabianii infections in clinical settings.

    CASE REPORT: This study reports a case of prosthetic joint infection in a patient who had a previous history of total knee replacement surgery. Cy. fabianii was recovered from intraoperative culture specimens identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and confirmed using molecular assays. It was, however, initially misidentified as Candida utilis by phenotypic identification.

    CONCLUSION: Due to the emergence of uncommon yeast species, it is important to accurately identify and perform antifungal susceptibility testing on uncommon yeast isolates for appropriate management.

  14. Rácz IA, Szanyi S, Nagy A
    Biol Futur, 2023 Dec;74(4):393-400.
    PMID: 38349457 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00203-9
    The importance of pollination and pollinators is easy to underestimate and impossible to overstate, since its importance goes far beyond the crop production and even the maintenance of plant populations. Most terrestrial ecosystems ultimately depend on the plant-pollinator interactions formed by million years coevolution. This is essential for both the daily functioning of the ecosystems and the long-term development of biodiversity. At the same time, the loss of biodiversity caused by climate change and human activities will soon lead to an ecological crisis, a catastrophe, which could endanger our life: For example, through the decline and loss of various ecosystem services. Such may be the pollination crisis, resulted from a significant loss of pollinating insects' diversity and abundance. The discovery of a pollinator Orthoptera species has encouraged researchers in the densely populated region of Indo-Malaysia to explore the potential role of orthopterans as pollinators. Although the flower visitation of some species has been already known, the role of orthopterans in pollination is scarcely revealed. Here, we collected and reviewed the available data in order to point out some factors of their importance and set priorities that may serve as a basis for further investigations regarding ecological, evolutionary and practical points of view.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Insects; Orthoptera*; Ecosystem*; Flowers; Pollination
  15. Ong MLY, Green CG, Bongiovanni T, Heaney LM
    Benef Microbes, 2023 Dec 12;14(6):565-590.
    PMID: 38350483 DOI: 10.1163/18762891-20230069
    The gut microbiome is known to play an important role in the day-to-day physiology and health of the human host. It is, therefore, not surprising that there is interest surrounding the gut microbiome and its potential to benefit athletic health and performance. This has, in part, been driven by the consideration that gut bacterial by-products (i.e. metabolic waste) could be harnessed by the host and utilised for a beneficial outcome. The concept of harnessing bacterial metabolites as beneficial health modulators has developed the theory of leveraging short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as novel supplements for enhancing athletic performance. This review discusses the current literature investigating SCFA administration in cellular, animal, and human models, with the aim of linking the demonstrated physiological/biochemical mechanisms to potential exercise/athletic benefit. In addition, practical implications and factors relating to SCFA-supplementation in athletic populations are considered. The literature demonstrates a tangible rationale that SCFAs can have a positive impact on human physiology to afford benefits to the athletic population. These advantages include the capacity to improve respiratory immunity to combat elevated levels/severity of upper respiratory tract infections often reported in athletes; the blunting of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic pathways to aid in exercise recovery; and the role of SCFAs as usable energy sources and metabolism modulators to fuel exercise and improve performance and/or endurance capacity. However, there is currently minimal research completed in human participants and thus further investigations into the direct benefit of SCFAs in exercise performance and/or recovery-based studies are required.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Humans; Sports*; Exercise; Dietary Supplements
  16. Ang XY, Roslan NS, Ahmad N, Yusof SM, Abdullah N, Nik Ab Rahman NN, et al.
    Benef Microbes, 2023 Nov 23;14(5):421-431.
    PMID: 38350486 DOI: 10.1163/18762891-20220103
    The development of probiotics has now included the areas along the gut-vaginal axis. We thus aimed to investigate the effects of lactobacilli probiotic to modulate and restore vaginal and gut microbiota of pregnant women with vaginal candidiasis (VC). A randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was performed in 78 pregnant women with VC. Patients were randomised to either the probiotic (SynForU-HerCare) or placebo which were administered at baseline and continued for 8-weeks (two capsules/day of 9.5 log cfu/capsule). Microbiota profiles were assessed at time points of weeks-0, 4 and 8 for high vaginal swab and faecal samples. Shannon diversity index showed that after 8-weeks amid VC, a shift in microbial community compositional changes occurred in the high vaginal region at both genus (P=0.025) and species (P=0.044) levels, where the administration of probiotic prevented such a shift. These changes were mainly attributed to a decreased in abundance of Lactobacillus (P=0.042) accompanied by increased abundance of Prevotella (P=0.002) and Atopobium (P=0.002) in the placebo group while the probiotic group remained unchanged over time. The administration of probiotics also prevented a reduced abundance of faecal phylum Firmicutes after 8-weeks as seen in the placebo group (P<0.0001), which also showed reduction at subsequent taxonomic levels of class, family, genera and species. VC has not only altered the microbiota of vagina regions but also gut microbiota profiles, causing lessening of gut microbiota that are crucial for gut nutrient availability, protection and immunity. The administration of lactobacilli probiotics has prevented such a shift, leading to better modulated gut and vaginal microenvironment amid VC. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: identifier number NCT03940612.
    MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome*; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal*; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Lactobacillus; Pregnancy; Vagina; Pregnant Women
  17. Tan FHP, Shamsuddin S, Zainuddin A
    Benef Microbes, 2023 Dec 13;14(6):591-607.
    PMID: 38350490 DOI: 10.1163/18762891-20230056
    The steady decline of physiological function and increased vulnerability to age-related disorders are two features of the complicated biological process of ageing. As a key organ for nutrient absorption, metabolism, and immunological regulation, the gut plays a major part in the ageing process. Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established model organism, has emerged as a significant tool for exploring the intricate rapport between the gut and ageing. Through the use of Drosophila models, the physiological and molecular elements of the gut-brain axis have been thoroughly explored. These models have also provided insights into the mechanisms by which gut health impacts ageing and age-related illnesses. Drosophila's gut microbiota experience dysbiosis with age which has been linked to age-related diseases. To prevent this and promote healthy ageing in Drosophila, gut microbiota modification methods, such as dietary restriction in tandem with time-restricted feeding, administration of pro-, pre- and synbiotics, as well as pharmaceutical interventions have been generated with positive impacts. The article also covers the drawbacks and difficulties of investigating the gut via the Drosophila. Thus, with an emphasis on the lessons discovered from Drosophila research, this review provides an extensive description of the current studies on the role of the gut-brain axis in ageing and health.
    MeSH terms: Aging/physiology; Animals; Drosophila*; Drosophila melanogaster; Probiotics*; Dysbiosis
  18. Thota RS, Ramkiran S, Singh S, Damani A, Wajekar AS, Koyyalagunta L
    Indian J Anaesth, 2023 Dec;67(12):1051-1060.
    PMID: 38343679 DOI: 10.4103/ija.ija_325_23
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cancer pain guidelines remain confined due to implementation barriers, preventing them from attaining a global perspective. The guidelines must be robust in development and inculcate high-quality content to achieve practical utility. Quality indicators related to safe opioid practice empower effective guideline implementation.

    METHODS: The protocol was registered prospectively in PROSPERO (CRD42021244823). Guidelines published over the last decade providing insights into cancer pain management and incorporating safe opioid practice were evaluated. The review's primary outcome was to evaluate the quality of cancer pain guidelines. Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument was used to assess a guideline's quality. The ADAPTE collaboration-guideline adaptation resource tool kit (ADAPTE) provided insights into its adaptation based on specific questions within the guideline.

    RESULTS: Fourteen cancer pain guidelines met the eligibility criteria and were included for quality evaluation. Eight guidelines were evaluated with combined AGREE II and ADAPTE process, attaining >66.7% in the rigour of development domain score, summated scaled domain score, and specific ADAPTE tools to evaluate the quality of each guideline. The intra-class correlation coefficient was utilised for resolving inter-rater agreement. 'Safe opioid practice' within a guideline was assessed for quality content implementation.

    CONCLUSION: Combined AGREE II and ADAPTE identified four cancer pain guidelines, namely Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, NCEC-National Clinical Guideline, and World Health Organization, which were of the highest quality and incorporated safe opioid practice effectively.

  19. Wang Y, Shimosaki S, Ikebe E, Iha H, Yamamoto JI, Fife N, et al.
    Front Oncol, 2023;13:1272528.
    PMID: 38344143 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1272528
    Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive T-cell neoplasia associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and has an extremely poor prognosis. Lenalidomide (LEN; a second-generation immunomodulatory drug [IMiD]) has been employed as an additional therapeutic option for ATL since 2017, but its mechanism of action has not been fully proven, and recent studies reported emerging concerns about the development of second primary malignancies in patients treated with long-term IMiD therapy. Our purpose in this study was to elucidate the IMiD-mediated anti-ATL mechanisms. Thirteen ATL-related cell lines were divided into LEN-sensitive or LEN-resistant groups. CRBN knockdown (KD) led to a loss of LEN efficacy and IKZF2-KD-induced LEN efficacy in resistant cells. DNA microarray analysis demonstrated distinct transcriptional alteration after LEN treatment between LEN-sensitive and LEN-resistant ATL cell lines. Oral treatment of LEN for ATL cell-transplanted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice also indicated clear suppressive effects on tumor growth. Finally, a novel cereblon modulator (CELMoD), iberdomide (IBE), exhibited a broader and deeper spectrum of growth suppression to ATL cells with efficient IKZF2 degradation, which was not observed in other IMiD treatments. Based on these findings, our study strongly supports the novel therapeutic advantages of IBE against aggressive and relapsed ATL.
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