Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Ewers RM, Orme CDL, Pearse WD, Zulkifli N, Yvon-Durocher G, Yusah KM, et al.
    Nature, 2024 Jul;631(8022):808-813.
    PMID: 39020163 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07657-w
    Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems1 that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2,3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value4. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the conservation value of logged forests, using one of the most comprehensive assessments of taxon responses to habitat degradation in any tropical forest environment. We analysed the impact of logging intensity on the individual occurrence patterns of 1,681 taxa belonging to 86 taxonomic orders and 126 functional groups in Sabah, Malaysia. Our results demonstrate the existence of two conservation-relevant thresholds. First, lightly logged forests (<29% biomass removal) retain high conservation value and a largely intact functional composition, and are therefore likely to recover their pre-logging values if allowed to undergo natural regeneration. Second, the most extreme impacts occur in heavily degraded forests with more than two-thirds (>68%) of their biomass removed, and these are likely to require more expensive measures to recover their biodiversity value. Overall, our data confirm that primary forests are irreplaceable5, but they also reinforce the message that logged forests retain considerable conservation value that should not be overlooked.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Malaysia; Tropical Climate*; Biomass; Biodiversity; Forests*
  2. Zainudin AM, Rasool AHG, Yaacob NM, Muhamad R, Mohamed WMIW
    BMC Endocr Disord, 2024 Jul 18;24(1):118.
    PMID: 39020348 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01577-6
    BACKGROUND: Many patients with T2DM on insulin are not optimally controlled despite receiving standard diabetes education counselling. Poor insulin adherence may be a contributing factor. We developed and evaluated a new module [Universiti Sains Malaysia-Insulin Adherence Module (USM-IAM)] on insulin-treated patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

    METHODS: Eligibility criteria are those diagnosed with T2DM, aged between 18 and 65 years, with HbA1c between 8 and 15% and on insulin therapy for 1 year. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either the USM-IAM-based counselling or the standard counselling (SC) at baseline and the second visit. Patients were instructed to adjust insulin doses based on blood glucose levels. Outcomes were changes in adherence score, FBS and HbA1c levels from baseline to 3 months and baseline to sixth month.

    RESULTS: Ninety patients were randomised to each group. The baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were homogenous among groups. Ninety patients were analysed for each group. Adherence score changes between baseline to 3 months were - 8.30 (- 11.47, - 5.14) in USM-IAM-based counselling group (USM-IAM) and - 7.64 (- 10.89, - 4.40) in standard counselling group (SCG), between baseline to sixth month were - 10.21 (- 13.40, - 7.03) in USM-IAM and - 10.79 (- 14.64, - 6.97) in SCG. FBS changes between baseline to 3 months were 1.374 (0.25, 2.50) in USM-IAM and 0.438 (- 0.66, 1.54) in SCG, and between baseline to sixth month were 1.713 (0.473, 2.95) in USM-IAM and 0.998 (- 0.02, 2.01) in SCG. HbA1c changes between baseline to 3 months were 1.374 (0.25, 2.50) in USM-IAM and 0.547 (0.12, 0.98) in SCG, and between baseline to sixth month were 1.03 (0.65, 1.41) in USM-IAM and 0.617 (0.20, 1.03) in SCG. Between-subjects effects for all outcomes were not statistically significant.

    CONCLUSION: Both groups had significant improvements in adherence score and HbA1c with time, with higher improvement in patients receiving the USM-IAM. FBS reductions were significant in the intervention group but not in the control group.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol is registered with Clicaltrials.gov with ID NCT05125185 dated 17th November 2021.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic/methods
  3. Yang L, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Veloo A
    BMC Psychol, 2024 Jul 17;12(1):396.
    PMID: 39020424 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01888-2
    BACKGROUND: In the cognitive-affective model of athlete burnout, anxiety is a key physiological response to stress that influences the development of burnout in athletes. Despite its importance, there has been little research on the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, particularly regarding the mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, with a focus on the mediating role of general need satisfaction from self-determination theory.

    METHODS: The current study employed a cross-sectional design involving 618 college athletes (354 females, mean age 20.57 years), comprising 303 participants in individual sports and 315 in team sports. These participants completed the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale in General (BPNSS-G) online. Subsequently, correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS and JASP to examine the relationships between the variables.

    RESULTS: Regression results indicated that somatic anxiety (beta = 0.116, t = 2.21, p = 0.028) and concentration disruption (beta = 0.259, t = 5.35, p 

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Competitive Behavior*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students/psychology; Students/statistics & numerical data; Universities; Personal Autonomy*; Young Adult
  4. Luo X, Zhang A, Li Y, Zhang Z, Ying F, Lin R, et al.
    Int J Ment Health Nurs, 2024 Dec;33(6):1743-1760.
    PMID: 39020473 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13384
    The application of artificial intelligence art therapies (AIATs) in mental health care represents an innovative merger between digital technology and the therapeutic potential of creative arts. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness and ethical considerations of AIATs, incorporating robots, AI painting and AI Chatbots to augment traditional art therapies. Aligning with the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, we meticulously searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CNKI, resulting in 15 selected articles for detailed analysis. To ensure methodological quality, we applied the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) criteria for quality assessment and extracted data using the PICO(S) format, specifically targeting randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Our findings suggest that AIATs can profoundly enhance the therapeutic experience by providing new creative outlets and reinforcing existing methods, despite possible drawbacks and ethical challenges. This examination underscores AIATs' potential to enrich mental health therapies, emphasising the critical importance of ethical considerations and the responsible application of AI as the field evolves. With a focus on expanding treatment efficacy and patient expressiveness, the promise of AIATs in mental health care necessitates a careful balance between innovation and ethical responsibility. Trial Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42024504472.
    MeSH terms: Artificial Intelligence*; Mental Disorders/therapy; Humans
  5. Aishaq M, Nafady-Hego H, Ben Abid F, Al Ajmi JA, Hamdi WS, Vinoy S, et al.
    Glob Epidemiol, 2024 Dec;8:100149.
    PMID: 39021383 DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2024.100149
    Health care workers (HCWs) may be at a variable risk of SARS-CoV2 infection. Regardless of their involvement in providing direct clinical treatment, most of the prior research had included all HCWs. Understanding infection rates, risk factors and outcomes among different subgroups of HCWs is crucial. From February 28, 2020 to January 1, 2022, we conducted a retrospective analysis encompassing all full-time non-clinical staff (NCS) subcontracted with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) facilities. To determine current or previous SARS-CoV2 infection, all personnel underwent RT-PCR and/or serology testing. To identify the demographic factors linked to the risk of infection, we utilized Cox-Hazard regression analysis. Herein 3158/6231 (50.7%) subcontracted NCS tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR or serology during the research period. The median age was 30 years (IQR 25,35), 69.8% of the population were males, 82.4% were from South Asia, 86.6% did not have any concomitant conditions. 6032 (96.8%) of the population lived in shared housing, while 4749 (76.2%) had low to median levels of education. While infection (PCR positive with or without seropositive results) was independently predicted by male gender, working in the catering, laundry, and security sectors and being intermediate (7-12 years of education), lower (0-6 years of education), higher (exposure to confirmed case), and having symptoms. Male gender, working in the security sectors and being intermediate (7-12 years of education) were independently associated with accidently detected cases (PCR negative and seropositive). 299 (4.8%) required hospitalization, of them 3 cases were severe pneumonia and one required ICU admission without mechanical ventilation, with no deaths reported. In conclusion Infection rates among NCS are high. The majority are asymptomatic and may contribute to ongoing illness spread in the public or in healthcare facilities. During a pandemic, routine screening of this population is crucial and may aid in containing the spread of infection.
  6. Dagli N, Haque M, Kumar S
    Cureus, 2024 Jul;16(7):e64635.
    PMID: 39021745 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.64635
    Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, are often difficult to diagnose and monitor using traditional methods. Salivary biomarkers offer a promising alternative due to their non-invasive nature, ease of collection, and the potential to reflect real-time physiological changes associated with mental health. This bibliometric analysis examines 95 clinical trials on stress biomarkers for mental health, published between 2003 and 2024. The field is characterized by extensive collaboration and global participation, involving 593 authors and publications across 73 journals. Despite a consistent annual publication rate, notable increases in 2011, 2014, and 2018 indicate growing research interest. The United States leads in research output, followed by Australia, Germany, and Japan, with Psychoneuroendocrinology being the most prominent journal. Co-occurrence analysis identified nine research clusters, suggesting diverse directions such as the impact of stress-related hormones, circadian rhythms, mindfulness, various therapies, aging, psychological adaptation mechanisms, exercise therapy, anxiety disorders, and the autonomic nervous system on salivary biomarkers. Key terms such as "biomarkers/metabolism," AND "hydrocortisone/metabolism," AND "saliva/metabolism" were central, with significant activity from 2012 to 2018. This analysis highlights a growing focus on the metabolic processes and therapeutic applications of salivary biomarkers in mental health. This bibliometric analysis calls attention to the promising potential of salivary biomarkers to revolutionize mental health diagnostics and treatment through non-invasive methods, fostering interdisciplinary research, technological advancements, and global health improvements.
  7. Noor Azmi NS, Ng YM, Masud MM, Cheng A
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33365.
    PMID: 39021900 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33365
    Adopting agroecological approaches to build resilient urban food systems has recently gained traction around the world, but there is little to no reliable literature on the knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives of urban farmers towards these nature-based solutions in many developing nations, including Malaysia. The present study conducted an online survey to determine the extent to which local urban farmers understand and employ agroecology, as well as to assess their awareness and views on using agroecological practices and sustainable farm management. We found that the majority of respondents are unfamiliar with agroecological principles, with 79 % agreeing or strongly agreeing that implementing sustainable agricultural practices is challenging. However, more than 90 % of respondents are aware of the environmental consequences of excessive input utilisation. Our findings highlight the need for improved initiatives to promote agroecological approaches among farmers by sharing knowledge and best practices. In light of the growing threat posed by urban heat islands and the rapid urbanisation, this study offers novel insights into the knowledge gaps and perceptions about agroecological approaches among urban farmers, challenges that must be addressed to promote sustainable agriculture, and the potential role of farmers in achieving the three fundamental pillars of sustainability-planet, people, and prosperity.
  8. Xie H, Gao L, Li Z, Mao G, Zhang H, Wang F, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e32192.
    PMID: 39021920 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32192
    Aflatoxin is one of the most toxic biotoxins found in contaminated agricultural products. It has strong mutagenicity, carcinogenesis and teratogenicity to humans and animals. In this study, instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water was examined for its potential to degrade aflatoxin B1 in peanut cake in order to improve its utilization as a toxic-free animal feed. Incubation of AFB1-containing peanut cake followed by processing with Instant Catapult Steam Explosion (ICSE) led to approximately 79.03 % degradation of AFB1, while the degradation of AFB1 was up to 91.48 % under the treatment of ICSE combined with 4 % NH₃·H₂O at 1.2 MPa in 200 s of process time. After treatment, nutrients in peanut cake were not significantly changed. The toxicity of AFB1 degradation products was evaluated and the results showed that the toxicity of these products were found to be substantially less than that possessed by AFB1. A low chemical pollution, efficient and toxic-free technology system of AFB1 degradation was established, which detoxify aflatoxin-contaminated biomass for sustainable and safe utilization of agricultural biomass as animal feed.
  9. Lim CM, Lal SK, Isa NM, Omar AR, Choo WS
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33049.
    PMID: 39021953 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33049
    Seasonal influenza affects millions of lives worldwide, with the influenza A virus (IAV) responsible for pandemics and annual epidemics, causing the most severe illnesses resulting in patient hospitalizations or death. With IAV threatening the next global influenza pandemic, it is a race against time to search for antiviral drugs. Betacyanins are unique nitrogen-containing and water-soluble reddish-violet pigments that have been reported to possess antiviral properties against the dengue virus. This study aimed to examine the antiviral effect of betacyanins from red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) on IAV-infected lung epithelial A549 cells. HPLC and LC-MS analysis of extracted betacyanin showed four betacyanins in the betacyanin fraction: phyllocactin, hylocerenin, betanin, and isobetanin. Cytotoxicity assay showed that betacyanin fractions were not cytotoxic to A549 cells at concentrations below 100 μg/mL. Betacyanin fraction concentrations of 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0 μg/mL prevented the formation of viral cytopathic effect and reduced virus titer in IAV-infected cells up to 72 h. A downregulation of protein and mRNA nucleoprotein expression levels was observed after treatment with 25.0 and 50.0 μg/mL of betacyanin fraction after 24 h, thereby providing evidence for the antiviral activity of betacyanin from red pitahaya against IAV in vitro.
  10. El Omari N, Khalid A, Makeen HA, Alhazmi HA, Albratty M, Mohan S, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33052.
    PMID: 39021957 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33052
    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vorinostat, also called Zolinza®, for its effectiveness in fighting cancer. This drug is a suberoyl-anilide hydroxamic acid belonging to the class of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis). Its HDAC inhibitory potential allows it to accumulate acetylated histones. This, in turn, can restore normal gene expression in cancer cells and activate multiple signaling pathways. Experiments have proven that vorinostat induces histone acetylation and cytotoxicity in many cancer cell lines, increases the level of p21 cell cycle proteins, and enhances pro-apoptotic factors while decreasing anti-apoptotic factors. Additionally, it regulates the immune response by up-regulating programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and interferon gamma receptor 1 (IFN-γR1) expression, and can impact proteasome and/or aggresome degradation, endoplasmic reticulum function, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and angiogenesis inhibition. In this study, we sought to elucidate the precise molecular mechanism by which Vorinostat inhibits HDACs. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could improve our understanding of cancer cell abnormalities and provide new therapeutic possibilities for cancer treatment.
  11. Dewarajan V, Elsayed N, Foo JB, Tor YS, Low SS, Chai WS
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33003.
    PMID: 39021960 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33003
    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) constitutes 85 % of all lung cancer cases. This malignancy is characterized by multifactorial risk factors, poor prognosis, and deplorable clinical outcome. Considerable evidence indicates that there is inter-individual variability in the lung cancer predisposition and survival due to genetic variations introduced by genetic polymorphisms between individuals, indirectly affecting the lung cancer susceptibility and the patient survival. In the past decades, immune landscape in the tumour environment and host immune response are constantly implicated as determining factor in NSCLC development and patients' survival. With the change of paradigm in NSCLC treatment to immunotherapy and increasing recognition of the role of the immune system in cancer development and survival, the inspection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immunomodulated markers associated with the risk and prognosis for NSCLC is crucial. Despite extensive studies reported the implication of SNPs in predicting the risk and survival of NSCLC. SNPs in the genes that modulate immune response in NSCLC have not been reviewed before. Hence, this review uncovers the evidence on the genetic polymorphisms of immunomodulatory markers which include immune checkpoints, immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemokines, interleukins, human leukocyte antigen and its receptors, and antigen presenting machinery genes, and their significance in the susceptibility, prognosis and survival in NSCLC. The identification of genetic factors associated with NSCLC risk and survival provides invaluable information for a greater comprehension of the pathogenesis and progression of the disease, also to refine prognosis and personalize clinical care in early and advanced-stages disease.
  12. Iqbal S, Rafique MS, Iqbal N, Bashir S, Malarvili MB, Anjum AA
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33270.
    PMID: 39021982 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33270
    This research paper reports an enhancement of thermal, optical, mechanical and antibacterial activities of the Polyvinyl alcohol-Nanodiamonds (PVA-NDs) composite required for the food packaging industry. The synthesis of composites was done by the wet processing method. The large surface area of NDs facilitated the robust interaction between the hydroxyl group and macromolecular chains of PVA to enhance the hydrogen bonding of PVA with NDs rather than PVA molecules. Thus, a reduction in PVA diffraction peak intensity was reported. NDs improved the thermal stability by preventing the out-diffusion of volatile decomposition products of PVA. The results also revealed an enhancement in tensile strength (∼60 MPa) and ductility (∼180 %). PVA-NDs composite efficiently blocked the UVC (100 %), most of the part of the UVB (∼85 % above 300 nm), and UVA (∼58 %). Furthermore, enhanced antibacterial activities were reported for PVA-NDs composite against E. coli and S. aureus. NDs accumulated around the bacterial cells prevented essential cellular functions and led to death. Hence, this composite could be a promising candidate for safe, thermally stable, strong, flexible, transparent, UV- resistant antibacterial food packaging material.
  13. Jing Y, Lee JC, Moon WC, Ng JL, Yew MK, Chu MY
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e32780.
    PMID: 39022029 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32780
    This study investigated the effects of incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into rice husk ash (RHA) sustainable concrete on its mechanical properties, permeability and microstructure characterisation. Mechanical test results suggested that the addition of 0.10 % multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) yielded optimal results, with increases in the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus of the RHA concrete at 28 days of 7 %, 23.81 %, 17.5 %, and 1.0 %, respectively. However, with further addition of MWCNTs, the mechanical properties ultimately deteriorated. Further, the incorporation of CNTs enhanced the long-term performance of RHA sustainable concrete. The addition of 0.1 % MWCNTs and 15 % RHA yielded a 20 %, 14 %, and 66 % decrease in water absorption, porosity, and chloride diffusion coefficient compared to the mixture solely containing 15 % RHA. Scanning electron microscopy of this mixture revealed the filling and bridging effects of MWCNTs between the hydration products have enhanced the performance of RHA sustainable concrete.
  14. Rahman T, Deb N, Alam MZ, Moniruzzaman M, Miah MS, Horaira MA, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33218.
    PMID: 39022034 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33218
    This study employs a comparative analysis method to examine variations in food waste (FW) generation between developed and developing nations, focusing on income levels, population growth rates, and community engagement in waste management. Quantitative data from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh are comprehensively analyzed using regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Results indicate that Taiwan, with its stringent regulatory frameworks and advanced recycling technologies, generates significantly less FW per capita compared to Malaysia and Bangladesh. Malaysia shows moderate levels of FW reduction efforts, supported by varying degrees of community participation, whereas Bangladesh faces challenges with both regulatory enforcement and technological adoption. The study proposes an integrative waste management model emphasizing regulatory compliance rates, community participation metrics, and technology diffusion indices to effectively address FW challenges. These findings underscore the importance of tailored waste management strategies aligned with economic and demographic contexts of developing nations. Policymakers and waste management practitioners can leverage these insights to establish targeted FW reduction goals and enhance recycling initiatives. The research highlights the urgency of integrated waste management approaches to mitigate environmental and public health risks associated with FW mismanagement, advocating for evidence-based policies supported by robust quantitative analysis.
  15. Mudhafar M, Zainol I, A J A, Abd MY, Alsailawi HA, Ghazaly NM, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e32837.
    PMID: 39022059 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32837
    This work aimed to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by efficient green synthesis techniques, namely rapid green synthesis and modified microwave-assisted green synthesis methods. The study used fish scale collagen (FsCol) as a stabilizer to assess its impact on the dimensions and configurations of AgNPs. Four samples were prepared with varying concentrations of FsCol. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The obtained sizes are as follows: 85 ± 15 nm, 70 ± 10 nm, 50 ± 10 nm, and 28-40 nm. The UV-vis spectroscopy revealed a shift in the absorbance peaks from 400 to 446 nm. The SEM method showed a spherical form in all of the samples. The element silver was detected in the EDX examination, along with the presence of oxygen (O) and carbon (C). The FTIR analysis revealed that the peaks seen at 3307 cm-1 were attributed to the stretching of O-H bonds, while the mountain at 1638 cm-1 belonged to the extension of N-H bonds (amide A). Additionally, the band observed at 1638 cm-1 indicated the presence of CO bonds (amide I).The 2140 cm-1 and 1302 cm-1 peaks may be attributed to the C2H2 group present in the plant components and the N-H bending (Amide III), respectively. The XRD pattern indicates that the synthesis process resulted in the formation of crystalline AgNPs. The particle sizes measured using DLS were 121 nm, 96.36 nm, 82.3 nm, and 48.50 nm. The TEM approach revealed that all samples had a spherical morphology with varying sizes: 80-100 nm, 50-80 nm, 40-60 nm, and 28-42 nm. The synthesized AgNPs were tested for their antibacterial properties against the pathogenic pathogens Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The influence of AgNPs on bacteria was amplified as the particle size decreased, resulting in a larger inhibitory zone for the smaller particles.
  16. Bian Z, Benjamin MM, Bialousow L, Tian Y, Hobbs GA, Karan D, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jun 30;10(12):e33204.
    PMID: 39022099 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33204
    Sine oculis homeoprotein 1 (SIX1), a prominent representative of the homeodomain transcription factors within the SIX family, has attracted significant interest owing to its role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and prognostic assessments. Initially recognized for its pivotal role in embryonic development, SIX1 has emerged as a resurgent factor across a diverse set of mammalian cancers. Over the past two decades, numerous investigations have emphasized SIX1's dual significance as a developmental regulator and central player in oncogenic processes. A mounting body of evidence links SIX1 to the initiation of diverse cancers, encompassing enhanced cellular metabolism and advancement. This review provides an overview of the multifaceted roles of SIX1 in both normal development and oncogenic processes, emphasizing its importance as a possible therapeutic target and prognostic marker. Additionally, this review discusses the natural product agents that inhibit various pro-oncogenic mechanisms associated with SIX1.
  17. Younossi ZM, AlQahtani SA, Funuyet-Salas J, Romero-Gómez M, Yilmaz Y, Keklikkiran C, et al.
    JHEP Rep, 2024 Jul;6(7):101066.
    PMID: 39022387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101066
    BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) face a multifaceted disease burden which includes impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) and potential stigmatization. We aimed to assess the burden of liver disease in patients with NAFLD and the relationship between experience of stigma and HRQL.

    METHODS: Members of the Global NASH Council created a survey about disease burden in NAFLD. Participants completed a 35-item questionnaire to assess liver disease burden (LDB) (seven domains), the 36-item CLDQ-NASH (six domains) survey to assess HRQL and reported their experience with stigmatization and discrimination.

    RESULTS: A total of 2,117 patients with NAFLD from 24 countries completed the LDB survey (48% Middle East and North Africa, 18% Europe, 16% USA, 18% Asia) and 778 competed CLDQ-NASH. Of the study group, 9% reported stigma due to NAFLD and 26% due to obesity. Participants who reported stigmatization due to NAFLD had substantially lower CLDQ-NASH scores (all p <0.0001). In multivariate analyses, experience with stigmatization or discrimination due to NAFLD was the strongest independent predictor of lower HRQL scores (beta from -5% to -8% of score range size, p <0.02). Experience with stigmatization due to obesity was associated with lower Activity, Emotional Health, Fatigue, and Worry domain scores, and being uncomfortable with the term "fatty liver disease" with lower Emotional Health scores (all p <0.05). In addition to stigma, the greatest disease burden as assessed by LDB was related to patients' self-blame for their liver disease.

    CONCLUSIONS: Stigmatization of patients with NAFLD, whether it is caused by obesity or NAFLD, is strongly and independently associated with a substantial impairment of their HRQL. Self-blame is an important part of disease burden among patients with NAFLD.

    IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), may experience impaired health-related quality of life and stigmatization. Using a specifically designed survey, we found that stigmatization of patients with NAFLD, whether it is caused by obesity or the liver disease per se, is strongly and independently associated with a substantial impairment of their quality of life. Physicians treating patients with NAFLD should be aware of the profound implications of stigma, the high prevalence of self-blame in the context of this disease burden, and that providers' perception may not adequately reflect patients' perspective and experience with the disease.

  18. Liang Q, Pan H, He X, Wang S, Hou Y, Xiao H, et al.
    Front Plant Sci, 2024;15:1328126.
    PMID: 39022611 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1328126
    INTRODUCTION: Mango is a vital horticultural fruit crop, and breeding is an essential strategy to enhance ongoing sustainability. Knowledge regarding population structure and genetic diversity in mango germplasm is essential for crop improvement.

    METHODS: A set of 284 mango accessions from different regions of the world were subjected to high-throughput sequencing and specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) library construction to generate genomic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

    RESULTS: After filtering, raw data containing 539.61 M reads were obtained. A total of 505,300 SLAFs were detected, of which, 205,299 were polymorphic. Finally, 29,136 SNPs were employed to dissect the population structure, genetic relationships, and genetic diversity. The 284 mango accessions were divided into two major groups: one group consisted mainly of mango accessions from Australia, the United States, Cuba, India, Caribbean, Israel, Pakistan, Guinea, Burma, China, and Sri Lanka, which belonged to the Indian type (P1); the other group contained mango accessions from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore, which belonged to Southeast Asian type (P2). Genetic diversity, principal component analysis (PCA), and population structure analyses revealed distinct accession clusters. Current results indicated that the proposed hybridization occurred widely between P1 and P2.

    DISCUSSION: Most of the accessions (80.99%) were of mixed ancestry, perhaps including multiple hybridization events and regional selection, which merits further investigation.

  19. Sumaira S, Vijayarathna S, Hemagirri M, Adnan M, Hassan MI, Patel M, et al.
    Noncoding RNA Res, 2024 Dec;9(4):1140-1158.
    PMID: 39022680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.06.003
    Irrespective of medical technology improvements, cancer ranks among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although numerous cures and treatments exist, creating alternative cancer therapies with fewer adverse side effects is vital. Since ancient times, plant bioactive compounds have already been used as a remedy to heal cancer. These plant bioactive compounds and their anticancer activity can also deregulate the microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cancerous cells. Therefore, the deregulation of miRNAs in cancer cells by plant bioactive compounds and the usage of the related miRNA could be a promising approach for cancer cure, mainly to prevent cancer and overcome chemotherapeutic side effect problems. Hence, this review highlights the function of plant bioactive compounds as an anticancer agent through the underlying mechanism that alters the miRNA expression in cancer cells, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Moreover, this review provides insight into using plant bioactive compounds -driven miRNAs as an anticancer agent to develop miRNA-based cancer gene therapy. They can be the potential resource for gene therapy and novel strategies targeting cancer therapeutics.
  20. Wong QJ, Low ZH, Chan ZY, Avupati VR
    Data Brief, 2024 Aug;55:110618.
    PMID: 39022694 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110618
    The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic originating from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has exerted profound damage to millions of lives. Baicalein is a flavonoid that has gotten a lot of attention as a possible SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitor because it can fight off many different viruses. We prepared and screened three sets of databases, each containing 2563 baicalein analogues, against Mpro using molecular docking simulation. The data showed that several baicalein analogues exhibited stable binding energies relative to standard baicalein, indicating that they have some selectivity against Mpro. The binding properties of the top three stable analogues from each database were further analyzed with respect to their binding properties, such as binding mode, binding energy, and binding interaction of putative stable ligand confirmations at the target binding site region.
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