Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Herr K, Berk M, Huang WL, Kato T, Lee JG, Ng CG, et al.
    Neuropsychopharmacol Rep, 2025 Mar;45(1):e70007.
    PMID: 40011065 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.70007
    AIM: Anhedonia is a key symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), however, its burden in patients with MDD is not well understood. We aimed to assess the impact of anhedonia on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), health-care resource utilization (HRU), and work productivity in subjects with MDD and anhedonia (MDD-ANH) compared to subjects with MDD without ANH (MDD non-ANH).

    METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted across six countries/territories. Adult participants were categorized as MDD-ANH, MDD non-ANH, and General Population based on self-reported MDD diagnosis, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Multivariate/generalized linear regression modeling (GLMs) and mediation analysis were used to assess anhedonia's impact on HRQoL/function, HRU, and work productivity.

    RESULTS: Among 11 383 respondents, 20.1% were identified with MDD (MDD-ANH: 12.7%; MDD non-ANH: 7.3%) and 79.9% as General Population. Subjects with MDD-ANH, compared with MDD non-ANH demonstrated significantly worse or lower sexual functioning, HRQoL (RAND mental/physical component summary, health state utility (EuroQol) Index scores, all p 

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Asia/epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Efficiency; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Cost of Illness; Young Adult
  2. Tuygunov N, Samaranayake L, Khurshid Z, Rewthamrongsris P, Schwendicke F, Osathanon T, et al.
    Int Dent J, 2025 Apr;75(2):397-404.
    PMID: 40011130 DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2025.02.006
    In the final part of this two part article on artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry we review its transformative role, focusing on AI in dental education, patient communications, challenges of integration, strategies to overcome barriers, ethical considerations, and finally, the recently released International Dental Federation (FDI) Communique (white paper) on AI in Dentistry. AI in dental education is highlighted for its potential in enhancing theoretical and practical dimensions, including patient telemonitoring and virtual training ecosystems. Challenges of AI integration in dentistry are outlined, such as data availability, bias, and human accountability. Strategies to overcome these challenges include promoting AI literacy, establishing regulations, and focusing on specific AI implementations. Ethical considerations in AI integration within dentistry, such as patient privacy and algorithm bias, are emphasized. The need for clear guidelines and ongoing evaluation of AI systems is crucial. The FDI White Paper on AI in Dentistry provides insights into the significance of AI in oral care, dental education, and research, along with standards for governance. It discusses AI's impact on individual patients, community health, dental education, and research. The paper addresses biases, limited generalizability, accessibility, and regulatory requirements for AI in dental practice. In conclusion, AI plays a significant role in modern dental care, offering benefits in diagnosis, treatment planning, and decision-making. While facing challenges, strategic initiatives focusing on AI literacy, regulations, and targeted implementations can help overcome barriers and maximize the potential of AI in dentistry. Ethical considerations and ongoing evaluation are essential for ensuring responsible, effective and efficacious deployment of AI technologies in dental ecosystem.
    MeSH terms: Artificial Intelligence*; Dental Care; Dentistry; Education, Dental; Humans; Societies, Dental
  3. Gupta S, Afzal M, Agrawal N, Almalki WH, Rana M, Gangola S, et al.
    Biogerontology, 2025 Feb 26;26(2):65.
    PMID: 40011269 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-025-10207-0
    Aging and metabolic disorders share intricate molecular pathways, with the Forkhead box O (FOXO)- Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) axis emerging as a pivotal regulator of cellular stress adaptation, metabolic homeostasis, and longevity. This axis integrates nutrient signaling with oxidative stress defence, modulating glucose and lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and autophagy to maintain cellular stability. FOXO transcription factors, regulated by SIRT1 deacetylation, enhance antioxidant defence mechanisms, activating genes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, thereby counteracting oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation. Recent evidence highlights the dynamic role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as secondary messengers in redox signaling, influencing FOXO-SIRT1 activity in metabolic adaptation. Additionally, key redox-sensitive regulators such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) interact with this pathway, orchestrating mitochondrial biogenesis and adaptive stress responses. Pharmacological interventions, including alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), resveratrol, curcumin and NAD+ precursors, exhibit therapeutic potential by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative burden, and restoring metabolic balance. This review synthesizes current advancements in FOXO-SIRT1 regulation, its emerging role in redox homeostasis, and its therapeutic relevance, offering insights into future strategies for combating metabolic dysfunction and aging-related diseases.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Signal Transduction
  4. Islam MR, Islam MT, Hoque A, Bais B, Alsaif H, Islam MS, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 26;15(1):6888.
    PMID: 40011581 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-90245-3
    This study offers a compact size, highly sensitive, and reliable split ring resonator-based sensor for microwave sensing applications. The designed unit cell is assembled on a 1.575 mm width of low-cost dielectric substrate Rogers RT5880. CST software is employed to design and analyze the proposed sensor. The size of the sensor is 8[Formula: see text]8 mm2 which is very small and it's a low price. Also, the CST-simulated model was validated using ADS software. The MATLAB is used to extract the effective parameters of the suggested unit cell. Then the prototype is fabricated, and the laboratory measurements are done to validate the simulated results. The obtained resonances from the designed sensor are 2.77, 5.78, 9.82, and 12.29 GHz. Sensing performance is examined by using various materials and thicknesses of FR-4 material. After analysis, the sensor's EMR, quality factor, and figure of merit (FoM) are found to be 13.54, 325, and 6.15 respectively which are effective. The sensitivity of the sensor is 12.03% which means the sensor performance is optimum. The resonances are shifted to 210, 600, and 810 MHz due to permittivity change and 290, 270, and 560 MHz due to materials thickness change. All laboratory results are perfectly matched with the simulated results. Due to its small size, low cost, high sensitivity, and superior performance, the suggested sensor can be used for sensing material thickness as well as glass, plastic, and substrate materials.
  5. Abbasi AR, Ahmadini AAH, Alatrash MI, Noor-Ul-Amin M, Rahimi J
    Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 26;15(1):6884.
    PMID: 40011695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91327-y
    Incorporating censored data analysis plays a pivotal role in contemporary research and practical applications, offering a profound understanding of the importance of censored observations. The literature commonly utilizes modified exponentially weighted moving average control charts to monitor subtle shifts in process parameters assuming complete data. However, censoring in real-life scenarios poses challenges as these charts are designed for complete data and may lose accuracy and reliability. This article introduces a Modified EWMA control chart (MEMC) for monitoring mean level changes in Weibull lifetimes from type-I censored data using conditional expected values. Monte Carlo simulations are employed to obtain numerical results. The performance of MEMC is evaluated using average run length measures, comparing it with the conditional expected values based EWMA control chart (EWMAC). The study shows that the MEMC is particularly sensitive for monitoring small to moderate shifts and outperforms the EWMAC chart. An application of the proposed chart in assessing the rust-resistant capability of a painting process is also provided.
  6. Brodie JF, Mohd-Azlan J, Chen C, Wearn OR, Deith MCM, Ball JGC, et al.
    Nature, 2025 Feb;638(8052):E42-E44.
    PMID: 40011724 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08513-7
  7. Ma L, Chong MC, Lee WL, Yang H, Lian Y
    BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2025 Feb 26;25(1):209.
    PMID: 40011814 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-025-07213-y
    BACKGROUND: Emergency cesarean section (EmCS) is an effective means to save the lives of the mother and fetus. Women who undergo EmCS experience sudden physiological changes and high level of psychological stress response due to its complexity, risks, and urgency. They may consider their delivery as traumatic childbirth. This study aims to understand the traumatic childbirth experience among women who underwent EmCS, as well as providing evidence for developing preventive measures in future.

    METHODS: Sixteen women who underwent an EmCS in the past year and experienced traumatic childbirth in a tertiary hospital in Luoyang, Henan Province had participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews between February and May 2023. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

    RESULTS: Four themes and ten sub-themes were extracted from the data: Theme 1: Journey from crisis to renewal: the psychological recovery process of women experienced traumatic childbirth after EmCS (stress phase, reaction phase, emotional processing and adjustment phase, and stabilization and reconstruction phase); Theme 2: Empowering mothers and families: addressing the multifaceted needs of comprehensive perinatal health education (insufficient individualized care: diversity and challenges of maternal needs, the gap in spousal involvement in perinatal health education); Theme 3: The barriers between patient-professional communication in healthcare (breaking the silence: needs to address the ineffective communication, beyond the diagnosis: needs for empathy in healthcare); and Theme 4: Limited family support (the forgotten mothers, husbands' emotional absence).

    CONCLUSIONS: This study contributed to our understanding of the childbirth process for women undergoing EmCS. Women in this period experienced a range of negative emotions, they were lacking in sufficient health education, good communication between healthcare professionals and adequate family support. The research findings are valuable for us to identify their difficulties and needs, enabling us to provide assistance.

    MeSH terms: Adult; China; Emergencies/psychology; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Stress, Psychological/psychology; Qualitative Research*
  8. Md-Zain BM, Wan-Mustafa WAS, Tingga RCT, Gani M, Mohd-Ridwan AR
    J Med Primatol, 2025 Apr;54(2):e70009.
    PMID: 40012216 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.70009
    BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in primates' overall health and well-being, including small apes (Hylobatidae). The symbiotic relationships between bacteria and the gut aid food digestion, maintain host health, and help them adapt to their environment, including captive conditions. Despite being listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list category, molecular studies on the small ape's gut microbiome are limited compared to other primates. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota of captive small apes at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari, Peninsular Malaysia, by evaluating their microbial communities.

    METHODS: Seven fecal samples from Hylobatidae (white-handed gibbon and siamang) were collected, and the bacteria therein were successfully isolated and subjected to high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

    RESULTS: The acquired amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were successfully classified into 17 phyla, 82 families, 164 genera, and 43 species of microbes. Each small ape exhibited a unique gut microbiota profile. The phyla Bacteroidota and Firmicutes were dominant in each individual. Environmental conditions and host genetics are among the factors that influence the small ape's gut microbiome composition.

    CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide valuable insights into the gut microbiota composition of small apes at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari, thus contributing to the health management and welfare efforts of small apes in captivity.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Feces/microbiology; Female; Malaysia; Male; RNA, Bacterial/analysis; RNA, Bacterial/genetics; Hylobatidae/genetics; Hylobatidae/microbiology; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic*; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/veterinary
  9. Hao Y, Hansen D, Louthrenoo W, Chen YH, Cho J, Lateef A, et al.
    ACR Open Rheumatol, 2025 Mar;7(3):e70007.
    PMID: 40012261 DOI: 10.1002/acr2.70007
    OBJECTIVE: In contrast to relapsing-remitting patterns, persistently active disease (PAD) is a disease activity pattern in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is inadequately studied. We sought to identify the frequency and determinants of flare and PAD in SLE.

    METHODS: Flare was defined using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI flare index), and PAD was defined as an SLEDAI-2K score of ≥4, excluding serology only, on two or more consecutive visits with a maximum six-month interval. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop predictive models for flare and PAD, which were tested in an independent validation subset.

    RESULTS: Among 3,811 patients over 2.8 (interquartile range 1.0-5.3) years of follow-up, 2,142 (56.2%) experienced flare and 1,786 (46.9%) had PAD, with 368 (9.7%) experiencing PAD but not flare. The most common flare features were nephritis and arthritis, whereas PAD was most commonly characterized by renal or mucocutaneous activity. After adjusting for prednisone dose and use of antimalarials and immunosuppressants, low gross domestic product in country of residence, smoking, arthritis, nephritis, and low complement levels were predictive for flare, whereas being in a low disease activity state for ≥50% of follow-up time (LLDAS50) was a protective factor. Renal activity and higher time-adjusted mean SLEDAI-2K were predictive of PAD, whereas LLDAS50 was protective. The models developed gave 72.1% and 83.8% correct classification of flare and PAD, respectively, in the validation cohort.

    CONCLUSION: Both flare and PAD are common disease activity patterns in SLE; both predict organ damage accrual but differ in disease features and predictive factors. Because 9.7% of patients experience PAD but not flare, flare measures alone do not adequately capture all patients in whom disease control is suboptimal.

  10. Onte S, Fiskey VV, Melavanki MS, Angadi AP, Pyati PS, Singh M, et al.
    Front Plant Sci, 2025;16:1517399.
    PMID: 40012724 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1517399
    The increasing demand for organic fodder has highlighted the need for sustainable agricultural practices that optimize both yield and quality. However, research on integrated organic nutrient management in multi-crop systems remains limited, especially concerning its impact on forage productivity and nutritive value. This study aims to investigate the effects of integrated organic nutrient amendments on the yield and quality of multi-crop system. Conducted during the period 2018 to 2021 using a randomized complete block design, the experiment encompassed seven treatments, each replicated three times. These treatments comprised of different combination of farmyard manure (FYM), Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and foliar spray of panchagavya for maize (M), berseem (B), and cowpea (C) and a treatment with recommended dose of fertilizers. The treatment includes T1: 100% RDN through FYM (M) - No application (B) - No application (C); T2: 50% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C); T3: 75% RDN through FYM + PGPR (M) - PGPR (B)- PGPR (C); T4: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR (M) - PGPR (B) - PGPR (C); T5: 75% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C); T6: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C), and T7: 100% RDF (M)- 100% RDF (B)- 100% RDF (C). Research findings revealed that the T6 treatment, involving T6: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) - PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C), yielded significant improvements in both green fodder of maize (35.4, 37.0, and 38.6 t ha-1), berseem (58.2, 60.0, and 60.6 t ha-1) and cowpea (25.7, 27.5, and 28.3 t ha-1) during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Furthermore, T6 significantly enhanced forage quality, as evidenced by higher crude protein (6.4-14.8%), ether extract (19.2-40.1%), and total ash (6.5-22.1%) contents, coupled with reductions in fiber components. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrated organic nutrient amendments in enhancing both yield and quality, offering a sustainable strategy to improve livestock feed and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
  11. Gao Z, Chee CS, Omar Dev RD, Liu Y, Gao J, Li R, et al.
    Front Public Health, 2025;13:1467571.
    PMID: 40013056 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1467571
    BACKGROUND: Social capital, as a multidimensional social science concept, plays a crucial role in promoting physical activity. Despite numerous studies exploring the relationship between social capital and physical activity, there is still a lack of systematic understanding of how different dimensions of social capital influence physical activity levels. This study aims to systematically review the literature up to 2024 on the relationship between social capital and physical activity, uncover the role of social capital in promoting physical activity, and identify its multidimensional impacts.

    METHODS: We used a combination of search terms including "social capital" and "physical activity" to search the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, and PsychINFO databases for English literature published up to March 1, 2024.

    RESULTS: We identified 2,021 unique articles and reviewed 115 studies that met our inclusion criteria. These studies evaluated various dimensions of social capital, with key dimensions including social participation (34%), social networks (30%), social cohesion (30%), social trust (29%), overall social network (26%), social support (19%), safety (19%), norms of reciprocity (13%), social control (10%), satisfaction with the environment (8%), collective efficacy (4%), norms for physical activity (3%), and voting (1%). In studies exploring the relationship between social capital and physical activity, the majority of positive results in the hypothesized direction were observed in dimensions such as social cohesion, trust, participation, reciprocity, satisfaction with the environment, and overall social networks. In contrast, dimensions such as voting, collective efficacy, safety, control, and physical activity norms predominantly showed null or negative results. The results for social support were mixed, displaying positive, negative, and null outcomes, while findings for social networks were also predominantly mixed.

    CONCLUSION: This study reveals the significant role of social capital in promoting physical activity, particularly in the dimensions of social cohesion, social trust, social participation, norms of reciprocity, satisfaction with environment, and overall social network. When designing public health interventions in the future, it is crucial to tailor strategies to different populations and contexts to better leverage social capital in promoting physical activity.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Social Support*; Social Participation; Social Capital*
  12. Zainal Ariffin AH, Lum SG, Chong Sian N, Gan SC
    Cureus, 2025 Jan;17(1):e78085.
    PMID: 40013185 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78085
    Metastatic pleomorphic adenoma (MPA) is rare and one of the outcomes of long-standing pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Due to its rarity, its prevalence is not well understood. While PA usually presents in the second decade of life, earlier onset may increase the risk of MPA. In cases of recurrent PA, a high suspicion for MPA is advised, and full-body imaging is recommended to detect metastasis. Enucleation is not recommended due to its association with higher recurrence rates, and total surgical excision, such as parotidectomy, is preferred. Chemotherapy and radiation are ineffective for MPA, and surgical excision is the primary treatment. Despite surgical intervention, recurrence and metastasis can still occur, with a reported 50% mortality rate at five years and a World Health Organization (WHO) report indicating that 40% of patients die from the disease. Hereby, we report a patient who presented with a recurrent parotid gland PA that metastasized to the ipsilateral lymph node nine years after the initial treatment.
  13. Ponniah T, Wong CK, Ng CM, Raja J
    PMID: 40013234 DOI: 10.1177/23971983251318827
    OBJECTIVES: Interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis has a significant impact in the quality of life. This prospective study was designed to determine the correlation between quality of life in systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients using patient-reported outcome measures and the lung function test parameters, with assessment done at baseline and 1 year.

    METHODS: In total, 63 consecutive systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients underwent lung function test, 6-minute walk distance, and quality of life-validated questionnaires (King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy dyspnea). King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease covers three components, namely chest, breathlessness, and psychological symptoms. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy dyspnea score has Part I (breathlessness symptoms) and Part II (physical limitation due to breathlessness). All assessments except for 6-minute walk distance were done both at baseline and at 12 months.

    RESULTS: Both forced vital capacity predicted percentage at baseline and 12 months had significant negative correlation with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy dyspnea score Part I (p values: 0.038 and <0.001, respectively). Both forced vital capacity and diffuse capacity for carbon monoxide predicted percentage at 12 months were also negatively correlated with Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy dyspnea score Part II (p values: 0.001 and 0.010, respectively). There was no significant correlation between King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease score and the lung function parameters, at both baseline and at 1-year interval. Positive significant correlation was observed between forced vital capacity predicted percentage at baseline and 6-minute walk distance (p = 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease affects quality of life, which is best assessed using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy dyspnea score as it correlates significantly with the lung function test parameters.

  14. An H, Ching XH, Cheah WJ, Lim WL, Ee KY, Chong CS, et al.
    Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2025 Feb;70(1):71-82.
    PMID: 38842626 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-024-01178-9
    Halophilic bacteria are extremophiles that thrive in saline environment. Their ability to withstand such harsh conditions makes them an ideal choice for industrial applications such as lignocellulosic biomass degradation. In this study, a halophilic bacterium with the ability to produce extracellular cellulases and hemicellulases, designated as Nesterenkonia sp. CL21, was isolated from mangrove sediment in Tanjung Piai National Park, Malaysia. Thus far, studies on lignocellulolytic enzymes concerning bacterial species under this genus are limited. To gain a comprehensive understanding of its lignocellulose-degrading potential, the whole genome was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The genome of strain CL21 was assembled into 25 contigs with 3,744,449 bp and a 69.74% GC content and was predicted to contain 3,348 coding genes. Based on taxonomy analysis, strain CL21 shares 73.8 to 82.0% average nucleotide identity with its neighbouring species, below the 95% threshold, indicating its possible status as a distinct species in Nesterenkonia genus. Through in-depth genomic mining, a total of 81 carbohydrate-active enzymes were encoded. Among these, 24 encoded genes were identified to encompass diverse cellulases (GH3), xylanases (GH10, GH11, GH43, GH51, GH127 and CE4), mannanases (GH38 and GH106) and pectinases (PL1, PL9, and PL11). The production of lignocellulolytic enzymes was tested in the presence of several substrates. This study revealed that strain CL21 can produce a diverse array of enzymes which are active at different time points. By combining experimental data with genomic information, the ability of strain CL21 to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes has been elucidated, with potential applications in biorefinery industry.
    MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Base Composition; Phylogeny*; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics; Genome, Bacterial*; Geologic Sediments/microbiology; Genomics*; Cellulases/genetics; Cellulases/metabolism
  15. Ng CX, How CW, Lee SH
    J Liposome Res, 2025 Mar;35(1):15-28.
    PMID: 39101839 DOI: 10.1080/08982104.2024.2385457
    Micro-145 down-regulation is frequently found in breast cancers, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target. The introduction of exogenous miR-145 directly to the tumor sites has been a hurdle due to limited delivery, low bioavailability, and hence lower therapeutic efficacy. Thus, this study aims to synthesize and characterize PEGylated liposome co-loaded with Dox-HCl and miR-145 mimics to investigate its in-vitro anti-proliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 cells. The formulations were developed using a composite central design to optimize nanoparticle size and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of Dox-HCl and miR-145 mimics. The optimized formulation exhibited the highest desirability function (D = 0.814) and displayed excellent stability over 60 days at 4 °C, maintaining a stable nanoparticle size and zeta potential, with relative EE% of Dox-HCl and miR-145 mimics on the final incubation day 94.97 ± 0.53% and 51.96 ± 2.67%, respectively. The system displayed a higher rate of drug release within 4 h of incubation at an acidic condition. Additionally, the optimized formulation demonstrated a higher toxicity (IC50 = 0.58 μM) against MDA-MB-231 cells than the free Dox- HCl and miR-145 regimen (IC50 = 1.00 μM). Our findings suggest that PEGylated liposome is tunable for effective concurrent delivery of anticancer drugs and therapeutic miRNAs into tumor cells, necessitating further investigation.
    MeSH terms: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/chemistry; Cell Survival/drug effects; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Humans; Particle Size; Drug Delivery Systems; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Liberation
  16. Liew KB, Koh EV, Kong XE, Ismail NA, Abu Bakar RA, Kee PE, et al.
    Pharm Nanotechnol, 2025;13(2):271-286.
    PMID: 39323341 DOI: 10.2174/0122117385324246240826042254
    Nanoparticles have found applications across diverse sectors, including agriculture, food, cosmetics, chemicals, mechanical engineering, automotive, and oil and gas industries. In the medical field, nanoparticles have garnered considerable attention due to their great surface area, high solubility, rapid dissolution, and enhanced bioavailability. Nanopharmaceuticals are specifically designed to precisely deliver drug substances to targeted tissues and cells, aiming to optimize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing potential adverse effects. Furthermore, nanopharmaceuticals offer advantages, such as expedited therapeutic onset, reduced dosages, minimized variability between fed and fasted states, and enhanced patient compliance. The increasing interest in nanopharmaceuticals research among scientists and industry stakeholders highlights their potential for various medical applications from disease management to cancer treatment. This review examines the distinctive characteristics of ideal nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery, explores the current types of nanoparticles utilized in medicine, and delves into the applications of nanopharmaceuticals, including drug and gene delivery, as well as transdermal drug administration. This review provides insights into the nanopharmaceuticals field, contributing to the development of novel drug delivery systems and enhancing the potential of nanotechnology in healthcare.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Drug Carriers/chemistry; Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry; Humans; Drug Delivery Systems*; Gene Transfer Techniques; Nanotechnology
  17. Wei C, Heh CH, Chin SP
    J Cell Biochem, 2025 Feb;126(2):e70011.
    PMID: 39996488 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.70011
    LRRK2 has gained prominence in treating Parkinson's disease as a potential drug target. Mutations in the WD40 domain, like G2294R, are notable for their influence on the stability and dimerisation of the LRRK2. Studies have shown that G2294R could result in the WD40 distortion and destabilised LRRK2 protein. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To elucidate how the G2294R mutation in the WD40 domain affects the structural and functional conformation of LRRK2, the structure of WD40 G2294R was constructed using homology modelling, and the molecular dynamics simulations on G2294R and wild-type dimers and monomers were carried out. The results show that distortion mainly occurs in the areas of β3, L1, β5, L2, and β7. The dimerisation was enhanced through the conformational changes in the G2294R variant, while the domains show different contributions towards the dimerisation. Our study reveals the effects of G2294R on the WD40. It explores its role in dimerisation and distortion, which could contribute to developing novel WD40 inhibitors and elucidate the molecular mechanism of WD40 dimerisation-monomerisation equilibrium.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Mutation; Protein Conformation; Protein Multimerization*; Molecular Dynamics Simulation*; Protein Domains
  18. Zainudin MF, Hashim NM, Zohdi WNWM, Hasnan N, Engkasan JP
    J Rehabil Med, 2025 Feb 25;57:jrm40621.
    PMID: 39998490 DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v57.40621
    PURPOSE: To explore healthcare utilization patterns and healthcare services satisfaction among individuals with spinal cord injury in Malaysia.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) Community Survey and involved 8 hospitals and 1 spinal cord injury organization. A total of 285 participants met the inclusion criteria. Subsequently, 6/11 sections of the InSCI questionnaire were analysed through a path analysis.

    RESULTS: The 3 most utilized healthcare providers reported were physical and rehabilitation medicine specialists (76.5%), physiotherapists (36.8%), and primary care physicians (27.4%). The top 3 most severe health problems reported were sexual dysfunction, muscle spasm and spasticity, and contractures. Healthcare services satisfaction was high. Health problems predicted healthcare utilization (β = 0.443), while activity limitation and participation restriction predicted healthcare services satisfaction (β = -0.202). The activity limitation and participation restriction in male participants was moderated by the spinal cord injury severity (B = 2.330, p  

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient Satisfaction*; Young Adult; Independent Living
  19. Song Z, Li Y, Tian Q, Sun C, Liu H, Chong K, et al.
    Int J Surg, 2025 Feb 24.
    PMID: 39998510 DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002308
    HYPOTHESIS: This study hypothesized that augmented reality (AR) technology has comparable accuracy and safety to conventional CT localization in guiding percutaneous transthoracic lung puncture (PTLP) to localize small pulmonary nodules.

    METHODS: This study was a prospective, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned between 23 May 2023, and 26 September 2023. Patients with small peripheral lung nodules (≤2 cm) were recruited.Patients were randomly assigned to either the CT-guided PTLP group or the AR-guided PTLP group, with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary outcome was the accuracy of lung nodule localization measured by localization error. The secondary outcomes included procedure duration, radiation exposure dosage and complications.

    RESULTS: A total of 70 patients underwent either CT- or AR-guided lung nodule localization and subsequent surgeries. Localization error was smaller in the AR-guided group than in the CT-guided group (mean ± SD, 3.1 ± 4.0 mm vs. 5.4 ± 4.2 mm, P = 0.026). The mean difference of localization errors was -2.3 mm (95% CI: - 4.2 to -0.3 mm, P < 0.001 for non-inferiority). Compared to the CT-guided group, the AR-guided group demonstrated significantly lower radiation exposure (mean ± SD, 421 ± 168 vs. 694 ± 229 mGy × cm, P < 0.001) and shorter localization procedure duration (mean ± SD, 8.8 ± 2.3 vs. 14.1 ± 1.8 minutes, P < 0.001), with no statistical difference in complications.

    CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of the AR-guided approach is comparable to that of the CT-guided approach in localizing small lung nodules. Furthermore, the utilization of AR technology has been demonstrated to reduce procedural time and minimize radiation exposure for patients.

  20. Charzyńska E, Buźniak A, Czerwiński SK, Woropay-Hordziejewicz N, Schneider Z, Aavik T, et al.
    J Behav Addict, 2025 Mar 28;14(1):220-245.
    PMID: 39998574 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2025.00005
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite the last decade's significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon.

    METHODS: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years).

    RESULTS: Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions.

    DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction*; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards; Self Concept; Reproducibility of Results
External Links