DESIGN: Time lapse monitoring of ORL-48 cellular responses was performed using a Juli Br-Live cell imaging system within a CO2 incubator, where sequential images were captured at fixed intervals over 72 h with concentration range between 5.0, 7.5 and 10 μg/mL for α-tocopherol and cisplatin. Then, the images were compiled into time-lapse records to visualize the progression of morphological changes and cell death progression upon treatment exposure.
RESULTS: Time lapse analysis revealed that α-tocopherol treatment induced morphological changes in ORL-48 cells, including cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic-like bodies. These changes were observed as early as 3 h after treatment, with further morphological alterations documented during the 24-72-hour observation period.
CONCLUSIONS: Time-lapse monitoring demonstrated that α-tocopherol induces apoptotic-like morphological changes in ORL-48 cells in a time and morphological changes through the live-cell imaging.
METHOD: A systematic review of both observational and randomised controlled trials evaluating insulin efficacy on DFUs-but which was limited to studies in Asian countries between 2016 and 2024-was conducted. Guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were followed. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for studies comparing insulin interventions with standard of care or other interventions, based on specific inclusion criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 16 relevant studies (out of 1132 on initial search) reporting on 1056 patients were included. Of the studies, eight reported wound healing rates in terms of reduction in wound size. Data on days of hospitalisation, number of dressing changes and insulin applications, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and the psychological parameters of anxiety and depression, were not considered by any of the included studies.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this review provide supportive evidence that insulin was an efficient adjunct for healing DFUs. The findings identified existing evidence and gaps within it that may inform future studies in other Asian countries and beyond.
METHODS: Registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251233077). We searched six databases from inception to November 2025 for adult observational cohorts comparing endoscopic closure versus surgery. Outcomes included treatment success, mortality, major morbidity, reoperation, length of stay, and fasting duration. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed bias using ROBINS-I. Random-effects models pooled risk ratios (RR) and mean differences (MD); GRADE rated certainty. Sensitivity and geographic subgroup analyses assessed robustness and effect modification.
RESULTS: Four retrospective cohorts (n = 123; 52 endoscopic, 71 surgical) from Portugal, Korea, and Malaysia were included across care settings. Treatment success showed no clear difference (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94-1.06; I2 = 0%; low certainty). Mortality was rare and imprecise (8 events; RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.06-1.16; I2 = 0%; very low certainty). Hospital stay was shorter with endoscopic management (MD - 9.23 days, 95% CI - 13.74 to - 4.73; I2 = 43%; low certainty). Fasting duration did not differ significantly and was heterogeneous. No geographic subgroup effect was detected (P = 0.95). Sensitivity analysis supported robustness, except for hospital-stay heterogeneity driven by referred cases in one study.
CONCLUSIONS: In observational cohorts, endoscopic closure was typically used for immediately recognized, smaller perforations in favorable clinical conditions, whereas surgery was preferentially used for delayed diagnosis, larger defects, or suspected contamination, introducing substantial confounding by indication. Accordingly, the pooled estimates should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalence. In carefully selected patients (immediate recognition,
METHOD: The comprehensive dataset of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 has been used to investigate the effect of knowledge and access to contraceptives on UMNFP among MWRA in Pakistan by applying Multivariable Logistic regression.
RESULTS: The prevelance of UMNFP is higher among MWRA of 25 to 34 years than other age groups. The likelihood of UMNFP decreases with increase in education above the primary level. The prevalence of UMNFP is found higher among women who belong to the poorer wealth quintile than the women of the poorest wealth quintile. The odds of UMNFP are considerably low among women belonging to the richer and richest wealth quintile, compared to the women of the poorest wealth quintile. Women's participation in decision making for not using contraceptives is a significant factor to reduce UMNFP. The odds of UMNFP are higher among those women who have no knowledge and lack of access to contraceptives compared to those who have knowledge and access to contraceptives.
CONCLUSIONS: Both knowledge and access to contraceptives are important factors to determine UMNFP. The government should initiate programs to disseminate knowledge as well as provision of contraceptives for effective family planning.
METHOD: We hereby established a 7-day HepG2 tumoursphere model by seeding 15,000 cells/well, which transitioned from normoxia (4 days) to a hypoxic (1% O2), low-serum (1% FBS) (HLS) condition (3 days). Expression of p53 isoforms and downstream targets was assessed.
RESULTS: The formation of HepG2 tumoursphere at different seeding densities determined the diameter, viability and proliferation profiles, with 15,000 cells/well producing optimal, viable tumourspheres with the highest yield. HLS conditions significantly reduced tumoursphere size, proliferation capacity and viability. Strikingly, multiplex long-amplicon ddPCR revealed substantial upregulation of FLp53α/Δ40p53α, Δ40p53α and Δ133p53α/Δ160p53α mRNA transcripts. While FLp53α/Δ40p53α remained dominant, Δ40p53α and Δ133p53α/Δ160p53α progressively increased, altering the balance among the isoforms. This shift correlated with enhanced expression of the pro-proliferative and survival markers (PCNA and BCL2) and reduced expression of the pro-apoptotic marker (BAX) and cell cycle inhibitor (CDKN1A), suggesting a potential functional role of these isoforms in promoting tumour cell adaptation under stress.
CONCLUSION: This study highlights stress-induced p53 isoform modulation as a potential survival mechanism in WTp53 HCC in response to TME stress, which warrants further exploration of isoform-specific p53 functions in understanding heterogeneity, resistance and cancer recurrence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-026-02275-w.