Mohammed H. Nafady

Cancer progression is primarily driven by the uncontrolled activation of cellular signaling pathways, with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR (PAMT) pathway playing a central role. This pathway significantly contributes to the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, and its hyperactivity is a major challenge in managing several types of malignancies. This article delves into the promising potential of carotenoids, natural pigments found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. By specifically targeting and inhibiting the PAMT pathway, carotenoids may effectively disrupt the growth and survival of cancer cells. The article examines the complex mechanisms underlying these interactions and highlights the obstacles faced in cancer treatment. It proposes a compelling approach to developing therapies that leverage natural products to target this critical pathway, offering a fresh perspective on cancer treatment. Further research is essential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these compounds.

Breast cancer is a significant and deadly threat to women globally. Moreover, Breast cancer metastasis is a complicated process involving multiple biological stages, which is considered a substantial cause of death, where cancer cells spread from the original tumor to other organs in the body—representing the primary mortality factor. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells detached from the primary or metastatic tumor and enter the bloodstream, allowing them to establish new metastatic sites. CTCs can travel alone or in groups called CTC clusters. Studies have shown that CTC clusters have more potential for metastasis and a poorer prognosis than individual CTCs in breast cancer patients. However, our understanding of CTC clusters' formation, structure, function, and detection is still limited. This review summarizes the current knowledge of CTC clusters' biological properties, isolation, and prognostic significance in breast cancer. It also highlights the challenges and future directions for research and clinical application of CTC clusters.

Gut microbiota substantially impacts pathogenic and normal immune responses and is associated with common chronic diseases. Moreover, it has a considerable effect on the efficacy of cancer therapy. Variant gut microbiota is linked with immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemo drugs, and radiotherapy resistance. Therefore, a comprehensive interpretation of the interactions between microbiota and cancer therapies is required to encourage researchers to develop new cancer prevention strategies and weaken the consequences of the different cancer therapies. This review discusses the modulating role of gut microbiota that impacts the efficacy of cancer therapies and focuses on its influence on each treatment method, in addition to delivering an overview of the gut microbiota’s role and forming relationships between bacteria, inflammation, and cancer therapies. Highlighting the mechanism of action of probiotics, antibiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and prebiotics promotes cancer therapies’ efficacy. Consequently, this makes the gut microbiota essential as a new adjunct augmenting the cancer therapeutic response.

The genus Amorphophallus belongs to the family Araceae. Plants belonging to this genus are available worldwide and have been used in traditional medicines since ancient times, mainly in Ayurveda and Unani medical practices. Amorphophallus species are an abundant source of polyphenolic compounds; these are accountable for their pharmacological properties, such as their analgesic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, and immunomodulatory effects, as well as their ability to prevent gastrointestinal disturbance and reduce blood glucose. Moreover, Amorphophallus species contain numerous other classes of chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, steroids, fats and fixed oils, tannins, proteins, and carbohydrates, each of which contributes to the pharmacological effects for the treatment of acute rheumatism, tumors, lung swelling, asthma, vomiting, abdominal pain, and so on. Additionally, Amorphophallus species have been employed in numerous herbal formulations and pharmaceutical applications. There has been no extensive review conducted on the Amorphophallus genus as of yet, despite the fact that several experimental studies are being published regularly discussing these plants’ pharmacological properties. So, this review discusses in detail the pharmacological properties of Amorphophallus species. We also discuss phytochemical constituents in the Amorphophallus species and their ethnomedicinal uses and toxicological profiles.

This review summarized the current breakthroughs in the chemistry of acridines as anti-cancer agents, including new structural and biologically active acridine attributes. Acridine derivatives are a class of compounds that are being extensively researched as potential anti-cancer drugs. Acridines are well-known for their high cytotoxic activity; however, their clinical application is restricted or even excluded as a result of side effects. The photocytotoxicity of propyl acridine acts against leukaemia cell lines, with C1748 being a promising anti-tumour drug against UDP-UGT’s. CK0403 is reported in breast cancer treatment and is more potent than CK0402 against estrogen receptor-negative HER2. Acridine platinum (Pt) complexes have shown specificity on the evaluated DNA sequences; 9-anilinoacridine core, which intercalates DNA, and a methyl triazene DNA-methylating moiety were also studied. Acridine thiourea gold and acridinone derivatives act against cell lines such as MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, and MCF-7. Benzimidazole acridine compounds demonstrated cytotoxic activity against Dual Topo and PARP-1. Quinacrine, thiazacridine, and azacridine are reported as anti-cancer agents, which have been reported in the previous decade and were addressed in this review article.

Background: Ionizing radiation (IR) is high-energy radiation that has the potential to displace electrons from atoms and break chemical bonds. It has the ability to introduce mutations, DNA strand breakage, and cell death. Being a radiosensitive organ, exposure of the thyroid gland to IR can lead to significant changes in its function. Aim of the work: Was to measure the levels of thyroid hormones panel and ultrasonography abnormalities in medical staff occupationally exposed to IR. Subjects and methods: A total of 120 subjects were divided into three main groups: Group I: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to radioiodine (131I) (n = 40), Group II: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to X-ray (n = 40), and Group III: non-exposed healthy professionals matched in age and sex with the previous groups (n = 40). Thyroid hormones panel including free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and thyroglobulin (Tg) were measured. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed. Oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Results: Group I had significantly higher fT3 levels than the control group. fT3 levels were considerably higher, while TSH was substantially lower in group II participants than in the control group. Tg was markedly lower in radiation-exposed workers. However, anti-TPO levels in radiation-exposed workers were significantly higher than in the control group. MDA and H₂O₂ were substantially higher; TAC was significantly lower in radiation-exposed workers compared to the control group. According to ultrasonographic examination, thyroid volume and the percentage of thyroid nodules in all radiation workers were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion: Despite low exposure doses, occupational exposure to IR affects the thyroid hormones and links with a higher likelihood of developing thyroid immune diseases.

The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected about 247 million individuals around the world. Despite the extensive research efforts, there are currently few therapeutic options that offer direct clinical benefits for COVID-19 patients. Despite the advances in our understanding of COVID-19, the mortality rates remain significantly high owing to the high viral transmission in several countries and the rise of various mutations in the SARS-CoV-2. One of the currently available and widely used drugs that combine both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions is colchicine, which has been proposed as a possible treatment option for COVID-19. Colchicine still did not get much attention from the medical and scientific communities despite its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms of action and its positive preliminary data from early trials. This literature review article provides the scientific rationale for repurposing colchicine as a potential therapeutic of COVID-19. Further, we summarize its mechanisms of action and possible roles in COVID-19 patients. Finally, we supplement this review with a summary of the doses, side effects, and the early efficacy data from clinical trials to date. Despite the early promising findings from multiple observational and clinical trials about the potential of Colchicine in COVID-19, data from the RECOVERY trial, the largest COVID-19 RCT in the world, showed no evidence of clinical benefits in mortality, hospital stays, or disease progression (n=11340 patients). However, multiple other smaller clinical trials showed significant clinical benefits. We conclude that while current evidence does not support the use of colchicine for treating COVID-19, the present body of evidence is heterogeneous and inconclusive. The drug cannot be used in clinical practice or abandoned from clinical research without additional large RCTs providing more robust evidence. At the present, the drug should not be used except for investigational purposes.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when the spinal cord is deteriorated or traumatized, leading to motor and sensory functions lost even totally or partially. An imbalance within the generation of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense levels results in oxidative stress (OS) and neuroinflammation. After SCI, OS and occurring pathways of inflammations are significant strenuous drivers of cross‐linked dysregulated pathways. It emphasizes the significance of multitarget therapy in combating SCI consequences. Polyphenols, which are secondary metabolites originating from plants, have the promise to be used as alternative therapeutic agents to treat SCI. Secondary metabolites have activity on neuroinflammatory, neuronal OS, and extrinsic axonal dysregulated pathways during the early stages of SCI. Experimental and clinical investigations have noted the possible importance of phenolic compounds as important phytochemicals in moderating upstream dysregulated OS/inflammatory signaling mediators and axonal regeneration’s extrinsic pathways after the SCI probable significance of phenolic compounds as important phytochemicals in mediating upstream dysregulated OS/inflammatory signaling mediators. Furthermore, combining polyphenols could be a way to lessen the effects of SCI.

The present study examines the neuropharmacological and antidiabetic properties of methanol leaves extract of Lannea coromandelica in animal models. This study is carried out by elevated plus-maze apparatus, motor coordination, thiopental sodium has an induction role in sleeping time, hole board, hole cross, open field, antidiabetic studies. Mice were treated doses of 100, 150, and 200mg/kg body weight in elevated plus-maze apparatus and motor coordination; 100 and 200mg/kg body weight in sleeping time, hole cross, hole board, and open field tests; and 200 and 400mg/kg body weight in the antidiabetic activity test. Extraction specifies a significantly decreased time duration and sleeping time in a thiopental sodium-induced sleeping time test. The experimental extract decreased locomotor and exploratory behaviors of mice in the open-field and hole-cross tests compared to the effects of the control. Furthermore, the extract increased sleeping time with a dose-dependent onset of action. The hole-board test extract also demonstrated a reduced number of head dips. The findings showed that L. coromandelica has potential neuropharmacological effects. In addition, in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, leaves extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight revealed significant antidiabetic properties and could be used to manage blood glucose levels with more research.