Layth Jasim Mohammed

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous multisystem disorder characterized by reproductive, metabolic, and neuroendocrine abnormalities. Current management primarily targets individual manifestations through lifestyle modifications and pharmacological therapy, while growing evidence implicates altered autonomic and neuroendocrine regulation in PCOS pathophysiology. Electroceuticals (ECs) and neuromodulatory interventions may represent potential non-pharmacological approaches for modulating neural pathways involved in reproductive and metabolic regulation. This review examines the biological rationale, experimental evidence, and available clinical findings supporting the investigation of such interventions in PCOS. From a biomedical perspective, ECs may offer potential advantages in PCOS management; however, the limited evidence currently available precludes definitive conclusions regarding their short- and long-term therapeutic effects and potential adverse effects in humans. Therefore, further specialized preclinical and clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this promising approach.

Bioelectric signaling plays an essential role in regulating cellular, tissue, and organ functions. Electroceuticals (ECs) are device-mediated interventions that modulate biological activity through controlled electrical stimulation or related neuromodulatory approaches. They have attracted interest as potential therapeutic strategies for complex disorders, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), which involves interconnected metabolic abnormalities and neurophysiological dysregulation, involving pathways associated with autonomic control, inflammation, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This narrative review examines the historical development, potential mechanisms, therapeutic applications, technological advances, limitations of ECs in the context of MetS, and identifies priorities for future research. The relevant literature was identified through searches of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov using related keywords and phrases. The available evidence suggests that EC modalities may influence neuro-metabolic and autonomic pathways relevant to glucose regulation, energy balance, inflammation, and other components of MetS. However, the strength of the evidence varies across interventions and outcomes. Interpretation of clinical findings is complicated by heterogeneous stimulation protocols and the frequent co-administration of dietary interventions, exercise, weight-management strategies, or interventions associated with substantial weight loss. These factors limit the ability to isolate the independent effects of neuromodulation. Further challenges include the absence of standardized stimulation parameters, uncertainty regarding optimal treatment protocols, potential adverse effects, and limited long-term clinical evidence. Accordingly, ECs should currently be considered investigational approaches rather than established treatments for MetS. Well-designed long-term clinical trials are needed to determine their efficacy, safety, durability, and optimal therapeutic parameters.

Protein nanoparticles offer several advantages as a drug delivery system, including increased stability and activity due to increased protection, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the existence of multiple functional groups to carry large amounts of drugs and the possibility of attachment of targeting molecules. This study developed a novel, multifunctional nanocarrier for the targeted delivery of doxorubicin. Bovine β-lactoglobulin (BLG) nanoparticles were synthesized as a core, sequentially coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL) and hyaluronic acid (HA) to form BLGNP-DOX/PLL/HA. This design leverages HA's affinity for CD44 receptors, overexpressed on cancer cells, for active targeting. The optimized nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology with a hydrodynamic size of ~205 nm and a negative surface charge. The system demonstrated a high drug loading capacity and a pH- and hyaluronidase-responsive release profile, enabling controlled DOX release in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro, the BLGNP-DOX/PLL/HA system showed enhanced cytotoxicity and significantly higher cellular uptake in MCF-7 breast cancer cells compared to free DOX and non-targeted nanoparticles (BLGNP-DOX), attributed to CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. The nanocarrier also exhibited excellent hemocompatibility, with minimal hemolysis and no significant activation of the coagulation or complement systems. In vivo studies in tumor-bearing mouse model revealed that BLGNP-DOX/PLL/HA effectively inhibited tumor growth and showed a favorable safety profile, with hematological and biochemical parameters largely within normal ranges. The results of this study indicated that the BLGNP/PLL/HA platform is a highly promising and biocompatible targeted drug delivery system for efficient cancer therapy.

Bioelectricity is a fundamental characteristic of biological systems, affecting cells, tissues, organs, and the organism as a whole. Therefore, monitoring and modulating bioelectric states through electroceuticals (ECs) may offer new solutions for many modern diseases that lack specific therapies or are resistant to current pharmaceuticals. Today, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant health challenge, with many of its underlying processes and molecular factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that rely on a physiological bioelectric system. This narrative review aims to highlight the opportunities and challenges of ECs in managing MetS and to explore potential future approaches in this therapeutic discipline by searching for related words and phrases in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. ECs can modulate neuro-metabolic and autonomic circuits, which may influence multiple components of MetS. The most important limitations of this section include the lack of standardized and well-defined safe therapeutic parameters, lack of precise targeted dosing parameters, risk of potential adverse effects of autonomic stimulation, and lack of comprehensive and long-term clinical data on the effect of ECs on MetS. Therefore, it can be concluded that ECs currently could represent a supportive complementary therapy in the field of MetS, which requires more comprehensive and detailed research to create a possible strong therapeutic approach in the future.

Mannans are structurally composed of β-(1 → 4)-linked mannose units, which are widely distributed in plant cell walls, yeast, and bacterial exopolysaccharides. Mannans have emerged as multipurpose biopolymers with significant industrial and biomedical potential. Celebrated mannans include guar gum, locust bean gum, konjac glucomannan, yeast mannans, and softwood glucomannans. This comprehensive review highlights the sources, structural diversity, extraction methods, physicochemical properties, safety, and functional characteristics. The major bioactivities of mannans, including immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and prebiotic effects, reflect their relevance in biopharmaceutical applications. Moreover, mannans serve as valuable raw materials for developing biodegradable films, hydrogels, and nanocomposites applied in sustainable materials and drug delivery systems. Despite promising applications, challenges related to their large-scale production, standardization, and functional optimization remain to be investigated. Future perspectives focus on integrating advanced biotechnological approaches and chemical modifications to enhance the functional versatility of mannans. Overall, mannans represent a sustainable, multifunctional biopolymer with expanding applications across food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.

Mannans are structurally composed of β-(1→4)-linked mannose units, which are widely distributed in plant cell walls, yeast, and bacterial exopolysaccharides. Mannans have emerged as multipurpose biopolymers with significant industrial and biomedical potential. Celebrated mannans include guar gum, locust bean gum, konjac glucomannan, yeast mannans, and softwood glucomannans. This comprehensive review highlights the sources, structural diversity, extraction methods, physicochemical properties, and functional characteristics. The major bioactivities of mannans, including immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and prebiotic effects, reflect their relevance in biopharmaceutical applications. Moreover, mannans serve as valuable raw materials for developing biodegradable films, hydrogels, and nanocomposites applied in sustainable materials and drug delivery systems. Despite promising applications, challenges related to their large-scale production, standardization, and functional optimization remain to be investigated. Future perspectives focus on integrating advanced biotechnological approaches and chemical modifications to enhance the functional versatility of mannans. Overall, mannans represent a sustainable, multifunctional biopolymer with expanding applications across food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.

Inulin is a versatile biopolymer that is non-digestible in the upper alimentary tract and acts as a bifidogenic prebiotic which selectively promotes gut health and modulates gut–organ axes through short-chain fatty acids and possibly yet-to-be-known interactions. Inulin usage as a fiber ingredient in food has been approved by the FDA since June 2018 and it is predicted that the universal inulin market demand will skyrocket in the near future because of its novel applications in health and diseases. This comprehensive review outlines the known applications of inulin in various disciplines ranging from medicine to industry, covering its benefits in gut health and diseases, metabolism, drug delivery, therapeutic pharmacology, nutrition, and the prebiotics industry. Furthermore, this review acknowledges the attention of researchers to knowledge gaps regarding the usages of inulin as a key modulator in the gut–organ axes.

Objectives: The role of serum cholesterol and its interactions with cytokines in human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) pathophysiology is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation among serum total cholesterol (TC), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and cytokines (including interleukin [IL] 10), IL-12 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α) in CL. The cholesterol–cytokine network was analysed to illuminate the pathogenesis of CL. Methods: This case-control study was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023 in hospitals within Baghdad and Wasit provinces, Iraq, and included CL and CL-free subjects ranging between 20–30 years of age. The serum samples were analysed via commercial kits to detect TC, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, VLDL-C, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels. Computational efforts to dissect cholesterol-protein interaction networks were employed using STITCH. Results: A total of 50 CL and 25 control subjects were included. The TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels in CL patients were markedly lower (P = 0.0001) than in control subjects, whereas the IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, VLDL-C and TG levels were higher in CL patients. Serum cholesterol showed no correlation with cytokines; however, a significant correlation (r = 0.57; P = 0.026) was observed between IL-12 and TNF-α. Within the cholesterol-protein network, cholesterol potentially interacted with IL-10, connecting cholesterol to modules with immunological significance, including TRAF1, TRAF2 and TNF receptor superfamily member 1B, as well as IL-10, IL-10RA and IL-12RB1. Conclusion: This study showed the alteration of lipid and lipoprotein in CL and introduced 2 immunological modules in CL, highlighting the importance of the altered cholesterol-cytokine interaction network in CL.

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