Ali Al-Kaleel

Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) offers a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. This study synthesized IONPs using Ficus carica leaf extract and evaluated their physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Nanoparticles were produced by alkaline coprecipitation with FeCl ₃ and characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, and zeta‐potential analysis. Extract constituents were profiled by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution. Spectroscopic findings supported phytochemical capping, while diffraction indicated poorly crystalline spinel‐type iron oxide, consistent with magnetite and/or maghemite, with 12–20 nm crystallites. Mean hydrodynamic diameter was approximately 77 nm, and zeta potential was −17 mV. The extract contained phenolic, terpenoid, and fatty‐acid constituents; detected phthalates likely reflected contamination. IONPs showed concentration‐dependent DPPH scavenging (IC ₅₀ ≈ 0.93 mg/mL), weaker than the crude extract (IC ₅₀ < 0.312 mg/mL).

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) replicates in the host cell cytoplasm and must therefore encode its own messenger RNA capping machinery, which makes the viral cap methyltransferases attractive antiviral targets. Folic acid has recently been proposed as an inhibitor of these enzymes and, on that basis, as a candidate treatment for MPXV. This narrative review examines that proposition and the level of evidence supporting it. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched through May 2026; no original experimental work was undertaken. The proposal rests almost entirely on a single virtual screening study in which folic acid emerged as a high-scoring ligand in molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, supported indirectly by reports that folates and folate antagonists modulate the replication of unrelated viruses. No published study demonstrates concentration-dependent inhibition of a purified orthopoxvirus methyltransferase by folic acid, and no kinetic parameters have been determined. Folate biochemistry offers no straightforward mechanism because S-adenosylmethionine, rather than folate, is the methyl donor for these enzymes and folate contributes only indirectly by supplying that pool. Furthermore, reported antiviral activity at millimolar concentrations exceeds achievable plasma exposures by approximately three orders of magnitude. By contrast, sinefungin-derived inhibitors of the MPXV 2′-O-methyltransferase VP39 have been characterized structurally, inhibit the purified enzyme at submicromolar concentrations, and suppress viral replication in cell culture, confirming that this machinery is druggable. Folic acid is therefore best described as a computationally derived hypothesis requiring enzymatic validation, rather than an established methyltransferase inhibitor or a therapy for MPXV.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) is a pregnancy complication characterized by severe nausea, vomiting more than four times a day and dehydration, especially occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy. In recent years it has been shown that the intestinal bacterial microbiome profile may be associated with a wide range of diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether the intestinal bacterial microbiome profiles differ between pregnant women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) and those with healthy pregnancies. Fresh stool samples were collected from 15 pregnant women diagnosed with HEG and 14 healthy pregnant women who did not have any complaints in the first trimester. After DNA isolation from the samples, 16S rRNA gene-based microbial profiling was performed with next-generation sequencing. The 16S rRNA V3-V4 region was sequenced with paired-end reads (2×250 base pair) on the Illumina MiSeq platform. The average sequence number for each sample was similar (HEG= ~2.54 million, control= ~1.48 million; p> 0.05). After quality filtering, reads obtained from all samples were analyzed by rarefaction at equal depth. Alpha diversity measures were found to be significantly higher in the HEG group compared to the control group (Shannon, ACE, and Chao1 indices; p< 0.05 for all). In the beta diversity analysis, it was observed that the gut microbiome compositions of the two groups were separated; In the Principal Coordinates Analysis plot, the groups were clearly clustered and the group difference was found to be statistically significant by PERMANOVA test (p< 0.01). Significant differences were also found in the comparisons at the taxonomic level. At the class level, the relative abundance of Clostridia was significantly higher in the HEG group (p< 0.05), while the class Bacilli was dominant in the control group (p< 0.05). At the family level, the abundances of Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae were found to be significantly higher in the HEG group than in the control group (p< 0.05). In contrast, at the family level, the rates of Enterobacteriaceae and at the genus level, the rates of Escherichia-Shigella were found to be significantly higher in the control group (p< 0.05). Some bacterial taxa detected only in the HEG group samples were also noteworthy: Collinsella, Blautia, and Dialister genera, which are only found in the intestines of patients with HEG, were not detected in the control group. In conclusion, these findings reveal that there are significant differences between the intestinal microbiome profiles of pregnant women with HEG and healthy pregnant women. The high microbial diversity observed in the HEG group and changes in certain bacterial groups suggest that processes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis of HEG. In the future, the clinical significance and possible therapeutic targets of these differences can be evaluated with more comprehensive studies aiming at clarifying causality.

This teaching approach offers a dry-lab/classroom exercise style activity, presenting real-world postprandial glucose and insulin data after distinct macronutrient foods. Students can use these data to hone their analytical, critical thinking, and statistical skills, while reinforcing their conceptual understanding of endocrine regulation in a flexible classroom setting.

Attention‐Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral syndrome affecting children aged 6–17 with symptoms manifesting before age 12. ADHD presents heterogeneously and is associated with various psychiatric disorders. The cause remains elusive, but genetic and environmental factors, brain region maturation delays, and neurotransmitter dysregulation are implicated. Effective treatment requires a multi‐disciplinary approach, primarily involving pharmacological and behavioral intervention. Stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamines are first‐line medications, but non‐stimulants may be considered for some patients. However, stimulants face challenges related to misuse, dependence, and long‐term tolerability issues. The etiology of ADHD involved genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors. Prenatal causes encompass maternal diet, alcohol consumption, viral infections, and stress. Postnatal factors include head trauma, meningitis, toxin, nutritional deficiencies, as well as iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism. The gut microbiome's role in ADHD is emerging, influencing neurodevelopment through microbiota–gut–brain axis. Understanding these diverse etiological factors is essential for comprehensive ADHD management.

Water movement across the cell membrane is crucial, with red blood cells (RBCs) experiencing the flow of water in both directions at a rate of approximately 100 times their volume per second. This process typically results in no net water flow due to an equal balance of water movement in opposite directions, a phenomenon known as osmosis, driven by water potential or impermeant solute concentration. Understanding osmosis is essential for both physiology and medical practice, yet its complexity may not be effectively conveyed to the students through traditional teaching methods. This study presents a novel approach to observing the osmotic effect on RBCs using a simple, modified blood film technique. Aimed at enhancing educational understanding of cellular behavior in different osmotic environments, this method provides a practical hands-on learning experience. By applying various osmotic solutions to prepared blood films and observing the resultant morphological changes in RBCs under a microscope, this technique allows for direct visualization of osmosis in action.

This study endeavoured to assess the effect of hemopressin (Hp), a nano peptide obtained from the alpha chain of hemoglobin, on chronic epileptic activity and its potential correlation with cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1). Male Wistar albino rats (230–260 g) were used. The kindling process was conducted by administering a sub-convulsant dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p) three times a week for a maximum of 10 weeks. Tripolar electrodes and external cannula guides for intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injections were surgically implanted in the skulls of kindled rats. On the day of the experiment, doses of Hp, AM-251, and ACEA were administered prior to the PTZ injections. Electroencephalography recordings and behavioural observations were conducted simultaneously for 30 min after the PTZ injection. The administration of Hp (0.6 μg, i.c.v) resulted in a decrease in epileptic activity. The CB1 receptor agonist ACEA (7.5 μg, i.c.v) showed an anticonvulsant effect, but the CB1 receptor antagonist AM-251 (0.5 μg, i.c.v) displayed a proconvulsant effect. The co-administration of Hp (0.6 μg, i.c.v) and ACEA (7.5 μg, i.c.v) and of Hp (0.6 μg, i.c.v) and AM-251 (0.5 μg, i.c.v) produced an anticonvulsant effect. However, when AM-251 was administered prior to Hp, it produced a proconvulsant impact that overrode Hp’s intended anticonvulsant effect. Interestingly, the co-administration of Hp (0.03 μg) + AM-251 (0.125 μg) unexpectedly exhibited an anticonvulsant effect. Electrophysiological and behavioural evaluations demonstrated the anticonvulsant effect of Hp in the present model, highlighting the possibility that Hp may act as an agonist for the CB1 receptor.

To establish safe and straightforward anesthesia used in experiments, we examined the effect of ketamine, ketamine/xylazine, urethane, chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, isoflurane, dexmedetomidine, a...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Madopar on the absence seizures and the anxiety-like behavior (assessed using the open field test) in Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats. Twenty-eight male WAG/Rij rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I: control; group II: Madopar 5 mg/kg; group III: Madopar 50 mg/kg; group IV: Madopar 100 mg/kg. A tripolar electrode was attached to all WAG/Rij rats. Electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings were made before and after Madopar (5, 50, and 100 mg/kg) injection for three hours. Anxiety-related behavior was studied using the open field test for 5 min after the ECoG recordings. Madopar significantly reduced the number and duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) when compared to the control group. The highest dose of Madopar (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of SWDs when compared to Madopar (5 mg/kg). All Madopar doses did not alter the duration of grooming, but the highest doses of Madopar significantly increased the number of squares crossed in the open field test when compared to the control and Madopar (5 mg/kg) groups. These results revealed that Madopar reduced the absence-like seizures and the anxiety-related behavior in WAG/Rij rats. This may emphasize the therapeutic properties of the Madopar/L-dopa in absence epilepsy.