Search Results (28,414)

Interrelations between the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton are of crucial importance for essential cellular processes such as endocytosis, formation of intercellular junctions, cell morphology, etc. Many studies validate the beneficial effects of polyphenols as antioxidant and protective agents, but a molecular mechanism of their interaction and transition through the plasma membranes of different cell lines is still missing. In this study, we examined the affinity of fractions enriched in flavonoid glycosides (FGs) and caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), obtained from the methanol extract of the medicinal plant Inula oculus-christi L., to reorganize the plasma membrane structure and actin cytoskeleton by using confocal microscopy. Assessment of the degree of membrane ordering aiming to distinguish the ordered from disordered regions of the cellular membranes was performed using the fluorescent dye Di-4-ANEPPDHQ, and visualization of F-actin was by TRITC-phalloidin. Two epithelial cell lines with clear differences in their origin and plasma membrane organization were chosen: the non-malignant MDCK II and the cancerous A549. Our results showed that flavonoid glycosides exhibited an ordering effect on plasma membranes of cancerous cells and fluidized one on non-malignant cells. Different patterns of actin reorganization were observed for both cell lines after treatment. Our results indicate the potential of plant-derived polyphenols as modulators of the membrane’s structural organization, offering valuable insights for the development of membrane-targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Marrubium vulgare L. is a medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological properties, yet its in vitro cultivation and the biological potential of aqueous extracts of the plant remain poorly studied. The present research aimed to establish an efficient in vitro propagation protocol and to compare the antioxidant and anticancer activities of freeze-dried water extracts from different parts (leaves, flowers, and stems) of in vitro cultivated and wild-growing M. vulgare plants. Methods: A micropropagation system was developed using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with kinetin and indole-3-acetic acid. Extracts from leaves, flowers, and stems were evaluated for the total polyphenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity (ORAC, HORAC), and antiproliferative effects against HeLa, HT-29, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The mechanism of cytotoxicity was examined through apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. Results: The established protocol achieved high propagation efficiency (90% shoot formation). Cultivated leaves showed the highest polyphenol and flavonoid content and the strongest antioxidant activity. Aqueous extracts, particularly from leaves and flowers, displayed selective antiproliferative effects with HeLa cells being the most sensitive. The extracts induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest –mainly at the G1 phase for cultivated plants and at both G1 and G2/M phases for wild plants. Conclusions: An efficient micropropagation protocol was successfully developed, providing a sustainable source of biologically active plant material. The study provides the first comprehensive comparison of M. vulgare water extracts from in vitro cultivated and wild-growing plants, linking phytochemical content with antioxidant and anticancer properties and highlighting both wild and in vitro cultivated plants, though wild plants in certain cases are generally more efficient, as promising candidates in natural anticancer therapeutics. The elevated flavonoid levels in in vitro cultivated plants, together with enhanced antioxidant capacity, indicate the strong potential of in vitro cultivated plants in antioxidant and cytoprotective formulations for cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. Full article

Inhaled medications, commonly prescribed for respiratory conditions such as asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, are increasingly scrutinized in sports medicine due to their potential performance-enhancing effects. Bronchodilators, in particular, may improve lung function, increase oxygen delivery, and influence muscle contractility, potentially enhancing athletic performance. However, supratherapeutic use raises concerns about cardiovascular risks, including tachyarrhythmias and altered autonomic balance, as well as muscle hypertrophy and sprint capacity gains. These effects blur the line between therapeutic use and doping, creating challenges for fair competition. This review explores the mechanisms by which inhaled drugs affect the cardiovascular and muscular systems, summarizes notable doping cases, and evaluates current detection methods. Despite regulatory thresholds established by the World Anti-Doping Agency, assay interpretation remains complicated by inter-individual variability, short drug half-lives, and enantiomeric differences. Addressing these gaps requires refined pharmacokinetic modeling, enantioselective assays, and metabolomic fingerprinting to safeguard both athlete health and the integrity of sport. Full article

Background: “Tejocote, manzanita, tejocotera”, and Mexican hawthorn are the popular common and commercial names of Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sessé ex DC. This medicinal and edible plant species is widely used for weight loss and for treatment of cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurological, and respiratory infections. Several commercial products are marketed as “Raíz de Tejocote” for weight loss; however, these are frequently adulterated with other plants, other Crataegus species, or other parts of genuine C. mexicana. In this sense, this work aims to provide the anatomical features of the leaf and stem, and especially to authenticate the root of C. mexicana. Methods: The study utilized light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to identify the key characteristics that differentiate the market sample sold under the name Raíz de Tejocote. Results: Anatomical features revealed that the sample sold as Raiz de Tejocote is not a root but a stem. The absence of key diagnostic features such as cork, cortex, cambial layers, and sclereids in the cortex, and the presence of pith, uniseriate rays, radial vessel patterns, and clustered pits, strongly suggests that the market sample is adulterated, most likely derived from a stem of a Crataegus species, but not the C. mexicana. Conclusions: The anatomical comparison indicates that the market sample does not match the root or stem characters of C. mexicana. This comparative anatomical profiling can serve as a reliable authentication parameter, especially if the sample is taken for quality check as a whole, cut and sifted, or coarse powder form, based on the wood characteristics, xylem vessel and fiber characteristics provided. Full article

Background and Objectives: Postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas, defined as abnormal communications between the intestinal lumen and the skin, represent one of the most challenging complications following abdominal surgery. Regenerative medicine, particularly through the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory and non-healing conditions. However, most studies have focused on complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease. This prospective, single-center observational study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of autologous ADSC injection in patients with complex postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas. Materials and Methods: Six patients (four males and two females) with persistent postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas were enrolled. Autologous adipose tissue was harvested via lipoaspiration from the abdominal wall or flank and processed in a GMP-certified laboratory to obtain a suspension containing 5–10 million viable ADSCs in 3–5 mL of isotonic solution. ADSCs were injected directly into the fistulous tract under ultrasound guidance, following CT image review. Clinical and radiologic follow-up was performed to assess closure and output reduction. Results: Four of the six patients (66.7%) achieved complete fistula closure, with no residual output and radiologic confirmation of healing within 4–12 weeks. One patient (16.7%) demonstrated a significant reduction in fistula output (>80%), while another (16.7%) showed minimal improvement and subsequently required surgical repair at 6 weeks. No complications related to ADSC administration were observed. Conclusions: Autologous ADSC therapy appears to be a feasible, safe, and minimally invasive option for managing complex postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas. These encouraging preliminary results—showing complete closure in two-thirds of treated patients—support further investigation through larger, controlled trials to validate these findings and optimize treatment protocols. Full article

Ultrasound (US) imaging is one of the most accessible, non-invasive, and real-time diagnostic techniques in clinical medicine. However, conventional B-mode US suffers from intrinsic limitations such as speckle noise, operator dependence, and variability in image interpretation, which reduce diagnostic reproducibility and hinder skill acquisition. Because accurate image acquisition and interpretation rely heavily on the operator’s experience, mastering ultrasound requires extensive hands-on training under diverse anatomical and pathological conditions. Yet, traditional educational settings rarely provide consistent exposure to such variability, making simulation-based environments essential for developing and standardizing operator expertise. This scoping review synthesizes advances from 2014 to 2024 in B-mode ultrasound simulation, identifying 80 studies through structured searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE. Simulation methods were organized into interpolative, wave-based, ray-based, and convolution-based models, as well as emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven approaches. The review emphasizes recent simulation engines and toolboxes reported in this period and highlights the growing role of learning-based pipelines (e.g., Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and diffusion) for realism, scalability, and data augmentation. The results show steady progress toward high realism and computational efficiency, including Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-accelerated transport models, physics-informed convolution, and AI-enhanced translation and synthesis. Remaining challenges include the modeling of nonlinear and dynamic effects at scale, standardizing evaluation across tasks, and integrating physics with learning to balance fidelity and speed. These findings outline current capabilities and future directions for training, validation, and diagnostic support in ultrasound imaging. Full article

Background: Maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality remain a pressing challenge with uneven progress globally and in Tanzania. The capacity of health facilities to provide quality care is critical to improving outcomes. This study aimed to assess changes in health facilities’ readiness to provide quality maternal and newborn care, and hence aimed to inform improvements in quality-of-care interventions in Tanzania. Methods: A before and after assessment of 28 comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care health facilities implementing the Safer Births Bundle of Care package in five regions of Tanzania was carried out in December 2020 and January 2023. We adapted the World Health Organization’s Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool, which covered amenities, equipment, staff, guidelines, medicines, and diagnostic facilities. Composite readiness scores were calculated for each category and results were compared at the health facility level. For categorical variables, we tested for differences by Fisher’s exact test; for readiness scores, differences were tested by linear fixed and mixed model analyses, considering dependencies within the regions. We used p < 0.05 as our level of significance and measured change from baseline using a paired t-test. Results: The overall readiness improved significantly from 67.6% to 83.7% (p < 0.05). Statistically significant improvements were seen in medical equipment (77.1% to 94.0%), diagnostic/treatment commodities (69.3% to 83.1%), and availability of guidelines (50.8% to 96.7%). Changes in amenities (78.1% to 84.2%) and staff (63.0% to 61.7%) were not significant. The overall readiness improved in all facility types and the change was statistically significant in district hospitals and health centres (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in improvement between regions (p < 0.05) Conclusions: The overall readiness has improved significantly, reflecting a positive change. However, there remains a need for further enhancement, particularly in terms of staffing, to ensure high-quality maternal and newborn care. Authorities should take swift action to address the identified gaps, selecting the most effective and practical interventions while closely monitoring progress in readiness and sustaining the gains. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing regenerative medicine, particularly in advancing mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies and smart biomaterials. This review highlights AI’s role in two core areas: First, at the biological level, AI can be used to predict MSC differentiation, immunomodulatory function, and therapeutic potential by analyzing multi-omics and imaging data, deciphering heterogeneity and improving precision. For instance, deep learning models based on MSCs’ morphology can successfully predict the differentiation propensity and uncover the regulatory networks underlying the intrinsic heterogeneity. Second, in engineering, AI shifts material design from trial-and-error to data-driven approaches. Machine learning models correlate material parameters with biological properties, enabling optimized screening. Furthermore, generative AI can be used to tailor novel materials through inverse design to achieve targeted properties like accelerated wound healing. However, the current development in this field remains constrained by several severe challenges, including the fragmented nature of existing research evidence, the insufficient reproducibility of model predictions in independent cohorts, and the significant translational gap from computational predictions to in vivo validation. Future research must not only demonstrate potential but also urgently address these fundamental and translational bottlenecks. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping pharmacy practice by enhancing decision-making, personalizing therapy, and improving medication safety. AI applications now span drug discovery, clinical decision support, and adherence monitoring. This narrative review explores key innovations, practical applications, and the implications of AI integration in pharmacy practice, with a focus on emerging tools, pharmacist roles, and ethical considerations. The review was conducted using literature from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Thematic synthesis included AI-based drug interaction checkers, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), telepharmacy, pharmacogenomics, and predictive analytics. AI enhances clinical decision-making, reduces medication errors, and supports precision medicine. AI tools support pharmacists and healthcare professionals in optimizing care. However, data privacy, algorithmic bias, and workflow integration continue to pose challenges. AI holds transformative potential in pharmacy, though its integration requires overcoming ethical and workflow-related challenges. Ethical and regulatory vigilance, coupled with pharmacist training and interdisciplinary collaboration, is essential to realize the full potential of AI. Full article

Background: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) and Onopordum acanthium (L.) (OA) are promising medicinal plants with diverse biological activities but there is no information on the effects of their combinations. To harness the therapeutic potential of both while minimizing the risk of adverse effects, we prepared two combinations (CE1 and CE2) of EP and OA in ratios 1:1 and 3:1, respectively. Methods: Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), hydroxyl radical absorbance capacity (HORAC), and an electrochemical assay were used to determine the antioxidant activity of the extracts in vitro. The anxiolytic and immunomodulatory properties were studied in rats. Animals were subjected to acute cold stress and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by the elevated plus maze (EPM) and social interaction test (SIT). Serum IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA. Results: CE2 demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (1841.7 μmolTE/g by ORAC, 277.2 GAE/g by HORAC, and 39.6 by electrochemical method). Moreover CE2 produced anxiolytic-like effects—significantly increasing the open arms entries ratio (OAER; p < 0.001), open arms time ratio (OATR; p < 0.01) in the EPM, and prolonging the social interaction time (p < 0.05) versus the stressed control. OA increased OAER (p < 0.01) and OATR (p < 0.001), while EP increased only OAER (p < 0.01). CE1 showed no significant behavioral consequences. CE2 significantly reduced IFN-γ (p < 0.05), and IL-10 levels were elevated in OA and CE2 groups (p < 0.01). No significant changes in TNF-α levels were observed across groups. Conclusions: These findings indicate that CE2 and OA attenuate anxiety-like behavior and modulate the immune response primarily by stimulating IL-10 production. Full article

To enable fully automated medicine warehousing in intelligent pharmacy systems, accurately detecting disordered, stacked pillboxes is essential. This paper proposes a high-precision detection algorithm for such scenarios based on an improved YOLOv8 framework. The proposed method integrates a novel convolutional module that replaces traditional stride convolutions and pooling layers, enhancing the detection of small, low-resolution targets in computer vision tasks. To further enhance detection accuracy, the Bi-Level Routing Attention (BiFormer) Vision Transformer is incorporated as a Cognitive Computing module. Additionally, the circular Smooth Label (CSL) technique is employed to mitigate boundary discontinuities and periodic anomalies in angle prediction, which often arise in the detection of rotated objects. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a precision of 94.24%, a recall of 90.39%, and a mean average precision (mAP) of 94.16%—improvements of 3.34%, 2.53%, and 3.35%, respectively, over the baseline YOLOv8 model. Moreover, the enhanced detection model outperforms existing rotated-object detection methods while maintaining real-time inference speed. To facilitate reproducibility and future benchmarking, the full dataset and source code used in this study have been released publicly. Although no standardized benchmark currently exists for pillbox detection, our self-constructed dataset reflects key industrial variations in pillbox size, orientation, and stacking, thereby providing a foundation for future cross-domain validation. Full article

Boron-containing compounds have made a significant impact on the field of medicinal chemistry since the discovery of Bortezomib (Velcade^®), a dipeptide boronic acid approved by the FDA in 2003 for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Since then, over the last two decades, four more boron-containing drugs have been approved by the FDA: Tavaborole (Kerydin^®), Ixazomib (Ninlaro^®), Crisaborole (Eucrisa^®), and Vaborbactam (in Vabomere^®). These compounds are approved for treating conditions such as onychomycosis, multiple myeloma, and atopic dermatitis, as well as an Aβ-lactamase inhibitor approved in combination with meropenem for treating infections. Further, many organic molecules containing boron are in clinical trials. Additionally, boron-containing compounds play a crucial role in various biological processes. Boron’s Lewis acidity has been utilized for diverse applications, from targeting biological molecules to the synthesis of organic compounds and in advanced drug delivery systems. Recent progress in the advancement of boron-containing compounds has not stopped, and the further use of Boron is emerging day-by-day with the discovery of multifaceted applications. This review aims to highlight the recent advances made in the last decade in the drug design of boron-containing compounds and their therapeutic applications. Here, in this work, we have focused on the recent diversification and progress of boron-containing compounds in medicinal chemistry applications. Full article

Phellinus linteus, a medicinal mushroom with an ancient history in traditional medicine, serves as a valuable raw material for functional foods. While previous studies have shown promising antiviral effects, the present work is the most comprehensive investigation of P. linteus mycelial extracts and active compounds thereof against the H1N1 influenza virus infection in in vitro and animal models. Antiviral activity was evaluated using three treatment approaches (preventive, co-treatment, and therapeutic) in MDCK cells infected with H1N1 virus. In vivo studies employed male BALB/c mice exposed to aerosolized H1N1 virus (1.6 × 10⁶ PFU/mL). In the animal experiment, mice received either P. linteus mycelia powder (PL) at 1000 mg/kg/day or PLw/PLe at 350 mg/kg/day for 7 days before and after infection. Ethanol extracts (PLe) demonstrated superior antiviral properties compared to water extracts (PLw) in cell survival and viral inhibition tests. Animal studies revealed that both PL and PLe significantly improved recovery after H1N1 infection, with survival rates of 60% and 40%, respectively, versus 25% in controls. The treatments effectively restored depleted immune cell populations, indicating broad immunomodulatory effects. These findings highlight the potential of P. linteus as a functional food ingredient with promising therapeutic applications against viral infections through its action on both innate and adaptive immune responses. Full article

This study examines the occurrence of psychoactive opium and tropane alkaloids in ceramic vessels from the Funnel Beaker Culture (FBC) using optimized GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS analytical protocols. Twelve vessels and potsherds, including miniature forms and collared flasks, were subjected to standardized extraction, derivatization, and chromatographic analysis. The GC-MS/MS method enabled highly sensitive detection of target compounds (LOD < 0.5 ng/g), while LC-MS/MS provided complementary confirmation of analytes. Papaverine was identified in three artifacts (N1, N2, G2) using GC-MS/MS, and its presence was independently confirmed in two of these vessels (N1, N2) by LC-MS/MS. In one miniature vessel (D1), trace amounts of tropane alkaloids—scopolamine and presumptive atropine—were detected following derivatization. Recovery values ranged from 55% to 61%, demonstrating effective alkaloid isolation despite extensive degradation processes and strong interactions between organic residues and the ceramic matrix. The analytical results indicate that psychoactive plant derivatives could have been intentionally used and stored in selected FBC vessels, supporting interpretations related to ritual or medicinal practices. The validated procedures developed in this work provide a robust framework for the detection of unstable biomolecular residues in prehistoric ceramics and can be applied to future archaeometric and materials-science research. Full article

Pines are edifying woody species for forest habitats, having crucial importance for ecosystems in both cold (boreal or mountainous) and warm (Mediterranean and tropical) areas. Pine trees include about 120 species, many of which have had an important ornamental role. Despite their ecological importance, many pine forests are threatened by increasing deforestation and habitat degradation, leading to progressive declines in species distribution and genetic diversity worldwide. Humans have used pine wood since the Stone Age, gradually discovering their outstanding medical properties. This review synthesizes global knowledge on the medicinal potential of pines. Using a comprehensive literature survey of major international scientific databases, we evaluated documented traditional and modern medical applications across all regions where pines naturally occur. The vast majority (86) of pine species were described as having medicinal properties, and the uses of the main pine species in representative regions of all continents supporting forest vegetation were examined. Various organs or secretions (needles, branches, bark, buds, cones, seeds, pollen, roots, wood, sap, resin, pitch, etc.) have been used to prevent or treat numerous diseases or to strengthen the organism. Their reported therapeutic activities include antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumor, antimicrobial, skin-protective, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiallergenic, laxative, circulatory-enhancing, antihypertensive, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-aging, and antithrombotic effects. Given the remarkable phytochemical diversity and broad pharmacological value of these species, the conservation of pine genetic resources and natural habitats is urgent. Protecting these species is essential not only for maintaining ecosystem resilience but also for preserving their substantial pharmaceutical and industrial potential. Full article