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Abstract A Schiff base of Chitosan was prepared by condensing of the Chitosan (CS) with six aromatic aldehydes and confirmed by FT-IR, NMR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. XRD results showed the disappeared of peaks at 2θ = 10° for CS and appeared one peaks at around 2θ of 23° for Schiff bases, while TGA was demonstrated that the thermal stability of CS has improved after the modification with the corresponding aldehyde. Also, DSC shows endothermal peak of CS at 100 °C due to the loss of water and second thermal event related to the decomposition of amine units with an exothermic peak at 295 °C, while Schiff bases shows endothermal peak around 70–95 °C which is related to the loss of water for all samples and the second exothermic peak around 260–280 °C is related to the decomposition of the amine group in the polymer units. The antimicrobial activities of Schiff bases were tested against + ve/ − ve Gram bacteria, and fungi, while antitumor activities were evaluated against cell lines, MCF-7, HCT-116, and HepG-2. The result shows that Schiff bases exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than Amoxycillin and Tetracycline, while Schiff bases indicated the absence of cytotoxic activity when compared to the Colchicine.

A Schiff base of Chitosan was prepared by condensing of the Chitosan (CS) with six aromatic aldehydes and confirmed by FT-IR, NMR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. XRD results showed the disappeared of peaks at 2θ = 10° for CS and appeared one peaks at around 2θ of 23° for Schiff bases, while TGA was demonstrated that the thermal stability of CS has improved after the modification with the corresponding aldehyde. Also, DSC shows endothermal peak of CS at 100 °C due to the loss of water and second thermal event related to the decomposition of amine units with an exothermic peak at 295 °C, while Schiff bases shows endothermal peak around 70–95 °C which is related to the loss of water for all samples and the second exothermic peak around 260–280 °C is related to the decomposition of the amine group in the polymer units. The antimicrobial activities of Schiff bases were tested against + ve/ − ve Gram bacteria, and fungi, while antitumor activities were evaluated against cell lines, MCF-7, HCT-116, and HepG-2. The result shows that Schiff bases exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than Amoxycillin and Tetracycline, while Schiff bases indicated the absence of cytotoxic activity when compared to the Colchicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) shows a bimodal distribution, with the first peak in children under 10 years old and the second in adults. It is imperative to understand disparities in ALL-related mortality., Methods: ALL-related mortality trends in the United States from 1999 to 2020 were studied by extracting age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. Changes in AAMR were evaluated by calculating annual percentage change (APC) and average APC using Joinpoint regression., Results: A total of 35,056 ALL-related deaths were reported. The AAMR declined from 1999 to 2020 (APC: -0.65). Men exhibited a higher AAMR (0.59) than women (0.43). Hispanic or Latinos exhibited the highest AAMR (0.75), followed by non-Hispanic (NH) whites (0.47), NH black or African Americans (0.37), and NH Asian or Pacific Islanders (0.35). Among census regions, the West was observed to have the highest AAMR (0.59), followed by the South (0.49), the Midwest (0.47), and the Northeast (0.45). California had the highest AAMR (0.64), while the District of Columbia had the lowest (0.40). Stratification by urbanization revealed a higher overall AAMR in rural areas (0.52) than in urban areas (0.48). A majority of the deaths occurred in medical facilities (63.52%)., Conclusions: Even though a decrease was observed in ALL-related mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2020, disparities were identified in trends stratified by sex, race, census regions, and urbanization. It is essential to direct efforts towards high-risk populations to ensure a decrease in ALL-related mortality across the board., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Persistence of long-term hyperglycemia results in the glyco-oxidation of plasma proteins, which is considered to be a significant factor in metabolic dysfunction, linking hyperglycemia to the emergence of vascular complications. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a dicarbonyl species formed excessively under diabetes, elevates the oxidative stress, enhancing the generation of superoxide anion, which ultimately reacts with nitric oxide (NO•) to form peroxynitrite (PON). PON, being a powerful nitro-oxidizing agent distorts protein structure, hampering its function. This article describes the binding mechanism of thymoquinone (TQ) to fibrinogen (Fg) and its protective effects under simultaneous glyco-nitro-oxidation. Thermodynamic investigations revealed hydrogen bonding and Vander Waal interactions stabilise the complex, confirming its spontaneity and exothermic nature. TQ-induced micro-environmental and structural alterations in fibrinogen were observed by synchronous, 3-D fluorescence maps, and red edge excitation shift (REES). Molecular docking confirmed the wet lab experiments. Previous studies have shown that glycation, as well as nitro-oxidation, modifies the key residues of fibrinogen, leading to its aggregation. Our findings showed that TQ prevented MGO + PON-induced damage to fibrinogen. The current study analyzed the protective effects of TQ on glyco-nitro-oxidized fibrinogen using various biochemical, spectroscopic, and computational methods. NBT assay and carbonyl content revealed glyco-nitro-oxidation-mediated oxidative stress, which was effectively mitigated by TQ in a concentration-dependent manner. The secondary structural alterations in fibrinogen were prevented by TQ as observed by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, multiple assays and electron microscopy confirmed structural perturbations leading to the development of fibrillar aggregates that were reduced in TQ treated samples. Our findings project TQ as a potent protective agent against hyperglycemia and related human complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is considered the procedure of choice for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as it significantly improves cardiovascular outcomes. However, considerable uncertainty persists regarding the potential sex differences in PCI outcomes, due to conflicting results in previous studies., Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate potential sex-related differences in cardiovascular adverse outcomes after PCI among ACS patients., Methods: The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and its components. Outcomes were examined in various time frames including: short-term (within 1 month after PCI), mid-term (within 1 year), and long-term (within >1 year). A random effects model was used to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% CIs., Results: Among 32 trials, at short-term, PCI was associated with a higher risk of MACE (risk ratio [RR]: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10-1.86), all-cause mortality (RR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.70-3.71), and myocardial infarction (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.00-1.77) in women compared with men. Over the long-term, women had a higher risk of MACE (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01-1.22), all-cause mortality (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.17-1.42), and cardiovascular mortality (RR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.11-1.52), when compared with men. However, the analysis for stroke and repeat revascularization showed no significant difference between the 2 groups in the long- and short-term., Conclusions: In the meta-analysis of PCI-related trials in ACS, women have a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes compared with men., Competing Interests: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (© 2025 The Authors.)

Background and Purpose: There is limited data on the real-world management of incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN). In this article, we review current practices and adherence to international guidelines in the Nordic countries., Materials and Methods: This non-interventional, observational survey study based on an online survey consisting of 13 questions. In total, 32 hospitals responded to the survey, with 11 from Denmark, 10 from Sweden, 7 from Norway, and 4 from Finland, resulting in an overall response rate of 86% (32/37). These institutions reported following a median of 20 new lung nodules monthly (5-400 IPN cases per month)., Results: In Denmark and Sweden, 100% of respondents indicated the presence of national guidelines. In Norway, this rate was 86%, and in Finland 80%. Among the primary guidelines followed, 70% of respondents reported using national guidelines, 20% used international guidelines, and only 10% reported relying on local/institutional guidelines as their first choice. Most sites used a combination of international and national guidelines (75%, 24/32). Available international guidelines were equally represented, with 35% using the Fleischner Criteria, 30% using British Thoracic Society guidelines, and 35% using others (e.g. European Society for Medical Oncology, National Comprehensive Cancer Network). There was variation in which department held primary responsibility for IPN follow-up. The article also demonstrated differences in suggested follow-up cases from the survey., Interpretation: The study reveals strong adherence to guidelines among Nordic hospitals, with a notable preference for hybrid approaches that combine different guidelines. We need continued efforts to harmonize and update guidelines.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death/disability, with notable differences in incidence, prevalence, and mortality observed. Despite advancement in stroke research, notable gaps persist in understanding the overall trend and sex-specific disparities in stroke burden over the past three decades, both in the United States of America (USA) and globally., Aims: This observational-study aims to investigate evolving trends and sex-specific disparities in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of stroke in the USA and globally from 1990 to 2021., Methods: Leveraging data from the Global Burden of Disease database, we calculated age-standardized incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), and mortality (ASMR) rates per 100,000 individuals for stroke in the USA and globally, stratified by sex and type of stroke. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to assess the annual percent changes (APCs) in ASIR, ASPR, and ASMR, with 95 % confidence interval. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were subsequently computed as weighted averages of the APCs. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05., Results: From 1990 to 2021, the ASIR of stroke in the USA exhibited a significant decline from 113.45 to 75.64 per 100,000, marking a 33.3% reduction. Globally, ASIR decreased from 180.97 to 141.55, reflecting a 21.8% reduction. Furthermore, The ASPR from 1990 to 2021 in the USA slightly decreased of 1.7%, while globally, it was 8.5%. Additionally, The ASMR from 1990 to 2021 in the USA declined by 31%, from 44.05 to 30.27, whereas globally, from 144.31 to 87.45, representing a 39% reduction. Similar patterns were observed across sexes for incidence, prevalence, and mortality of stroke. Males demonstrated marginally higher rates compared to females across all parameters, with a diminished sex disparity noted across the examined variables., Conclusion: Despite a downward trend in stroke incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates observed both in the United States and globally, these rates continue to be notably elevated, with a male dominance but reduced sex gap. Targeted interventions and strengthened international collaboration are essential for effectively addressing these elevated rates and disparities, thereby mitigating the global and national stroke burden., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Previous studies have reported that the cGMP-specific PDE5 isozyme is overexpressed in colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas and essential for colon cancer cell proliferation, while PDE5 selective inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil) have been reported to have cancer chemopreventive activity., Aim: This study aimed to determine the anticancer activity of a novel PDE5 inhibitor, RF26, using colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the role of PDE5 in CRC tumor growth in vivo ., Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the anticancer activity of a novel celecoxib derivative, RF26, in CRC cells previously reported to lack COX-2 inhibition but have potent PDE5 inhibitory activity., Methods: Anticancer activity of RF26 was studied using human CRC cell lines. Effects on cell growth, cGMPdependent protein kinase (PKG) activity, β-catenin levels, TCF/LEF transcriptional activity, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were measured. CRISPR/cas9 PDE5 knockout techniques were used to determine if PDE5 mediates the anticancer activity of RF26 and validate PDE5 as a cancer target., Results: RF26 was appreciably more potent than celecoxib and sildenafil to suppress CRC cell growth and was effective at concentrations that activated PKG signaling. RF26 suppressed β-catenin levels and TCF/LEF transcriptional activity and induced G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis within the same concentration range. CRISPR/cas9 PDE5 knockout CRC cells displayed reduced sensitivity to RF26, proliferated slower than parental cells, and failed to establish tumors in mice., Conclusion: Further evaluation of RF26 for the prevention or treatment of cancer and studying the role of PDE5 in tumorigenesis are warranted., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is highly poisonous and has received significant attention from environmental scientists due to its harmful impacts on plants. Oryza glumaepatula is a wild rice that contains useful genes against biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, the current study used SG007, a single-segment substitution line (SSSL), generated by crossing O. glumaepatula with an elite rice cultivar (HJX74), to evaluate the resistance potential against Cd. Moreover, we assessed the efficacy of strigolactone GR24 (1 μM) against Cd toxicity (100 μM) by investigating physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms in both cultivars (i.e., SG007 and HJX74). The findings of this study revealed that Cd toxicity declined the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids by 50%, 20%, and 44% in SG007, and 58%, 39%, and 59% in HJX74 by enhancing electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) by 113%, 184%, and 119% in SG007 and 248%, 273% and 195% in HJX74, respectively. GR24 improved growth under Cd stress in both cultivars, and SG007 exhibited better plant growth parameters, antioxidant enzymatic activities, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and nitric oxide (NO) levels than HJX74 under Cd toxicity. GR24 with SG007 regulated expressions of Cd transporters and reduced the cytological disruptions in cell organelles. The combined utilization of SG007 and GR24 reduced Cd accumulation and oxidative stress and improved plant growth parameters and enzymatic activities. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of utilizing SG007 in conjunction with GR24 as a practical strategy to mitigate Cd pollution in rice. The results not only underscore the beneficial effects of strigolactone GR24 in alleviating Cd-induced stress but also emphasize the valuable genetic traits of O. glumaepatula in developing rice lines with enhanced tolerance to heavy metals, offering broader implications for sustainable agriculture and crop improvement in contaminated environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) transplantation in decreasing inflammation and cell death in brain cells, thus reducing seizure damage. We induced seizures in rats using intraperitoneal injections of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). In the PTZ + DPSC group, we conducted bilateral hippocampal transplantation of DPSCs in PTZ-lesioned rat models. After 1 month, we performed post-graft analysis and measured some behavioral factors, such as working memory and long-term memory, using a T-maze test and passive avoidance test, respectively. We investigated the immunohistopathology and distribution of astrocyte cells through light microscopy and Sholl analysis. Additionally, we employed the Voronoi tessellation method to estimate the spatial distribution of the cells in the hippocampus. Compared to the control group, we observed a reduction in astrogliosis, astrocyte process length, the number of branches, and intersections distal to the soma in the hippocampus of the PTZ + DPSC group. Further analysis indicated that the grafted DPSCs decreased the expression of caspase-3 in the hippocampus of rats with induced seizures. Moreover, the DPSCs transplant protected hippocampal pyramidal neurons against PTZ toxicity and improved the spatial distribution of the hippocampal neurons. Our findings suggest that DPSCs transplant can be an effective modifier of astrocyte reactivation and inflammatory responses., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics approval: Ethical approval was obtained by the ethics committee of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran (IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1402.1332). All procedures, including the informed consent process, were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2013., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Japanese Association of Anatomists.)