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Presence of Japanese encephalitis (JE) have not been documented in Saudi Arabia. There has been no systemic screening of JE in both vectors (Mosquito) and vulnerable populations. In the current study for the first time in southern Saudi Arabia, JE virus specific IgM and IgG antibodies were evaluated in blood samples from children attending emergency room, Abha Maternity and Children hospital. The results showed 20% seropositivity for JE with 19 (17.7%) IgM and 2(1.8%) IgG. There was no double positivity of IgM or IgG reported. The mean age for JE seropositive were 3 and 2 for male and female respectively. Convulsion was one single statistically significant clinical presentation that was observed in JE seropositive cases compared to the un-known viral etiology group. Paralysis and altered consciousness were only observed in JE seropositive individuals with majority of cases showing JE positivity from 1 to 3 days' date of illness compared to 1 day to 4 weeks among un-known viral etiology individuals. From the results it is evident that there is presence of JE among the community causing febrile illness and can be escalated to be screened in suspected viral meningitis and encephalitis cases. Further investigation including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and larger seroprevalence study can throw light on the incidence and prevalence of the JE in this part of the Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During sepsis, acute lung injury (ALI) results from activation of innate immune cells and endothelial cells by endotoxins, leading to systemic inflammation through proinflammatory cytokine overproduction, oxidative stress, and intracellular [Ca.sup.2+] overload. Despite considerable investigation, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) leading to LPS-induced ALI remain elusive. To determine whether stromal interaction molecule 1-dependent (STIM1-dependent) signaling drives endothelial dysfunction in response to LPS, we investigated oxidative and STIM1 signaling of EC-specific Stim1-knockout mice. Here we report that LPS-mediated [Ca.sup.2+] oscillations are ablated in ECs deficient in Nox2, Stim1, and type II inositol triphosphate receptor (Itpr2). LPS-induced nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) nuclear accumulation was abrogated by either antioxidant supplementation or [Ca.sup.2+] chelation. Moreover, ECs lacking either Nox2 or Stim1 failed to trigger store-operated [Ca.sup.2+] entry (SOCe) and NFAT nuclear accumulation. LPS-induced vascular permeability changes were reduced in EC-specific [Stim1.sup.-/-] mice, despite elevation of systemic cytokine levels. Additionally, inhibition of STIM1 signaling prevented receptor-interacting protein 3-dependent (RIP3-dependent) EC death. Remarkably, BTP2, a small-molecule calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel blocker administered after insult, halted LPS-induced vascular leakage and pulmonary edema. These results indicate that ROS-driven [Ca.sup.2+] signaling promotes vascular barrier dysfunction and that the SOCe machinery may provide crucial therapeutic targets to limit sepsis-induced ALI., Introduction The systemic inflammatory response in sepsis has devastating consequences resulting in high morbidity and mortality (1). It represents a major burden on the health care system, with more than [...]

Neurada procumbens L. commonly called as sand button, is used as a medicinal herb by Bedouin in the Arabia Peninsula for heart and respiratory functions. This little known plant has not been investigated in detail for its biological activities. Hence, we have made an attempt to investigate the plant for its anticancer activities. Methanol and chloroform extracts of N. procumbens were evaluated for antiproliferative and anticancer activities in HEp-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Human foreskin epithelial cells showed an IC50 value of 34 µg and 149 µg for chloroform and methanol extracts, respectively. The chloroform extract of N. procumbens @3 µg showed 50% reduction of HEp-2 cell population in 24 h, while 5.5 µg showed similar effects in MCF-7 cells. The results of the methanol extracts were little varied, where 49 µg showed slow inhibition of HEp-2 cells over a period of 72 h. In another similar observation, 76 µg of methanol extract inhibited 50% MCF-7 cell proliferation. The concentrations which could inhibit complete turnover of the experimental cancer cell lines at 24 h were >5 µg and 6 µg of chloroform extract and > 60 µg and 80 µg of methanol extract for HEp-2 and MCF-7, respectively. The micro therapeutic index of methanol extract in HEp-2 and MCF-7 were 3 and 1.9, while chloroform extract was 11.3 and 6.1. This is an initial observation of N. procumbens that shows antiproliferative activities against cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNAs biomarkers are emerging as an essential part of clinical oncology. Their oncogenic and tumour suppressor properties playing a role in malignancy has generated interest in their potential for use in disease prognosis. While several studies on miRNA have been carried out across the globe, evaluating the clinical implications of miRNAs in cancer diagnosis and prognosis research has currently not been attempted. A study delineating the area of miRNA research, including the topics presently being focused on, the seminal papers in this field, and the direction of research interest, does not exist. This study aims to conduct a large-scale, global data analysis and bibliometric profiling analysis of studies to evaluate the research output of clinical implications of miRNAs in cancer diagnosis and prognosis listed in the SCOPUS database. A systematic search strategy was followed to identify and extract all relevant studies, subsequently analysed to generate a bibliometric map. SPSS software (version 27) was used to calculate bibliometric indicators or parameters for analysis, such as year and country of affiliation with leading authors, journals, and institutions. It is also used to analyse annual research outputs, including total citations and the number of times it has been cited with productive nations and H-index. The number of global research articles retrieved for miRNA-Cancer research over the study period 2003 to 2019 was 18,636. Between 2012 and 2019, the growth rate of global publications is six times (n = 15,959; 90.71 percent articles) that of 2003 to 2011. (2704; 9.29 per cent articles). China published the most publications in the field of miRNA in cancer (n = 7782; 41%), while the United States had the most citations (n = 327,538; 48%) during the time span. Of these journals, Oncotarget has the highest percentage of article publications. The journal Cancer Research had the most citations (n = 41,876), with 6.20 per cent (n = 41,876). This study revealed a wide variety of journals in which miRNA-Cancer research are published; these bibliometric parameters exhibit crucial clinical information on performance assessment of research productivity and quality of research output. Therefore, this study provides a helpful reference for clinical oncologists, cancer scientists, policy decision-makers and clinical data researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Rational screening of arylidene derivatives for biological activities has resulted in many lead molecules with anticancer properties with effective therapeutic window.Aims: In the current study, FCX, an arylidene derivative, was screened for anticolon and prostate cancer activity.Settings and Design: Prostate and colon cancer cell lines were used to check the FCX effect on proliferation, apoptosis, and mechanism of drug action.Subjects and Methods: LNCaP, PC-3, HCT-8, and HT-29 cells were treated with various concentrations of the FCX. MTT assay was performed to check proliferation, propidium iodide and Hoechst dual staining for DNA fragmentation, and Annexin V binding assay for apoptosis, and cell cycle assay was done using flow cytometry. Functional androgen-mutated receptor cells were used mechanistic pathway elucidation.Statistical Analysis Used: A minimum of three individual replicates at different time periods were taken as mean value. The data were expressed in mean ± standard deviation. Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to assess the statistical difference between the groups.Results: FCX inhibited proliferation of prostate cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner with more selectivity toward LNCaP cells. Nuclear fragmentation and dose-dependent increase in Annexin V-positive LNCaP cells revealed apoptosis. Cell cycle G2/M phase arrest along with sub-G0/G1 population augmented the antiproliferative observations. Addition of FCX in the presence of estradiol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone, LNCaP cells markedly caused a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation indicating the compound activity to be facilitated through androgen receptor pathway.Conclusions: Together with the results, it is evident that FCX has a wide therapeutic window in the in vitro inhibition of the prostate cancer cells mediated by hormone-dependent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]