Advances in stem cell research- a ray of hope in better diagnosis and prognosis in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders have been a global health issue affecting the aging population worldwide. Recent advances in stem cell biology have changed the current face of neurodegenerative disease modeling, diagnosis and transplantation therapeutics. Stem cells also serve the purpose of a simple in-vitro tool for screening therapeutic drugs and chemicals. We present the application of stem cells and induced pleuripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the field of neurodegeneration and address the issues of diagnosis, modeling and therapeutic transplantation strategies for the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. We have discussed the progress made in the last decade and have largely focused on the various applications of stem cells in the neurodegenerative research arena

Dynamic bioactive properties of nutritional superfood Moringa oleifera: A comprehensive review

Moringa has attracted a great deal of scientific attention because of its abundance of bioactive components and the property of nutritional powerhouse. These substances, which include seeds, pods, and leaves, have a significant biological impact on humans. Abundant in vital nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and proteins, moringa is a model of sustained nutrition. It is an environmentally responsible choice because of its eco-friendly cultivation, which is in line with the ideas of sustainable farming. Because of its rich antioxidant content, which includes beta-carotene and vitamin C, moringa provides the body with strong defence against free radicals and oxidative stress. A plant rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, moringa exhibits potential anti-cancer capabilities in addition to its nutritional value. Because of its antibacterial qualities, moringa may be able to fight off harmful infections, which adds to its medical value. Considering these exceptional attributes, thorough research is necessary to fully understand the bioactive potential of moringa and the associated health benefits. This review sheds light on the bioactive qualities of moringa by rigorously examining its health-promoting qualities. It also explores the many uses of moringa in different sectors of the economy, highlighting its multifarious function as a nutritional powerhouse and a source of creative solutions for problems related to health and well-being

Efficacy of Complementary Therapies in the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and the second most common cancer overall, ranking as the fifth cause of death from cancer. The chronicity of the disease produces long-term physiological and psychological manifestations, which adversely affect the quality of life of the individual. The primary treatment while managing cancer presents with various debilitating side effects. With the recent advances in treatment techniques that have improved the survival rate, patients suffer from continuing posttreatment complications. Patients seem to cope well with the stress of treatment of BC and sustain a normal life; however, the deterioration in physical well-being makes the patient functionally inefficient. Exercise has been proven to be an effective, safe, and feasible tool in combating the adverse effects of treatment, prevents complications and decreases the risk of BC-specific mortality. This review briefly presents an overview of the burden of the disease and its management strategies. Owing to the heterogeneity of the population and the multitude of therapies they receive, the response of each patient to treatment is different and so is the magnitude of adverse effects. The review discusses the late sequelae following treatment and evidence supporting the role of physical activity in their management. In conclusion, there is a need for personalized physical activity plans to be developed to suit the individual and their circumstances

Predictive Modelling in pharmacokinetics: from in-silico simulations to personalized medicine

Pharmacokinetic parameters assessment is a critical aspect of drug discovery and development, yet challenges persist due to limited training data. Despite advancements in machine learning and in-silico predictions, scarcity of data hampers accurate prediction of drug candidates’ pharmacokinetic properties. The study highlights current developments in human pharmacokinetic prediction, talks about attempts to apply synthetic approaches for molecular design, and searches several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The article stresses importance of rigorous analysis of machine learning model performance in assessing progress and explores molecular modeling (MM) techniques, descriptors, and mathematical approaches. Transitioning to clinical drug development, article highlights AI (Artificial Intelligence) based computer models optimizing trial design, patient selection, dosing strategies, and biomarker identification. In-silico models, including molecular interactomes and virtual patients, predict drug performance across diverse profiles, underlining the need to align model results with clinical studies for reliability. Specialized training for human specialists in navigating predictive models is deemed critical. Pharmacogenomics, integral to personalized medicine, utilizes predictive modeling to anticipate patient responses, contributing to more efficient healthcare system. Challenges in realizing potential of predictive modeling, including ethical considerations and data privacy concerns, are acknowledged. AI models are crucial in drug development, optimizing trials, patient selection, dosing, and biomarker identification and hold promise for streamlining clinical investigations.</p

Correlates of tobacco quit attempts and cessation in the adult population of India: secondary analysis of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2009-10.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 275 million adults (15 years and above) use tobacco in India, which contributes substantially to potentially preventable morbidity and mortality. There is good evidence from developed country settings that use of tobacco cessation services influences intention to quit, with a higher proportion of attempts being successful in fully quitting. There is little evidence about cessation and quitting behaviour in the Indian context. This study assesses the socio-demographic characteristics and cessation services used by adults i) who attempted to quit smoked and smokeless tobacco and ii) who were successful in quitting. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, India, 2009-10. There were 25,175 ever tobacco users aged 21 years and above included in the study. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine associations between socio-demographic variables and cessation services utilized with attempts to quit tobacco and successful quitting. RESULTS: Of the ever tobacco users, 10,513 (42%) made an attempt to quit tobacco, and of these 4,395 (42%) were successful. Significant associations were demonstrated between male gender, increasing educational attainment and higher asset quintiles for both those who attempted to quit and those who were successful. Younger age groups had higher odds of quit attempts than all except the oldest age group, but also had the lowest odds of successful quitting. Heath care provider advice was positively associated with attempts to quit, but both advice and use of cessation aids were not associated with successful quitting. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first national evidence on the relationships between quitting attempts and successful quitting with socio-demographic characteristics, health care provider advice and use of cessation services. The findings of the study have important implications for scaling up tobacco cessation services in India, and indicate a need to re-examine in greater detail the effects of socio-demographic factors, type of tobacco product used and levels of dependency on quitting. Health system factors such as coverage and accessibility of cessation services, type of service, and its duration and follow up also have to be examined in detail to ascertain effects on quitting behavior