Nile Valley University

The primary objective of our research is to investigate the gastroprotective impact of Ficus. carica L. latex extract (FCL). Metabolic profiling based on HR- LCMS for the extract led to the annotation of 20 compounds. Additionally, the gastro-protective activity of the latex extract was evaluated in vivo using male albino rats. FCL significantly alleviated the indomethacin-induced ulceration and reduced the ulcer index. Furthermore, the inflammation caused by indomethacin was seen to diminish due to the downregulation of the production of certain genes (IL-6, and TNF-α, IL-1β). Besides, FCL considerably reduced the elevated TGF-β, and IGF-1, COX-2 relative gene expression. Likewise, FCL dramatically raised EGF and KGF relative gene expression, demonstrating its beneficial impact in ulcer healing. The antioxidant ability of FCL was assessed by in vitro experiments utilizing hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical scavenging, which demonstrated significant antioxidant capacity. Employing network pharmacology, we identified 10 hub genes central to peptic ulcer disease and conducted molecular docking studies screening interactions between FCL extract compounds and these hubs along with anti-inflammatory targets including FGFR, TGF-βR, IGFR-1R and IL-1R1 involved in ulcer healing. Additionally, an in-silico study using annotated FCL compounds highlighted Ficuseptin-C, Ficuseptin-B and Ficusin-A in the extract may contribute to its antiulcer properties. The present study highlighted the potential of FCL as a promising natural gastro-protective agent.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory ailment which preferentially impacts the synovial membranes of joints and ultimately triggers cartilage and bone erosion. Angiotensin II (Ang II) participates in the pathogenesis of RA; hence, Ang II receptor blockade, accomplished through a specific inhibitor such as losartan potassium (LST), may confer an effective therapeutic avenue for RA. This study aimed to develop, optimize, and characterize LST-loaded leciplexes (LST-LPXs) to ameliorate its bioavailability and prolong its therapeutic efficacy for combating RA. To accomplish this objective, LST-LPX dispersions were assembled through a single-step process and optimized via D-optimal design for various physicochemical traits employing Design-Expert® software. Also, pharmacokinetic studies were explored in rats. Additionally, in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced RA in Wistar rats, RF, COMP, NADPH oxidase, NO, IL-6, TNF-α, besides Ang II and its receptors (AT1R & AT2R) were measured. The optimum LST-LPXs formulation elicited acceptable entrapment efficiency (88.05%), nano-scaled spherical morphology (246.71nm), controlled release over 24h (86.33%), and adequate permeation properties through the skin (417.83μg/cm2). The pharmacokinetic analysis disclosed a snowballed bioavailability of the optimized LST-LPXs gel by 3.08- and 1.2-fold versus the oral solution and crude gel, respectively. The optimum LST-LPXs gel divulged accentuated anti-arthritic effects, evidenced by significant suppression of rheumatoid, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers coupled with corrections of AT1R and AT2R protein expression. Practically, the current findings proposed a compelling proof-of-principle that the transdermal LST-LPXs could serve as a non-invasive promising nanoparadigm for RA tackling.

This study presentsthe synthesis of a covalent organic framework(TPBT-COF) via the Schiff-base reaction and its integration with carbonnanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through in situpolymerization, yielding TPBT@CNT and TPBT@rGO composites. To developenvironmentally friendly electrode materials, the TPBT@CNT and TPBT@rGOcomposites were blended with regenerated cellulose (RC), forming TPBT@CNT/CNT/RCand TPBT@rGO/rGO/RC films. The TPBT@CNT/CNT/RC film-based electrodeexhibited superior capacitive performance due to its uniform composition,achieving a specific capacitance of 1288.26 F/g at 0.5 A/g. In contrast,the TPBT@rGO/rGO/RC film-based electrode showed a lower capacitanceof 398.75 F/g at 0.5 A/g, attributed to the uneven material distribution.Both composite film-based electrodes demonstrated excellent cyclingstability, retaining 85.87 and 81.82% of their initial capacitanceafter 10,000 cycles, respectively. In a symmetric device configuration,the TPBT@CNT-50/CNT/RC (35/35/30, w/w) electrode achieved a specificcapacitance of 84.32 F/g at 1 A/g, with a maximum energy density of11.71 Wh/kg and a power density of 312.5 W/kg, while maintaining 77%of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. These findings underscorethe potential of TPBT-COF-based composites as sustainable, high-performanceelectrode materials for energy storage applications.

An intermolecular addition of acetophenone derivatives to unactivated alkenes was developed through Pd-(II)/amine cooperative catalysis. This dual catalytic system functions by activating the amide-containing alkene via Pd-(II) coordination while simultaneously enhancing the nucleophilicity of the α-carbon of acetophenones through enamine catalysis, thereby facilitating the C-C bond-forming reaction. Five quinoline-based amide derivatives were designed and synthesized to explore their potential as biologically active agents. The synthesized compounds were structurally characterized using the standard NMR technique and subsequently evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. The five derivatives exhibited significant inhibitory effects, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) comparable to or better than those of reference drugs. To gain insight into the molecular basis of their biological activity, molecular docking studies were performed against relevant microbial target enzymes, revealing favorable binding interactions and high docking scores. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to assess the stability and conformational behavior of the most active ligand-protein complexes over time, supporting their potential as stable bioactive candidates. In addition, ADMET in silico predictions indicated good drug-likeness, acceptable pharmacokinetic profiles, and low toxicity risk, reinforcing their potential as promising scaffolds for antimicrobial drug development.

The digitalization of veterinary pathology, enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), is reshaping the landscape of animal disease diagnosis, education, and research in the era of AI. This transformation involves converting traditional glass slides into high-resolution whole-slide images (WSIs), enabling remote access, long-term storage, and more efficient analysis of tissue specimens. When combined with AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning, digital pathology offers powerful tools for automated image interpretation, disease classification, and pattern recognition, significantly improving diagnostic speed, accuracy, and consistency. In veterinary medicine, where species diversity and limited access to specialized pathologists present unique challenges, digital pathology supported by AI provides innovative solutions for both clinical and academic settings. The informatics infrastructure provides for the storage, recall, and secure dissemination of digital slides and associated metadata among geographically distant institutions, circumventing the past limitations of physical slide transport and specialist availability. Despite hurdles such as high implementation costs, lack of standardized protocols, and the need for large annotated datasets, ongoing advancements and increasing global collaboration are accelerating the adoption of these technologies.

Abstract Understanding of factors influencing diabetes control is crucial for effective interventions to improve glycemic control. We aimed to determine poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Atbara Diabetes Centers, Sudan, An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter-based study was conducted from June to December 2023. The study included Sudanese patients with T2D attending care centers. The sample size was 385 participants by convenience sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by a structured questionnaire. The majority of the participants were between 40 and 60 years old (47.3%), female (56.4%), married (74.3%), and living in urban areas (74.8%). Patient-related factors, such as obesity (20.8%) and sedentary lifestyles (15.1%), revealed that many participants had habits and lifestyles that negatively impacted health. However, most participants had good medication adherence and awareness of diabetes control (68.6 and 53%, respectively). Many participants reported experiencing a stressful lifestyle (52.5%). Only 51.9% had well-controlled diabetes. Age, medication adherence, and diabetes awareness were significantly associated with glycemic control. Predictors of poor glycemic control included age above 60 years, poor medication adherence, poor awareness of diabetes, and not undergoing regular monitoring. Poor glycemic control is associated with inadequate self-management practices, a lack of proper education and awareness about diabetes management, limited access to healthcare services, and comorbidities. These findings should inform healthcare providers and policymakers about implementing targeted interventions to address the specific needs of individuals with T2D. By addressing these factors and implementing effective interventions, it is possible to enhance glycemic control and ultimately improve the overall health outcomes of this population.

Cisplatin (CIS) is a productive chemotherapeutic agent that is effective against a variety of cancer types. Its utilization is linked to acute kidney injury and other adverse consequences. Among its toxic effects are oxidative stress, apoptosis as well as inflammation. Saudi Tamarix honey (STH) is a valuable product with plentiful nutritional and health benefits, demonstrating advantageous effects against inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, this study examined the potential of STH to prevent oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and kidney impairment that are induced by CIS in rats, pointing to the entanglement of the Nrf2, the caspase-3, and the IL-6/STAT3/TNF-α signaling pathways. Histopathological examinations of the kidney were also used to evaluate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The rats received STH (50, 100mg/kg) for 10days and were challenged with a single dose of CIS (7mg/kg) on day 7. CIS caused injury to the glomeruli and the tubules, increased lipid peroxidation, TNF-α, IL-6, cleaved caspase-3, and decreased cellular antioxidants in the kidneys of rats. STH effectively prevented tissue injury, and ameliorated oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, in addition to caspase-3 in CIS-administered rats. STH is rich with antioxidants, suppressed STAT3 protein expression, and upregulated Nrf2 in CIS-administered rats. In conclusion, STH mitigated CIS-induced kidney injury by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing STAT3 and caspase-3, inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators, and enhancing Nrf2 signaling. On the other hand, metabolomic profiling proposed the presence of 15 metabolites belonging to the chemical classes, phenolic acids, flavonoids and sterols, where phenolic acids were the most abundant classes.