Its mission is to prepare professionals in the fields of pharmacy, health and management.Currently, there are 28 departments and graduate schools in six colleges: Pharmacy and Science, Human Ecology, Health and Information, Humanities and Social Sciences, Sustainable Environment, and Leisure and Recreation Management. The university has an enrollment of 16,835 students, and more than 500 full-time faculty members.The university is active in the fields of pharmacy, cosmetics, food, health care, biotechnology, and environmental pollution prevention. Scholarship, counseling, housing, and international campus are specially tailored to the needs of international students.
Background: Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO) is an immune-mediated, noninfectious inflammatory disease of the canine central nervous system (CNS). Despite its clinical importance, diagnosis remains presumptive, as definitive confirmation requires histopathology. Therefore, reliable biomarkers are required to improve diagnostic accuracy. Astrocytic S100B, which contributes to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, may serve as a potential biomarker for MUO. This study aimed to evaluate S100B in dogs with MUO compared to healthy controls (HC) and those with idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Materials, Methods & Results: This study included 43 client-owned dogs: 16 with MUO, 13 with IE, and 14 HC based on clinical records, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Blood and CSF samples were collected on the day of MRI and S100B concentrations were measured. Nonparametric and inferential statistical analyses were performed. CSF and serum S100B levels were significantly higher in dogs with MUO than in HC or IE. S100B levels were not significant between HC and IE groups in either CSF or serum. A significant correlation was found between S100B levels in CSF and serum. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for MUO versus control indicated that a CSF S100B cutoff of 699.11 pg/mL yielded 85.7% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity, whereas 835.82 pg/ mL provided 71.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. For serum S100B, a cutoff of 782.39 pg/mL showed 100% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity, whereas 977.06 pg/mL had 85.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Discussion: Both CSF and serum S100B concentrations were significantly elevated in dogs with MUO compared with healthy and epileptic controls, supporting the involvement of S100B in the neuroinflammatory pathogenesis of the disease. This finding aligns with previous evidence from human neuroinflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis, suggesting a conserved mechanism of astrocytic activation and S100B overexpression during central nervous system inflammation. The strong correlation between CSF and serum S100B levels further demonstrates that peripheral S100B reflects intracranial pathology and blood-brain barrier disruption, providing a feasible and minimally invasive diagnostic approach. These results indicate that measuring S100B could improve diagnostic confidence when MRI or CSF analysis yields inconclusive results, reducing reliance on invasive procedures. Moreover, the availability of a serum-based assay may enhance its translational potential and feasibility within veterinary diagnostic applications. In addition, the absence of elevated S100B in idiopathic epilepsy emphasizes its diagnostic specificity for inflammatory rather than non-inflammatory neurological disorders, reinforcing its potential utility in differentiating neuroinflammation from seizure disorders without structural lesions. Although the study was limited by small sample size and the lack of other structural CNS disease controls, the consistent increase in both serum and CSF S100B provides compelling evidence that this astrocytic protein represents a promising diagnostic and possibly therapeutic biomarker for MUO. Future large-scale investigations incorporating disease severity, treatment monitoring, and other CNS pathologies are warranted to confirm its clinical applicability and explore the benefits of targeting S100B-mediated neuroinflammatory pathways.
Polyphenol-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a revolutionary paradigm in cancer therapeutics, combining the structural versatility of MOFs with the bioactive and multifunctional properties of polyphenols. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advancements in the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of polyphenol-MOF hybrids for targeted drug delivery and synergistic cancer therapy. By leveraging polyphenols such as tannic acid, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallic acid, and polydopamine, these hybrid systems exhibit enhanced biocompatibility, pH-responsive drug release, and tumor-targeting capabilities. Key innovations include the integration of polyphenol coatings or coordination networks with MOFs (e.g., ZIF-8, MIL-100, UiO-66) to enable stimuli-triggered cargo release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and multimodal therapeutic effects (chemodynamic, photothermal, and sonodynamic therapy). Case studies highlight the role of polyphenol-MOF hybrids in overcoming limitations of conventional chemotherapy, such as poor drug solubility, off-target toxicity, and multidrug resistance. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrate their efficacy in inducing apoptosis, depleting glutathione (GSH), and enhancing immunotherapy responses. Challenges such as scalability, long-term biosafety, and clinical translation are critically discussed, alongside future directions for engineering next-generation polyphenol-MOF nanoplatforms. This review underscores the transformative potential of polyphenol-MOF hybrids in precision oncology and advocates for their integration into mainstream cancer treatment strategies.
Recent investigations have demonstrated that boron nitride nanocages (BNNCs) possess the capability to act as sensors for detecting biological compounds, particularly pharmaceutical agents. The current research focuses on evaluating the electronic sensitivity of both pristine (PBNNC) and platinum-decorated (Pt@BNNC) boron nitride nanocages toward the anticancer agent 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) using density functional theory (DFT) methodologies. Specifically, calculations were conducted at the DFT-D3 level employing the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional and the 6-31++G(d,p) basis set to systematically explore the structural, electronic, and energetic characteristics of 5FU adsorption on both PBNNC and Pt@BNNC. The findings reveal that 5FU undergoes physisorption on PBNNC with an adsorption energy (Eads)-9.27 kcal/mol, whereas in the presence of Pt, the interaction intensifies to a moderate chemisorption regime Eads =-49.11 kcal/mol), accompanied by an acceptable recovery time at ambient conditions (tau = 9.87 & times; 10-2 s). The electronic responsiveness was further scrutinized, with Pt@BNNC exhibiting substantially enhanced sensitivity, as evidenced by a 57.08% alteration in the band gap (Delta Egap) relative to PBNNC. Additionally, the feasibility of employing the system as a work function-based sensor was assessed; Pt functionalization yielded the most pronounced response, manifesting a 46.15% modulation in work function post-adsorption. In summary, considering both band gap modulation and work function variation, it is concluded that Pt@BNNC is a stable and suitable candidate for the selective electronic sensing of 5FU molecules in environmental applications.
Heavy metal contamination in water is a major concern on a global scale due to its toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Most conventional water analysis techniques typically laboratory-based, relying on bulky and expensive equipment, which result in high costs and prolonged detection time. These limitations have driven a growing interest in developing efficient testing devices. There have been many studies that attracted considerable research interest in miniaturized analytical devices, especially miniaturized electrochemical (MEC) sensors, for introducing fast, affordable, and sensitive sensing devices. Such devices minimize the need for large sample volumes and reagents, as well as bulky electrodes and other equipment. Among the various platforms, paper-based electrodes, screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), and textile-based electrodes have received much attention due to their specific properties. Carbon-based nanomaterials (CNs), such as graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), graphene, carbon fibers, and graphene oxide (GO), have emerged as key
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most lethal human malignancies, characterized by profound heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and limited drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Irinotecan (CPT-11), a topoisomerase I inhibitor converted to its active metabolite SN-38, has emerged as a potential chemotherapeutic alternative for GBM due to its distinct mechanism of action and non-cross-resistance with temozolomide (TMZ). However, early clinical trials revealed limited efficacy, largely constrained by subtherapeutic intratumoral exposure, pharmacogenetic variability, and systemic toxicity. Recent advances have redefined the therapeutic landscape of irinotecan through three convergent strategies: biomarker-guided precision, rational combination design, and innovative drug-delivery systems. Biomarker studies have identified predictive indicators such as TIMP-1 expression, TDP1/TOP1 activity ratio, and EGFRvIII-associated replication stress, providing a framework for patient stratification and response prediction. Mechanistic research has expanded irinotecan's therapeutic logic beyond DNA damage, uncovering roles in p21-mediated senescence and metabolic-epigenetic modulation when combined with checkpoint inhibitors or senolytic agents. Parallel innovations in delivery ranging from liposomal and nanoparticle formulations to implantable PLGA devices, peptide-drug conjugates, and MRI-guided convection-enhanced delivery have achieved sustained intraparenchymal SN-38 exposure while minimizing systemic burden. Collectively, these developments mark a translational shift from empirical cytotoxic therapy toward a modular, precision-engineered platform. The integration of biomarker discovery, molecularly rational combinations, and locoregional delivery systems positions irinotecan as a key component of next-generation GBM treatment paradigms, with the potential to overcome historical barriers such as BBB impermeability and therapeutic resistance.
