Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU) is a private university located in Dehradun, Haldwani and Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India.
Melanoma is still the most lethal form of skin cancer causing approximately 56,000 fatalities annually. This cancer is primarily caused by molecular variations in the MAPK, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, p53, and immune signalling pathways. Even though immunotherapies and targeted agents have extended survival, resistance to therapy, toxicity, and limited accessibility still hinder progress worldwide. Various phytoconstituents obtained from natural sources, incorporating flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, have shown potent antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-metastatic effects in melanoma. However, their clinical use is limited by rapid metabolism, minimal systemic stability, poor absorption, and lack of tumor targeting despite attractive preclinical data. A significant improvement in phytochemical delivery in the form of nanoliposomes has emerged, introducing phytosome technology. This technology overcomes the drawbacks by producing stable phospholipid complexes with phytochemicals, thereby enhancing their solubility, bioavailability, membrane-permeability, and pharmacokinetic parameters. This comprehensive study covers the cellular mechanisms of melanoma, the drawbacks of existing therapies, the benefits of nanotechnology-based strategies and the increasing importance of phytosomes as a delivery vehicle for anticancer phytochemicals. It explains the progress in preparation methods, therapeutic effects, preclinical investigations, and the challenges in translating phytosome-based drug delivery for cutaneous melanoma.
Effective cancer therapy remains a considerable clinical challenge, largely due to the inherent limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, such as poor tumor selectivity and significant systemic toxicity. Despite the availability and ongoing development of multiple chemotherapeutics, their clinical effectiveness is often hindered by off-target effects and insufficient drug accumulation at tumor sites. In response to these challenges, nanoparticle (NPs) based drug delivery systems have emerged as promising strategies to enhance therapeutic precision, minimize adverse effects, and improve patient outcomes. Among the diverse nanocarriers explored, cobalt oxide (CO) NPs have garnered increasing interest owing to their distinctive physicochemical attributes, including a hyperbranched three-dimensional architecture, nanoscale dimensions, and hydrophobic core. These characteristics facilitate high drug-loading capacity and enable controlled, sustained release of therapeutic agents. The presented review provides a critical analysis of the current state of CO NP-based delivery systems, focusing on their synthesis, surface functionalization, and applications in cancer therapy, while also assessing their translational potential in clinical oncology and highlighting future directions for their incorporation into advanced targeted drug delivery platforms.
PURPOSE:Carrier screening identifies individuals at risk of transmitting autosomal recessive or X-linked recessive conditions, supporting informed reproductive decisions. Despite international recommendations for universal carrier screening, integration into public healthcare systems remains limited. This study evaluated the feasibility of implementing a carrier screening program in Spain's public health system. METHODS:Non-pregnant women aged 18 to 38 with reproductive intent were recruited through text messages sent from a primary care center, along with their partners. A sequential screening approach was used: women underwent a 351-gene massively parallel sequencing panel and complementary tests, while male partners were tested only if their partner carried autosomal recessive variants. Specific genetic counselling was provided, and emotional responses were assessed through pre- and post-test questionnaires. RESULTS:Of 518 candidates contacted, 400 (77%) responded positively and 152 couples (50.8% of those eligible) enrolled. Among 218 individuals screened, 62% (135) carried at least one pathogenic variant. Six carrier couples (4%) were identified as being at reproductive risk of non-syndromic hearing loss (GJB2, 2 couples), cystic fibrosis (CFTR), Stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa (ABCA4), Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (DHCR7), and Fabry disease (GLA). Of four couples followed post-disclosure, 75% opted for in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing or prenatal diagnosis. Prevention of severe genetic conditions was the most frequently reported motivation for participation. CONCLUSIONS:This study proves the feasibility and clinical utility of carrier screening within a public healthcare system. Our findings demonstrate high participation rates, clinical relevance through the identification of 4% of carrier couples, and strong motivation among participants to prevent the transmission of severe genetic conditions.
The main aim of the study is to perform a bibliometric analysis on the application of mindfulness in the workplace. We examined 449 documents published between 2010 and 2023 from the Scopus database using bibliometric analysis, thematic clustering, and performance analysis. The analysis involved reviewing academic output, notable authors, influential papers, leading countries and institutions, as well as keyword co-occurrence, co-citations, and thematic mapping using the VOS viewer tool. Research volume increased significantly from 2015, with 2022 being the peak publication year. U.R. Hülsheger was the most cited author with 735 citations, and the United States was the leading country in citations. The journal with the most articles was Frontiers in Psychology, while Mindfulness had the highest citations. Additionally, four thematic clusters emerged: mindfulness and well-being, mindfulness-based interventions, workplace mindfulness, and workforce resilience. This study provided a comprehensive scientific mapping and performance analysis of mindfulness literature in workplace contexts from 2010 to 2023, offering valuable insights for academic direction in this evolving field. This study was not preregistered.
Terminalia chebula is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, and chebulinic acid has been identified as a key bioactive constituent with notable antiulcer activity, owing to its antisecretory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, chebulinic acid’s poor aqueous solubility and hydrophobic nature limit its pharmaceutical application. This study aimed to enhance the solubility, gastric retention, and therapeutic efficacy of chebulinic acid by developing chebulinic acid-loaded solid dispersions (CASD) incorporated into modified xanthan gum-coated sodium alginate-based gastroretentive beads for improved gastric ulcer treatment. CASDs were prepared with PVP K30 via solvent evaporation and characterized using FTIR, XRD, and DSC. The optimized dispersion was incorporated into modified xanthan gum-coated sodium alginate gastroretentive floating beads through ionotropic gelation. Optimization was conducted using a Quality by Design approach with a Box–Behnken design. The resulting beads were evaluated for bead size, buoyancy, swelling, drug entrapment efficiency, surface morphology, in vitro drug release, and anti-ulcer activity to determine formulation performance. The optimized CASD demonstrated improved solubility (59.31 mg/mL) and
