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Introduction Impaired trophoblast invasion has been observed in early onset Preeclampsia patients (EOPE). Trophoblast cell invasion during human placentation is majorly regulated by the balance between MMPs 2, 9 and their inhibitors [tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs 1, 2)]. Exogenous NaHS (hydrogen sulphide donor) treatment was shown to significantly increase the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs 2, 9) in human bladder cancer EJ cells. Epigentically, the gene expression of hydrogen sulphide synthesising enzyme CBS (cystathionine β-synthase) could be further regulated by various mi-RNAs via the transcription factors like Sp1. Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) has been identified as a target gene for miR-22 to regulate the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells. However, the mechanism of MMPs regulation by either CBS, Sp1 and miRNA-22 in the pregnancies having EOPE is not known. Aims and Objectives To determine and compare the expression of MMPs 2, 9, TIMPs 1, 2, CBS, Sp1 and miRNA-22 in EOPE patients and normotensive, non-proteinuric controls. Materials and methods 100 pregnant women were enrolled from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. EOPE women (n=50) after clinical diagnosis as per ACOG guidelines were enrolled as cases and normotensive, non-proteinuric pregnant women (n=50) were enrolled as controls. Protocol of the study was approved by Institute Ethics Committee, AIIMS, New Delhi. 5 ml of venous blood was collected from all the recruited women (2.5 ml in each EDTA and sera vial) followed by plasma and sera separation. Plasma samples were used subsequently to determine gene expression of MMPs 2, 9, TIMPs 1, 2, CBS, Sp1 and miRNA-22 by qRT-PCR and sera samples were used to estimate their protein levels by ELISA. Data were analyzed by STATA 14 and Graph Pad Prism 8. Results Significantly down regulated expression of MMPs 2, 9, CBS and Sp1 whereas up regulated expression for that of TIMPs 1, 2 was observed in EOPE patients as compared to healthy pregnant women at both transcription and translation levels. Expression of miR-22 (pre miR-22 and miR-22-3p) was found to be significantly elevated in EOPE patients as compared to normotensive, non-proteinuric controls. Conclusion This is the very first study of its kind which implicates that down regulated MMPs 2, 9, CBS, Sp1 levels and simultaneously upregulation of miR-22 expression in EOPE patients could have some association. In vitro experiments are needed to prove their association which if proven may provide a new, potential therapeutic target to treat early onset Preeclampsia.
Tyrosinase, a key enzyme involved in skin pigmentation and disorders such as melanoma, is traditionally detected by measuring its substrate, tyrosine. However, this traditional approach overlooks the direct detection of the enzyme itself. In contrast, this study introduces a novel electrochemical biosensor that directly detects tyrosinase activity using laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This method offers high sensitivity, a broad linear detection range of 0.5 to 60 U/mL, and a low detection limit of 0.19 U/mL. These electrodes successfully detected tyrosinase in real samples as well with an electroactive surface area of 0.31mm2 at pH 7. The electrochemical sensor uses tyrosine's electroactive groups for enhanced electron transfer and oxidation currents, ensuring high specificity for detecting tyrosinase with minimal interference from biological compounds. The robustness of the sensor was demonstrated by a strong correlation (r2 = 0.99) between measured and labelled tyrosinase concentrations in human serum, proving its reliability. The sensor's ability to monitor tyrosinase activity in real-time positions with a response time of 35 s makes it an ideal candidate for studying skin-related diseases, evaluating drug absorption, and conducting toxicity testing in skinon-a-chip models.
Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in Africa, which continues to bear the greatest burden. The transboundary nature of malaria necessitates regional collaboration, yet transcontinental knowledge-sharing mechanisms remain limited. The World Health Organization's (WHO) certification of China as malaria-free in 2021 presents an opportunity to leverage its expertise, cost-effective products, and elimination strategies to support Africa's malaria control efforts. The Institution-based Network on China-Africa Cooperation for Malaria Elimination (INCAM) was established in 2018 to bridge this gap, fostering cross-continental collaboration through knowledge exchange, product innovation, and policy advocacy. Between 2019 and 2025, INCAM has convened six fora, facilitated to promote the adaptation of China's anti-malaria practices to African contexts. These fora promoted the exploration of demand-driven research, the development of innovative anti-malarial products, and the advancement of evidence-based policies. INCAM exemplifies the potential of China-Africa collaboration to accelerate malaria control and elimination in Africa through solutions tailored to local contexts. To sustain this progress, there is an urgent need for stronger Public-Private-Academic Partnerships, and enhanced capacity-building programs. By addressing these gaps, INCAM can maximize its role as a leading transcontinental hub for malaria control and elimination for China and Africa.
Water scarcity, intensified by climate change and anthropogenic accomplishment, poses a critical task to worldwide sustainability. Iraq is one of the countries that has experienced severe water shortages due to the impacts of climate change and lack of water resources management. The most significant impacts of climate change are the availability and contamination of water resources. The main goal of this study is to develop a methodology to mitigate the effects of drought by utilizing saline water from the Main Outfall Drain (MOD) with the integrated WATSUIT model and Geographic Information System (GIS). After assessing the physical and chemical properties (pH, TDS, EC, Na, Mg, and Ca) at five monitoring stations (Baghdad, Hilla, Diwaniyah, Nasiriyah, and Basra) that have been selected along the MOD irrigation according to Iraqi and global criteria, the study determined that the water quality is unsuitable for drinking but adequate for irrigating salt-tolerant crops. The accumulated salinity at a steady state was estimated using the WATSUIT model. The results indicated that Basra’s water could not be used even at the highest washing requirements, while other sites were deemed acceptable with washing needs of (0.1) In comparison with salinity levels, the water in Al-Basra was found to be unusable even at maximum washing needs of 0.4. However, a significant improvement in the salinity levels was observed in Al-Diwaniyah at an LF of (0.2) Nevertheless, salinity levels in Al-Nasiriyah remain high, even at LF values between 0.2 and 0.4. Additionally, the total dissolved salts mostly exceed 2000 ppm, indicating the potential for growing salt-tolerant plants. The study concludes that using rainwater harvesting for soil washing, along with the saline water from the MOD, can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, remove salts from soils, and support the irrigation of salt-resistant crops.
This study aims to clarify the mechanism of storm surge caused by low-pressure systems, which differs from typical storm surges associated with typhoons and has been prominently observed along the northern coast of Kyushu, Japan. An integrated approach was employed by combining the analysis of observational data with numerical simulations using an ocean circulation model. First, based on tide gauge and wind data collected at multiple locations along the Northern Coast of Kyushu, the temporal relationship between storm surge anomalies and wind variations was evaluated. A strong correlation was identified between the rotational component of wind direction and the amplitude of the anomalies. Subsequently, numerical simulations using realistic coastal topography successfully captured the characteristics of coastal wave propagation (i.e. coastal-trapped gravity waves) generated by wind rotation and coastal geometry, and accurately reproduced both the timing and amplitude of the storm surge anomalies in the gauge. Furthermore, numerical experiments using idealized topographic meshes and simplified wind conditions quantitatively assessed how the rotation period of wind and the presence or absence of topographic features affect the resonant amplification or suppression of storm surges. In particular, it was revealed that the Goto Islands contribute to the earlier formation and amplification of storm surges, while the Korean Peninsula suppresses wave amplitude by limiting the spatial extent of wave propagation. These findings contribute to a better understanding of storm surge mechanisms, not only along the northern coast of Kyushu, but also in other regions around the world with similar geographic settings.
