نور عادل خميس العامر

Thalassemia is a chronic congenital disease that affects hemoglobin synthesis and causes anemia, bone marrow expansion, and iron overload. These factors can impair the metabolism of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, leading to bone disease and other complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 in Iraqi pediatric patients with thalassemia. Methodology: A case - control study was conducted on 60 children with thalassemia and 30 healthy controls, aged 2 to 10 years. Serum levels of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 were measured by spectrophotometry and ELISA measurement technique. Results: Thalassemia patients had much lower average concentrations of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 than healthy people, as well as lower iron levels. On the other hand, their ferritin levels were higher than those of the control group. Conclusion: Iraqi pediatric patients with thalassemia have high prevalence of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 deficiencies, which are associated with reduced BMD and increased risk of osteoporosis. Routine screening and supplementation of these micronutrients are recommended to prevent and treat bone disease in this population of Africa. The findings of this study could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of Thalassemia and its effects on essential nutrient levels in pediatric patients

Compared to other diseases, the burden of type 2 (diabetes mellitus) is increasing globally. Currently, there are over 500 million adults diagnosed with T2DM worldwide. The effect of T2DM on the economy and health care system will cost nearly 10% of the total global healthcare expenditure. Although hyperglycemia remains a classic symptom of T2DM, it is also now recognized as a truly systemic disease, as T2DM exhibits chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation. There has been a great deal of attention focused on ferritin, which is considered the primary iron-storage protein, as a potential biomarker of the relationship between iron metabolism, glycemic control and inflammation. serum ferritin levels that are elevated above normal values have been shown to consistently predict high rates of poor glycemic control, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, elevated serum ferritin levels have also been shown to correlate positively with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), suggesting that elevated ferritin may play a more general role in metabolic syndrome. The review explores new evidence (2023–2025) regarding populations from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America while assessing the methodological strength and weaknesses of the evidence. There is consistency in finding an association between ferritin concentrations, HbA1c, fasting blood glucose and metabolic complications; however, there are conflicting reports concerning whether ferritin is a causal mediator or an acute-phase reactant. Evidence from therapeutic studies showed that there was a decrease in ferritin in those receiving both a pharmacological and a lifestyle intervention, providing further support to the potential of ferritin as a tool to monitor treatment effects. The bulk of studies on this issue are cross-sectional, which does not allow you to determine causality (some are measuring ferritin levels using different assay techniques), and the large variety of baseline ferritin assays and subject populations are also complications for standardization. Future research should be longitudinal in nature and take into account ferritin measurements in combination with other inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, and adiponectin), and additionally use predictive models to determine how ferritin contributes to the stratification of risk as well as to the individualized treatment of patients with T2DM.

Menopause and ovarian dysfunction are consequences of ovarian aging, a continuous and natural process in women. Early symptoms of ovarian aging include inadequate response to ovarian stimulation, irregular menstruation, and loss of follicular function, which collectively contribute to a decline in fertility as women age. The effects of aging on the ovaries are more pronounced than on other organs, with deterioration in the follicular pool and oocyte quality influenced by endocrine, genetic, and metabolic factors. This study aimed to examine the correlation between menopausal symptoms and serum levels of vitamin D, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and other fertility-related hormones, as well as their impact on the timing of menopause. Ninety-two female participants were recruited from the Fertility Center Laboratories and AL-Saader Medical City in Al-Najaf province. A structured questionnaire assessing age, weight, height, and the severity of eleven menopausal symptoms-rated on a scale from 0 (absent) to 4 (extremely severe)-was administered. Symptoms evaluated included hot flushes, heart discomfort, sleep disturbances, muscle and joint pain, psychological issues, and urogenital problems. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, AMH, and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured using the ELISA method. The results showed a significant negative correlation between serum AMH and vitamin D levels with menopausal symptoms and advancing age in postmenopausal women. Vitamin D levels were also negatively correlated with age, depression scores, and body mass index (BMI). Women with vitamin D deficiency and decreased AMH experienced more severe menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, heart discomfort, depression, irritability, bladder problems, and musculoskeletal pain. These findings suggest that low AMH and vitamin D levels during menopause, compared to younger control women aged 20-40 years, may exacerbate menopausal symptoms. Supplementation with vitamin D, AMH, and reproductive hormone regulators, alongside lifestyle management, may benefit menopausal women suffering from fertility decline and severe menopausal symptoms.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is defined as the generation of abundant ROS inside tumor tissue by a Fenton reaction-based nanocatalyst, which is characterized by high selectivity and few side effects. However, the rate of ROS generation by Fenton reaction is limited due to a scarcity of Fenton-based catalysts within cells and a high level of intracellular antioxidant agents. In this study, a heterogeneous Fenton nanocatalyst, copper ferrite nanoparticles (CuFe2O4), was synthesized and it was accompanied by oxaliplatin (Oxa), a ROS-producing chemotherapeutic drug. CuFe2O4 was synthesized through the hydrothermal method and bovine serum albumin was used as a biological capping agent. The nanoparticles possessed a high surface area and mesoporous structure with an extremely small particle size of about 6.1 nm. Nanoparticles had a high capacity for oxaliplatin (3.4 mg g−1) and were then modified in situ by polydopamine (PDA) via alkaline-triggered polymerization, resulting in a pH-sensitive drug delivery system. The final construct (CuFe2O4.Oxa@PDA) showed pH-responsive drug release in a time-staggered manner. In vitro studies disclosed that CuFe2O4.Oxa@PDA nanoparticles were internalized by breast cancer cells (4T1), inhibiting tumor cell growth more effectively than free oxaliplatin. Furthermore, less cytotoxicity was observed against normal cells (NIH3T3), indicating that the construct's cytotoxic effects are directed solely at tumor cells. Furthermore, CuFe2O4.Oxa@PDA effectively catalyzed the Fenton reaction inside tumor cells, allowing it to amplify intracellular oxidative stress by lowering intracellular GSH levels and inhibiting catalase activity. Based on these findings, CuFe2O4.Oxa@PDA could be used as an adjuvant nanoparticle along with oxaliplatin-based cancer chemotherapy, significantly reinforcing intratumoral oxidative stress and promoting the clinical efficacy of oxaliplatin.

آخر الأخبار عن فيروس هانتا: خلال الأيام الأخيرة صار هناك تفشٍ محدود مرتبط بسفينة سياحية هولندية اسمها “MV Hondius”، وتم تسجيل عدة إصابات ووفيات مشتبه بارتباطها بسلالة من فيروس هانتا تُسمى “أنديز” (Andes strain). حتى الآن، أكدت الجهات الصحية أن الحالات ما تزال محدودة وتحت المتابعة.

وفقًا لتقرير صدر في المجلة الأمريكية لطب الشيخوخة ،في هذه الدراسة ، تم قياس مقدار الوقت الذي يقضيه كبار السن على الإنترنت ، من عدم الاستخدام إلى أكثر من ثماني ساعات في اليوم. لاحظ الباحثون أن أولئك الذين استخدموا الإنترنت في بداية الدراسة لديهم نصف خطر الإصابة بمرض الزهايمر من أولئك الذين لم يزوروا الويب بانتظام.