Conectar
by Ayesha Bibi, Muhammad Hamza Afandi, Azra Mehmood, Usman Ali Ashfaq, Muhammad Shareef Masoud, Mohsin Ahmad Khan, Rashid Bhatti
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a very significant mortality rate and is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Jacaranda mimosifolia is reported to have potential antitumor activities against various human cancers. However, the effects of J. mimosifolia on HCC are yet elusive. This study aimed to investigate the anti-HCC potential of methanolic extract of J. mimosifolia leaves using in vitro and in vivo studies and a network pharmacology approach. The effect of J. mimosifolia extract was assessed on Huh-7.5 cells using MTT assay, wound healing assay, and DNA fragmentation assay. These experiments found that J. mimosifolia extract significantly suppressed Huh-7.5 cell proliferation, impaired cell migration, and induced cell apoptosis. The real-time PCR validated the upregulation of p53 and Bax, alongside the downregulation of AFP and GPC3 in Huh-7.5 cells after treatment with J. mimosifolia extract. In vivo experiments confirmed the hepatoprotective effects of J. mimosifolia extract in mice models with CCl4-induced hepatic injury. In addition, through network pharmacological analysis, J. mimosifolia was found to play a critical role against HCC via targeting multiple potential targets and pathways. Docking analysis identified apigenin and kaempferol with the lowest binding energy against PTGS2 and EGFR, respectively, while flavonol glycoside showed the lowest binding energy against MMP9. However, detailed research is needed to isolate the potential phytochemicals from J. mimosifolia against HCC.To explore factors affecting research engagement among Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs) in England by examining perceptions of research capacity at organisational, team and individual levels.
Research engagement strongly correlates with improved care quality. However, NMAHPs face persistent participation barriers compared to medical colleagues, limiting the development of a multi-professional research workforce.
National descriptive cross-sectional study using a validated survey tool.
Data from NMAHPs across England were collected using the validated Research Capacity and Culture tool. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and inferentially; qualitative free-text responses were evaluated thematically.
Perceived capacity was moderate organisationally and in teams. Organisational strengths included promoting evidence-based practice (68.7%) and leadership support (61.6%). Teams offered moderate research opportunities (58.6%) but limited mentorship (47.9%). Individually, participants showed competence in literature review (69.5%) and data collection (63.4%) but required support for funding acquisition (43.8%) and publication (50.0%). Qualitatively, research was a highly valued aspect of professional identity, though participation is severely constrained by structural conditions, including extreme resource pressures, unclear career pathways, and professional inequality.
Despite strong motivation for evidence-based practice, significant structural barriers restrict NMAHP research engagement. Strengthening capacity demands coordinated action across clinical and policy systems, ensuring equitable access to protected time, mentorship, and vital research infrastructure.
Supporting NMAHPs in research enhances evidence-informed decisions and service innovation. Embedding research into everyday clinical work, rather than viewing it as optional, builds a sustainable multi-professional culture.
This survey pinpoints the specific factors most strongly influencing NMAHP research engagement. It provides healthcare leaders actionable insights to build sustainable research infrastructure and inclusive clinical academic pathways.
This study adhered to STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional research.
No patient or public contribution.
by Dinesh Dadarwal, Kira Crooks, Patricia Lainetti, Ryan Dickinson, Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed, Colin Palmer
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a single postpartum administration of pegbovigrastim, a recombinant bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF), on peripheral leukocyte profiles, granulocyte function, and uterine cytology in healthy Holstein dairy cows. We hypothesized that rG-CSF would enhance leukocyte counts and granulocyte function without adversely affecting uterine immune cell composition. Twenty-three cows between 19–23 days in milk were randomly assigned to receive either rG-CSF (n = 12) or saline (n = 11). Blood samples were collected on the day of injection and on Days 3, 6, 10, and 21 post-treatment to assess total and differential leukocyte counts. Granulocyte phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Staphylococcus aureus and oxidative burst capacity following PMA stimulation were evaluated using flow cytometry. Vaginoscopy and transrectal ultrasound examinations were conducted at each time point, and uterine cytobrush samples were collected from a subset of cows for cytological analysis. Compared to controls, rG-CSF-treated cows exhibited a significant (2–3 fold) increase in total leukocytes and neutrophils (P P P = 0.04) and phagocytic activity as well as capacity (P = 0.01) that peaked on Days 3 and 6 post-treatment, respectively, following rG-CSF treatment. Furthermore, uterine samples from treated cows showed higher proportions of neutrophils (Days 6, 10, and 21) and macrophages (Day 10) compared to controls (PAlthough multiple studies have offered self-collection for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical screening in community settings, there are no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that have compared implementation outcomes of programme approaches for self-collection. This trial will compare two such approaches in low-resource settings in the states of Tamil Nadu and Mizoram, India.
A cluster RCT will be conducted over a year, offering self-collection to 3000 women aged 30–49 from 28 clusters (average size 101) in selected districts. Clusters in tribal, rural and urban low-income settings will be randomised to two arms. The intervention arm, co-designed with multiple stakeholders, will involve campaigns to offer self-collection in the community. The comparison arm will be offered self-collection at the nearest health facilities.
HPV-based cervical screening will be performed at central laboratories using clinically validated screening assays that can identify the highest risk carcinogenic HPV types (Group 1a–c - HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58, ±35). Ablative treatment will be based on positivity with this extended genotyping triage, while those with any of the lower carcinogenic HPV types (Group 1d - 39, 51, 56, 59, ±35, Groups 2a/b - 66, 68) will undergo further assessment with visual inspection with acetic acid. Outcomes will be evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using RE-AIM and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.
The primary outcome will be percentage of women well-managed (screened and appropriately treated) in both arms, with secondary outcomes including proportion screened, proportion treated, acceptability (willingness to screen, rescreen, and/or recommend to others) to women, community and healthcare providers, adoption (by providers), implementation fidelity, costs, sustainability assessment and systematically identified implementation barriers and facilitators. The reach, effectiveness and acceptability of community-based self-collection and the use of extended genotyping for triage in resource-constrained, hard-to-reach populations will be assessed, with lessons that can inform future statewide and national programmes.
Ethics approval has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Ethics Committee of the Christian Medical College Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India (IRB Min. No 14314; INTERVEN), the Alfred Hospital Ethics Committee (HREC Ref 80134, Local Reference: project 601/21), Melbourne, Australia, the IARC Ethics Committee (IEC 21-32), Lyon, France, the Salem Polyclinic Institutional Ethics Committee (SPCIEC/2022/June/01/02), Tamil Nadu, India and the Institutional Ethics Committee, Civil Hospital, Aizawl, Mizoram, India (No.B.12018/1/13-CHA(A)/IEC/115). The study is also approved by the State Scientific Advisory Committee, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (R. No. 011575/HEB/A2/2023). The Alfred Hospital Approval, as an authorised Australian ethics committee for national mutual recognition, is recognised and registered with the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee (2024-25255-57650-1). Written informed consent will be obtained from participants. The results of the trial will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed medical journal, and also through workshops, reports and conferences.
The trial has been registered with the Clinical Trials Registry - India: CTRI/2022/04/042327.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in debilitating sensory, functional deficits and paralysis requiring neurorehabilitation solutions. In this regard, focal muscle vibration (FMV) is an emerging neuro-rehabilitation tool that uses mechanical vibration on muscles/tendons to stimulate underlying nerves and consequently modulate neural pathways. We conducted a systematic review to understand the exact effectiveness of FMVs on the sensorimotor function and mobility/strength in the SCI population.
Systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach.
PEDro, Springer, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched through 15 February 2025.
We included studies adhering to the following population–intervention–comparison–outcomes (PICO) elements. Population: SCI, intervention: FMV, comparison: unexposed controls, outcome: either of sensorimotor function or mobility and strength.
Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) scale. Findings were summarised and a narrative synthesis is provided.
25 studies were included. 9 studies used FMV in the upper limb and 14 in the lower limb. The analysis includes 427 patients with SCI, with a focus on male, chronic SCI cases and a prevalence of North American studies.
Our systematic review of 25 studies, with 21 (84%) reporting positive outcomes, suggests that FMV may improve sensory perception, motor function, mobility and strength in individuals with SCIs, with benefits observed in both limbs. However, substantial heterogeneity in FMV parameters, study designs, participant characteristics and the high prevalence of serious/critical risk of bias (13/25 studies, 52%) limit definitive conclusions. Further research with optimised protocols, larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs is needed to confirm efficacy and establish clinical guidelines.
FreshRSS 