Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), which is a Gram-positive diplococcus, has emerged as a significant human pathogen. It is a primary cause of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, and septicemia, leading to a considerable impact on global morbidity and mortality. The investigation of S. pneumoniae and its virulence factors has resulted in the identification of surface endonuclease A (EndA). EndA functions in DNA uptake during natural transformation and plays a significant role in gene transfer. The ability of S. pneumoniae to degrade neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) enhances its virulence and invasive potential in pneumococcal infections. NETosis occurs when neutrophils release chromatin into the extracellular space to form NETs, capturing and neutralizing pathogens. Currently, NETosis can be induced by several microbes, particulate matter, and sterile stimuli through distinct cellular mechanisms, and this includes the involvement of EndA in S. pneumoniae. Here, we reviewed the cellular functions of EndA, its role in S. pneumoniae as a virulence factor in relation to NETosis, its relationship to immunogenicity, and its involvement in several diseases. The discovery of this relationship would significantly impact therapeutic technology in reducing disease burden, especially pneumococcal infections.

Autologous fat grafting is a common technique in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, addressing facial rejuvenation, breast contouring, scar mitigation, and soft tissue corrections. However, clinical outcomes can be inconsistent and unpredictable. While extensive research has explored the mechanisms of harvesting, purifying, and transplanting adipose tissue, there is a notable gap in understanding the impact of donor-related factors on fat grafting success. This review aims to fill this gap by examining how variables like donor age, sex, health status, and anatomical site of fat harvest influence the biological efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Younger donors often exhibit higher ASC proliferation rates and regenerative potential, while older donors may have reduced cell viability. Hormonal differences between sexes and donor health conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, can also impact ASC functionality and graft outcomes. The anatomical source of the fat further affects its cellular composition and regenerative potential. Understanding these donor-related factors is vital for optimizing fat grafting techniques. The review also explores innovative strategies, such as adipose tissue cryopreservation and acellular fat matrices, to mitigate donor variability. These approaches offer promising avenues for enhancing the predictability and effectiveness of fat grafting. By synthesizing current knowledge and highlighting novel strategies, this review aims to improve clinical outcomes and advance the field of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Harmattan is a season characterized by dust, cold, and sub-humid trade winds in Sub-Saharan countries. It’s similar to meteorological phenomena like Asian dust storms, Santa Ana winds, Australian bushfires, and Saharan dust in the Caribbean. It causes profound changes in the cardiorespiratory system in apparently healthy individuals and increases the risk of hospitalization in susceptible individuals. Exposure to these extreme conditions has been associated with alterations in autonomic function and baroreceptor sensitivity thus resulting in dysregulation of blood pressure control mechanisms. Baroreceptors are critical regulators of hemodynamics and cardiovascular function. They play a vital role in the short-term responses to blood pressure perturbation and are essential for acute restoration of blood pressure following cold exposure. Harmattan wind contains a barrage of chemicals, dust, and particulate matters depending on industrialization, natural and human activities. Particulate matter from Harmattan dust can trigger systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, exacerbating endothelial dysfunction and impairing vascular reactivity thus contributing to the pathogenesis of alterations in baroreceptor insensitivity, and cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, fine particulate matter from dust may penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, activating pulmonary sensory receptors and eliciting reflex responses that influence autonomic tone. The presence of rich acrolein smokes and non-essential heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury in Harmattan wind also reduces baroreflex sensitivity, culminating in a sustained increase in diastolic and systolic blood pressure. This integrated review aims to provide valuable insights into how changes in each of these environmental constituents alter vital pathophysiologic and immunologic mechanisms of the body leading to baroreceptor instability and ultimately hemodynamic imbalance using available primary studies. Understanding this intricate interplay is crucial for implementing targeted interventions and informed public health strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme environmental exposure and ultimately reduce poor health outcomes in the affected regions.

Diabetic ketoalkalosis (DKALK) is a rare but significant variant of diabetic emergencies, characterized by metabolic alkalosis rather than the typical acidosis seen in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Despite its clinical importance, DKALK often goes unrecognized due to limited literature on its presentation and biochemical variables. This work examines the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, management strategies, and implications for clinical practice of DKALK, drawing insights from case studies and research gaps in the field. Notable case studies underscore the diagnostic challenges and emphasize the importance of tailored management strategies for DKALK. Risk assessment involves recognizing predisposing factors such as severe vomiting, alcohol abuse, or concomitant diuretic use. Timely recognition and intervention are essential to prevent potentially life-threatening complications associated with DKALK. Continued research efforts are warranted to refine diagnostic criteria, optimize therapeutic approaches, and enhance early recognition of DKALK, ultimately improving patient outcomes in this challenging clinical scenario.

The emergence and subsequent advancement of nanotechnology in recent years have greatly benefited the healthcare sector, particularly in the treatment of cancer. As per study, major fatalities are related to the lung cancer. For many years, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of receptors have been used in the clinic to treat human malignancies, although they observed some very serious adverse effects in the treatment of lung cancer, especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite EGFR-TKIs’ exceptional qualities as small-molecule targeted medications, their applicability is nevertheless limited by their poor solubility, inconsistent oral bioavailability, high daily dose needs, high plasma albumin binding propensity, and initial/acquired drug resistance. Article’s purpose is to investigate EGFR-TKI’s effects on lung cancer and get around some of its drawbacks, nanotechnology will be an innovative strategy. An effective tool to increase the effectiveness of these pharmaceuticals is nanotechnology by methods other than oral. This article signifies that a range of nanomedicine delivery systems have been developed to effectively distribute EGFR-TKIs with improved drug release kinetics and tissue-targeting capacity. This review article intends to present information regarding lung cancer and EGFR relation, mechanism of recently approved EGFR-TKI’s targeted therapy, an updated landscape of EGFR-TKIs and their clinical status over lung cancer, advantages and disadvantages of nanotechnology, and new breakthroughs in nano-delivery which mentioned as a significantly better over traditional drug chemotherapy and delivery.

The integration of digital technologies like CAD/CAM systems and intraoral scanners is transforming the field of dentistry, providing numerous benefits for both patients and dental professionals. This case study explores the significance and benefits of dental CAD/CAM technology in revolutionizing the dental industry, focusing on the creation of personalized dental restorations with precision and speed. The study emphasizes the applications of CAD/CAM technology and showcases the state-of-the-art Medit i700 intraoral scanner for detailed dental impression scanning. By adopting these advanced technologies, dental practices can save time, enhance patient satisfaction, and reduce costs in the long run. The methodology involved systematic digital assessments, planning, and execution to address cosmetic concerns, resulting in a successful transformation of a patient’s smile using e.max^® CAD/CAM technology and Medit i700 scanner. The case study highlights the importance of patient preference, efficiency, and accuracy in digital dentistry, demonstrating the potential for providing personalized and effective solutions for aesthetic dental concerns. Embracing digital advancements and patient-centered care is crucial for delivering high-quality and innovative solutions in modern aesthetic dentistry.

Postbiotics, representing the newest member of the family of biotics, are metabolites produced as a result of fermentation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium which includes proteins, sugars and minerals. The components of postbiotics includes exopolysaccharides (EPS), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacteriocins, antioxidants, and metabolizing enzymes. Several studies indicate that postbiotics have multiple properties such as antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-tumoral properties. Natural polysaccharides refer to the polysaccharides obtained from biological organisms including algae, plants, animals, and microorganisms. Polysaccharides are either branched or linear macromolecules and are composed of a few major and some minor monosaccharides, including glucose, fructose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, fucose, galacturonic acid, glucosamine, galactosamine or their derivatives. Similar to postbiotics, polysaccharides also exhibit anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. Although polysaccharides cannot be directly digested by the human body due to the lack of specific enzymes, they can be digested by gut-residing bacteria including but not limited to LAB. Recent studies indicate that large non-starch polysaccharides such as alginate, fucoidan, chitosan, carrageenan, and guar gum can be degraded into low molecular weight oligosaccharides which in turn can provide health benefits to the human health. These new findings inspired us to propose a polysaccharides-based postbiotics, also called glycanbiotics, and their potential applications. We propose that polysaccharides can be fermented by probiotics, and subsequent removal of bacteria will increase the safety of their produced metabolites, including oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and their derivatives. These polysaccharides-based postbiotics may mimic metabolization of polysaccharides in vitro and consequently broaden the applications of postbiotics. Non-probiotics such as Akkermansia muciniphila and other bacteria can also be used for glycanbiotics production, thus providing novel applications for human health.