Recent advances on dioxin and furan (dibenzofuran) based pollutants from analytical, environmental, and health perspectives.

Dioxins and analogous derivatives pose significant concerns due to their impact on human health through both acute and prolonged exposures. They have the potential to resist natural degradation processes; therefore, they tend to accumulate in water, sediments, fish, meat, and human adipose tissue. As a result, concerns to both environmental and human health arise among the scientific community and environmental health organizers.

Identification of Genes Associated with Familial Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Through Transcriptomics and In Silico Analysis, Including , , and .

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome and often leads to progressive kidney failure. Its varying clinical presentation suggests potential genetic diversity, requiring further molecular investigation. This study aims to elucidate some of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying FSGS.

Fabrication of SrTiO anchored rGO/g-CN photocatalyst for the removal of mixed dye from wastewater: dual photocatalytic mechanism.

A metal-free combination of rGO/g-CN-coupled SrTiO (SRN) ternary nanocomposite prepared via a wet impregnation method for UV-Vis light photocatalytic applications. Various physicochemical properties of the samples were investigated by several spectroscopic techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Raman, field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The data suggest agglomerated SRT nanoparticles are dispersed and distributed throughout the surface of the rGO sheets and GCN nanostructures.

Vitamin B12 Protects against Genotoxicity Induced by Cisplatin.

Background: Cisplatin is an effective synthetic chemotherapeutic drug used for cancer treatment. Vitamin B12 has been shown to possess anti-genotoxic activity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin B12 on chromosomal damage induced by cisplatin.

Cloning, sequencing, and characterizing of soil antibiotic active-producing species-specific DNA markers.

Association of the antibiotic activity of the soil isolates to their genetic profiles analyzed through RAPD-PCR fingerprints prompted us here in this study to use the most common bands as specific markers to identify homologous proteins within these isolates by cloning, sequencing, and characterizing these markers. Six out of twelve DNA bands ranged between 600 and 1350 bp previously obtained by RAPD-PCR analysis were purified out of the RAPD gels, and then cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector system. Success of the cloning process was confirmed by digesting purified plasmids with RI.

Pharmacogenetic Study of the Dihydropyridine Dehydrogenase Gene in Jordanian Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Several studies have shown an association between 5-fluorouracil toxicity and variations in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to elucidate the association between genetic variations in the DPYD gene and 5-fluorouracil toxicity among Jordanians with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: 80 CRC Patients were recruited to screen for mutations in the DPYD  gene using the Sanger sequencing technique.

A Descriptive Study of the Physical Direct Interaction between Adipose Tissue-Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Colo 205 Cells: Impact on Cancer Cells Stemness, and Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Levels.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in clinical research to treat a wild spectrum of diseases due to their homing ability to damaged tissues, self-renewal capacity, and differentiation ability into various types of cells. In this research, we are describing the physical direct interaction between AT-MSCs and colon cancer cells, its impact on the stemness of colon cancer cells, along with the levels of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels in both types of cells.

Methods: Adipose-tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) were characterized by the means of MSCs classical markers expression using flow cytometry, and multilineage differentiation through osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.

Mutational Analysis of EZH2 Gene in Patients with Colorectal Adenoma Reveals a Genetic Variant Associated with Risk of Malignant Transformation.

Background: Several studies have revealed that chromatin modifications lead to activation or repression of multiple genes including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Inactivation mutation in EZH2 gene would result in activation of oncogenes. The aim of this case-control study was to identify mutations in the EZH2 gene, to study their prevalence among Jordanian patients with colorectal adenoma and to determine how these mutations could be related to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression.

Phenotypic and molecular analysis of dominant occurring antibiotic active-producing soil flora in Northern Jordan.

This investigation aimed to determine the relatedness of dominant occurring soil spp. in Northern Jordan based on their RAPD-PCR fingerprints, and to compare RAPD technique with the conventional phenotypic characterization of isolates. Fifty-eight white and gray color-bearing aerial mycelia antibiotic active-producing soil isolates along with three reference strains were genetically analyzed by RAPD-PCR.

Molecular genetics of phenylketonuria and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in Jordan.

Background: Information regarding the prevalence of PKU in the Middle East in comparison to other world regions is scarce, which might be explained by difficulties in the implementation of national newborn screening programs.

Objective: This study seeks for the first time to genotype and biochemically characterize patients diagnosed with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) at the Pediatric Metabolic Genetics Clinic at the King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.

Methods: A total of 33 patients with HPA and 55 family members were investigated for pterins (neopterin and biopterin) and dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in dried blood spots.

Cerebrolysin prevents sleep deprivation induced memory impairment and oxidative stress.

Sleep plays a critical role in body health maintenance and well-being throughout a lifetime. Sleeplessness is the most prevalent feature in the modernist societies, which impairs memory. Studies have shown a strong correlation between sleep deprivation and memory impairment in humans and animals, which is related to oxidative stress induced damage within the brain.

Association of DNA repair gene polymorphisms with colorectal cancer risk and treatment outcomes.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common carcinoma worldwide. Despite the progress in screening and treatment, CRC remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Alterations to normal nucleic acid processing may drive neoplastic transformation of colorectal epithelium.

Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity, and Genotoxicity Assessment of Two Heterocyclic Compounds Containing 1,2,3-Selena- or 1,2,3-Thiadiazole Rings.

New 1,2,3-thiadiazole and 1,2,3-selenadiazole derivatives, (4-[4-((4-bromobenzyl)oxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3-thiadiazole (), 4-[4-((4-chlorobenzyl)oxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3-thiadiazole ()), (4-[4-((4-bromobenzyl)oxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3-selenadiazole (), and 4-[4-((4-chlorobenzyl)oxy)-phenyl]-1,2,3-selenadiazole (6b)), were prepared and screened in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microbes. In addition, two compounds ( and ) were examined for their in vivo genotoxicity using rats and an 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) assay. Compounds and were found to be highly active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

The protective effect of edaravone on memory impairment induced by chronic sleep deprivation.

Sleep plays a critical role in body health maintenance, whereas sleep deprivation (SD) negatively affects cognitive function. Cognitive defects mainly memory impairment resulting from sleep deprivation were related to an increase in the level of oxidative stress in the body, including the brain hippocampus region. Edaravone is a potent free radical scavenger having antioxidant effect.

Association of a New Germline Variant in the MUTYH DNA Glycosylase Gene with Colorectal Adenoma Transformation into Malignancy.

Background: MUTYH DNA glycosylase germline mutations are linked to the recessive inheritance of multiple adenoma. Studies have revealed that germline mutations in this gene are ethnicity related. This study aimed to identify the germline mutations in MUTYH gene and determine their prevalence among Jordanian patients with colorectal adenoma.

The association of HLA-DQB1*0602 but not HLA-DRB1*15 with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep breathing disorder with unclear multifactorial pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between OSA and two human leukocyte antigens (HLA) alleles; DQB1*0602 and DRB1*15.

Methods: Forty patients with OSA and 40 control subjects were enrolled in the study.

Molecular biomarkers for an early diagnosis, effective treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer: Current updates.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in the world. Globally, it has been estimated that about 1.4 million new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed every year.

Lifestyle predictors of oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities and total antioxidant capacity in healthy women: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to identify demographic and modifiable lifestyle factors that may be related to endogenous oxidant and antioxidant activity measured in blood specimens from putatively healthy women recruited at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY, USA). Total glutathione (TGSH), catalase (CAT), CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in 124 healthy women, and associations with epidemiological factors were tested using general linear models. There were significant differences in oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities according to lifestyle factors, after adjusting for duration of blood storage and season of blood draw.

Polymorphisms of arylamine N-acetyltransferase2 and risk of lung and colorectal cancer.

The arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) enzymes detoxify a wide range of naturally occurring xenobiotics including carcinogens and drugs. Point mutations in the NAT2 gene result in the variant alleles M1 (NAT2 *5A), M2 (NAT2*6A), M3 (NAT2*7) and M4 (NAT2 *14A) from the wild-type WT (NAT2 *4) allele. The current study was aimed at screening genetic polymorphisms of NAT2 gene in 49 lung cancer patients, 54 colorectal cancer patients and 99 cancer-free controls, using PCR-RFLP.

Mitochondrial copy number and risk of breast cancer: a pilot study.

It has been proposed that the copy number of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) per cell reflects gene-environment interactions between unknown hereditary factors and exposures affecting levels of oxidative stress. However, whether copy number of mtDNA could be a risk predictor of oxidative stress-related human cancers, such as breast cancer, remains to be determined. To explore the role of mtDNA copy number in breast cancer etiology, we analyzed mtDNA copy number in whole blood from 103 patients with breast cancer and 103 matched control subjects and examined in relation to endogenous antioxidants.

Novel sequence variants in the TMIE gene in families with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment.

To date, 37 genes have been identified for nonsyndromic hearing impairment (NSHI). Identifying the functional sequence variants within these genes and knowing their population-specific frequencies is of public health value, in particular for genetic screening for NSHI. To determine putatively functional sequence variants in the transmembrane inner ear (TMIE) gene in Pakistani and Jordanian families with autosomal recessive (AR) NSHI, four Jordanian and 168 Pakistani families with ARNSHI that is not due to GJB2 (CX26) were submitted to a genome scan.

Polymorphism of p53 gene in Jordanian population and possible associations with breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of 3 polymorphisms in p53 gene in 3 healthy Jordanian groups and 2 cancer patient groups.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples obtained from 84 cancer patients (breast and lung adenocarcinoma) and 136 healthy subjects (representing Jordanian general population, Bedouins and Charkas). Samples were collected from Al-Amal Hospital for Cancer, Amman and from health centers located in different regions of Jordan from March 2002 to October 2002.

Cellular distribution and functions of wild-type and constitutively activated Dictyostelium PakB.

Dictyostelium PakB, previously termed myosin I heavy chain kinase, is a member of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) family. Two-hybrid assays showed that PakB interacts with Dictyostelium Rac1a/b/c, RacA (a RhoBTB protein), RacB, RacC, and RacF1. Wild-type PakB displayed a cytosolic distribution with a modest enrichment at the leading edge of migrating cells and at macropinocytic and phagocytic cups, sites consistent with a role in activating myosin I.

Evaluation of combined 16S rDNA and strb1 gene targeted PCR to identify and detect streptomycin-producing Streptomyces.

In this study, two designed primers were evaluated to identify soil Streptomyces and to detect streptomycin production by strb1 targeted PCR. Potential Streptomyces-specific signatures were identified in their 16S rDNA sequences in regions located around nucleotide positions 576 and 995. Primer pair RI7/RI8 derived from these regions was investigated for its specificity in detecting and identifying Streptomyces isolates by PCR assays using DNA from pure cultures.