Pakistan BioMedical Journal

Hesperetin: A Potent Phytochemical Constituent for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

2024-09-04T13:16:45+00:00

Hesperetin, a flavonoid abundant in citrus fruits and various vegetables, has emerged as a promising phytochemical for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). With its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, hesperidin offers a multifaceted approach to reducing the symptoms and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The pathogenesis of RA involves a complex interplay between inflammatory cytokines, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Hesperidin exerts its therapeutic effects by modulating these pathways. This drug prevents the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β, thus reducing inflammation and joint damage. Hesperidin shows immunomodulatory effects by modulating the function of immune cells. It inhibits the activity of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, which play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, hesperetin inhibits the activation of nuclear factor κB, an important transcription factor involved in the expression of inflammatory genes, and exhibits broad anti-inflammatory effects. Hesperetin supplementation improves clinical symptoms and inflammatory markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Hesperetin is a natural compound obtained from food sources and has fewer side effects than traditional rheumatoid arthritis drugs, making it an attractive alternative or complementary treatment. Hespertin is a promising approach for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Its pleiotropic mechanisms of action, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects, have great therapeutic potential to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, stop the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients. This review article highlights the clinical trials needed to fully elucidate the therapeutic benefits of hesperetin and determine its role in the conventional treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Survey on Eczema; Its Perceptions and Characterization

2024-09-10T13:17:10+00:00

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common inflammatory skin disease. It causes physical discomfort and also cause stress due to constant itching, which in the end leads to painful wounds. It can be triggered by environmental, genetic, stress, and anxiety factors. The symptoms of eczema are similar to other skin disorders. In some cases, incorrect diagnosis results in the administration of medication for other skin disorders. Objectives: To understand the patients’ knowledge about the disease and to create a sense of awareness for them. Methods: We prepared a questionnaire to get sense of people's understanding about eczema and surveyed students at Punjab University as well as we collected data with help of online google forms. There were 103 responses from people of both genders, age ranges from 20 to 35 years, and different educational backgrounds. Results: Most of the people think they understand what eczema is, but they have confused it with other skin conditions. According to the responses, sudden change in surroundings is the most triggering factor in causing eczema. Only 1% of people think it could be a contact disorder and can be triggered by pets and refined carbs. The most challenging weather for eczema is winter and the time is night. Conclusions: it was concluded that eczema is a really disturbing disease. This disorder is incurable yet. However, with proper care, timely treatment, and by taking preventive measures, can prevent to flare-up.

The Role of Epigenetics in Disease and Health: Beyond DNA Sequences

2024-09-04T13:16:36+00:00

In recent decades, the field of genetics has revolutionized our understanding of biology. In particular, we know about how genetic information encodes the blueprint for life and how variations and mutations in these sequences contribute to disease or health. What is unique is that the genetic trait changes do not always caused by any changes in genetic sequences.

Epigenetics refers to the study of how environmental factors and lifestyle choices can affect the gene activity. Changes in the heritable traits of organisms can be caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration to the underlying DNA sequence. Therefore, this change does not involve any DNA mutation.

DNA methylation is a biological process of adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule. The activity of DNA segments can change without changing the sequence by the process of methylation. This process plays an important role in normal development and aberrant DNA methylation patterns are associated with various diseases. Histones are highly basic proteins around which DNA is wound. The modifications in histone protein plays a fundamental role in most biological processes and can alter the accessibility of the DNA for transcription, as well as influencing gene expression. There are non-coding RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but play vital role in regulating the gene expression by interacting with other molecules and influencing chromatin structure.

Over the past few decades, mechanisms of epigenetics have emerged as a crucial factor in governing every biological process in the human body. Throughout human life, these mechanisms have been impacted various physiological and pathological conditions. For example, cancer is often characterized by epigenetics abnormalities, such as hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes or hypomethylation of oncogenes. Epigenetic modifications are also implicated in complex diseases like cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative disorder. Beyond these diseases, epigenetics also offers insights into health and development. Furthermore, understanding the epigenetic mechanisms influence human health, leading to new preventive strategies and treatment of various diseases. Early life experiences, including nutrition and stress, can lead to epigenetic changes that affect long-term health outcomes of the individual.

Advances in this research can pinpoint any epigenetic changes that affect long-term health outcomes. The advances of epigenetic research can lead to early diagnosis and preventive measures. Identifying the epigenetic markers associated with the diseases enable early detection of the diseases and more effective preventative strategies. Some epigenetic therapies like; drugs that modify histone acetylation or DNA methylation, are already in development and provide future treatments for disease. To understand how life style factors, influence epigenetic regulation can lead to personalized lifestyle recommendations that influence the public health strategies