This study examined the phytochemical profile and biomedical activities of Nitraria retusa, a halophytic and drought-resistant shrub. HPLC analysis showed gallic acid (1905.1 μg/g), catechin (1984.1 μg/g), and ellagic acid (2671.1 μg/g) as the primary constituents, while FT-IR analysis revealed a complex organic profile with significant functional groups. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in DPPH assays, outperforming ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 18.7 ± 1.0 μg/mL) with an IC₅₀ of 16.4 ± 4.4 μg/mL. It demonstrated specific antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines as it showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines; normal WI38 cells were largely unaffected, showing 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. The most sensitive cell line was Caco2, which showed 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. Anti-diabetic properties were exhibited by means of inhibition of α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 68.2 ± 4.2 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 22.8 ± 3.3 μg/mL). Additionally, antimicrobial activity was observed to be broad-spectrum, and it was most effective against E. coli (32.6 mm inhibition zone at 400 μg/mL) and Penicillium glabrum (35.3 mm at 400 μg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of N. retusa in developing plant-based therapeutic approaches.

This study explored the metabolites and bioactive potential of the ethyl acetate extract from a marine-derived fungal strain, Aspergillus oryzae NGM91, isolated from Red Sea sediments.

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for vascular complications and mortality, glycemic variability (GV) has emerged as a measure of time and magnitude of plasma glucose, its association with cardiovascular complications is controversial. The current study aimed to assess the association of GV with myocardial infarction. An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar databases for relevant articles. Articles in the English language during the period from 2010 to April 2020 were eligible. The keywords fasting blood glucose variability (FBGV), glucose variability, myocardial infarction, and acute coronary syndrome, were used with the protean OR and AND. Out of the 185 articles retrieved, only seven full texts fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The author's name, year of publication, the study type, number of patients, and the results were extracted. There were seven full texts, one from Brazil, one from Australia, two from the USA, and three from Asia. Two were randomized controlled trials and five were prospective cohorts (included 109,058 participants). A significant negative association was found between GV and myocardial infarction, odd ratio (OD) 1.93, 95% CI=1.08-3.44, P-value=0.03, I-2 for heterogeneity=87%, P-value=0.(X)01. However, it is difficult to reach a conclusion due to the small number of the included studies and the high heterogeneity observed. Further well-controlled trials using the same methods are needed to resolve the issue.

Background and Aim: People with HIV (PWH) have historically been excluded from cancer immunotherapy trials due to concerns over immune dysregulation and safety. This systematic review evaluates the safety, efficacy, and immunologic outcomes of Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors in PWH diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline through January 2025. Studies were included if they reported outcomes of ICIs in PWH with NSCLC. Data extraction included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), immune-related adverse events (irAEs), antitumor response, HIV viral control, and immunologic parameters. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Six cohort studies (n = 762 patients) met inclusion criteria. ICIs used included nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab, with treatment durations ranging from 3.1 to 5.4 months. Median PFS ranged from 3.0 to 6.3 months, and OS ranged from 10.0 to 66.0 months. Overall response rates (ORRs) varied from 13% to 75%, and disease control rates (DCRs) ranged from 47% to 62.5%. irAEs occurred in 25% to 75% of patients, with 6–20% experiencing grade 3–4 events. Corticosteroids were required in 13–29% of patients, and treatment discontinuation due to toxicity occurred in up to 30%. Most patients had controlled HIV, with CD4 counts typically above 300 cells/μL and undetectable viral loads. Conclusions: ICIs appear safe and effective in PWH with NSCLC, with toxicity and efficacy outcomes comparable to the general population. While immunotherapy should not be withheld based solely on HIV status, better standardization in reporting HIV-related variables is needed to optimize patient selection and management.

The human gut microbiome comprises a diverse community of bacteria whose interactions with the host range from beneficial mutualism to opportunistic pathogenicity. These interactions are shaped by genomic plasticity and ecological pressures that influence whether microbes support host health, remain conditionally harmless, or contribute to disease. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these shifts is essential for clarifying the balance between cooperation and pathogenicity within the gut ecosystem. This review explores the genomic and evolutionary mechanisms that shape microbial adaptation across the mutualism–pathogenicity spectrum in the human gut. Key processes, including horizontal gene transfer (HGT), host-mediated selection, and niche specialization, enable microbes to acquire, regulate, or retain traits that influence colonization, metabolic function, and virulence. These adaptive mechanisms allow gut bacteria to respond dynamically to ecological pressures such as inflammation, antibiotic exposure, and dietary change, resulting in context-dependent microbial behaviors. The review also considers how concepts from insect endosymbiosis may provide insight into gut microbial adaptation. While both systems exhibit host specialization, major differences in transmission mode, ecological flexibility, and genome evolution limit direct comparisons. Rather than following a fixed progression toward parasitism, gut microbes exhibit flexible adaptive strategies shaped by host and environmental conditions. By integrating ecological and evolutionary perspectives, this review presents a balanced framework for understanding how genomic adaptation influences microbial behavior in the gut. This perspective improves our understanding of dysbiosis and microbial pathogenesis and may support the development of microbiome-informed therapeutic strategies for maintaining host health.

Biogenic TiO ₂ –Zn nanocomposites from Red Sea Bacillus tequilensis MYG163 form an anatase–wurtzite heterojunction (8–15 nm) with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and hemocompatibility activities for multitarget therapy.