Digital health technology (DHTs), such as electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health apps, and remote monitoring systems, is revolutionizing contemporary healthcare by improving diagnosis, patient care, and operational efficiency. Notwithstanding these developments, infrastructure, technical assistance, and personnel training remain obstacles to the successful deployment of DHTs. 500 medical experts participated in a survey to evaluate the use, advantages, and challenges of DHTs. The frequency of DHT use, the perceived advantages, and the challenges-such as technical difficulties and a lack of training-were the main topics of the data gathered. The most popular technology was mobile health apps (44.4%), followed by EHR systems and diagnostic tools (33.3%). Benefits reported included decreased administrative burden (50%) and increased diagnostic accuracy (46.2%). However, there significant obstacles were found, though: 63% of respondents said they had only received limited training, and 51.9% mentioned software bugs and network problems. Despite these obstacles, 63% of those surveyed reported increases in the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Our study finds a gap between the infrastructure needed for DHTs to be implemented successfully and their quick adoption. This study challenges the notion that adopting technology alone increases productivity by highlighting the importance of thorough technical assistance and staff training. These issues need to be resolved if DHTs are to be fully utilized for improved healthcare delivery and operational effectiveness.

Cervical cancer remains a major global health challenge, with high mortality rates particularly in developing countries, and is often associated with poor prognosis in advanced stages. The limitations of conventional chemotherapeutics, such as systemic toxicity, poor targeting efficiency, and drug resistance, have prompted the exploration of nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies. In this study, manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized via both chemical co-precipitation and a green hydrothermal method employing Urtica (nettle) extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were prepared through a modified Hummers method and integrated with MnFe₂O₄ to form MnFe₂O₄/GO nanocomposites. Physicochemical characterization using FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, and DLS confirmed the successful synthesis of pure, crystalline spinel MnFe₂O₄ and its stable incorporation into GO matrices, with particle sizes in the nanoscale range and negative zeta potentials supporting colloidal stability. Magnetic measurements revealed superparamagnetic behavior for all samples, with saturation magnetization (Ms) values of 55 emu/g for pristine MnFe₂O₄, 40 emu/g for green-synthesized MnFe₂O₄, and 25 emu/g for MnFe₂O₄/GO, remaining within ranges suitable for magnetic targeting and hyperthermia. In vitro cytotoxicity against HeLa cells demonstrated enhanced anticancer activity for the MnFe₂O₄/GO composite (IC₅₀ = 120.7 µg/mL) compared to MnFe₂O₄ (IC₅₀ = 200.7 µg/mL) and GO (IC₅₀ = 1202 µg/mL), indicating a synergistic effect. qPCR analysis showed significant upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes (BAX, Caspase-3) and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2), confirming apoptosis induction as a key mechanism of action. The results highlight MnFe₂O₄/GO nanocomposites as promising multifunctional platforms for targeted cervical cancer therapy, with combined magnetic responsiveness, structural stability, and potent pro-apoptotic activity.

The immune system plays an important role in protecting the body against malignancy. During cancer immunoediting, the immune system can recognize and keep checking the tumor cells by down-expression of some self-molecules or by increasing expression of some novel molecules. However, the microenvironment created in the course of cancer development hampers the immune ability to recognize and destroy the transforming cells. Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G) is emerging as immune checkpoint molecule produced more by cancer cells to weaken the immune response against them. HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule which is normally expressed in immune privileged tissues as a soluble or membrane-bound protein. HLA-G locus is highly polymorphic in the non-coding 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and in the 5′ upstream regulatory region (5′ URR). HLA-G expression is controlled by polymorphisms located in these regions, and several association studies between these polymorphic sites and disease predisposition, response to therapy, and/or HLA-G protein expression have been reported. Various polymorphisms are demonstrated to modulate its expression and this is increasingly finding more significance in cancer biology. This review focuses on the relevance of the HLA-G gene and its polymorphisms in cancer development. We highlight population genetics of HLA-G as evidence to espouse the need and importance of exploring potential utility of HLA-G in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapy in the currently understudied African population.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal malignancy of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The Wnt pathway and its downstream targets are tightly regulated by β-catenin. We recently discovered a new protein, FLYWCH1, which can directly bind nuclear β-catenin. Herein, we studied the FLYWCH1/β-catenin pathway in AML cells using qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, the stemness activity and cell cycle were analysed by the colony-forming unit (CFU) using methylcellulose-based and Propidium iodide/flow cytometry assays. We found that FLYWCH1 mRNA and protein were differentially expressed in the AML cell lines. C-Myc, cyclin D1, and c-Jun expression decreased in the presence of higher FLYWCH1 expression, and vice versa. There appeared to be the loss of FLYWCH1 expression in dividing cells. The sub-G0 phase was prolonged and shortened in the low and high FLYWCH1 expression cell lines, respectively. The G0/G1 arrest correlated with FLYWCH1-expression, and these cell lines also formed colonies, whereas the low FLYWCH1 expression cell lines could not. Thus, FLYWCH1 functions as a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in AML.

The genotyping of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be associated with cancer risk and/or progression. This study aimed to analyze the angiogenesis-related lncRNAs MALAT1 (rs3200401) and MIAT (rs1061540) variants in patients with ovarian cancer (OC) using “Real-Time allelic discrimination polymerase chain reaction” in 182 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of benign, borderline, and primary malignant ovarian tissues. Differences in the genotype frequencies between low-grade ovarian epithelial tumors (benign/borderline) and malignant tumors and between high-grade malignant epithelial tumors and malignant epithelial tumors other than high-grade serous carcinomas were compared. Odds ratios (ORs)/95% confidence intervals were calculated as measures of the association strength. Additionally, associations of the genotypes with the available pathological data were analyzed. The heterozygosity of MALAT1 rs3200401 was the most common genotype (47.8%), followed by C/C (36.3%). Comparing the study groups, no significant differences were observed regarding this variant. In contrast, the malignant epithelial tumors had a higher frequency of the MIAT rs1061540 C/C genotype compared to the low-grade epithelial tumor cohorts (56.7% vs. 37.6, p = 0.031). The same genotype was significantly higher in high-grade serous carcinoma than its counterparts (69.4% vs. 43.8%, p = 0.038). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the age at diagnosis was significantly associated with the risk of OC development. In contrast, the MIAT T/T genotype was associated with a low risk of malignant epithelial tumors under the homozygote comparison model (OR = 0.37 (0.16–0.83), p = 0.017). Also, MIAT T allele carriers were less likely to develop high-grade serous carcinoma under heterozygote (CT vs. CC; OR = 0.33 (0.12–0.88), p = 0.027) and homozygote (TT vs. CC; OR = 0.26 (0.07–0.90), p = 0.034) comparison models. In conclusion, our data provide novel evidence for a potential association between the lncRNA MIAT rs1061540 and the malignant condition of ovarian cancer, suggesting the involvement of such lncRNAs in OC development.

Accumulating evidence supports the implication of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LncRNA variants could impact the development and/or outcome of the disease with variable diagnostic/prognostic utility in the clinic. We aimed to explore the contribution of HOTAIR (rs10783618), LINC-ROR (rs1942347), and MALAT1 (rs3200401) variants to SLE susceptibility and/or severity in 163 SLE patients and age-/sex-matched controls using real-time TaqMan allelic discrimination PCR. HOTAIR rs10783618*C/C was associated with a 77% increased risk of SLE (OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.09–2.87, p = 0.020) under the recessive model. Similarly, MALAT1 rs3200401*T/T carriers were three times more likely to develop SLE (OR = 2.89, 95%CI = 1.42–5.90) under the recessive model. While the rs3200401*T/C genotype was associated with a 49–57% decreased risk of SLE under codominant (OR = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.31–0.82, p < 0.001) and over-dominant (OR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.27–0.68, p < 0.001) models. LINC-ROR rs1942347*A/A patients were more likely to have a positive family history of SLE. At the same time, HOTAIR rs10783618*C/C was associated with a higher frequency of arthritis (p = 0.001) and the presence of oral ulcers (p = 0.002), while patients carrying rs10783618*T/T genotype were more likely to develop hair loss (p < 0.001), weight loss (p = 0.001), and neurological symptoms (p = 0.003). In conclusion, the studied lncRNAs, HOTAIR, and MALAT1 gene polymorphisms confer susceptibility for SLE, providing a potential theoretical basis for their clinical translation in SLE disease.