Background/Objectives: Dietary supplement (DS) use has become increasingly prevalent among adult athletes worldwide and carries both potential benefits and risks. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and perspectives of DS use among adult athletes attending fitness centers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between November and December 2024 using self-administered online questionnaires distributed through a convenience sampling method utilizing social media platforms. All adult athletes aged 18 and above currently residing in Saudi Arabia were included. Results: Results indicate that 73.9% of athletes use DS, primarily to address self-reported perceived vitamin/mineral deficiencies (62.0%) and to enhance energy availability (45.8%). The most frequently reported DS used by the responded were vitamins and minerals (77.3%), followed by fish oils (57.3%) and proteins (42.7%). The predominant adverse effects reported were changes in urine color (27.4%) and frequent urination (18.0%). Most supplements were consumed orally (78.4%), once daily (40.7%), or according to individual needs (26.7%), with dosage most often determined by a physician or pharmacist (35.1%). The mean perception score of DS effects on health outcomes was 3.69 ± 0.98, with a significant association with age (p = 0.041). Conclusions: This study highlights the increasing reliance on DS among athletes in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for public health interventions that promote safe and informed use of DS. While our study’s use of convenience sampling may limit their generalizability, the findings still provide important insights into current practices and perceptions. Future research should focus on regulatory measures and educational campaigns to mitigate risks and optimize benefits. Our results have significant implications for public health policy and practice.

Copper (Cu) is an essential element involved in numerous biochemical, metabolic and cellular processes. Excessive exposure to the pesticide copper sulfate (CuSO4) was associated with toxic effects. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its liposomal form (L-CoQ10) against myocardial injury induced by CuSO4, pinpointing the involvement of redox imbalance, TLR-4/NF-κB signaling and apoptosis. Cardiac injury in rats was induced by daily oral doses of CuSO4 for 7 days, the rats were treated orally with either CoQ10 or L-CoQ10 concurrently with CuSO4 for 7 days. Elevated serum cTnI, CK-MB and LDH were observed in CuSO4-intoxicated animals. Additionally, cellular antioxidant biomarkers were decreased and the expression levels of cardiac MDA, TLR-4, NF-κB, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were upregulated. CoQ10 and L-CoQ10 prevented myocardial injury and decreased the levels of both MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines. CoQ10 and L-CoQ10 enhanced antioxidant capacity and Bcl-2, and downregulated caspase-3, Bax, p53, RIP3, MLKL, caspase-8 and TLR-4/NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, CoQ10 and L-CoQ10 effectively prevent CuSO4 cardiotoxicity in rats. Attenuation of redox imbalance, TLR-4/NF-κB signaling, pro-inflammatory response, and necroptosis along with enhancement of antioxidant response mediated their cardioprotective efficacy. CoQ10 could be valuable in protecting people vulnerable to Cu toxicity.

Background: Understanding how a disease develops and the factors that influence any deviation from the balance created by the body is critical in tailoring appropriate treatment for each patient. Existing literature discusses each factor separately, and simply touches on the interaction by recognizing its existence. The objective of this study is to delve in to the relationship between the immune system and the gut microbiota, and how they in turn affect each other and ultimately lead to a diseased state. Methods: To locate relevant published research, a comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed. Eligible studies were chosen based on predetermined inclusion criteria, which included original research publications exploring the link between the immune system and gut microbiome in IBD patients. Data extraction and quality evaluation followed the PRISMA recommendations. The included studies used a variety of techniques, including observational cohort studies, case–control studies, and experimental research. Results: Changes in systems from homeostatic function include a dysregulated immune response with heightened pro-inflammatory cytokines, disrupted gut barrier permeability due to increased epithelial permeability and disrupted tight junctions, reduced microbial diversity with elevated levels of pathogenic strains and bacteriophages. Short-chain fatty acids which promote gut barrier integrity and possess anti-inflammatory effects are reduced in patients with IBD. Discussion: Key findings from the literature review emphasize the role of gut microbiota in immunological responses in IBD, as well as the reciprocal impact of immune dysregulation on microbiome composition. Further research is needed to understand the molecular interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota (Caron et al. in J Crohns Colitis 18:ii3–ii15, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/ECCO-JCC/JJAE082).

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a fatal fungal infection with a high mortality rate. Voriconazole (VCZ) is considered a first-line therapy for IPA and shows efficacy in patients for whom other antifungal treatments have been unsuccessful. The objective of this study was to develop a high-potency VCZ-loaded liposomal system in the form of a dry-powder inhaler (DPI) using the spray-drying technique to convert liposomes into a nanocomposite microparticle (NCMP) DPI, formulated using a thin-film hydration technique. The physicochemical properties, including size, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and loading efficiency, of the formulated liposomes were evaluated. The NCMPs were then examined to determine their drug content, production yield, and aerodynamic size. The L3NCMP was formulated using a 1:1 lipid/L-leucine ratio and was selected for in vitro studies of cell viability, antifungal activity, and stability. These formulated inhalable particles offer a promising approach to the effective management of IPA.

Today’s primary challenges include identifying efficient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable substances to serve as raw materials in industrial, agricultural, and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and biological properties (namely antioxidant and allelopathic activities) of the methanolic extract derived from the above-ground portions of Artemisia judaica collected in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. GC-MS was used to evaluate the chemical composition of the methanolic extract derived from Artemisia judaica. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 22 volatile compounds in the extract. The most prominent compounds identified were 2-ethylhexanoic acid, 5-hydroxy-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2,7-dimethoxynaphtho-quinone, and piperitone. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in both the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, comparable to the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. The IC₅₀ value for the extract was 31.82 mg/mL in the DPPH assay and 39.93 mg/mL in the ABTS testing. Additionally, the extract exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination, root growth, and shoot growth of the weed Chenopodium murale in allelopathic bioassays. The most significant suppression was observed in shoot growth with an IC₅₀ value of 45.90 mg/mL, which was lower than the IC₅₀ values for root development and seed germination of C. murale, recorded at 56.16 mg/mL and 88.80 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that methanolic extracts had significant lethal toxic effects on the life cycle of Aedes aegypti. Future research will focus on extracting uncontaminated substances and evaluating the biological effects of each specific constituent.

Background: In the last several years, “physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling” has gathered significant emphasis in the modeling of drug absorption, disposition, and metabolism. This research study aims to elaborate the plasma/serum concentration–time profiles and pharmacokinetics (PK) of ofloxacin by establishing a PBPK model in healthy subjects and those suffering from renal impairment (RI). Methods: A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted to screen out all the systemic PK profiles and parameters specific to ofloxacin, followed by their implementation in PK-Sim^® version 12 software. This model-driven approach begins by developing the model in healthy populations using both intravenous (IV) and per-oral (PO) routes and then extrapolating it to the diseased population. The model evaluation was then strengthened for different PK variables such as the maximal plasma/serum concentration (C_max), the area under the curve from 0 to t (AUC_0–t), and plasma/serum clearance (CL) by employing various metrics such as predicted/observed ratios (R_pre/obs), visual predictive checks, the average fold error (AFE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). Results: The AFE, RSME, and MAE for C_max in RI were 1.10, 0.22, and 0.16, respectively, which fell within the acceptable simulated error range. Furthermore, dosage adjustments for individuals with mild, moderate, and severe RI were presented by box-whisker plots to compare their systemic exposure with that of the healthy population. Conclusions: These model predictions have confirmed the PK variations in ofloxacin, which may assist the clinicians in optimizing dosage schedules in healthy and various categories of RI populations.