REVIEW ARTICLE | June 5, 2025
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of COPD Exacerbations: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Blessy Cherian, Bayana H, Telma Titto, Farsana Rasheed, Naveen Kumar Panicker
Page no 147-149 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjbr.2025.v10i06.001
Aim: To evaluate the role of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as a biomarker for predicting acute exacerbations in COPD (AECOPD) based on current literature. Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute exacerbations (AECOPD) have led to a major impact on patient health, which in turn lead to hospitalizations and also an increased risk to disease burden. Thus in order to optimize treatment stratergies, one have to identify those reliable biomarkers that help predict exacerbations. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been a potential indicator to assess inflammation in COPD patients [1-6]. Review Results: This review critically examines six key studies on NLR and COPD exacerbations, assessing both its clinical utility as well as its limitations. Several studies have found a link between higher NLR and an increased risk of COPD exacerbations. However, changes in cutoff values, study designs and confounding factors like corticosteroid use may have an impact on prediction accuracy [1-6]. Conclusion: The NLR is a promising biomarker for determining AECOPD risk. However, consistent cutoff values and multi marker techniques are necessary for clinical use.
Immune cell activation is a feature of COVID-19, that leads to cytokine storm which causes neurotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, related to psychiatric symptoms due to the depletion of neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, and glutamate which play a major role in adult neurogenesis. ACE2 receptors are expressed in the hippocampus and decreased neurogenesis in this region is a major factor behind the neuropsychiatric disorders. SARS-CoV-2 can affect the brain indirectly through neuroinflammation and altered neurochemical signaling and even mild COVID-19 infections can lead to sustained microglial activation, which disrupts neural networks and impairs cognitive function. The long COVID-19 may be associated with cognitive dysfunction in those who recovered and immunological response may affect synaptic pruning and reduced anterior cingulate cortex volume at one year after COVID-19. Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection or PASC, commonly known as Long COVID is a significant public health concern and "brain fog" is one of the most debilitating cognitive impairments, affecting memory, concentration, and executive function occurring in 88% of cases. Brain fog may be linked to persistent changes in neurotransmitter levels, particularly involving dopamine and serotonin which play an essential role in cognition, attention, and emotional regulation. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the chemokine CCL11, is linked to cognitive impairments in patients with persistent symptoms. Neuroprotective agents that support neuronal health, such as antioxidants and mitochondrial enhancers and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic and direct current enhance cortical excitability are investigated in cognitive recovery. Evaluation of the currently predominant VUM (a Variant Under Monitoring), LP.8.1, and the most recently designated NB.1.8.1, is increasing as 10.7% of global sequences reported recently due to minor mutations in spike protein. In May 2025, TAG-CO-VAC (Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine) advised that the monovalent vaccines targeting against JN.1 or KP.2 lineages are highly appropriate.
REVIEW ARTICLE | June 13, 2025
Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Their Mechanism of Action Against Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Wahaj Aadel Alhantoobi, Asma Hussain Alkatheri, Tina Parusheva, Kok Song Lai, Warren Thomas, Swee-Hua Erin Lim
Page no 168-186 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjbr.2025.v10i06.003
The development of resistance to various antimicrobial agents by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites poses a major challenge to the medical field in treating the infections they cause. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore new and innovative antimicrobials. A promising solution lies in the use of natural products, such as essential oils, as antimicrobial agents. Herbs and essential oils have been used since ancient times in various aspects of life, including perfumes, cosmetics, agriculture, and industry. In medicine, these essential oils have demonstrated numerous applications, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, fungicidal, and antitumor activities. Essential oils present a viable alternative to synthetic chemicals due to the presence of biologically active compounds, such as phenols and terpenes, that inhibit or prevent pathogen growth. This review paper aims to explore the importance of essential oils, their components, and the mechanisms they use to combat pathogens. It will also highlight their role as a potential solution to multidrug resistance and discuss future prospects.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | June 25, 2025
The Importance of Detecting Toxoplasma gondii Antigens for Prognosis of Acute Toxoplasmosis
Suha A. AL-Fakhar, Khalil Ismail Abid Mohammed, Saad Hasan M Ali, Wifaq M. Ali, Jinan Mousa
Page no 187-193 |
https://doi.org/10.36348/sjbr.2025.v10i06.004
Background: The term toxoplasmosis is reserved to describe the clinical or pathological disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii and T. gondii infection for an asymptomatic primary infection or persistence of the parasite in tissues (chronic or latent infection). Objective: To evaluate the significance of detecting Toxoplasma gondii antigens in diagnosing and predicting the prognosis of acute toxoplasmosis, assessing its potential role in early intervention and treatment monitoring. Materials and Methods: The samples of the present study consisted of 39 women,31 of them infected with toxoplasmosis and 6 of them did not have toxoplasmosis, their age range was between (17-41) years, the blood samples were collected from Central Public health Laboratories (CPHL) in the period from (May 2022 to November 2022). Human Toxoplasma gondii ELISA kit is for the qualitative determination of Toxo-gondii in human serum. Results: The results of the present study showed in Table (1) since there were 26(96.3%) of housewife women had IgG Abs of T.gondii, while there was 1(3.7%) of employment women had IgG Abs of T.gondii , there were a significant differences between job categories and antibodies (IgG Abs) of T.gondii P=0.32. Conclusions: IgG Abs and IgM Abs of T.gondii presents more in housewife women than employment women. The Ag of T.gondii present in aborted women more than in non-aborted women. The Ag of T.gondii present more in women who had IgG Abs of T.gondii more than in women who had IgM Abs of T.gondii.
In the present study, a eco-friendly, low cost and biocompatible route to synthesize the NiNPs, has been proposed using the Pyrus calleryana (Callery pear) leaves extract, which is comprised of polyphenols, flavonoids and reducing sugar, which act as an excellent reducing and stabilizing agent. The as prepared NiNPs were characterized by various methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIF), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD proved crystalline tetragonal structure of NiNPs and SEM and AFM showed the homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles with particlesized ranging between 18.75 - 32.43 nm. Functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl and aromatic rings) essential in nanoparticle stabilization were characterized with FTIR, whereas UV-Vis, evidenced an absorption peak at ∼380 nm, corresponding to NiNP formation. The phytochemical composition of the P. calleryana extract was an important factor for nanoparticle synthesis as polyphenols and flavonoids served to nucleate and prevent aggregation. This research featured the potential of plant-assisted synthesis as a green approach for nano-synthesis and provided structural and functional attributes of bio-mediated NiNPs for environmental and industrial applications.