A series of six new arylidene derivatives of 2-imino-4-thiazolidinone has been synthesised by the condensation of 2-arylimino-4-thiazolidinones with hydroxy-substituted aldehydes. All the compounds were characterised by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry, and screened for antibacterial, antifungal, and urease-inhibitory potential. Almost all derivatives exhibited moderate to strong antibacterial and antifungal activity. Compounds 7 and 5 exhibited great potential with 17.0mm and 15.0mm zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, and compound 5 showed moderate potential against Candida glabrata with a 5.0mm zone of inhibition. The arylidene derivatives of 4-hydroxyphenylimino-4-thiazolidinone showed good urease inhibition activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 32.5 ± 1.16 µM to 46.6 ± 1.96 µM. All results were validated using docking studies, and the binding interactions of these compounds with the enzyme were assessed.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major health concern, with the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase representing a crucial target for antiviral drug discovery. This study aimed to identify selective NS5B inhibitors from a library of thiazolone derivatives using an integrated computer-aided drug design workflow. Molecular docking was performed with AutoDock Vina via PyRx on 1000 compounds, and pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties were evaluated using SwissADME and PreADMET. Normal Mode Analysis (NMA) was then applied through the iMODS server to assess the dynamic effects of ligand binding on protein flexibility. Three compounds, CID137131214, CID135435208, and CID2329878, demonstrated strong binding affinities, favorable ADME/Tox profiles, and key interactions with the NS5B allosteric site. Notably, CID135435208 induced a rigidifying effect, supporting its inhibitory potential. These results highlight promising scaffolds for further biological validation and provide a rational framework for the design of novel HCV therapeutics. However, this study is limited by the lack of experimental validation, which will be addressed in future work.

The ongoing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused widespread global transmission. Hemostatic disorders are known complications of the disease, leading to blood clots and bleeding. These disorders are associated with high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hemostatic disorders among COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). During a one-year period, an observational cross-sectional study was conducted on COVID-19 patients admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ardabil. This study assessed 911 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the ICU, aged of 62.26 years on average, of which 54.3% were males. The mortality rate was 52.3% mortality rate. 8.6% of patients had thromboembolic or bleeding disorders. Most cases involved bleeding (5.9%), followed by DVT (2.1%) and PTE (0.8%). In our study, we found that patients with a history of thromboembolism (P-Value = 0.000), cancer (P-Value = 0.000), cardiovascular disease (P-Value = 0.025), hypertension (P-Value = 0.030), and rheumatological diseases (P-Value = 0.035) had significantly higher rates of thromboembolism and hemorrhagic events. The prevalence of thromboembolic and bleeding disorders was also significantly higher in patients with elevated LDH (0.001), INR (0.014), D-dimer (0.015), CRP (0.039), and BUN (0.046) levels. Our study elucidates three critical aspects of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The prevalence of hemostatic disorders was notably 8.6%, with bleeding complications being the most common at 5.9%. Significant associations were observed between thromboembolic events and pre-existing conditions, particularly prior thromboembolism and cancer. Laboratory markers, such as elevated levels of LDH, D-dimer, and INR, possess prognostic significance for identifying patients at high risk.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, and its prevalence is rising in Iraq, where community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers. This study evaluated the knowledge, practices, and challenges faced by community pharmacists in Erbil, Iraq, to identify gaps and opportunities for improving asthma care and control. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2023, involving 199 community pharmacists. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire assessing asthma medication knowledge, patient counselling practices, and barriers to care. 75.4% of pharmacists educated patients on medication roles, 77.4% discussed side effects, and 75.9% assessed concomitant medication use. Key barriers included staffing (26.1%), time constraints (22.1%), lack of interest (21.1%), lack of knowledge and training (20.1%), and insufficient infrastructure (19.1%). Bachelor of pharmacy holders and more experienced pharmacists reported better patient education practices (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Females were more likely to report the need for additional training (p<0.05), and younger groups (18 to 25 years old) and students expressed less interest in patient counselling (p<0.05). Pharmacists reported good patient education practices. The study highlights the need for targeted training programs and systemic improvements to enhance pharmacists’ role in asthma care.

The Present study was conducted to examine the anti-diabetic effect of eighteen biuret derivatives in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mellitus mice. Due to the similarity in chemical structure between biuret derivatives and anti-diabetic drugs such as glibenclamide and metformin, these compounds may exhibit an anti-diabetic effect. In this study, eighteen biuret derivatives were synthesized, and their anti-diabetic effects on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mellitus in male mice were evaluated. Their anti-diabetic effect was compared with glibenclamide, used as a reference agent, and their vehicle after 1, 2, and 4 hours of administration. The results of the present study indicated that these synthesized biuret derivatives need at least two hours to reduce blood glucose. The anti-diabetic effect of these compounds increased with time. There are some relationships between their effects and structures. Among these compounds, which have short (phenyl alkylamine) and (aminoquinaldine) moieties, showed the best activity. In contrast, derivatives with long-chain (phenyl propylamine), (mercaptobenzothiazole), and (phenyl tetrazole) substituents, which lead to more lipophilicity, had no significant hypoglycemic effect. These biuret derivatives can be considered as potential anti-diabetic agents in mice, showing comparable anti-diabetic activity to glibenclamide. Some of them exhibited both dose- and time-dependent effects in mice, similar to glibenclamide.

Psychological well-being is an essential factor to ensure an excellent academic performance during undergraduate studies. Students are exposed to a wide range of stressors during their study period, including assignment submission and examination, the latter being related to test anxiety and associated with psychological distress and amotivation among students. To assess the prevalence of test anxiety and psychological distress among pharmacy students in a private university, in addition to determining the association among test anxiety, psychological distress and academic motivation. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a combination questionnaire that consisted of 10 items from the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS), additional items from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and 28 items from the Academic Motivation Scale, distributed online to all undergraduate pharmacy students enrolled in the 2022-23 academic session. A total of 179 responses were received, yielding a response rate of 56%. The overall prevalence of test anxiety and psychological distress was estimated at 54.19% and 61.45%, respectively. Findings revealed that a significant correlation exists between the cumulative scores of test anxiety and psychological distress (r = 0.56, p<0.0001). Pharmacy students in the private university experienced a high level of test anxiety along with a high level of psychological distress. Therefore, efforts to reduce test anxiety and their psychological distress should be made to optimise students’ learning experience during their pharmacy program.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), underlying cervical cancer, emerges as a critical risk factor and plays a significant role in the disease burden. In several countries across the Middle East, the absence of structured HPV screening programs and limited public awareness have made HPV a growing concern for public health due to its potential impact on women's health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the genotype-specific prevalence of HPV infections and analyze their distribution across different age groups to inform tailored preventive strategies. A cross-sectional study examining the distribution of HPV genotypes was conducted on persons who accessed laboratory facilities in Tehran from 2022 to 2024. PCR-based testing was performed on 4,167 samples submitted for HPV detection and genotyping. Information concerning the age and gender of the patients and the distribution of HPV based on the different genotypes was collected and sorted for statistical analysis. Among the 4,167 individuals referred for HPV testing, the overall positivity rate was 39.9% (1,662/4,167). The highest positivity rates were observed in the 26–30 (18.4%) and 31–35 (23.4%) age groups, with a declining trend in older age groups. Women represented 93.5% of the tested individuals, with a positivity rate of 38.1%, while the rate in men was 65.2%. The most frequent high-risk genotypes detected were HPV-31 (22.4%), HPV-51 (16.7%), and HPV-16 (15.8%). A weak negative correlation was observed between age and HPV positivity (r = -0.135, p < 0.001). The distribution of HPV genotypes observed in this referred population showed a predominance of high-risk types among those tested. These findings are not generalizable to the broader population due to the inherent selection bias, as participants sought HPV testing for clinical reasons. Nonetheless, the results highlight the importance of implementing structured screening and surveillance systems to understand better and manage the HPV burden in the country. As this study was based on individuals referred for HPV testing in selected areas of Tehran, the results reflect referral-based patterns and should not be interpreted as representative of nationwide HPV prevalence across Iran.

Piperine, the primary alkaloid in black pepper (Piper nigrum), is known for its promising biological activities. However, traditional extraction methods often face challenges such as low yield, high costs, and the risk of photodegradation. This study aimed to develop a simple, rapid, and efficient method for isolating piperine. Ethanol was used as the solvent for extraction, followed by isolation and purification through the Soxhlet method, which provided high-purity crystalline piperine, confirmed by physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. In silico docking studies revealed that piperine forms a more stable complex with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) than the native ligand (arachidonic acid), as evidenced by lower ΔGbind values. In vivo experiments demonstrated that piperine, administered at 50 mg/kg body weight, exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects within 60 to 180 minutes, with inhibition percentages comparable to aspirin at 150 mg/kg. This study successfully developed an efficient extraction method for piperine. It confirmed its significant biological activities, including enhanced COX-2 binding and practical anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, highlighting its potential as a natural alternative to conventional treatments.

This study aimed to prepare, optimize, and in vitro assessment of alendronate sodium (ALD) encapsulated poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles, which is prepared by W₁/O/W₂ solvent evaporation method for the first time to overcome the issues related with the treatment of osteoporosis. Nanoparticles loaded with ALD were synthesized by varying the volumes of the organic phase (O) and the water phase (W2), as well as the percentages of PVA and the quantities of PLGA. These parameters were optimized to assess their impact on encapsulation efficiency and loading percentage, employing a central composite experimental design (CCD) for the evaluation. Particle size, shape surface morphology, and in vitro drug release were assessed using the optimized formulation. A two-factor interaction (2FI) model was suggested to describe the relationships between the variables and EE %, while a quadratic regression model was suitable for loading percentage. The optimized formulation showed an average diameter of 236 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.06 %, encapsulation efficiency of 34.6%±2.26, and loading % of 23.9% ±1.32. The prepared nanoparticles had a spherical shape, and the in vitro drug release profile appeared biphasic, showing an initial burst release of 10.33% in the first hour, followed by a sustained release for up to 24 hours. The optimization of ALD-loaded PLGA nanoparticles, achieved by applying the central composite design (CCD) methodology, facilitated the forecasting of the characteristics of nanoparticles produced by the W₁/O/W₂ solvent evaporation process employing PLGA polymer. Consequently, this improved model presents significant prospects for application in a controlled release system, especially within the framework of osteoporosis treatment.

Conventional cancer therapies are often hampered by poor specificity, systemic toxicity, and multidrug resistance. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), with their tunable optical properties, high biocompatibility, and functional versatility, offer a promising nanotechnological approach for improving cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. This review aims to provide a comprehensive, forward-looking synthesis of the translational applications of AuNPs in cancer theranostics, emphasizing mechanisms, clinical progress, regulatory considerations, and future potential. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language publications from 2010 to 2025 using the keywords "gold nanoparticles," "cancer theranostics," "nanomedicine," and "photothermal therapy." Out of 468 retrieved articles, 172 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in depth for their translational relevance, functionalization strategies, imaging performance, and clinical outcomes. AuNPs support multimodal imaging (CT, MRI, SERS), targeted drug delivery, and photothermal therapy. Functionalization strategies such as PEGylation and ligand attachment improve tumor targeting and pharmacokinetics. Hybrid systems and AI-guided nanodesigns enhance specificity, while preclinical and early-phase clinical trials affirm safety and efficacy in cancers. AuNPs are reshaping cancer management by integrating precision diagnostics, controlled therapy, and real-time monitoring into unified platforms. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory alignment will be crucial for their full-scale clinical translation.

Telepharmacy has evolved as a vital part of telehealth, significantly enhanced by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which enables pharmacists to provide remote pharmaceutical care. However, despite the growing interest in and use of telepharmacy's benefits and challenges in recent years, no research has thoroughly investigated the direct impact of telepharmacy on the general public's medication adherence and the incidence rates of drug-related problems before and after pharmacy implementation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of telepharmacy services across all pharmacy settings worldwide on patient medication adherence and to examine their influence on reducing drug-related problem incidents. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted using four major databases (ProQuest, EBSCOHost, PubMed, and Gale), focusing on studies published between 2019 and 2024. Studies investigating the difference in patient medication adherence and drug-related problem incident rates between pharmacies providing telepharmacy services and traditional pharmacies were included in the study. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 4,385 studies were initially identified. After screening, 56 were eligible for full-text review; only eight met all inclusion criteria and passed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal quality assessment. The eight eligible studies spanned diverse designs and populations across five countries (Thailand, Ghana, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia). Quantitative synthesis revealed that medication adherence improved by approximately 10–35% in patients receiving telepharmacy interventions compared with conventional care, while drug-related problem incidents decreased by 20–40% across most studies. Most studies have demonstrated that providing telepharmacy services has a positive impact on patient outcomes, including improved medication adherence, reduced drug-related problem incidents, lower hospitalization rates, enhanced patient education, convenient consultations, more efficient healthcare delivery, and lower healthcare costs. Overall, the direction of effect consistently favored telepharmacy across the majority of included studies. Telepharmacy significantly improves patients' medication adherence and reduces drug-related incidents across varied healthcare settings. By facilitating remote counseling, education, and monitoring, telepharmacy expands access to pharmaceutical care while enhancing clinical outcomes and patient safety. These findings underscore the potential of telepharmacy to strengthen health systems, especially in resource-constrained environments, and highlight the necessity for future research to address its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and long-term impact.

Methods and Results: Studies that investigated the difference in the patient's medication adherence and drug-related problem incident rates between pharmacies providing telepharmacy services and traditional pharmacies were included. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 4,385 studies were initially identified. After screening, 56 were eligible for full-text review, of which only eight met all inclusion criteria and passed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal quality assessment. Eligible studies covered diverse study designs, including randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional, retrospective, and prospective observational studies. They were conducted in multiple countries, such as Thailand, Ghana, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Participants ranged from patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes to COVID-19 patients under home isolation. Interventions included telepharmacy services delivered through community, hospital, and outpatient pharmacies, compared against traditional pharmacy care. Data were extracted and synthesized using a literature matrix to evaluate medication adherence and drug-related problem incidence endpoints. Most studies included in the review demonstrated that providing telepharmacy services positively impacted patient outcomes, such as improving medication adherence, reducing drug-related problem incidents, minimizing hospitalization rates, increasing patient education, providing convenient consultations, developing efficient healthcare delivery, and reducing healthcare costs. Furthermore, the literature suggests that pharmacies that utilize telepharmacy services significantly improve patients' medication adherence and reduce drug-related problem incidents compared with traditional pharmacies.

Conclusion: In conclusion, telepharmacy significantly improves patients' medication adherence and reduces drug-related problem incidents across varied healthcare settings. By facilitating remote counseling, education, and monitoring, telepharmacy expands access to pharmaceutical care while enhancing clinical outcomes and patient safety. These findings underscore telepharmacy's potential to strengthen health systems, particularly in resource-limited settings, and highlight the need for future research addressing its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and long-term impact.

Breast cancer locoregional invasion and metastasis are the main reasons for patient mortality, being driven by the malignant tumor cell development. One of the main processes of their formation is the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), initially described in embryonic development, during which it facilitates cell migration and differentiation. In breast cancer, EMT is a key process mediating metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and cancer stem cell renewal. Flavonoids, a broad class of naturally derived polyphenols known for their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, have attracted considerable interest because of their promising therapeutic applications in breast cancer. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that flavonoids modulate EMT by inhibiting key regulatory molecules such as TWIST1, CD44, SNAI1/2, N-cadherin, ZEB1, integrins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and vimentin, while upregulating the epithelial marker E-cadherin. These effects are mediated through the suppression of pivotal oncogenic signaling pathways, such as NF-κB p65, PI3K/AKT, and JAK2/STAT3, which are critically involved in breast cancer progression. EMT is also regulated by some families of transcription factors, notably the Zn-finger family (e.g., ZEB1, ZEB2, SNAI2), which suppress E-cadherin transcription by binding to E-boxes. Given their multitargeted mechanism of action and ability to disrupt EMT processes specifically in breast cancer, flavonoids represent promising candidates for anti-metastatic therapy. This review summarizes the mechanistic roles of flavonoids in EMT suppression within the context of breast cancer and explores their translational relevance as adjuncts in targeted breast cancer therapy. Incorporating flavonoid-based strategies may improve therapeutic outcomes in aggressive breast cancer subtypes by mitigating metastatic progression and enhancing patient prognosis.