The Scientific World Journal最新文献

{"title":"Ethnomedicinal Practices of the Fabaceae Family in Tanzania: A Systematic Review.","authors":"David Sylvester Kacholi","doi":"10.1155/tswj/6918847","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/6918847","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study is aimed at reviewing the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Fabaceae species used as sources of traditional medications in Tanzania. Using the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, a comprehensive review was conducted on Fabaceae species used by Tanzanians through electronic databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, PubMed and Wiley Online Library. After systematic screening and eligibility assessment, 51 studies highlighted diverse traditional healing practices across the country's regions. The botanical names were verified through the Plants of the World Online database. The study revealed that 97 Fabaceae species traditionally treat human ailments in Tanzania. The genera with the highest number of species with medicinal uses are Vachellia, followed by Albizia and Senegalia. The species with the highest usage records are Abrus precatorius, Cassia abbreviata, Tamarindus indica, Alantsilodendron pilosum and Erythrina abyssinica. Trees (46%), herbs (30%) and shrubs (24%) are the primary sources of traditional medicines, whereas roots (63%), leaves (41%) and stem bark (28%) are the most widely used plant parts. The majority of the species are characterized by flavonoids (62.5%), followed by phenolic compounds (38.9%), terpenoids (33.3%) and tannins (33.3%). Though many Fabaceae species have been evaluated for their phytochemical and pharmacological properties, validating their toxicological properties is paramount.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e6918847"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13140246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147491808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Ethiopian Traditional Medicine System Into Modern Medicine: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Kassahun Dires Ayenew, Berihun Alem, Birhan Mengstie, Awgichew Shewasinad Yehualashet","doi":"10.1155/tswj/8106682","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/8106682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>About 80% of the population uses Ethiopian traditional herbal medicine (ETHM) for a variety of medical needs, making it a pillar of the country's healthcare system. The advantages and challenges of integrating ETHM with contemporary medicine in Ethiopia are summed up in this narrative review.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To explore the integration of ETHM with contemporary medical systems, we carried out a literature search in March 2025 while maintaining methodological transparency. Using a mix of keywords associated with ETHM, integration, obstacles, and pharmacological validation, we searched a number of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar. A total of 110 records were found in the first search. After duplicates were eliminated, and titles and abstracts were evaluated for relevancy, 65 items remained. After a thorough analysis of the remaining literature, we included 38 articles published between January 2015 and March 2025 that satisfied our predetermined inclusion criteria, which were centered on ETHM practices, integration with contemporary medicine, or Ethiopian regulatory frameworks. Studies and publications written in languages other than English that did not particularly discuss ETHM or its integration were excluded. We critically assessed each included study's relevance and trustworthiness based on elements like journal impact factor, authorship, and methodological rigor, even though our narrative evaluation did not employ a rigorous systematic quality assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A strong basis for integration is identified by our synthesis, which includes a large pharmacopeia of medicinal plants with encouraging preclinical evidence for conditions including diabetes and wound healing. However, progress is hampered by systemic problems. These include significant problems with product quality and adulteration, a dearth of clinical validation and safety data, a lack of a thorough regulatory framework, and a high degree of mistrust between traditional practitioners and contemporary scientific groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In order to document and preserve indigenous knowledge, we advise the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) to immediately establish a dedicated directorate for traditional herbal medicine and to launch a national digital repository called \"EthHerb.\"</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e8106682"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13320371/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148362619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Effectiveness of Traditional Polyherbal Formulations for Wound Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Samuel Abiodun Kehinde, Nurulhusna Awaeloh, Pinanong Na-Phatthalung, Siriwan Kantisin, Sasitorn Chusri","doi":"10.1155/tswj/1551004","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/1551004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic wounds, especially in diabetic patients, are difficult to manage because of delayed healing and high infection risk. Traditional polyherbal formulations, which are composed of multiple medicinal plants with synergistic effects, are widely used in wound care, but their clinical effectiveness has not been comprehensively synthesized. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of traditional polyherbal formulations for wound healing. Databases were searched, and RCTs involving adults with wounds, where the intervention was traditional polyherbal formulation rather than a placebo, standard care, or other active treatments, were included. The meta-analysis was conducted via a random-effects model, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated via GRADE. Eight RCTs were included. The pooled mean difference for healing time favored polyherbal formulations (-3.28 days; 95%CI = -8.56 to 2.01) but was not statistically significant. Similarly, HbA1c reduction (-5.97%; 95%CI = -30.86 to 18.93) was not significantly different, with high heterogeneity (I² = 98%), and no publication bias was detected. Although several individual herbs within these formulations possess tissue-regenerative, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, the pooled results indicate only a modest, nonsignificant trend toward faster healing. Variations in formulation composition, treatment duration, and methodological quality limit the certainty of evidence, which ranges from high (age) to very low (HbA1c) on the GRADE assessment. Overall, polyherbal formulations show therapeutic promise as adjuncts to standard wound, whereas larger, well-designed trials using standardized formulations and clinically relevant endpoints are needed to establish their efficacy and optimize their clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e1551004"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13158697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147869580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fear of COVID-19: A Comparative Study Among University Students in Peru.","authors":"Carmen Y Baltazar-Meza, María Custodio, Patricia Roxana Zarela Quispe-Baltazar, Carmen Soledad Mejía-Murillo, Flor Del Rosario Díaz-Díaz, Ciro Lazo-Salcedo","doi":"10.1155/tswj/4379030","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/4379030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected university students' mental health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of fear associated with COVID-19 in university students from the Coast, Sierra, and the Jungle regions of Peru between April and May 2020. The sample consisted of 915 university students from the three regions of Peru. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to assess fear and its dimensions (psychological and somatic symptoms). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test to compare group means. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of fear. Results showed a moderate overall level of fear, with significant differences by sex and geographic region. Women reported significantly higher levels of fear than men (p < 0.001), suggesting a disproportionate psychological impact on this group. Furthermore, students from the Coast reported significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms of fear compared to those from the Sierra and Jungle regions (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis identified sex, region, and field of study as significant predictors of fear (p < 0.05). These findings confirm that fear of COVID-19 had a prominent and differentiated psychological impact on the Peruvian university population. These results underscore the need to implement targeted intervention strategies and mental health programs that consider variations by sex and region in future health crisis contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e4379030"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13324466/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148369784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the In Vitro Antibacterial Properties of Milicia regia and Entandrophragma angolensis: Insight Into Their Antibiofilm and Efflux Pump Inhibitory Activities.","authors":"Samuel Korsah, Michael Ofori, Michelle Opoku Aboagyewaah, Kakraba Geoffrey, Michael Osei Boateng, Jessica Korsah, Miriam Tagoe, Theophilus Ninkyi, Cynthia Amaning Danquah","doi":"10.1155/tswj/2641156","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/2641156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Biofilms are breeding grounds for adapted and acquired antibiotic resistance through increased efflux activities and horizontal gene transfer. Medicinal plants are sources of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>In this research, we examined antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and efflux pump inhibition activity of the methanolic extracts of the stem barks of Milicia regia and Entandrophragma angolensis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Crude methanolic extracts were assessed using three distinct assays: the high-throughput spot culture growth inhibition (HT-SPOTi) assay for bacterial growth inhibition, a crystal violet-based antibiofilm screening assay to quantify their biofilm‑inhibitory activity and the ethidium bromide accumulation assay for evaluating changes in bacterial cell membrane permeability against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium aurum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening suggested the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, and saponins. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for extracts against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, M. aurum, and M. smegmatis were 250, 125, 500, and 250 μg/mL, respectively, and for E. angolensis: 125, 125, 500, and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Both plants displayed significant (∗∗∗ρ < 0.005) biofilm inhibition activities against all bacteria with the highest inhibition recorded in S. aureus: M. regia, E. angolensis, and the reference drug ciprofloxacin were 73%, 62%, and 79%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The extracts produced marked antiefflux pump effects against S.aureus and P. aeruginosa. This study established the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and efflux pump inhibitory capacities of M. regia and E. angolensis and provides the rationale for their folkloric uses in the treatment of infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e2641156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282282/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148284658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Multifaceted Roles of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 1-Alpha-2 in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders.","authors":"Kawinthra Khwanraj, Athinan Prommahom, Permphan Dharmasaroja","doi":"10.1155/tswj/4373377","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/4373377","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eukaryotic elongation factor 1-alpha-2 (eEF1A2) is a neuron- and muscle-specific translation elongation factor isoform that supports high-demand proteostasis in terminally differentiated cells. Beyond its canonical role in translation elongation, eEF1A2 participates in noncanonical processes linked to actin cytoskeleton regulation, compartmentalized/local translation, and stress-response signaling. A central challenge in the field is that the strength and type of evidence implicating eEF1A2 differ substantially across disease classes. In neurodevelopmental disorders, heterozygous de novo pathogenic variants in EEF1A2 provide strong causal human genetic evidence for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies and related phenotypes, supported by functional studies showing reduced de novo protein synthesis/elongation and altered actin bundling in common patient-associated variants. In contrast, in neurodegenerative paradigms (e.g., toxin-based Parkinson's disease models and ischemia-reperfusion injury), eEF1A2 is primarily implicated as a contributory node within oxidative stress, autophagy/mitophagy, and inflammatory signaling pathways, largely based on cellular and animal model evidence rather than Mendelian causality. This review adopts an evidence-based framework and organizes findings around a unified mechanistic model connecting canonical elongation and noncanonical cytoskeleton/stress/autophagy functions to neuronal phenotypes. Collectively, current evidence supports a causal role for eEF1A2 in neurodevelopmental disorders but only a contributory role in neurodegenerative conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e4373377"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13136933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Its Impact on Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Semen Parameters in Infertile Men.","authors":"Kenza Berrada, Yasmine Touhamia, Asmaa Serbouti, Abderrahmane Aamiri, Fatima Ez-Zahra Ousaid, Samy Housbane, Mostafa Kabine, Noureddine Louanjli, Rachid Aboutaieb","doi":"10.1155/tswj/8887567","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/8887567","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defenses, plays a central role in the pathophysiology of male infertility and has been reported in approximately 30%-80% of infertile men. Excessive ROS production promotes lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ultimately compromising sperm quality. The aim of our study was to evaluate oxidative stress biomarkers in seminal plasma, including malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and key enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and to assess their impact on sperm DNA fragmentation, semen parameters, and serum total testosterone levels. Semen samples were collected from a total of 150 participants, including 120 infertile men (30 oligozoospermic, 30 teratozoospermic, 30 asthenozoospermic, and 30 necrozoospermic) and 30 fertile controls. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO 2021 criteria. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was assessed using the TUNEL assay. Seminal antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GPx) and lipid peroxidation levels were measured in seminal plasma using spectrophotometric methods. Serum total testosterone levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The results showed that DFI and MDA levels were significantly higher in infertile men compared with controls. Conversely, seminal antioxidant enzyme activities and serum testosterone levels were significantly lower in the infertile groups (p < 0.05). DFI was positively correlated with MDA (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). In contrast, reduced seminal antioxidant enzyme activities and lower testosterone levels were negatively associated with higher DFI and MDA (p < 0.001). Additionally, both DFI and MDA showed negative correlations with semen parameters. Our findings highlight the potential value of oxidative stress biomarkers and sperm DNA fragmentation assessment in the evaluation of male infertility, emphasizing the central role of oxidative stress in sperm dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e8887567"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13501892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green PEGylation of Graphene Oxide via Diels-Alder Chemistry in Deep Eutectic Solvents for pH-Responsive Doxorubicin Delivery.","authors":"Thi Nhat Thang Nguyen, Thao Quynh Ngan Tran, Xuan Thang Cao","doi":"10.1155/tswj/9094354","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/9094354","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Graphene oxide (GO), a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, exhibits a large surface area, rich oxygen-containing functionalities, and favorable aqueous dispersibility, making it a suitable platform for drug delivery. However, traditional covalent modification strategies frequently involve multistep procedures or the use of hazardous organic solvents. In this study, GO was functionalized via a novel green strategy: Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition of maleic anhydride (MA) utilizing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a sustainable reaction medium. The resulting GO-PEG nanocarriers, formed through subsequent esterification with poly(ethylene glycol) lithium alkoxide, were thoroughly characterized by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and TGA. This DES-based approach distinguishes itself from prior DA functionalizations by offering an environmentally benign pathway that maintains high grafting efficiency without the need for toxic volatile media. The optimized DOX/GO-PEG nanohybrids exhibited a high doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity of 128.4 wt.% at a feed ratio of 150:1 (DOX/GO-PEG, w/w) and demonstrated pH-responsive drug release-77.3% at pH 5.0 and 36.3% at pH 7.4 after 72 h. Cytotoxicity studies showed that GO-PEG exhibited negligible toxicity to HEK293 cells, whereas DOX/GO-PEG induced potent, dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HeLa cancer cells. Confocal imaging confirmed DOX nuclear accumulation in treated HeLa cells. This study provides a first-time demonstration of DES-mediated DA PEGylation on GO, establishing a high-efficiency and eco-friendly framework for advanced nanocarrier synthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e9094354"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13438174/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physicochemical Properties and Food Born Peptide Bioactivities of Fermented Cocoa Beans.","authors":"Winda Haliza, Endang Yuli Purwani, Dedi Fardiaz, Maggy Thenawidjaja Suhartono, I Putu Wardana, Nur Laili, Diana Nur Afifah, Wayan Trisnawati","doi":"10.1155/tswj/5491217","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/5491217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the physicochemical properties and bioactive peptides of fermented cocoa beans from the Indonesian regions of West Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali. Samples were analyzed for fermentation index, pH, free amino acids, total phenolic content (TPC), fat, and protein content. After the fat and polyphenol were removed, the remaining material was separated according to its solubility. The molecular weights were then evaluated using SDS-PAGE. The ACE inhibitory activity was evaluated by the hippuryl-L-histidyl-leucine (HHL) assay, and the antioxidant activity was analyzed by the di-phenyl-picryl-hydrazine (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (DRSA) assay. All samples showed full fermentation (FI 1.0-1.6; pH 5.1-5.8) with various contents of TPC, fat, and protein. Free amino acid profiles from different regions were not significantly different. Identified protein fractions included albumin (21 kDa), globulin (31-45 kDa), prolamin (27 kDa), and glutelin (75-200 kDa). All fractions exhibited bioactivity, with albumin showing the strong antioxidant and ACE inhibitory effects. Albumin might act as an ACE inhibitory activity through competitive mechanisms, whereas other protein fractions might exert their effects through noncompetitive pathways. This study highlights the value of fermented cocoa for future product development.</p>","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e5491217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13140351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147494449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduced Pseudocholinesterase Levels Are Associated With Alterations in Lipid Biomarkers and Liver Enzymes Among Ghanaian Male Cocoa Farmers Using Organophosphate Pesticides.","authors":"Justice Afrifa, Godfred Appiah Kubi, Richard Armah, Eric Ofori Gyamerah, Sandra Ofori, Ibrahim Neveh-Fio, Gabriel Pezahso Kotam, Enoch Essiam, Helena Acquah, Ibrahim Anyass Goumboundi, Samuel Essien-Baidoo, Richard Kobina Dadzie Ephraim","doi":"10.1155/tswj/5926091","DOIUrl":"10.1155/tswj/5926091","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Agrochemical usage is common with cocoa farmers in Ghana; however, the inappropriate use or lack of protective equipment leaves farmers exposed to these chemicals. Pesticides are generally taken up by farmers through inhalation, ingestion, or dermally and distributed through the circulatory system to affect various organs. Organophosphate inhibits cholinesterase (ChE), causing a buildup of acetylcholine and overstimulation of cholinergic synapses. Plasma pseudocholinesterase (pChE), synthesized in the liver, serves as a biomarker for organophosphate exposure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aim: &lt;/strong&gt;We assessed the levels of serum cholinesterase and liver and kidney function biomarkers among cocoa farmers exposed to organophosphates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 220 male farmers with a consistent track record of using agropesticides for at least 1 year or more were selected. A structured questionnaire was used to gather sociodemographic information. Following an overnight fast, 5 mL of blood was collected from each participant aseptically for assessment of biochemical markers of the liver, kidney, lipids, and cholinesterase. Reduced plasma pseudocholinesterase was defined as levels &lt; 5000 U/L and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The prevalence of reduced pseudocholinesterase (pChE) among the study participants was 23%. The mean level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (38.11 ± 14.15 vs. 35.72 ± 16.61, p = 0.036) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (29.04 ± 18.85 vs. 23.69 ± 11.09, p = 0.017) were significantly elevated among subjects with low serum cholinesterase levels. Triglycerides (TG) (1.68 ± 0.86 vs. 1.30 ± 0.66, p = 0.004) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (0.64 ± 0.35 vs. 0.77 ± 0.40, p = 0.004) were significantly elevated among the participants with low pChE levels. However, mean high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (1.22 ± 0.44 vs. 1.37 ± 0.35, p = 0.017) was significantly reduced among participants with low pChE levels. Coffee consumption OR = 2.24 [1.04-4.83, p = 0.039], duration of agro pesticide usage greater than 10 years OR = 4.70 [1.72-13.5, p = 0.003], and poor knowledge of the harmful effect of pesticides OR = 4.96 [1.97-14.1, p = 0.001] were all significantly associated with low pChE levels among the study participants. pChE levels showed a significantly negative correlation with ALT (R = -0.2, p = 0.0027), TG (R = -0.34, p ≤ 0.001), and VLDL (R = -0.31, p ≤ 0.001). HDL showed a significant positive correlation (R = 0.14, p = 0.044).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;There is a high prevalence of reduced pChE among cocoa farmers in Ghana and this was associated with alteration in liver and lipid biomarkers. Additionally, coffee intake, longer work duration, and poor knowledge of agropesticide side effects were associated with low pChE levels among the study participan","PeriodicalId":22985,"journal":{"name":"The Scientific World Journal","volume":"2026 1","pages":"e5926091"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13092716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147723723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}