International Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Analysis

Evaluation of PECAM-1 Expression and Microvessel Density in Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Gazi Abdus Sadique, Tanshina Afrin — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the fifth most prevalent malignancy globally and ranks sixth in Bangladesh, representing a significant oncological and public health challenge. Gaining in depth knowledge about the tumor microenvironment, particularly the mechanisms of tumor-induced angiogenesis, is essential for the development of more precise and effective targeted therapies. Microvessel Density (MVD) serves as a widely recognized measure of angiogenic activity and can be reliably assessed using immunohistochemical staining for PECAM-1 (CD31), a highly specific marker of vascular endothelial cells.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Satkhira Medical College, from April 2024 to March 2025. A total of 50 cases of invasive gastric adenocarcinoma were included. Routine Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was performed for Lauren classification. Immunohistochemistry for PECAM-1 was conducted to highlight microvessels.

Result: Among 50 cases, intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was more frequent than diffuse type. High MVD was observed in 58.1% of intestinal-type cases and 36.8% of diffuse-type cases. The difference in MVD between intestinal and diffuse types was statistically significant (p =0.049), suggesting higher angiogenic activity in intestinal-type tumors.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PECAM-1 positive MVD is significantly higher in the intestinal subtype of gastric adenocarcinoma compared to the diffuse subtype. These findings indicate a more angiogenically active tumor microenvironment in intestinal-type tumors, potentially correlating with greater invasive potential and metastatic behavior. PECAM-1 immunostaining provides a valuable tool for quantifying tumor angiogenesis and may serve as a prognostic marker or a basis for anti-angiogenic therapeutic targeting in gastric cancer management.

Hypochlorous Acid in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Production and Safety

Valerie Edwards-Jones — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Background: Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) is a potent oxidizing agent with broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, mycobacterium, fungi and viruses. It is naturally produced by neutrophils, macrophages and other cells of the innate immune system during the respiratory burst.

Objective: This review examines current evidence on the efficacy, manufacture, safety and clinical applications of HOCl in healthcare, with a focus on dentistry, skin care and wound management, podiatry and infection control.

Key findings: The current evidence supports HOCl as a rapid, safe, effective and highly adaptable tool in modern healthcare. Effective healthcare formulations typically contain a high percentage of HOCl and a low percentage of OCl- to limit toxicity. Further large-scale, standardized clinical studies are needed to optimize dosing strategies, assess long-term outcomes and establish regulatory consistency across commercial formulations.

Clinical implication: HOCl represents a valuable adjunct in antimicrobial stewardship efforts and will be a great addition to tackle problems associated with prevention and treatment of multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria seen globally. HOCl is an emerging asset in patient care and infection prevention.

Long-term Toxicity Assessment of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Wistar Rats

Anita K Patlolla, P Madhusudhana Chary, S Anitha Kumari — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

While copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have extensive applications in many sectors, their widespread use has increased the potential for environmental toxicity. This study aimed to determine the hepatic injury and oxidative stress induced by CuO nanoparticles (NPs) in male Wistar rats. They were orally administered CuO-NPs at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight (bwt), once daily for 28 days. A control group received ultrapure water. Twenty-four hours after completion of the experiment, samples were collected following established procedures. We analyzed several biomarkers and performed a histopathology assessment to evaluate liver damage. Our evaluation included measurements of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum samples, alongside an assessment of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and microscopic examination of liver tissue morphology. The results of the study indicated that treated rats experienced increased levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), while experiencing a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), compared to the control group. Furthermore, histopathological examination of the liver in the treated rats revealed notable morphological alterations compared to the control group. Results from this investigation support the hypothesis that CuO-NP exert hepatotoxicity through the induction of oxidative stress.

Is the 1-Hour Post-Load Glucose the Missing Piece in Early Dysglycaemia Diagnosis?

Panagiota Mitrou — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Early identification of individuals at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes remains a significant challenge in clinical practice. Established diagnostic indices, including fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose during the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and HbA1c, fail to detect a considerable proportion of individuals who already display early β-cell dysfunction, impaired insulin sensitivity and subtle cardiometabolic abnormalities. Emerging evidence from longitudinal and pathophysiological studies indicates that the 1-hour plasma glucose (1h-PG) during the OGTT may serve as a sensitive marker of early dysglycaemia and a robust predictor of future diabetes and cardiovascular risk, in some cases outperforming traditional parameters. Nevertheless, broader validation in multiethnic cohorts, rigorous reproducibility assessments and well-designed interventional studies are still required before changes to diagnostic practice can be justified. The available evidence is encouraging, but more rigorous and diverse data are required before the 1-h plasma glucose can be confidently integrated into routine diagnostic practice.

Methodological Biases in Virology: A Scientific Criteria-Based Review of Purification, Sequencing and Infectivity Studies

Victor Guirado Viedma — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:21:40 -0600

Background: Early SARS-CoV-2 publications revealed methodological gaps that may reflect broader limitations within virology. This review evaluates key experimental domains to assess whether current practices consistently meet foundational standards.

Methods: A multi-platform search strategy was performed using academic databases and AI-assisted literature interrogation. Three methodological areas were examined: isolation and purification of viral particles, genome sequencing directly from purified virions without amplification or cloning and infectivity assays using fully composition-matched negative controls. Iterative queries with increasingly strict requirements were used to identify studies meeting these criteria.

Results: No publicly accessible studies were found that simultaneously fulfilled the criteria for complete purification, direct genome sequencing and rigorously matched negative controls. Purification methods using density gradients were documented and allow structural characterization, but do not establish exogeneity or pathogenicity. Sequencing directly from purified virions was identified only for certain giant viruses and bacteriophages, while most studies relied on PCR or bacterial cloning. Infectivity research consistently lacked negative controls matched for medium composition and experimental conditions, including in both historical and contemporary studies.

Conclusion: These findings indicate persistent gaps between expected methodological standards and current empirical practices in virology. Strengthening experimental rigor particularly through direct sequencing of purified particles, the use of fully composition-matched controls, transparent reporting and independent replication is essential for improving the reliability of viral model. A concise summary of key methodological findings is presented in the conclusions section for direct reference.