SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

Background: Diabetes Type 2 is a complex disorder described by an imbalance between insulin resistance and secretion that induce liver glucose output. It has been shown that serum insulin levels are affected by a sperm plasma membrane and acrosome. Therefore, during insulin resistance spermatogenesis changes, diabetic patients detect testicular changes. Aims: This research aims to know the effect of diabetic type 2 on some aspects of fertility in men by studying the characteristics of the semen and some biochemical parameters in seminal plasma. Methods: This study was achieved at the Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes Specialists in Maysan province from February to November 2018 and included 45 men (30 diabetic and 15 healthy in the control group) aged 30 to 59 years. The patients were divided according to age into two groups, the first (30-39) and second (40-59) years, also divided by the duration of diabetes into two groups, the first (1-5) and second (6-10) year. Results: The pH of semen in the second age group (40-49 years) group and first duration (1-5 years) group were significantly decreased (P <0.05) in diabetes compared with the control group. Volume and viscosity did not have significant differences in patients compared to the control following the age and duration of diabetes. Liquefaction only in the first age (30-39 years) group significantly increased (P <0.05) compared to the control. The concentration of sperm, progressive motility, non-progressive and normal morphology decreased (P <0.05) significantly. While the sluggish, dead, and abnormal morphology significantly increased (P <0.05) in all diabetes groups compared with the control. The fructose and alkaline phosphatase values in the seminal plasma were not differing significantly in patients compared with the control. Zinc and glutathione values decreased significantly (P <0.05) compared with control in each age and duration of diabetes. Discussion: Insulin stimulates the Ledying cell function, defect insulin effect on spermatogenesis. Impaired sperm motility in a patient with D.M. might be attributed to many reasons, such as increased ROS level, altered mitochondria DNA, and decreased epididymal products. Conclusion: our measurement indicates that there is an effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on semen parameters and seminal plasma biochemical parameters.

Background: The interview with Professor Dr. Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa covers his extensive career and contributions to chemical engineering, focusing on innovations and sustainability. Objectives: To explore Professor Pellegrini's experiences in various areas of chemical engineering, including teaching methods, research in supercritical extraction, biodiesel production, and process intensification. Methods: Semi-structured interview addressing topics such as academic and industrial career, teaching methods, ongoing research, and future perspectives for the chemical industry. Results: Professor Pellegrini highlighted the importance of practical application of theoretical knowledge, the development of the Water Source Diagram method, advances in supercritical extraction and biodiesel production, and the need for process intensification in the industry. Discussion: The interview revealed the importance of integration between academia and industry, the need for teaching methods that facilitate learning, and the challenges in implementing sustainable and efficient technologies in the chemical industry. Conclusion: Professor Pellegrini emphasizes the importance of process intensification and sustainability in the evolution of the chemical industry. He highlights the need for greater collaboration between academia and industry to address future challenges and implement innovative solutions.

Background: Drug repurposing offers potential advantages for cancer therapy development, particularly when utilizing medications with established safety profiles and expired patents. While individual repurposed medications have been investigated for oncological applications, comprehensive comparative analyses of research distribution patterns across multiple therapeutic candidates appear limited in the literature. Understanding these patterns may provide insights into research priorities and potential knowledge gaps. Aim: This exploratory study was designed to quantify and compare the volume of scientific literature examining the anticancer potential of eleven selected off-patent medications across different pharmacological classes. Methods: Bibliometric searches were conducted across five databases (Google Scholar, BVS, PubMed, NIH, and Science.gov) using standardized search terms combining each medication name with "cancer" and "cancer treatment." The selected medications included ivermectin, fenbendazole, mebendazole, albendazole, metformin, propranolol, disulfiram, valproic acid, thalidomide, dexamethasone, and hydroxychloroquine. Basic statistical analyses were performed to examine the distribution patterns and correlations within the database. Results: The search yielded 3,226,066 total publications with considerable variation in distribution patterns. Dexamethasone accounted for the largest proportion (1,538,058 publications, 47.68%), followed by metformin (697,172 publications, 21.61%). Some medications with smaller overall publication volumes demonstrated higher proportions of treatment-specific research, such as fenbendazole (87.82%), disulfiram with copper (86.54%), and hydroxychloroquine with zinc (75.21%). The Herfindahl Index indicated a high concentration of research attention (0.2870). Discussion: The findings suggest substantial variation in research attention across the selected medications. While some medications dominate the literature, others with focused treatment-specific research may warrant further investigation. The inverse relationship observed between total publication volume and treatment specificity suggests that research patterns in this field may be more complex than absolute publication counts indicate. Conclusions: This preliminary bibliometric assessment reveals an uneven distribution of research attention among repurposed medications being investigated for cancer applications. These patterns may inform future research prioritization, though further qualitative analysis would be valuable to assess the clinical significance of these quantitative observations.