Browsing by Author "Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo"

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AGE-DEPENDENTPI3K/AKT/MTOR SIGNALING DYNAMICS REVEAL IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT HETEROGENEITY IN NIGERIAN BREAST CANCER SUBTYPES
(Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer: first published a, 2026) Udobi, Magdalene ENO; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Ezike, Kevin Nwabueze; Ikeji, Nwamaka Cynthia; Farombi, benezer Olatunde
Age-specific patterns of breast cancer in Nigerian women unraveled through histological analysis
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Effiong, Magdalene Eno; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Ezike, Kevin Nwabueze; Oguntebi, Emmanuel Eyitayo; Abdul, Oluwasesan Adelowo; Achusi, Izuchukwu Benerdin; Benye, Tolulope Aanuoluwapo; Omunagbe, Mercy Bella; Ogbodo, Peace Nzubechukwu
Sub-Saharan African women face a high burden of breast cancer, influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors. However, the lack of comprehensive, age-stratified data hinders the identification of risk factors and the development of effective, population-specific interventions. This study aimed to assess age-related variations in breast cancer prevalence among Nigerian women, providing insight into associated risk factors and disease trends. A retrospective review of 3,263 breast histopathology records (9.46% of total from 2015 to 2023) was conducted. Lesions—benign and malignant—were analyzed across five age groups: children and adolescents (0–19), young adults (20–39), middle-aged (40–59), higher-aged (60–79), and elderly (≥ 80), using MS Excel and GraphPad Prism 8.0. Statistical comparisons were performed by age and lesion type. Most cases were in young adults (45.97%) and middle-aged women (33.83%). The left breast was more commonly affected (46.86%) and had higher malignancy rates than the right (44.41%) or bilateral lesions (7.20%). Benign lesions were predominant (56.76%), especially among young adults (57.34%). Malignancy incidence increased with age, peaking in middle-aged women (53.30%). Fibroadenoma was the most frequent benign lesion in children and adolescents and young adults, while fibrosis predominated in middle age. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the leading malignant subtype, with a sharp rise by 2023—particularly among middle-aged (172 cases) and young adult women (71 cases). Among 339 immunohistochemically profiled cases, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; 42.77%) and ER+/PR+ tumors (36.87%) were most common. TNBC was the only subtype detected in children and adolescents. Middle-aged women bore the highest burden of all subtypes, with a marked increase in TNBC and ER+/PR+ cases in 2023. The rising incidence of aggressive subtypes, particularly TNBC, highlights the need for enhanced molecular diagnostics and personalized therapies. Age-specific trends reinforce the urgency for targeted screening, especially for young and middle-aged Nigerian women.
Global research landscape of telomere biology in infectious diseases: mechanistic links between host–pathogen interactions and immune ageing
(Frontiers in Aging, 2026) Wakai, Theophilus N.; Yensii, Nina Ghislaine; Kernyuy, Fabrice Banadzem; Bella-Omunagbe, Mercy; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo; Afolabi, Sunmola
Telomeres, nucleoprotein structures located at the ends of chromosomes, maintain genomic stability and regulate cellular lifespan, particularly in immune cells. Telomere shortening, driven by cell division and limited telomerase activity, accelerates immune ageing and increases susceptibility to infectious diseases. Chronic infections like HIV and tuberculosis exacerbate telomere attrition through sustained immune activation and oxidative stress. This study presents a bibliometric review of research on telomere length and infectious diseases from 2005 to 2025. Data from the Web of Science Core Collection were analysed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, software tools for visualising co-authorship, citation, and keyword networks, to assess publication trends, collaborations, and themes. A total of 123 publications were identified, showing steady growth with a 60% increase in publications from 2020 to 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading journals included Frontiers in Immunology, PLoS ONE, and Scientific Reports. The United States produced the largest share of publications, followed by Canada and Spain, with notable contributions from the University of British Columbia and Université de Montréal. Influential authors such as Côté HCF, Pick N, and Maan EJ have advanced research, particularly in the areas of HIV and tuberculosis. Keyword analysis highlighted two dominant themes: immune ageing and infection-related stress. Malaria research was comparatively scarce, underscoring a gap for future investigation. These findings inform future research on telomere-targeted interventions and epidemiological studies aimed at enhancing infectious disease management. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the field’s progress and identifies key areas for future investigation.
Molecular Docking Appraisal of Pleurotus ostreatus Phytochemicals as Potential Inhibitors of PI3K/Akt Pathway for Breast Cancer Treatment
(Bioinformatics and Biology Insights Volume 19:, 2025) Effiong, Magdalene Eno; Bella-Omunagbe, Mercy; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo
InTRoDuCTIon: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease involving a network of numerous extracellular signal transduction path ways. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is crucial for understanding the BC development. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), mTOR, Akt, 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), FoxO1, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), H-Ras, and proapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family protein (BAD) proteins are key drivers of this pathway and potential therapeutic targets. Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom that is rich in flavonoids and phenols that can serve as potential inhibitors of proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. AIM: This study evaluated the anticancer properties of P ostreatus through a structure-based virtual screening of 22 biologically active com pounds present in the mushroom. MeThoD: Model optimization was carried out on PI3K, PTEN, mTOR, Akt, PDK1, FoxO1, GSK-3, MDM2, H-Ras, and BAD proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and molecular docking of compounds/control inhibitors in the binding pocket were simulated AutoDock Vina in PyRx. The drug likeness, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic features of prospective docking leads were all anticipated. ReSulT: Several potent inhibitors of the selected key driver proteins in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway were identified from P ostreatus. Ellagic acid with binding affinities of −8.0, −8.0, −8.1, −8.2, −6.2, and −7.1 kcal/mol on PI3K, Akt, PDK1, GSK-3, MDM2, and BAD, respectively, had better binding affinity compared with their reference drugs. Likewise, apigenin (−7.8 kcal/mol), chrysin (−7.8 kcal/mol), quercetin (−6.4 kcal/ mol), and chlorogenic acid (−6.2 kcal/mol) had better binding affinities to PTEN, mTOR, FoxO1, and H-Ras proteins, respectively. ConCluSIon: Ellagic acid, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, chrysin, and naringenin phytochemicals are seen as the better lead molecules due to their ability to strongly bind to the proteins under study in this pathway. Analogs of these compounds can also be designed as potential drugs.