Complementary Biological System Journal

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, and paracrine activity. Limitations associated with the sourcing and scalability of human MSCs have increased interest in xenogeneic alternatives, particularly sheep umbilical cord–derived MSCs (sUC-MSCs). These cells display high proliferative capacity, stable karyotypes, and a typical MSC immunophenotype (CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105), with low basal immunogenicity. sUC-MSCs exhibit osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation potential and secrete angiogenic and immunomodulatory factors, including VEGF, HGF, IGF-1, TGF-β, and IL-10. Owing to their biological similarities to human MSCs and accessibility from perinatal tissue, sUC-MSCs represent a suitable large-animal cell source for translational and preclinical research. Bioengineering strategies, including hydrogels, chitosan-based matrices, and peptide-functionalized scaffolds, further enhance their survival and delivery efficiency. Although challenges remain regarding immunogenicity and regulatory standardization, recent advances in omics profiling, gene editing, and extracellular vesicle–based delivery support the continued evaluation of sUC-MSCs as a scalable and ethically sustainable xenogeneic cell source for regenerative applications.

Background: A prescription error is a failure in the prescription writing process that results in a wrong instruction about one or more of the standard features of a prescription. Most adverse drug events are preventable through promoting rational drug use; primarily by mitigating the outstanding high burden of prescribing errors. The main aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and characteristics of prescription errors in the community pharmacies in Mbarara, Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected community pharmacies in Mbarara City, South Western Uganda. Consecutive sampling of all prescriptions availed at the selected pharmacies was conducted until the total sampling target was achieved. A structured checklist adopted from the standard prescription guidelines according to the Uganda Clinical Guidelines was used to abstract data from the prescriptions.

Results: The study included 420 prescriptions from eleven community pharmacies in Mbarara City. The overall prevalence of prescription error was 64.3%. Out of 420 prescriptions analysed, 270 prescriptions had a total of 412 prescribing errors. Illegible or wrong drug name was the most prevalent form of prescription error (170, 40.48%) followed by missing or wrong route of administration (113, 26.9%). On the other hand, out of 985 prescription writing errors, 703 (71.4%) were errors of omission. The errors of commission accounted for 282 (28.6%) of the prescription writing errors: 156 (38.4%) had errors in name of the drug, and 58 (14.3%) had errors in prescriber’s name among others.

Conclusion: The current prevalence of prescription errors is much higher compared to previously reported findings. This translates to suboptimal patient care and heightened risk of adverse drug events including the risk of antimicrobial resistance. This calls for strengthening health care systems to reduce prescription errors and prevent adverse drug events, including incorrect prescribing, drug interactions, antibiotic resistance, and treatment failure.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remain common complications following surgery, despite the availability of various prophylactic antiemetic agents. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ondansetron and metoclopramide in preventing PONV in patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 80 adult patients were equally allocated into two groups: one receiving 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous ondansetron and the other 0.2 mg/kg of intravenous metoclopramide at the end of surgery. The incidence, frequency, and need for rescue antiemetics were evaluated over 24 hours postoperatively. The overall incidence of nausea was higher in the ondansetron group (65%) compared to the metoclopramide group (52.5%), though not statistically significant (p = 0.071). Conversely, ondansetron was associated with a lower incidence of vomiting (47.2% vs. 52.8%) and significantly reduced need for rescue antiemetic therapy (38.1% vs. 61.9%, p = 0.023). Age group analysis revealed significantly higher PONV incidence among patients aged 20–39 years (p < 0.001). Gender and BMI were not predictive of nausea or vomiting occurrence but were associated with symptom recurrence. Although both agents were effective for PONV prophylaxis, ondansetron demonstrated clinical advantages by reducing vomiting frequency and the need for rescue therapy. Younger age was identified as a significant risk factor for PONV. These findings support the preferential use of ondansetron, particularly in high-risk patients, and emphasize the value of individualized prophylactic strategies.

Safety is crucial in the oil and gas refinery industry for production and distribution. Companies must ensure a workplace free from common injuries and protected against serious incidents. This paper evaluates employees’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and workplace environment at North Refineries Company (Baiji). A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from September 10, 2024, to September 20, 2025, involving 480 employees (378 workers and 102 managers). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analysed using SPSS version 24. North Refineries Company (Baiji). workers scored 72.49 % on general knowledge and 96.83% on attitudes, but only 53.97% on safe behaviour. Division managers reported health support measures at 84.31% (healthy) and long-term health effects at 58% (healthy), while 45% indicated a lack of regular screenings as unhealthy, and nearly 44% noted unhealthy work-related health problems. In conclusion, this study has determined that oil sector workers must follow a sequential safety protocol to protect themselves and equipment and increase production.

Scutellarin, a flavonoid glycoside primarily derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, has garnered increasing scientific interest for its multifaceted pharmacological properties. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of scutellarin's therapeutic effects, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and anticancer activities. Emphasis is placed on elucidating its molecular mechanisms of action, such as modulation of the NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt pathways, and its role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Additionally, we discuss formulation innovations, including nanoparticle and liposomal delivery systems, aimed at overcoming scutellarin's poor oral bioavailability and enhancing therapeutic performance. Key limitations in current research such as variability in raw material quality, few clinical trial data, and challenges with regulatory approval in Western markets are critically examined. By outlining these gaps and highlighting future directions, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis to support the translational development of scutellarin as a promising therapeutic candidate.