Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury occurs during cardiac surgery and is the major factor leading to heart dysfunction and heart failure. Our previous study showed that gene and micro-RNA expression profiles are altered in heart grafts with extended I/R injury. In this study, we, for the first time, demonstrated that I/R injury upregulates the expression of Polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2) but decreases miR-128 expression in heart cells both in vitro and in vivo. Silencing Plk2 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) protects cells from Antimycin A-induced cell apoptosis/death. Silencing Plk2 also decreases phosphorylated p65 expression but increases Angiopoietin 1 expression. In addition, Plk2 is negatively regulated by miR-128. miR-128 exerts a protective effect on cell apoptosis similar to Plk2 siRNA in response to I/R stress. Methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-AZ) increases the expression of miR-128 and subsequently reduces Plk2 expression and cell apoptosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Plk2 regulated by miR-128 induces cell apoptosis/death in response to I/R stress through activation of the nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) signal pathway. miR-128 and Plk2 are new targets for preventing cardiac I/R injury or oxidative stress-mediated injury.

Dear madam, The destructive floods in Pakistan have wreaked havoc, leading to increased mortality and morbidity rates among people. More than 1,100 people, including the excess of 350 children, have passed away, and the number is expected to grow [1]. The infrastructure is destroyed with no food or shelter. A halt in conveyance has made the necessities to life unattainable on people, and pregnant women are no exception. In Pakistan, about 500,000 pregnant women were affected by the 2010 floods, and 1.5 million women required emergency obstetric care [2]. Of the pregnant women during the disaster, 1,700 gave birth and hundreds suffered from complications during childbirth. Retained placenta, obstructed labour and fetal distress are some of the complications that pregnant women are at risk of during disaster. The scarcity of healthcare facilities and providers makes it difficult to manage maternal health problems, and delivery in these conditions often leads to maternal death [3]. The maternal mortality rate in Pakistan is 186 deaths per100,000, with rural areas having a 26% higher ratio [4]. Reproductive health is also affected by disasters through spontaneous abortion, birth defects, and low birth weight of babies [3] [5]. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women with various disabilities have suffered the most. Sometimes women cannot express their problems which may lead to psychological issues. In addition, delay in transport and medical help affect maternal mortality in rural areas. Pakistan has limited healthcare resources in flood affected areas, making it difficult for pregnant women to help. An obstetrics field hospital must be established with trained staff with concerning disaster protocols. An experienced obstetrician should be taken on board to assess the emergency and set-up of prerequisite healthcare resources. Social media, mass media and public campaigns should be popularized to put an impact on this topic. Furthermore, public awareness for both genders and setting up medical camps in remote areas might help. Telecommunication must be established with field operators in coordination with other disaster relief providers to initiate the need of medicines like folic acid and other vitamins. Portable ultrasound must be arranged. The usage of alcohol-based cleanser instead of water to eradicate contamination. The impact that floods have on lives of pregnant women is an issue that is not given much attention. More studies are required in this area to understand the full extent of the problem.

Effective leaders in healthcare settings create a motivating work environment, initiate changes in practice, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to advance patient-centered care. Health professionals in cancer education need leadership development to meet the continued rise in cancer cases and to keep up with the rapid biomedical and technological advances in global cancer care. In addition, leadership development in cancer education supports interprofessional collaboration, optimizes patient engagement, and provides mentorship opportunities necessary for career advancement and skill development. The identified benefits from leadership development in cancer education led to the creation of an interactive pilot leadership workshop titled “Essential Skills in Cancer Education: Leadership, Leading, and Influencing Change in Cancer Education,” held at the International Cancer Education Conference in October 2020. The workshop was led by global leaders in cancer education and utilized lectures, mentorship opportunities, interactive case studies, and individual learning projects to develop leadership skills in multidisciplinary oncology professionals. Fifteen attendees from diverse educational backgrounds and levels of experience participated in the virtual leadership workshop and mentorship program. Following the workshop, participants reported an increase in knowledge regarding how to use different leadership styles, initiate changes in practice, and apply leadership skills in their career development and at their institutions. The feedback received from participants through post-workshop evaluations was overall positive and demonstrated an interest for more leadership development opportunities in cancer education. This pilot workshop shows that leadership is a valuable and teachable skill that will benefit both healthcare professionals and patients in the field of cancer education.