Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet using yttrium and copper co-doped nickel aluminate.

Spinels are known for their enhanced photocatalytic activity which demonstrates as one of the promising solutions for the conversion of harmful organic dyes into simpler, less harmful molecules like CO and HO. In this study, spinel nickel aluminate, copper-doped nickel aluminate, and yttrium, copper co-doped nickel aluminate were synthesized using the sol-gel process with citric acid as a capping agent. The synthesized compounds were characterized by various techniques, including XRD, UV-DRS, XPS, and SEM-EDAX, and tested for their photocatalytic activity against the crystal violet dye under UV light.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in pregnancy.

Dengue infection is emerging as one of the most common tropical diseases globally. It manifests in varying severity from asymptomatic to the most severe forms of the disease, characterized by coagulopathy, increased vascular fragility, and permeability (dengue haemorrhagic fever) that may progress to hypovolaemic shock (dengue shock syndrome). For atypical manifestations, a new terminology known as expanded dengue syndrome (EDS) was introduced.

Pharmacological effects of herbal ingredients of Manasamitra vatakam in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A review.

Multi-targeted drug therapy has received substantial attention for the treatment of diseases of multi-factorial origin, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. It seems reasonable to argue that the complex pathology of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) cannot be reduced to a single target to modulate a broad range of cellular signaling, associated pathologies, and symptoms. It is this idea that has brought the attention of the scientific world towards phytochemicals and traditional drugs that are notoriously multi-targeted.

Comprehensive profiling of traditional herbomineral formulation Manasamitra vatakam in rat brain following oral administration and in-silico screening of the identified compound for anti-Alzheimer's activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Multi-targeted drug therapy has received substantial attention for the treatment of diseases of multifactorial origin, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Manasamitra vatakam (MMV) is a traditional Ayurvedic formulation used to improve cognitive impairment and mental illness. Here we have used a unique method for leveraging the barrier properties of the intestinal and blood-brain barrier (BBB) to screen and identify the bioactive molecules against Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Toxicity of benzyl paraben on aquatic as well as terrestrial life.

Parabens are derivatives of alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and come in different classes. These compounds are primarily used as antimicrobial preservative agents in many commercial products, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Accordingly, Benzyl paraben (BeP) is known to be a potential endocrine disruptor.

Assessment of Safety and Biodistribution of AAVrh.10hCLN2 Following Intracisternal Administration in Nonhuman Primates for the Treatment of CLN2 Batten Disease.

CLN2 disease is a fatal, childhood autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) gene, encoding tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP-1). Loss of TPP-1 activity leads to accumulation of storage material in lysosomes and resultant neuronal cell death with neurodegeneration. Genotype/phenotype comparisons suggest that the phenotype should be ameliorated with increase of TPP-1 levels to 5-10% of normal with wide central nervous system (CNS) distribution.

Bioconjugation of Meldrum's acid activated furan: A detergent compatible assay for protein quantitation.

A simple yet efficient assay for the quantitation of proteins ranging from plasma proteins to purified proteins from whole cell lysate, based on the bioconjugation reaction between protein and Meldrum's acid Activated Furan (MAF) is described. This easy to use, sensitive method is based on the conjugation of amine functionalities present on the protein with MAF to form the corresponding Donor Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts (DASAs) with characteristic absorption in the visible region. The reaction is rapid as well as reproducible and shows a proportionate increase in color change over a broad range of protein concentration.

Blocking drug efflux mechanisms facilitate genome engineering process in hypercellulolytic fungus, Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228.

Background: Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228 is a non-model filamentous fungus that produces high-quality secretome for lignocellulosic biomass saccharification. Despite having desirable traits to be an industrial workhorse, P. funiculosum has been underestimated due to a lack of reliable genetic engineering tools.

In Situ Decoration of Gold Nanoparticles on Graphene Oxide via Nanosecond Laser Ablation for Remarkable Chemical Sensing and Catalysis.

Gold decorated graphene-based nano-hybrids find extensive research interest due to their enhanced chemical catalytic performance and biochemical sensing. The unique physicochemical properties and the very large surface area makes them propitious platform for the rapid buildouts of science and technology. Graphene serves as an outstanding matrix for anchoring numerous nanomaterials because of its atomically thin 2D morphological features.

Barriers to the utilization of genetic testing and genetic counseling in patients with suspected hereditary breast and ovarian cancers.

A heritable condition is the identified cause of cancer in 5% to 10% of women with breast cancer and in 25% of women with ovarian cancer. It is critical to identify patients at risk for inherited genetic mutations to implement risk-reducing screening and interventions; however, reports in the medical literature indicate that an alarming number of patients with inherited genetic mutations do not receive recommended genetic counseling, testing, or interventions. In order to improve outcomes for these high-risk patients, barriers to genetic testing and counseling must be identified.

Improved efficacy of a next-generation ERT in murine Pompe disease.

Pompe disease is a rare inherited disorder of lysosomal glycogen metabolism due to acid α-glucosidase (GAA) deficiency. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using alglucosidase alfa, a recombinant human GAA (rhGAA), is the only approved treatment for Pompe disease. Although alglucosidase alfa has provided clinical benefits, its poor targeting to key disease-relevant skeletal muscles results in suboptimal efficacy.

In Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanospheres, Nanocubes, and Nanowires over Boron-Doped Graphene Sheets for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Application and Enzyme-Free Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide.

An effective in situ synthesis strategy is demonstrated for the preparation of silver nanostructures (nanospheres (NSs), nanocubes (NCs), and nanowires (NWs)) on the surface of boron-doped graphene (BG). Further, these functional nanomaterials are employed for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of HO. The results confirm the superior performance of BG-Ag nanostructures as SERS platform.

The incidence of cardiomyopathy in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers after anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: Breast cancer remains the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly 10% of breast cancers are hereditary, with deleterious mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes being the leading cause. Anthracycline chemotherapy, used commonly for breast cancer, carries cardiotoxicity risk.

Boron doped graphene wrapped silver nanowires as an efficient electrocatalyst for molecular oxygen reduction.

Metal nanowires exhibit unusually high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their inherent electronic structures. However, controllable synthesis of stable nanowires still remains as a daunting challenge. Herein, we report the in situ synthesis of silver nanowires (AgNWs) over boron doped graphene sheets (BG) and demonstrated its efficient electrocatalytic activity towards ORR for the first time.

Characterization and biological activities of cyclic (1 → 3, 1 → 6)-β-glucans from Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Objective: To isolate cyclic (1 → 3, 1 → 6)-β-glucan from Bradyrhizobium japonicum MTCC120, to characterize its structure and to study its biological activities.

Results: The degree of polymerization of cyclic (1 → 3, 1 → 6)-β-glucan varied between 10 and 13 and with substituents acetyl, succinyl and phosphocholine. The cyclic glucans showed bimodal particle size distribution, with hydrodynamic diameters of 1.

Process optimization and kinetic modelling of cyclic (1→3, 1→6)-β-glucans production from Bradyrhizobium japonicum MTCC120.

Cyclic (1→3, 1→6)-β-glucans are water soluble, biocompatible polymers with potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries but have not yet been exploited due to their poor yield. In the present study statistical experimental design methodology was employed to improve their production. Initial screening indicated arabinose and peptone as best carbon and nitrogen source respectively, for glucan production.

Severe Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenia Successfully Treated with High-Dose Pulse Cyclophosphamide and Eltrombopag.

Severe refractory ITP is clinically challenging and a variety of single or combination chemotherapies have been tried with limited outcome. We report a case of ITP that was unresponsive to multiple agents including high-dose steroid, IVIG, Rho(D) immune globulin, rituximab, cyclosporine, azathioprine, vincristine, mycophenolate mofetil, romiplostim, and eltrombopag; however, it achieved complete remission with combination treatment of cyclophosphamide and eltrombopag.

Patient and provider attitudes toward the use of patient portals for the management of chronic disease: a systematic review.

Background: Patient portals provide patients with the tools to better manage and understand their health status. However, widespread adoption of patient portals faces resistance from patients and providers for a number of reasons, and there is limited evidence evaluating the characteristics of patient portals that received positive remarks from patients and providers.

Objective: The objectives of this systematic review are to identify the shared characteristics of portals that receive favorable responses from patients and providers and to identify the elements that patients and providers believe need improvement.

Nanoparticle assembly following Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics on a Langmuir film and chain networks captured in LB films.

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique is an elegant protocol for the steered assembly of metal nanoparticles, the deposition pressure serving as a convenient parameter to tune the assembly. Adsorption of nanoparticles from the subphase to the air-water interface can provide further control of the process. Citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles in the aqueous subphase are shown to assemble into extended 2-dimensional chain networks following adsorption on a cationic amphiphile Langmuir film at the air-water interface.

A rare presentation of in situ mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature.

A 65-year-old gentleman presented with left groin swelling over the course of two months. Physical exam revealed nontender left inguinal adenopathy, and computed tomography scans detected multiple lymph nodes in the mesenteric, aortocaval, and right common iliac regions. An excisional lymph node biopsy was performed.

Evaluation of a novel hexavalent humanized anti-IGF-1R antibody and its bivalent parental IgG in diverse cancer cell lines.

A major mechanism of monoclonal antibodies that selectively target the insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) to inhibit tumor growth is by downregulating the receptor, regardless whether they are capable (antagonistic) or incapable (agonistic) of blocking the binding of cognate ligands. We have developed and characterized a novel agonistic anti-IGF-1R humanized antibody, hR1, and used the Dock-and-Lock (DNL) method to construct Hex-hR1, the first multivalent antibody comprising 6 functional Fabs of hR1, with the aim of enhancing potency of hR1. Based on cross-blocking experiments, hR1 recognizes a region of cysteine-rich domain on the α-subunit, different from the epitopes mapped for existing anti-IGF-1R antibodies, yet hR1 is similar to other anti-IGF-1R antibodies in downregulating IGF-1R and inhibiting proliferation, colony formation, or invasion of selected cancer cell lines in vitro, as well as suppressing growth of the RH-30 rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft in nude mice when combined with the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin.

Efflux pumps of Mycobacterium tuberculosis play a significant role in antituberculosis activity of potential drug candidates.

Active efflux of drugs mediated by efflux pumps that confer drug resistance is one of the mechanisms developed by bacteria to counter the adverse effects of antibiotics and chemicals. To understand these efflux mechanisms in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we generated knockout (KO) mutants of four efflux pumps of the pathogen belonging to different classes. We measured the MICs and kill values of two different compound classes on the wild type (WT) and the efflux pump (EP) KO mutants in the presence and absence of the efflux inhibitors verapamil and l-phenylalanyl-l-arginyl-β-naphthylamide (PAβN).

Rv1218c, an ABC transporter of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with implications in drug discovery.

Efflux systems are important in determining the efficacy of antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial infections. In the last decade much attention has been paid to studying the efflux pumps of mycobacteria. New classes of compounds are under investigation for development into potential candidate drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis.