Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Benzimidazole Derivatives as IL-6 Inhibitors and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a major role in the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In the present study, benzimidazole and benzene sulfonyl scaffold were identified as pharmacophore by analysis of literature reports and novel small molecule IL-6 inhibitors were designed. These were screened via docking with IL-6 (PDB: 1ALU), then and through Lipinski's rule of 5.

A critical analysis of design, binding pattern and SAR of benzo-fused heteronuclear compounds as VEGFR-2 inhibitors.

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a class of homodimeric ligands that bind to their receptors (VEGFRs) to carryout physiological and pathological angiogenesis essential for regulating homeostasis of body. Overexpression of VEGF results in metastasis of benign tumor into malignant tumor. An active role of VEGFR-2 in cancer angiogenesis makes it a major target for cancer therapy.

Immune mechanisms targeting malaria transmission: opportunities for vaccine development.

Introduction: Malaria continues to remain a major global health problem with nearly a quarter of a billion clinical cases and more than 600,000 deaths in 2022. There has been significant progress toward vaccine development, however, poor efficacy of approved vaccines requiring multiple immunizing doses emphasizes the need for continued efforts toward improved vaccines. Progress to date, nonetheless, has provided impetus for malaria elimination.

Dissemination and implementation research coordination and training to improve cardiovascular health in people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: the research coordinating center of the HLB-SIMPLe Alliance.

As global adoption of antiretroviral therapy extends the lifespan of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) through viral suppression, the risk of comorbid conditions such as hypertension has risen, creating a need for effective, scalable interventions to manage comorbidities in PLHIV. The Heart, Lung, and Blood Co-morbiditieS Implementation Models in People Living with HIV (HLB-SIMPLe) Alliance has been funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Fogarty International Center (FIC) since September 2020. The Alliance was created to conduct late-stage implementation research to contextualize, implement, and evaluate evidence-based strategies to integrate the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension, in PLHIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Architectural distortion on digital breast tomosynthesis mammograms in symptomatic breast clinics: what are the result outcomes?

Objectives: In April 2020, standard two-dimensional (2D) full-field digital mammograms were replaced with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and synthesised 2D views for symptomatic breast clinics. This study aimed to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) for malignancy in DBT-detected Architectural distortion (AD).

Methods: All mammogram reports with the word "distortion" were assessed between April 2020 and October 2022.

In silico insights into design of novel VEGFR-2 inhibitors: SMILES-based QSAR modelling, and docking studies on substituted benzo-fused heteronuclear derivatives.

Eight QSAR models (M1-M8) were developed from a dataset of 118 benzo-fused heteronuclear derivatives targeting VEGFR-2 by Monte Carlo optimization method of CORALSEA 2023 software. Models were generated with hybrid optimal descriptors using both SMILES and Graphs with zero- and first-order Morgan extended connectivity index from a training set of 103 derivatives. All statistical parameters for model validation were within the prescribed limits, establishing the models to be robust and of excellent quality.

Transmission-reducing and -enhancing monoclonal antibodies against gamete surface protein Pvs48/45.

Gamete surface protein P48/45 has been shown to be important for male gamete fertility and a strong candidate for the development of a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV). However, TBV development for homolog Pvs48/45 has been slow because of a number of challenges: availability of conformationally suitable recombinant protein; the lack of an challenge model; and the inability to produce gametocytes in culture to test transmission-blocking activity of antibodies. To support ongoing efforts to develop Pvs48/45 as a potential vaccine candidate, we initiated efforts to develop much needed reagents to move the field forward.

Assets for integrating task-sharing strategies for hypertension within HIV clinics: Stakeholder's perspectives using the PEN-3 cultural model.

Background: Access to antiretroviral therapy has increased life expectancy and survival among people living with HIV (PLWH) in African countries like Nigeria. Unfortunately, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are on the rise as important drivers of morbidity and mortality rates among this group. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders in Nigeria on the integration of evidence-based task-sharing strategies for hypertension care (TASSH) within existing HIV clinics in Nigeria.

Research opportunities for the primordial prevention of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease-streptococcal vaccine development: a national heart, lung and blood institute workshop report.

also known as group A streptococcus (StrepA), is a bacterium that causes a range of human diseases, including pharyngitis, impetigo, invasive infections, and post-infection immune sequelae such as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. StrepA infections cause some of the highest burden of disease and death in mostly young populations in low-resource settings. Despite decades of effort, there is still no licensed StrepA vaccine, which if developed, could be a cost-effective way to reduce the incidence of disease.

Tertiary prevention and treatment of rheumatic heart disease: a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute working group summary.

Although entirely preventable, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a disease of poverty and social disadvantage resulting in high morbidity and mortality, remains an ever-present burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and rural, remote, marginalised and disenfranchised populations within high-income countries. In late 2021, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a workshop to explore the current state of science, to identify basic science and clinical research priorities to support RHD eradication efforts worldwide. This was done through the inclusion of multidisciplinary global experts, including cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular specialists as well as health policy and health economics experts, many of whom also represented or closely worked with patient-family organisations and local governments.

Building Capacity of Community Nurses to Strengthen the Management of Uncomplicated Hypertension in Persons Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: Poor training of non-physician healthcare workers (especially community nurses) could hinder the successful integration of cardiovascular disease (CVD) management into HIV chronic care in primary healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. To address this limitation, we included a holistic training programme with a robust module for both practice facilitators and community nurses as part of the formative stages of the managing hypertension among people living with HIV: an integrated model (MAP-IT), which is a study that is evaluating the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the integration of a task-strengthening strategy for hypertension control (TASSH) into primary healthcare centres in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Methods: Between June and November 2021, 3 didactic training workshops were conducted using a training module which is based on the simplified Nigerian Hypertension Protocol for primary care and the World Health Organization (WHO) heart package.

Experiences of nurse practitioners with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to the way nurse practitioners (NPs) provided care for patients, including the explosive and instantaneous use of telehealth in lieu of face-to-face services to maintain safe health care access and provision for patients and providers.

Purpose: Although the literature abounds with patient perspectives and benefits of telehealth, little is found about the perceptions and experiences of NPs providing telehealth services during this time when telehealth was the primary care mode of providing nonacute care.

Methodology: This mixed-methods, descriptive, exploratory study describes demographic and quantitative data about telehealth experiences collected from NPs across the nation early in the pandemic during fall 2020, and similar quantitative data collected later in spring 2021 from NPs in one state.

Nanoparticle-Shielded dsRNA Delivery for Enhancing RNAi Efficiency in Cotton Spotted Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Nolidae).

The spotted bollworm (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) is a polyphagous pest with enormous economic significance, primarily affecting cotton and okra. However, the lack of gene sequence information on this pest has a significant constraint on molecular investigations and the formulation of superior pest management strategies. An RNA-seq-based transcriptome study was conducted to alleviate such limitations, and de novo assembly was performed to obtain transcript sequences of this pest.

Science teacher beliefs in conflict-affected zones of Jammu and Kashmir.

This study examines science teacher beliefs working in the conflict-affected zones of Jammu and Kashmir. Research in these areas indicates that teacher beliefs influence their classroom practices and student learning outcomes and that teacher beliefs are highly context sensitive. Using data collected from a questionnaire and focussed group discussions, this research elucidates science teachers' beliefs regarding how conflict affects classroom practices, conflict and teaching issues, the multifaceted role of teachers in conflict-affected zones, the role of science education in ameliorating conflict, and the changing role of teachers during three decades of active conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.

Malignancy risk of indeterminate mammographic calcification in symptomatic breast clinics.

Background: To explore the potential risk factors predicting malignancy in patients with indeterminate incidental mammographic microcalcification and to evaluate the short-term risk of developing malignancy.

Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2015, one hundred and fifty (150) consecutive patients with indeterminate mammographic microcalcifications who had undergone stereotactic biopsy were evaluated. Clinical and mammographic features were recorded and compared with histopathological biopsy results.

Organizational readiness to implement task-strengthening strategy for hypertension management among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but there is limited access to standardized HTN management strategies in public primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The shortage of trained healthcare providers in Nigeria is an important contributor to the increased unmet need for HTN management among PLHIV. Evidence-based TAsk-Strengthening Strategies for HTN control (TASSH) have shown promise to address this gap in other resource-constrained settings.

Survival of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS: A Multicentric Study From India.

Background: It has been more than 17 years since the introduction of free ART in India. At this point, it would be prudent to look at the factors associated with the survival of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLHA) who are already enrolled in the ART program.

Methods: PLHAs enrolled from antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers located in three different cities in India - Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, and were followed up at six monthly intervals monitoring the WHO stage, CD4 counts, complete blood counts, and liver and kidney function tests, for a duration of three years.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives: Axillary lymph node status is an important prognostic factor for breast cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of MRI in assessing the axillary nodal status in breast cancer patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for 88 patients between 2011 and 2016 from the hospital records.