Synthesis and Characterization of Curcumin Incorporated Multi Component Nano-Scaffold with Enhanced Anti-bacterial and Wound Healing Properties.

Background: Wound healing is one of the major challenges in chronic diseases; the current treatment options are less effective with undesirable side effects and are expensive. Extensive research is carried out to develop cost-effective, natural, biodegradable wound dressings that can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and prevent bacterial infections. Curcumin has a plethora of therapeutic applications; however, its low solubility limits its clinical use.

H101G Mutation in Rat Lens αB-Crystallin Alters Chaperone Activity and Divalent Metal Ion Binding.

Background: The molecular chaperone function of αB-crystallins is heavily involved in maintaining lens transparency and the development of cataracts.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether divalent metal ion binding improves the stability and αB-crystallin chaperone activity.

Methods: In this study, we have developed an H101G αB-crystallin mutant and compared the surface hydrophobicity, chaperone activity, and secondary and tertiary structure with the wild type in the presence and absence of metal ions.

Synergistic Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Curcumin-C3 Encapsulated Chitosan Nanoparticles.

Background: Recent studies have focused on the nanoformulations of curcumin to enhance its solubility and bioavailability. The medicinal properties of curcumin-C3 complex, which is a combination of three curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin) is less explored.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prepare curcumin-C3 encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles, characterize and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial potential.

Curcumin-C3 Complexed with α-, β-cyclodextrin Exhibits Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties Suitable for Cancer Treatments.

Background: The curcumin-C3 (cur-C3) complex obtained from Curcuma longa rhizome is a combination of three curcuminoids, namely, curcumin, dimethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Cur and curcuminoids have been extensively researched for their wide range of therapeutic properties against inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Objective: In spite of their extensive medicinal properties, cur and curcuminoids have poor solubility and bioavailability due to their hydrophobicity.

Anticataractogenesis Mechanisms of Curcumin and a Comparison of Its Degradation Products: An in Vitro Study.

Curcumin (Cur) exhibits anticataractogenesis activity. This study aimed to compare the activities of Cur with those of its degradation products in a series of in vitro lens protein turbidity assays. The results show that Cur (200 μM) ameliorates selenite-induced crystallin aggregation, and the mean OD value was 0.

The Comparative Studies of Binding Activity of Curcumin and Didemethylated Curcumin with Selenite: Hydrogen Bonding vs Acid-Base Interactions.

In this report, the in vitro relative capabilities of curcumin (CCM) and didemethylated curcumin (DCCM) in preventing the selenite-induced crystallin aggregation were investigated by turbidity tests and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). DCCM showed better activity than CCM. The conformers of CCM/SeO3(2-) and DCCM/SeO3(2-) complexes were optimized by molecular orbital calculations.

Rapid modifications of N-substitution in iminosugars: development of new β-glucocerebrosidase inhibitors and pharmacological chaperones for Gaucher disease.

The rapid discovery of β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) inhibitors and pharmacological chaperones for Gaucher disease is described. The N-aminobutyl DNJ-based iminosugar was synthesized and conjugating with a variety of carboxylic acids to generate a N-diversely substituted iminosugar-based library. Several members of this library were found to be nanomolar-range inhibitors of GCase; the inhibition constant Ki of the most potent was found to be 71nM.

Ditopic complexation of selenite anions or calcium cations by pirenoxine: an implication for anti-cataractogenesis.

This study investigated whether and how pirenoxine (PRX) interacts with selenite or calcium ions, as these two ions have been proven respectively a factor leading to the formation of lens cataract. UV, NMR, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis indicated that PRX could bind maximum up to six selenite anions and the binding site preference was concentration dependent with the peripheral binding first followed by the π-π interactions with the aromatic moiety; while for calcium cation interaction the 3-carboxylate and β-ketoimine functional groups were responsible for chelating calcium ions. The results obtained by MP2/6-31+G(d) molecular orbital calculations provided theoretical evidence in support of the π-π interactions between selenite and the PRX aromatic framework, and further analysis of the binding energies with the aromatic moiety indicates that these interactions take place most likely at the benzoquinone (ring I) π-system.

Hospitalized pediatric parainfluenza virus infections in a medical center.

Background/purpose: Parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) are common pathogens in respiratory tract infections. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical presentation of PIV infections in hospitalized children and to identify particular clinical indications that may effectively distinguish between different PIV serotypes.

Methods: A retrospective review of data from children hospitalized with PIV infections at the Mackay Memory Hospital in Taipei between January 2005 and December 2007 was undertaken.

Strategy for determination of in vitro protein acetylation sites by using isotope-labeled acetyl coenzyme A and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Acetylation of proteins on specific lysine residues by acetyltransferase enzymes is a post-translational modification for biologically relevant regulation. In this study, we proposed a strategy to determine the in vitro acetylation sites of proteins by tracing isotope-labeled acetyl groups using mass spectrometry. Isotope-labeled and unlabeled acetyl groups transferred onto the substrates in vitro result in a specific "mass difference" that can be measured by MS analysis and utilized for localization of potential acetylated peptide signals.

Astaxanthin protects against oxidative stress and calcium-induced porcine lens protein degradation.

Astaxanthin (ASTX), a carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties, exists naturally in various plants, algae, and seafoods. In this study, we investigated the in vitro ability of ASTX to protect porcine lens crystallins from oxidative damage by iron-mediated hydroxyl radicals or by calcium ion-activated protease (calpain), in addition to the possible underlying biochemical mechanisms. ASTX (1 mM) was capable of protecting lens crystallins from being oxidized, as measured by changes in tryptophan fluorescence, in the presence of a Fenton reaction solution containing 0.