Lobaric acid suppresses the stemness potential of colorectal cancer cells through mTOR/AKT.

Stereocaulon alpinum has been found to have potential pharmaceutical properties due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as usnic acid, atranorin, and lobaric acid (LA) which have anticancer activity. On the other hand, the effect of LA on the stemness potential of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells remains unexplored, and has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we examined the inhibitory activity of LA from Stereocaulon alpinum against the stemness potential of CRC cells and investigated the possible underlying mechanisms.

Spatio-temporal variation of microbial indicators of river water and treatment efficiencies of drinking water treatment plants along the upper Mahaweli river segment of Sri Lanka.

The microbial pollution status of river surface water is important to ensure a river-based quality drinking water supply for the public. The present study aimed to investigate bacterial contamination status in the upper Mahaweli River, the main drinking water supplier to the hill country of Sri Lanka. Both the raw surface water and treated water, taken at 14 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) along the river segment of 60 km between Kotmale and Victoria reservoirs, were tested for total bacterial counts (TBC), total coliform counts (TCC) and faecal coliform counts (FCC).

Diagnostic potential of salivary IL-1β, IL-8, SAT, S100P, and OAZ1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral lichen planus based on findings from a Sri Lankan cohort.

The research examined the salivary concentrations of various biomarkers, such as OAZ1, SAT, S100P, IL-1β, and IL-8 aiming to detect early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). These biomarkers show potential as indicators for detecting both pre-cancerous and cancerous states within the oral cavity. Analyzing these specific molecules in saliva could help clinicians enhance diagnostic accuracy and refine early detection methods for OSCC.

Plectalibertellenone A suppresses colorectal cancer cell motility and glucose metabolism by targeting TGF-β/Smad and Wnt pathways.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death and represents a serious worldwide health problem. CRC metastasis decreases the survival rate of cancer patients, underscoring the need to identify novel anticancer agents and therapeutic targets. Here, we introduce Plectalibertellenone A (B) as a promising agent for the inhibition of CRC cell motility and glucose metabolism and explore its mechanism of action in CRC cells.

Correlation between serum heavy metals and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a serious public health problem in various Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, and a combination of cultural practices, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions influences the incidence of these cancers. The examination of the connection between exposure to heavy metals and the probability of developing oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and OSCC has been limited in its scope, and the overall consequences of such exposure remain largely unknown. This study aims to clarify the link between serum levels of heavy metals and the risk of OSCC and OPMD.

Purtscher-like retinopathy: Case report of a rare complication of acute on chronic pancreatitis.

Purtscher's retinopathy is an occlusive micro-vasculopathy causing sudden onset visual loss in trauma. Similar retinal appearance is observed as a rare complication of acute pancreatitis which is identified as Purtscher-like retinopathy (PulR). We report the case of a 15-year-old girl diagnosed to have acute on chronic pancreatitis who noticed a sudden onset loss of vision in the left eye and was found to have significantly diminished visual acuity.

Anxiety, depression, and Type D personality in ischaemic heart disease patients receiving treatment from outpatient clinics in a government hospital in Sri Lanka.

Background: Anxiety, depression, and Type D personality are strongly correlated with the prognosis of IHD and the effectiveness of therapy. The main purpose of this study was to assess the proportions and associations of anxiety, depression, and Type D personality among clinically stable IHD patients (aged 18-60) treated at an outpatient clinic operated by a government hospital in Sri Lanka, who were diagnosed with IHD within the preceding three months.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was analysed using SPSS® version 23.

Chrysophanol inhibits of colorectal cancer cell motility and energy metabolism by targeting the KITENIN/ErbB4 oncogenic complex.

Background: Expression of the KITENIN/ErbB4 oncogenic complex is associated with metastasis of colorectal cancer to distant organs and lymph nodes and is linked with poor prognosis and poor survival.

Methods: Here, we used in vitro and in silico methods to test the ability of chrysophanol, a molecule of natural origin, to suppress the progression of colorectal cancer by targeting the KITENIN/ErbB4 complex.

Results: Chrysophanol binds to ErbB4, disrupting the ErbB4/KITENIN complex and causing autophagic degradation of KITENIN.

ELISA for leptospiral 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in urine is a promising screening tool for acute leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that is prevalent worldwide. Leptospiral 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (3-HADH) is excreted in the urine of infected individuals. However, the potential use of 3-HADH as a biomarker for the diagnosis of leptospirosis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has not been investigated.

Usnic Acid Targets 14-3-3 Proteins and Suppresses Cancer Progression by Blocking Substrate Interaction.

The anticancer therapeutic effects of usnic acid (UA), a lichen secondary metabolite, have been demonstrated and . However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of UA remains to be clarified. In this study, the target protein of UA was identified using a UA-linker-Affi-Gel molecule, which showed that UA binds to the 14-3-3 protein.

Anithiactin D, a Phenylthiazole Natural Product from Mudflat-Derived sp., Suppresses Motility of Cancer Cells.

Anithiactin D (), a 2-phenylthiazole class of natural products, was isolated from marine mudflat-derived actinomycetes sp. 10A085. The chemical structure of was elucidated based on the interpretation of NMR and MS data.

A fatty acid-rich fraction of an endolichenic fungus sp. suppresses immune checkpoint markers via AhR/ARNT and ESR1.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rates worldwide. The disease is caused by environmental pollutants, smoking, and many other factors. Recent treatments include immunotherapeutics, which have shown some success; however, the search for new therapeutics is ongoing.

Phthalides Isolated from the Endolichenic sp. EL000127 Exhibits Antiangiogenic Activity.

Endolichenic fungi (ELF) produce specialized metabolites that have various medicinal properties. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis efficaciously suppresses many types of cancer. This study aimed to discover novel antiangiogenic agents from specialized metabolite extracts of ELF strains isolated from Korean lichens.

Marinobazzanan, a Bazzanane-Type Sesquiterpenoid, Suppresses the Cell Motility and Tumorigenesis in Cancer Cells.

Marinobazzanan (), a new bazzanane-type sesquiterpenoid, was isolated from a marine-derived fungus belonging to the genus . The chemical structure of was elucidated using NMR and mass spectroscopic data, while the relative configurations were established through the analysis of NOESY data. The absolute configurations of were determined by the modified Mosher's method as well as vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra calculation and it was determined as 6, 7, 9, and 10.

Leptospirosis: A Potential Culprit for Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is an environmental nephropathy in which the etiological factors are yet uncertain. Leptospirosis, a spirochetal infection that is common among agricultural communities, has been identified as a potential etiology for CKDu beyond environmental nephropathy. Although CKDu is a chronic kidney disease, in endemic regions, an increasing number of cases are reported with features suggestive of acute interstitial nephritis without any known reason (AINu), with or without background CKD.

1'-O-methyl-averantin isolated from the endolichenic fungus Jackrogersella sp. EL001672 suppresses colorectal cancer stemness via sonic Hedgehog and Notch signaling.

Endolichenic fungi are host organisms that live on lichens and produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites. Colorectal cancer stem cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into cancer cells, which makes cancers difficult to eradicate. New alternative therapeutics are needed to inhibit the growth of tumor stem cells.

Hantavirus infection as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) and its prevalence in endemic areas of Sri Lanka since 2010 according to a retrospective serological analysis.

Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) is a major public health problem in Sri Lanka, especially among agrarian communities. Although the cause of CKDu is still unknown, hantavirus infection has been proposed as a risk factor. This study was performed using serological samples collected from two CKDu-endemic areas, Anuradhapura (2010) and Badulla districts (2010 and 2016), and a non-endemic area, Matale (2016) district.

Libertellenone T, a Novel Compound Isolated from Endolichenic Fungus, Induces G2/M Phase Arrest, Apoptosis, and Autophagy by Activating the ROS/JNK Pathway in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly type of cancer in the world and continuous investigations are required to discover novel therapeutics for CRC. Induction of apoptosis is one of the promising strategies to inhibit cancers. Here, we have identified a novel compound, Libertellenone T (), isolated from crude extracts of the endolichenic fungus from sp.

An acetonic extract and secondary metabolites from the endolichenic fungus sp. EL006872 exhibit immune checkpoint inhibitory activity in lung cancer cell.

Endolichenic fungi (ELF), which live the inside the lichen thallus, contain many secondary metabolites that show various biological activities. Recent studies show that lichen and ELF secondary metabolites have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. Here, the effects of an ELF extract and its bioactive compounds were investigated on the H1975 cell line focusing on immune checkpoint marker inhibition.

Understanding leptospirosis: application of state-of-the-art molecular typing tools with a One Health lens.

Leptospirosis is an archetypal One Health problem as described in the companion Currents in One Health article in the October 2022 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association by Sykes et al. A thorough understanding of leptospirosis requires a detailed analysis of the elaborate interplay among pathogenic leptospiral strains, host species, and the environment. Such an understanding is required to inform appropriate preventative measures including vaccine design, prophylaxis efforts, educational programs that help to reduce exposure to pathogenic spirochetes, as well as policy development.

Demographic, exposure, clinical, biochemical and diagnostic data of febrile patients recruited for the largest field study on leptospirosis in Sri Lanka.

This dataset includes data from febrile patients recruited for a large hospital-based study in Sri Lanka from 2016 to 2019. The variables include primary socio-demographic data, exposure data, clinical data, biochemical and investigation data. Some of these data are available as serial data from admission to discharge daily.