Novel Benzimidazole-Endowed Chalcones as α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitors: An Insight into Structural and Computational Studies.

In search of novel antidiabetic agents, we synthesized a new series of chalcones with benzimidazole scaffolds by an efficient 'one-pot' nitro reductive cyclization method and evaluated their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition studies. The 'one-pot' nitro reductive cyclization method offered a simple route for the preparation of benzimidazoles with excellent yield and higher purity compared to the other conventional acid- or base-catalyzed cyclization methods. H, C NMR, IR, and mass spectrum data were used to characterize the compounds.

A Structural and Investigation of Potential CDC7 Kinase Enzyme Inhibitors.

A crucial role in the regulation of DNA replication is played by the highly conserved CDC kinase. The CDC7 kinase could serve as a target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. The primary heterocyclic substance is pyrazole, and its derivatives offer great potential as treatments for cancer cell lines.

Special Issue: Advances in Healthcare for Neonates.

We are delighted to present an editorial for the Special Issue '' [...

Special Issue: Prematurity, Preterm-Born Adults, and Long-Term Effects on Children and Adults.

The incidence of preterm births is increasing globally, with increasing survival into adulthood [...

Cardiovascular Morbidities in Adults Born Preterm: Getting to the Heart of the Matter!

Advances in perinatal and neonatal care have led to improved survival of preterm infants into adulthood. However, the shift in focus to long-term health in adults born preterm requires a clear understanding of the impact of prematurity on developing organ systems and the development of adult-oriented disease. A less well-recognized area of risk for surviving preterm infants is their cardiometabolic health.

Correlation of Liver and Myocardium Iron Concentration Determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Serum Ferritin in Non-Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients.

Background The primary factor associated with fatality in thalassemia patients is heavy cardiac complications. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is accepted as the non-invasive modality of choice for diagnosing iron overload in the liver. This study aimed to correlate liver iron concentration (LIC) and myocardium iron concentration (MIC) determined by MRI and clinical and biochemical parameters in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) patients.

Design and synthesis of amino acid derivatives of substituted benzimidazoles and pyrazoles as Sirt1 inhibitors.

Owing to its presence in several biological processes, Sirt1 acts as a potential therapeutic target for many diseases. Here, we report the structure-based designing and synthesis of two distinct series of novel Sirt1 inhibitors, benzimidazole mono-peptides and amino-acid derived 5-pyrazolyl methylidene rhodanine carboxylic acid. The compounds were evaluated for enzyme-based and cell-based Sirt1 inhibition assay, and cytotoxic-activity in both liver and breast cancer cells.

Potential Fluorinated Anti-MRSA Thiazolidinone Derivatives with Antibacterial, Antitubercular Activity and Molecular Docking Studies.

MRSA infection is one of the alarming diseases in the current scenario. Identifying newer molecules to treat MRSA infection is of urgent need. In the present study, we have designed fluorinated thiazolidinone derivatives with various aryl/heteroaryl units at 5 position of the thiazolidinone core as promising anti-MRSA agents.

In vitro and in silico studies of fluorinated 2,3-disubstituted thiazolidinone-pyrazoles as potential α-amylase inhibitors and antioxidant agents.

As part of our effort to identify potent α-amylase inhibitors, in the present study, a novel series of fluorinated thiazolidinone-pyrazole hybrid molecules were prepared by the condensation of 3-(aryl/benzyloxyaryl)-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes with fluorinated 2,3-disubstituted thiazolidin-4-ones. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by infrared, H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), C NMR, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data. All the compounds were screened for their α-amylase inhibitory and free radical scavenging activities by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS methods.

Supporting Breastfeeding in 2021 and Beyond-Lessons from the Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected maternal and infant health globally both directly from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and indirectly from changes in health care resulting from social, economic, and health care policies unique to each country. The developing countries have to share the disproportionate burden on maternal and infant health. In this review, we discuss the uncertainties resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, vertical transmission of the virus, and its effects on breastfeeding of the newborn.

Respiratory Failure in an Extremely Premature Neonate with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a condition associated with SARS-CoV-2, typically results in mild infection in infants and children. However, children with risk factors such as chronic lung disease and immunosuppression have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. We report a case of a 27-week-gestation extremely premature infant born to a mother with COVID-19 infection.

Short-term perinatal oxygen exposure may impair lung development in adult mice.

Background: Hyperoxia at resuscitation increases oxidative stress, and even brief exposure to high oxygen concentrations during stabilization may trigger organ injury with adverse long-term outcomes in premature infants. We studied the long-term effects of short-term perinatal oxygen exposure on cell cycle gene expression and lung growth in adult mice.

Methods: We randomized mice litters at birth to 21, 40, or 100%O for 30 min and recovered in room air for 4 or 12 weeks.

Antioxidant MnTBAP does not protect adult mice from neonatal hyperoxic lung injury.

Background: Oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation are important predisposing factors for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), leading to increased morbidity and mortality in premature infants. Oxygen toxicity mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play an important part in the development of BPD. We studied the effects of MnTBAP, a catalytic antioxidant on airway responsiveness and alveolar simplification in adult mice following neonatal hyperoxia.

Protection from systemic pyruvate at resuscitation in newborn lambs with asphyxial cardiac arrest.

Background: Infants with hypoxic-ischemic injury often require cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Mitochondrial failure to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion injury contributes to cellular damage. Current postnatal strategies to improve outcome in hypoxic-ischemic injury need sophisticated equipment to perform servo-controlled cooling.

Hydrocortisone Improves Oxygenation Index and Systolic Blood Pressure in Term Infants With Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is an essential cause for hypoxic respiratory failure with significant morbidity and mortality in term and near-term neonates. Hydrocortisone has been shown to decrease oxygen dependency and pulmonary hypertension in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome and animal studies, respectively. We hypothesize that hydrocortisone will improve oxygenation in term and near-term infants with pulmonary hypertension.

Glucose Levels during the First 24 Hours following Perinatal Hypoxia.

Objective: Hypoglycemia is a significant risk factor for perinatal brain injury and adverse outcomes, particularly in infants requiring resuscitation following hypoxic ischemic (HI) insult. We aimed to study blood glucose (BG) levels in physiologically stressed infants in the presence or absence of epinephrine (Epi) administration at resuscitation in the first 24 hours after birth.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of all infants with heart rate (HR) < 100/min at 1 minute requiring positive pressure ventilation (PPV) at birth was performed.

Caffeine and Clinical Outcomes in Premature Neonates.

Caffeine is the most widely used drug by both adults and children worldwide due to its ability to promote alertness and elevate moods. It is effective in the management of apnea of prematurity in premature infants. Caffeine for apnea of prematurity reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very-low-birth-weight infants and improves survival without neurodevelopmental disability at 18-21 months.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis, a rare but serious side effect of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and whole-body hypothermia.

Objective To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors in infants with subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) following therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods A case-control study was performed by a retrospective chart review of infants with moderate or severe HIE admitted to a level IV regional perinatal center and who underwent whole-body cooling. Results A total of 14 (8.

Caffeine is associated with improved alveolarization and angiogenesis in male mice following hyperoxia induced lung injury.

Background: Caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature neonates. Several mechanisms, including improvement in pulmonary mechanics underly beneficial effects of caffeine in BPD. As vascular development promotes alveologenesis, we hypothesized that caffeine might enhance angiogenesis in the lung, promoting lung growth, thereby attenuating BPD.

Continued Enteral Feeding Is Beneficial in Hypoglycemic Infants Admitted to Intensive Care for Parenteral Dextrose Therapy.

There is variability in practice among care providers on feeding infants admitted with neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) for parenteral dextrose. We compared clinical outcomes in infants who were fed (NH-Fed) and hypoglycemic infants who were kept nothing per os (NPO) (NH-NPO) at the time of initiation of intravenous (IV) dextrose. We performed a retrospective review of all newborn infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with NH for IV dextrose.

Current and Emerging Therapies in the Management of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in Neonates.

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) presents a significant clinical burden with its high mortality and morbidity rates globally. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is now standard of care for infants with moderate to severe HIE, but has not definitively changed outcomes in severe HIE. In this review, we discuss newer promising markers that may help the clinician identify severity of HIE.