Nitric Oxide Inhibition Assay and the Respective Target Identification of an Aptamer Designed to Control Atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Aptamers are emerging newer therapeutics and diagnostics whichcan be designed to bind any kind of target proteins. Vascular endothelial damage by the excess amount of nitric oxide production in systemic circulation leads to the secretion of inflammatory chemoattractants and cell adhesions are the prime pro-atherogenic events in the formation of plagues at atrial intimal layers due to oxidation - sensitive mechanisms. Nitric oxide inhibition assay is one of the valuable qualitative anti-atherosclerosis matrices.

strategies for identification of potent inhibitor for MMP-1 to prevent metastasis of breast cancer.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) has been often upregulated in advanced breast cancers, known to participate in ECM degradation, migration, invasion, thus leading to metastasis. Due to these effects, the condition is often reported to inversely correlate with survival in advanced breast cancers. In the present study, method was adopted based on selective non zinc binding inhibitors of MMP-1.

Structural insights into the binding mode of flavonols with the active site of matrix metalloproteinase-9 through molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations studies.

Cartilage degradation in rheumatoid arthritis is mediated principally by the collagenases and gelatinases. Gelatinase B (also called matrix metalloproteinase 9 - MMP-9), is a valid target molecule which is known to participate in cartilage degradation as well as angiogenesis associated with the disease and inhibition of its activity shall prevent cartilage damage and angiogenesis. The focus of this study is to investigate the possibilities of MMP-9 inhibition by flavonol class of bioflavonoids by studying their crucial binding interactions at the active site of MMP 9 using molecular docking (Glide XP and QPLD) and further improvisation by post-docking MM-GBSA and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations.

A pilot study on the infiltrating cells and cytokine levels in the tear of fungal keratitis patients.

Aim: To determine the cellular profile and cytokine levels in the tear fluid of fungal keratitis patients.

Materials And Methods: Tear samples were collected from six fungal keratitis patients (Group I) from active stages of the disease up to resolution. Tears collected from the following served as controls: uninfected fellow eye (Group II A) of Group I, patients undergoing cataract surgery (Group II B) and acute conjunctivitis (Group II C).