Advancements in Antiviral Therapy: Favipiravir Sodium in Nasal Formulation.

Favipiravir (FPV) is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) known to have lower solubility in aqueous solvents. In the current study, efforts were made to generate a crystalline Favipiravir Sodium Salt (NaFPV) for enhanced solubility in aqueous media. The in-house generated NaFPV was characterized by NMR studies and its sodium content was determined by Flame Emission Spectroscopy (FES) as a confirmation of salt formation.

Alleviation of favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity using hepatoprotective herbal extracts in wistar rats.

Teratogenicity and hyperuricaemia are the main side effects of favipiravir, an antiviral drug recently found its use to treat mild to moderate coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. This study investigated the beneficial effect of herbal extracts like (PK) and (SB) and their active chemical constituents (baicalin and baicalein) on favipiravir-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The formulation combinations included favipiravir, favipiravir + PK extract, favipiravir + pure baicalin, favipiravir + pure baicalein, and favipiravir + SB extract designated as F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 respectively that were administered to rats orally for 21 days.

Insights from degradation studies of alpha mangostin from : key findings.

The present study emphasises the necessity of substantiating the stability of plant-derived bioactive compounds for their therapeutic effectiveness in pharmaceutical production. The limelight is on alpha-mangostin (AM), a xanthone from L., renowned for its diverse biological properties.

Uremic Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade Resolving With Intensive Hemodialysis.

We present an interesting and complex case of cardiac tamponade due to uremic pericarditis (UP), resolving with intensive hemodialysis (HD). HD should be considered as first line management for patients with UP and pericardial effusion. Intensification of HD should be considered based on clinical presentation and severity of presentation.

Development and Validation of Stability-Indicating Impurity Profiling Method for Azelastine Hydrochloride and Fluticasone Propionate in Nasal Spray Product Using HPLC with a UV/PDA Detector.

Background: Azelastine HCl (AZ) and fluticasone propionate (FL) nasal spray drug product is commonly used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis worldwide. To date, the impurity profiling of this product has not been reported.

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and validate a novel RP-HPLC stability-indicating analytical method for the estimation of impurities from AZ and FL nasal spray drug product.

A novel property of hexokinase inhibition by Favipiravir and proposed advantages over Molnupiravir and 2 Deoxy D glucose in treating COVID-19.

Purpose: In the wake of SARS-CoV-2's global spread, human activities from health to social life to education have been affected. Favipiravir and Molnupiravir exhibited novel hexokinase inhibition and we discuss advantages of this property in their COVID-19 inhibition potential.

Methods: This paper describes molecular docking data of human hexokinase II with Favipiravir, Cyan 20, Remdesivir, 2DG, and Molnupiravir along with hexokinase inhibition assays.

Case report of Barth syndrome: a forgotten cause of cardiomyopathy.

Background: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder characterized by clinical features including cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, neutropenia, growth delay, and exercise intolerance. It is often considered to be a paediatric disease, owing to most cases being diagnosed during childhood and mortality being the highest during the first few years of life.

Case Summary: We report a case of dilated cardiomyopathy due to BTHS in a 27-year-old adult male patient, who initially presented with lightheadedness, dyspnoea, orthopnoea, and bilateral lower extremity oedema.

Benefits of Soleris over the Conventional Method for Enumeration of Microbial Load in Herbal Extract.

Stems and roots of genus plants have been used as a specific remedy for early-stage diabetes, and one of the four sulphonium sulphates, salacinol is the compound responsible for the anti-diabetic activity. is prone to microbial contamination and insect infestation; hence, methods to estimate the microbial load in such plants will enhance its nutritional value. This paper highlights the novel use of Soleris to quantify microbes of all types, namely bacteria, yeasts, molds, and coliforms in herbal extracts.

G6PD deficiency and severity of COVID19 pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome: tip of the iceberg?

The severe pneumonia caused by the human coronavirus (hCoV)-SARS-CoV-2 has inflicted heavy casualties, especially among the elderly and those with co-morbid illnesses irrespective of their age. The high mortality in African-Americans and males, in general, raises the concern for a possible X-linked mediated process that could affect the viral pathogenesis and the immune system. We hypothesized that G6PD, the most common X-linked enzyme deficiency, associated with redox status, may have a role in severity of pneumonia.

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of tiamulin in broiler chicken as influenced by different routes of administration.

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetic disposition of tiamulin in broiler chicken were investigated after administration through the crop, drinking water, and feed at 40 mg/kg body weight. Residues of tiamulin in tissues of broiler chicken were also assessed. Plasma and tissue concentrations of tiamulin were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.

Novel properties of recombinant Sso7d-Taq DNA polymerase purified using aqueous two-phase extraction: Utilities of the enzyme in viral diagnosis.

Using Sso7d from as the DNA binding protein fused to Taq DNA polymerase at its amino terminus, we report the hyper-expression and a novel purification methodology of Sso7d-Taq polymerase (S-Taq) using aqueous two-phase extraction system followed by Ni-affinity chromatography. The utility of such a fusion enzyme in carrying out PCR of human genes from whole blood directly and in detecting hepatitis B virus from clinical samples is demonstrated in this article. We present data on the enhanced thermo-stability of S-Taq DNA polymerase over Taq DNA polymerase and also provide evidence of its higher stability with detergents in comparison to Taq polymerase.

Use of coagulation factor XIII (F13) gene as an internal control for normalization of genomic DNA's for HLA typing.

Genomic DNA (gDNA) obtained from whole blood samples is a critical element for genomic research and clinical diagnosis. PCR efficiencies of the targeted genes like HLA-A, -B, -C, DPB1 and DRB1 using such isolated gDNAs were variable in spite of having similar amounts of gDNA taken for PCR. We addressed such PCR variabilities by normalizing the gDNA's using an internal control of human coagulation factor XIII that was found to be variable with all samples and did not correlate with the observed A nm readings.

Cloning and high-level expression of Thermus thermophilus RecA in E. coli: purification and novel use in HBV diagnostics.

We studied the role of Thermus thermophilus Recombinase A (RecA) in enhancing the PCR signals of DNA viruses such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The RecA gene of a thermophilic eubacterial strain, T. thermophilus, was cloned and hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli.

Development of a Membrane-Based Method for Isolation of Genomic DNA from Human Blood.

High quality and sufficient quantity of genomic DNA (gDNA) are the primary requisites of several molecular biologic applications, including clinical studies related to genetics, genomics, gene polymorphism, and DNA fingerprinting. Whole blood is the primary source of gDNA in most of the clinical investigations. Currently, commercial kits are primarily used to achieve these goals.

Buccal Mucosal Epithelial Cells Downregulate CTGF Expression in Buccal Submucosal Fibrosis Fibroblasts.

Introduction: Oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic debilitating fibrotic disease of the oral cavity and is a serious health hazard in south Asia and, increasingly, the rest of the world. The molecular basis behind various treatment modalities to treat OSMF still remains unclear. In this study, we have investigated the in vitro ability of the buccal mucosal cells to reduce the proliferation of the fibroblasts of the fibrotic area in co-culture of cells and also at the molecular levels to reduce the level of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the OSMF fibroblasts (SMF-F).

A rare form of cardiomyopathy: left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

Left ventricular non-compaction is a recently recognized, rare form of cardiomyopathy. It is based on the arrest of endomyocardial morphogenesis during embryogenesis. It was first described in 1984 by Engberding who described it as isolated 'sinusoids' within the LV.

Isolated pulmonic valve endocarditis presenting as neck pain.

We discuss a unique case of a 52-year-old man with no history of intravenous drug use or dental procedures who presented with neck pain, 2 weeks of fevers, chills, night sweats, cough, and dyspnea found to have isolated pulmonic valve (PV) endocarditis. The patient did not have an associated murmur, which is commonly seen in right-sided infectious endocarditis. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a thickened PV leaflet, with subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram showing a PV mass.

Bacteriophage-derived CHAP domain protein, P128, kills Staphylococcus cells by cleaving interpeptide cross-bridge of peptidoglycan.

P128 is an anti-staphylococcal protein consisting of the Staphylococcus aureus phage-K-derived tail-associated muralytic enzyme (TAME) catalytic domain (Lys16) fused with the cell-wall-binding SH3b domain of lysostaphin. In order to understand the mechanism of action and emergence of resistance to P128, we isolated mutants of Staphylococcus spp., including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resistant to P128.

Properties and mutation studies of a bacteriophage-derived chimeric recombinant staphylolytic protein P128: Comparison to recombinant lysostaphin.

P128 is a chimeric anti-staphylococcal protein having a catalytic domain from a bacteriophage K tail associated structural protein and a cell wall targeting domain from the bacteriocin-lysostaphin. In this study, we disclose additional properties of P128 and compared the same with lysostaphin. While lysostaphin was found to get inactivated by heat and was inactive on its parent strain biovar , P128 was thermostable and was lytic towards biovar demonstrating a difference in their mechanism of action.

Efficacy of anti-staphylococcal protein P128 for the treatment of canine pyoderma: potential applications.

In this study, we demonstrate the antibacterial activity of P128 on Staphylococcus isolates responsible for canine pyoderma. Eighty seven swabs were collected from dogs suffering from pyoderma and subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test and 46 Staphylococcus strains were isolated and characterized. In-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing with P128 was done by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method as per CLSI guidelines.

Staphylococcus bacteriophage tails with bactericidal properties: new findings.

The development of lytic bacteriophages as therapeutic products is an attractive alternative to antibiotics. In this study, we evaluated the potential of phage tails for lysing Gram-positive bacteria. Phage P954, a well-characterized temperate staphylococcal phage, was found to adsorb to a large number of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates, although it lyses only 24% of the tested isolates.

Use of prophage free host for achieving homogenous population of bacteriophages: new findings.

We demonstrate that the prophage status of bacteria plays a critical role in achieving homogenous population of a phage preparation. When a lytic Staphylococcus bacteriophage 44AHJD was propagated in a Staphylococcus clinical isolate, the enriched phage showed 44AHJD phage virions along with the released prophages from the baiting host. The released prophage was identified as a siphophage by transmission electron microscopy.

A novel bacteriophage Tail-Associated Muralytic Enzyme (TAME) from Phage K and its development into a potent antistaphylococcal protein.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. However, the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance limits the choice of therapeutic options for treating infections caused by this organism. Muralytic enzymes from bacteriophages have recently gained attention for their potential as antibacterial agents against antibiotic-resistant gram-positive organisms.

Lysis-deficient phages as novel therapeutic agents for controlling bacterial infection.

Background: Interest in phage therapy has grown over the past decade due to the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. However, the use of bacteriophages for therapeutic purposes has raised concerns over the potential for immune response, rapid toxin release by the lytic action of phages, and difficulty in dose determination in clinical situations. A phage that kills the target cell but is incapable of host cell lysis would alleviate these concerns without compromising efficacy.